Rob and I are not pro’s by any definition, but we certainly feel like champs today. We had set a goal to average 35/45 kilometers a day, hoping to make Mombasa in 15 days max. For whatever reason, sitting with our support team and looking at the map the night before we left, I opened my big mouth and declared Salama as the day 1 goal – about 84 Kilometers!!
Well, somehow, someway, we made it, and in just under 8 hours with stops for food, water, sore muscles and a few jokes!!
Day 1 was a big day of learning, as I said, WE ARE NOT PRO’s lol. Rob and I both have trouble pushing with our off foot, but as a matter of necessity, we just got better. I feel very comfortable on my off foot now and only. Realized it was getting almost automatic around hour 6. We’ve also gotten pretty brave on the downhills. Everyone told us the road to Mombasa was rather flat, and maybe it will get better, but so far its been rolling hills, with bigger ups and more gradual downs – in our exhausted opinion of course. But honestly we were not getting many speedy downs.
Happily, by the end of the day, we did find some mighty hills to tuck, and then realized how inexperience were at that too. There is A LOT of gravel, dead stuff, and chunks of tire on the shoulders we ride on, despite the quality of the pavement beneath it. Speed wobble and obstacles makes for a pretty sketchy downhill, but we managed to keep it together, brave a few tucks, get some good speed and much needed adrenaline for the next climb and have a lot of fun doing it. Needless to say, we’re both happy we invested in helmets and pads, we just hope we don’t actually put them to use in a crash!
It’s also important to note that we have met only the friendliest and most welcoming Kenyans all along the road. From the honks, waves and thumbs up of all the drivers, to them making room for us on the shoulder (something I am told is NOT normal), to the people we have met in the little towns. We are, of course, called crazy Mzungus, but that’s to be expexted. Everyone wants to come out and see the Demonseed decks, ask how its going, hear about us and where we’re from and then they wish us safety. When the support team comes looking for us, everyone tries to help and points to where they last saw the Mzungus. But this is all consistent to our experiences in Nairobi – Kenyans are a warm and friendly bunch – that’s a big part why we love coming here and have made great friends!
After all that pushing, we checked in with the support team – who has been amazing – and hit up the ‘hotel’ they found us a few hours before to crash in. It’s everything you would expect of a small Kenyan stop over – not so clean, bare walls, slat doors, squat toilets, no hot water (not even running water until this morning, lol), and attached to a bar/choma that blasted music all night and into this morning as I woke up. I was so exhausted I didn’t even really noticed. Shoveled some beans, cabbage, chicken stew and chapati into my gullet , washed it down with some Stoney Tangawiz and made my way to a Tiger Balm rub down and a deep sleep.
All in all, Day 1 was a big success and a seriously high bar for the rest of the push to live up to. We’re not so ambitious today. The next best stop is 50 Kilometers from here and after that is a little over 90. We’re shooting for 50 a town called Emali.
Here’s hoping Day 2 is at least as good as Day 1 otherwise.
go go go go mates just know we are behind you guys….you are making us proud
rolling rolling rolling!!!!! keep going and stay safe
Ummm ‘safe’… Yes. Lol. All safe except for one crash that required stitches. Over 40 km of skating later when we reached a nursing home hospital. Read day 2 for the details. Will post soon. All good now!!