Crazy Quilter on a Bike!: Itˋs Safari time

Friday, August 8, 2025

Itˋs Safari time

Wow - I need to keep up this blog because even one day behind and Im already forgetting. Not becuse my brain is old, but so much is happening. We had a very early start to the day which is what the previous post didnt happen. I was suppoed to get up at 5 AM to write, and I totally slept in until DHs alarm went off at 6 AM. Since our ride as ariving at 7 PM, there wasnt time!! I ordered the American breakfast at the hotel, which was HUGE. Cereal, egs, toast, fruit, yougurt. I couldnt eat it all and thankffully they packed all the pastries in a goodie bag!! Then we got to meet our driver - Evans, who was a wonderful young man with three years as a driver. Did he earn his tip or what - what for it!! To get out of the crazy Nairobi traffic, we took the express toll highway. Yep -- just like the 407 back home Not packed because you pay. but it goes right through the center of Naroibi but it still took over one hour to get through it all. and as we got to the other side, we starte to ciimb. I think we were over 2000 Meters at the top. Then we turned off onto a highway that follows The Great Rift. I might be a bit of on some of these names but itˋll have to do for now. This is a two lane highway - one going in one direction and one lane in the other If there is a mishap --- well you know what happens. Well, not in Afria!. These people drive like maniacs. Like Evans siad they told him when he was taking his driving test --- everyone drives like crazy except you! the big trucks (and it looked like the 401) had no choice but to stay on the paement. However the Toyota (only brand weve seen) and the cars have zero issue with driving in the ditch. or the non existent shouler. At one point, there was the lane of traffic going, the oncoming lane was blocking with the going traffic and there waas five or six lnes in the ditches. All going of course - it was insane. Until someone (co riders of the big trucks) who finally cleared a path for the coming traffic and that got everyone sorted out. Good thing too as we were apporaching the cliff (no guardrails - who needs guardrails) and no ditches. It was slow, but it was absolutely fascinating to see how they deal with the taffic. The other thing --- no one yells when cut off by someone else. No raised fingers, no road rage. they just find a way around and keep moving. There are aslo no lines on the road. that helps with keeping the costs down We stopped at the typical souvenir market stop along the way and to use the washrooms. I didnt have to go at that time, but I did look at a beautiuful brightly woven orange blanket. there is NO room in my luggage so it didn't come back with me. We haven't purcahsed any souvenirs yet and our plan is one magnet for the collection on the fridge and one bracelet. Im good at buying bracelets and then they get lost when I get home I had a couple of nice ones from the Camino. I must find them when I get home. We survived route - I think that portion of the highway was 20 KMs and took a long time. We turned off and while this highway was better and less traffic, there were very patchy spots that were under construction. They were "blocked" by rocks and branches. The motorcycles jsut kept on going while we went into the ditch. And everyone else did as well. No choice. But even in the ditch, they drive like mad. We finally arrived at one of the gates for the Masaai Mara National Park. This park is huge at over 1000 square KMs. It is significantly larger then the Serengeti, but not as well known. I wonder why? There area also over 100 hotels (small boutique type) in the park. So we ended up there for lunch. On the way to the hotel, we stopped to look at many animals - zebra, giraffe, gazelle, and several other types of antelope. Lunch was wonderful in a big open airy space, but under a roof. After lunch and a quick nap, We met back up with Evans and had an afternoon safari. Keep in mind, this was only for DH and I. So we could stop as long as we wanted and whenever we wanted. I cannot begin to tell you how many wildebeats are in this park. Hundreds of thousands of them and they are crazy!!!!! We spotted some lions, who only lounged in very sparse shade and did nothing. WAIT--- the big guy actually rolled over on his back and looked just like Murphy!!!! Lets not forget the hippos. We spotted several families of them in the river. Lets say that you do not see much of them when they are in the water. and they stay in the water all day because they do not have sweat glands and they would die from heat exhaustion on the shore!!! The vehicles have to be back in the hotels parking lots by 6:30, so we headed back to the hotel,where I sat in the lobby trying to write the blog, but it was such an uncomfortable position, I only got one day done!! After a late dinner, we went to bed. But not before wathing the hippos on our doorstep. Yes -- our roomwas right on the bank of a river and there were two or more hippo families there. They are noisy!!! This "hotel" is very remote and they don't run their generator all night, so there was absolute silence (except for the hippo choir) and absolute darkness. It gets turned on at 4 AM and when the outdoor lights came on, it woke me up! And I think that covers the adventures of the day. It was a long day and except for a quick catnap after lunch - no napping allowed. Yet I couldn't sleep. Now why is that?

Look at me -- I've got a picture to add today and I was able to resize that. Now why is that when I could never do it before? I took this one as we were heading back to the hotel.

OK--- I'm not getting the second picture where I want, but you get the idea. And there are many more pictures on Facebook if you follow me. I will accept friend requests right now, but I'm not in the habit of doing that.