Kedong Relay

Whoever said running in 100 degree heat is not any fun has never done the Kedong Relay!  Shortly after arriving in Nairobi, I was stumbled upon a group of people that like to run and have a good time (I'm not sure they'd agree that is the correct order!).  This past weekend, the group organized a 30km relay through the African bush, complete with camping, a bonfire and great food.     



Preparing for runners to finish the first leg of the relay. 
One local spectator (not this one) even joined for a leg!

We gathered into groups of 5, with some running twice, others running once.  Each leg was 3 kilometers long - and let me tell you, 1.8 miles in the heat ain't easy!   

Preparing for leg # 6

Where are they? 

Here they come!



Almost there (with the fastest 3km time of the competition)! 


 

 

 

 

 

It was dry and hot, in case you couldn't tell by the landscape!



Then it was off to camp.

AC and cold beer - no complaints here!



4x4 definitely required!



Masai cattle outside the campsite

Our campsite was located another 10 km further into the bush.

On Sunday, we enjoyed an early morning (but not that early) nature walk in the vicinity of the campsite before feasting on a gourmet camping breakfast, breaking camp and heading back to Nairobi.

Oldonyo Orok

Just 10 more minutes.  I realized, after the third time we asked, that 10 minutes to our Masai hiking guides could mean anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours!  The Masai are semi-nomadic people living in Kenya and northern Tanzania.  On Sunday, a teacher and several class 8 Masai students from a school near the Tanzanian border led our group up Oldonyo Orok.    

View of our destination from the parking lot ...kind of.

Pointing to the mountain, someone asked our guides where we going.  One of them answered, "behind that one."  I should have realized then that it wasn't going to be a short hike! The hike started at the local school, which was a several kilometers off the main road and over a river.

As you can see, good use is made of the outside walls of the school buildings: a map of Africa and the world; diagrams of a heart, tooth, flower; an explanation of communicable diseases (such as malaria); and a decimal chart.

We met our guides at the school at 10 in the morning.  One of the students, Daniel, said that they hike Oldonyo Orok every Sunday.  However, they normally run up the mountain.  And, I'm sure they've never timed it!   



Daniel and another guide.  The Masai are easily recognized by their customs and dress (bright colored cloths, beads, earrings and streched earlopes.  

 

While most of us wazungus (white people) wore hiking boots and carried packs full of food and water, our guides wore thin sandals and carried only a spear/hiking stick...

and, of course, a cell phone! 

The hike started out hot and dry.  The vegetation was varied, and we found ourselves ducking under branches and pushing aside thorny bushes (I've got plenty of scratches to prove it!) .

Unfortunately we didn't make it to the summit, as time was running out, dark clouds were moving in, and thunder was rumbling in the distance.  But I heard it was only 10 more minutes to the top.

 

A wet, but happy group of hikers!

 Just as we turned around, the downpour began!  Then came the thunder and lightening!  Of course, just as we reached the bottom, it stopped.

A last minute addition to the soggy group - Gordy's brother, who is working in Nairobi for 6 weeks!

 

Luckily this was not our fate!



Stop and smell the roses

When you think of Kenya, what comes to mind?  Coffee, tea, safari, lions, marathon runners - definitely. The equator?  Sure. 

But roses?

 Kenya is the top flower supplier to the European Union, and cut flowers are one of the country's top exported goods.

 This past weekend I had a chance to visit a rose farm located in the countryside (or "upcountry" as Africans refer to any place outside of the city) near Lake Nakuru.  What a beautiful place!

I was with a group of runners, so of course we ran through the greenhouses!

  Lake Nakuru is also home to one of the most popular national parks in the country.  A trip to Lake Nakuru is not complete without a game drive through the park. 

View from Lion Hill looking down on Lake Nakuru. 

Unfortunately, we didn't see any lions.  But on Baboon Cliff... 

...they tried to get in the car!

The park's most famous residents are the flamingos and ... 

 ...the white rhinos!

An impressive view from Baboon Cliff of the buffalo, pelicans and flamingos.  

Not to fear, zebras and impala were also in abundance.

If you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend a visit to beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park!