12th. Woke earlier than I needed because I said I’d accompany Mark to his Singida bus. Left at 06:30 and was back at the hotel for breakfast. I left the hotel at about 08:00 ; went to Moshi Express to confirm their price. 10,000 was more than I expected so I went for the tried and tested dala dala at 2,000 to Holili and about another 2,000 from the border to Taveta. I saved 6,000Tsh overall. Annoying hold up in Himo but was still early enough to enjoy a tea at the border. Quick passage through immigration.
Mercy wasn’t home, but in Mombasa looking after a sick aunt. I met Joseph for afternoon/evening drink and unfortunately he persuaded me to buy a 750ml bottle of County (spirit) and I got very drunk. Apparently I had to be helped to my room, but I didn’t enquire further.
14th. Hyder Park with Lucy. No kiti moto but nice goat stew instead. Had decided against kiti moto at Kibanda Hasara because talk of police checks on IDs and me crossing just slightly over the border without a stamp in my passport would be too risky. If stopped I would no doubt have been subject to a hefty fine !!!
15th. Cycled to Chala to visit Dad’s grave. The road was much better than last time and I only stopped once for water intake. Stopped just passed Chala on the way back at a little hoteli for 2 pojo samosas and tea. Told the young lady the samosas were much more tasty than when I stopped off a year ago.
Stopped at Martina’s curios for a chat and a black coffee. The rest of the way back was slightly down hill but I was very tired towards the end. I had to stop at the Prison Canteen for some refreshment.
Sat 17th. I had Friday to recover from the Chala ride so I decided a gentle ride to Holili (only 20-25 minutes) for kiti moto, was in order. Of course slightly uphill going but all downhill coming back. I tried a new tactic…neither Kenya nor Tanzania immigration stamping my passport on the way through. I did state that my visas were still valid. Well it worked, and on the way back I just said my passport wasn’t stamped and I enjoyed my lunch and walked straight through. Of course it stops my passport getting clogged up with stamps.
I went first to Dubai Village then Dubai Grocery for the delicious kiti moto. A bit better than the last couple of times as Mamka was back on cooking duty. My friend Lucy had asked me to bring back just the meat for her, and I obliged. Before going to the border I bought a 750ml bottle of Zanzi (cream liqueur equiv of Amarula)…a bit of a craving for something sweet. Technically I was smuggling from Tanzania to Kenya…but I got away with it.
Sun 18th. After more bike repair work I decided on a short bike ride to The Place …20 minutes. A little oasis to enjoy a drink.
There are days in Taveta when nothing memorable happens. The usual rounds of seeing friends and varying my dinners a little…not much..!! Had rice one day instead of chapatis..!! I think one kiti moto at Mwangaza. Meeting friends at Rockland where they’ve set up a dart board; I played once.. was very rusty.
Wed 21st. A good day to cycle to Kitogoto. I left 08:00 and the morning was lovely and cool with a fresh breeze…great cycling weather. It took one and a half hours to Kitogoto, including a 5 minute water break at El Doro. Luckily I’d been to Kitogoto about 4 years ago so the route, despite being off the beaten track, was a bit familiar. It must’ve taken me twice as long the first time.
I reached Forodhani and just accepted the 300ksh charge to get me and the bike across to Tanzania. A lovely 12 minute canoe paddle from Kenya to Tanzania through the reeds. I asked if we should be worried about hippos or crocs but my paddler assured me it would be fine; apparently they didn’t make their presence felt until the afternoon and evening. Was pleased that I was crossing at about 09:30.
I expressed my concern at the possibility of security on the other side, and in the end I played safe and after picking up a passenger with a motorbike, I decided to go straight back. After all, although I had a visa, I didn’t have exit/entry stamps in my passport and I didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to detain/fine me.. A very pleasant excursion. Cycling back was much more tiring as the sun was really hot. I stopped in El Doro to meet Mary, an old Taveta friend. Before reaching Taveta I had to stop at The Place to rehydrate.
I heard from Mercy in Mombasa that her aunt had just died; I asked her to tell me where and when the funeral would be, in case I could attend.
Sat 24th. Gabriella’s Wedding day. And of course it was to be Alex’s Wedding day as well. I was told the Ceremony was to be at 4pm NZ time, so I set my alarm for just before 6am Kenya time to be awake and thinking about the couple tying the knot.
I decided on doing something a bit different from just being in Taveta all day. Firstly, as we had a power cut and my phone battery was getting low, I needed to go somewhere where there was a generator. Japan’s wasn’t operating , but I ended up at Challa Htl and chatted to Ruth while the phone was charging.
I then went to Kim’s for my special wedding day no. 2 haircut. Back to my room to finish charging as the electricity supply was back. On the way I proudly told a few of my friends that my daughter had got married that morning.
My Wedding day celebration was to cycle up to Holili for kiti moto. Again, I didn’t get my passport stamped; quite nice to just walk through immigration. I rode up to White House where I stayed for 3 months in 2020 when Kenya closed the border due to Covid . I went to the new hotel/restaurant ( looks a nice place ) next door for a tea. Then rode up to Snake Hill and followed the road, which I don’t remember from before (probably because I didn’t explore so far as I was on foot), for a couple of kms. I found the road that actually went up ‘Snake’ hill; all the while hoping to get a view of Kili , but unfortunately there was too much cloud.
I cycled up to Dubai Village for one drink and then on to Dubai Grocery for my delicious Wedding Day kiti moto. I was feeling So Happy for Gabriella and Alex.
When back in Taveta I went to the local depot to buy some County as my contribution to a Sunday lunch at John Mruttu’s. I joined Joseph to watch some football. So a fantastic way to commemorate Gabriella’s Wedding day. She looks so happy in the wedding pics I’ve received so far. I’ve since learned that due to rain the Wedding venue had to be changed at the last minute. They worked hard to readjust and with the support of their friends they still had a fantastic day.
Gabriella married…well, well.
Sun 25th. A relaxing start to the day; didn’t do much. At 13:00 I went to Texas to chill with a tea and wait for Joseph to go to John’s. I bought my ticket to Mombasa for Monday.
We caught a boda and arrived at 14:00 as planned. I took an extra nearly quarter bottle of County and joked that it had evaporated, before producing the full bottle !!! A little bit of embarrassment ensued when the ‘lunch’ we were served consisted of tea and plain bread. John had said he would buy a bottle of County as well…Hmmm…that didn’t happen. Joseph and I totally surprised/puzzled by the ‘hospitality’….or lack of. We thought we were being invited to a full scale lunch. At least we had a good chat and a few laughs and remembered/toasted Dad on his 96th birthday.
Joseph and I went back into town and I bought us dinner of ugali and goat meet to eat as we watched football. I had tea at Texas before going to my room.