Finally, it has started, after being a week in Kenya, assuming that I will be getting my Namibia visa from here, so I have decided to leave Doha a week earlier, leaving my family and kids to work for a visa, visit an embassy that doesn’t even exist in Nairobi! I was instructed by the Qatari embassy in South Africa who was instructed by the Namibian embassy there to check with their embassy in Nairobi, but they didn’t know that they have no embassy in Nairobi! So, I have ended up doing nothing and waiting for Kevin and all to arrive to Nairobi. When they did, I feel I have seen a lot of Nairobi already and made lots of friends. The next day here we had to be on standby to get the bike cleared from customs. The greatest thing of those 2 days was meeting again with UB and Jeanout. It Is always great riding with them, missing Richard though. When bikes were cleared, I had met with my bike finally since Uruguay, when it ran out of fuel and had to push it inside the container. Rode the bike back to the hotel and everything was just perfect and spent the next day working on the bike and then headed to that crocodile restaurant to have our first ever group meal on this trip. Technically the trip has started to ride to the equator on the 4th of September, on a rainy day, started with a group ride, and this is when I realzed that I am not as fit as the previous trip and felt the heaviness of the bike. But had to do rethink on what to do, either some push ups every morning, or I stop feeding my face, or get back to my routine, gluten and dairy free! Or do all of them! Riding to the equator was fun, but the roads in Kenya were so busy and lots of overtaking when I really hate but had to deal with it.
The official day has started next day, to ride, through the borders to Tanzania, Karutu to be exact, border crossing was way smoother than how it was in central Asia, central and south America! Took us almost 3 hours to clear out 19 motorcycles. And then continued riding with Kevin and Ub until we have reached to Karutu, where we have spent 2 night! It is the first time we have days off on adventures from day 1, however it was like this because we needed to visit the National park next day (the crater) which was to me something I would see only in dreams, as I have always expected to see the wild life as all animals are attacking each others! It was impressive how lions were surrounded by zebras and elephants play around buffalos! Other than that, the area is so clean, which made me realize that we “humans” are always creating all the mess around the world. For a second I felt I was travelling to Lions king’s world! The land cruiser we were in, it was 7 of us, and the roof can be mounted up so we can stand and have a better view to take photos.
photo credit UB
Next day was the day to ride, but a short day to ride to Noshi! I have started the day with a drop of the bike! So embarrassing, being the second guy who drops the bike, and as usual, it was a very silly drop! But I have realized here that I need to get rid of half my stuff on this old bike! Including my big blue bag! I was riding behind “Ub” the whole day depressed, was it me or the bike? I have thought I am lacking fitness or the bike is very heavy! Or both! When reached Noshi, first thing I have done was to get rid of half of the stuff, which I kept in the room and told the lady at the Reception to take them, not just clothes, even camera gear! Finally, next morning, was a long day, riding to the land of peace, Dar Es salam. It was a very long riding day, best part of it was riding between cars and trucks in Dar! And here I am, worried about my Visa to Namibia, which I have to stay maybe for another night, then catch with the rest in Malawi! This is not good, and frustrating because this happens every time. That’s all for this week.
