Total KMS
cycling. |
Days on the bike. |
Positive meters. |
Te Chai cups drinked. |
If someone were to ask me how this bikepacking route through Kenya has been, I would find it hard to find all the adjectives that can qualify it, but I'll stick with one: AMAZING. But I'm going to start at the beginning... Thanks to two friends, passionate about cycling, Tristan Ridley, a British, and Eric Nesbit, a Kenyan, we had the opportunity to have access to a route they were creating, a route whose sections were not yet fully linked and that basically boiled down to a gpx file, which they would send us the day before taking the plane, with a few notes that guaranteed adventure in every way. The plan seemed irresistible to us, just our style, and we jumped into the adventure.
With the information we had about the Kenyan terrain, the choice of bikes was clear from the start: the Megamo Factory bikes would provide us with the right dose of safety and fun. And now with hindsight we can say with certainty that we weren't wrong. We chose the right bikes.
We pedaled out of the center of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, a city of more than 4 million inhabitants, where cyclists have no place, where the law of the strongest reigns and where car fumes leave you on more than one occasion without visibility, inside a big gray cloud. |
 |
With the information we had about the Kenyan terrain, the choice of bikes was clear from the start: the Megamo Factory bikes would provide us with the right dose of safety and fun. And now with hindsight we can say with certainty that we weren't wrong. We chose the right bikes.
We pedaled out of the center of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, a city of more than 4 million inhabitants, where cyclists have no place, where the law of the strongest reigns and where car fumes leave you on more than one occasion without visibility, inside a big gray cloud. |
|
SO, WE STARTED THE FIRST 12 KILOMETERS OF THE ROUTE, "TASTING" THE CHAOS OF NAIROBI.
Frankly, I was so psyched that it didn't seem so chaotic to me. I guess the desire to start the route overcame everything.
Suddenly, the landscape changed and we found ourselves riding in the middle of tea plantations, eucalyptus trees and blood-colored clay soil. This route was promising. Now we were really cycling in our midst.
The second day took us to one of the highest points of the route, at 2720 meters. (This route almost always runs above 1700 meters).
And the spectacle of watching wild animals from the bike began: giraffes, zebras, warthogs, antelopes.... The highlight, however, would come in the evening when a herd of hippos decided to wander around our tent.
The second day took us to one of the highest points of the route, at 2720 meters. (This route almost always runs above 1700 meters).
And the spectacle of watching wild animals from the bike began: giraffes, zebras, warthogs, antelopes.... The highlight, however, would come in the evening when a herd of hippos decided to wander around our tent.
THE DOSE OF ADVENTURE WAS INCREASING IN A FEW HOURS.
The following days continued to be beautiful and hard at times, between well-maintained tracks and rocky trails, passing through the Soysambu Conservancy or the Eburru forest, real jewels of this route.
In Soysambu, we camped overnight, and I can assure you that it is one of the wildest places we have ever camped.
Zebras kept us company during the darkest hours, buffalo in the distance and monkeys that were attracted by the aromas of our dinner.
 |
The fire we lit gave us a certain air of warmth and security, as wild animals are not very fire friendly.
We let the dry wood crackle until the fatigue of the day decided it was time to go to bed. |
|
The fire we lit gave us a certain air of warmth and security, as wild animals are not very fire friendly.
We let the dry wood crackle until the fatigue of the day decided it was time to go to bed. |
Lake Baringo, a real paradise for ornithologists, seemed the ideal place to spend a couple of nights, and to gather strength for what would be the most intense climb of the route.
THE DAYS WENT BY AND OUR ROUTE TOOK US THROUGH REMOTE AND UNIQUE PLACES.
We went back to the heights, above 2200 meters, we spent the night in the village of Mochongoi where we met some locals, who made us feel part of their community. At the end of the night, after many hours of conversation, we realized that although a world separates us, the values of life are the same.
That night, we camped next to a small police station and spent the night peacefully and quietly.
 |
AFTER A FEW DAYS, WE CYCLED THROUGH THE MOST REMOTE PART OF THE ROUTE, IN THE HIGHLANDS OF LAIKIPIA.
There, people live in villages, there are few resources, and in this area, we had to be very smart in order to eat and drink. No more finding little shops every now and then and eating ugali (a staple food made from corn flour).
However, Laikipia gave us the opportunity to see more wildlife and to live with rangers from the Masai tribe. |
AL CABO DE UNOS DÍAS, PEDALEAMOS POR LA PARTE MÁS REMOTA DE LA RUTA, EN EL ALTIPLANO DE LAIKIPIA.
There, people live in villages, there are few resources, and in this area, we had to be very smart in order to eat and drink. No more finding little shops every now and then and eating ugali (a staple food made from corn flour).
However, Laikipia gave us the opportunity to see more wildlife and to live with rangers from the Masai tribe. |
|
