Friday, 9th March 2007

To: Nanyuki - Nairobi 59,056 ascent

Back on the bike! Great ride! Rode with Rachel, who was riding sweep, and Darryl, who just likes to take it slowly sometimes. We left camp, turned right, and started going up. And up. And up. Not too steep, but just UP. Allll the way to lunch, and even a little beyond lunch. Our camp at Isiolo was at an elevation of 4,200 feet. At one point today, we reached 8,300 feet! It felt awesome! At our 2nd rest stop, I was chatting with a Kenyan man, while Rachel and Darryl were looking at curios. He asked me, "So, you 3 are riding together?" I said, "Yes. Well, that one (pointing to Rachel) is not allowed to pass me." He asked why not. I just said, "Because those are the rules. She's not allowed to pass the last rider." For some reason, he thought that was funny. He said, "And you are the last rider?" I said, "Yep." I left that rest spot about 15 minutes before Rachel and Darryl, and when they later caught up with me, Rachel asked me what I was talking to that man about. I had to rack my brain because I honestly didn't remember. I thought we'd had a "nothing" conversation. But Rachel said, "He warned me, when we were leaving, that I was not allowed to pass you!" I said, "Oh, that's right! I might have said that!" We both laughed.

Finally, we made it to what we thought was the top of the hill. I thought we were moving right along. O.k., not speeding. But moving right along. At our 3rd rest, which we thought was the top of the hill, Rachel called the lunch truck to tell them where we were. I heard her say, "We're coming, but we're just moving very, very slowly." That made me laugh because here I'd thought we were hussling right along.

After lunch, we climbed a bit more, and then doowwwwwnnnnn, allll the way to our glorious camp spot on the grounds of a great hotel in Nanyuki - with a swimming pool!

---------------- TODAY ------------- TOTAL
Cycled --------- 75 km (48 mi) ------- 3,105 km (1,950 mi)
Sagged ---------- 0 ------------------- 1,702 km (1,169 mi)
Total ------------ 75 km (48 mi) ------ 4,807 km (3,119 mi)
In Saddle -------- 7 hours ------------- 198 hours 52 min
Ascended -------- 4,200 feet ---------- 44,895 feet