Day 40 It Had to Happen

Saturday January 22^nd. Sooner or later, in fact surprised it didn't happen sooner.....

We had to say goodbye to the three young Norwegian girls first thing because they were taking a cab to Nairobi to catch a flight that we couldn't possibly make – their travel agent's mistake.

We got up at 4:30 and left by 5:00 and broke down about 5:30!The truck died and we coasted to a stop just outside Arusha. They worked on it for about an hour, got it going again and we set off again. Ten minutes later same thing. This time they couldn't fix it themselves, so they called an electrical mechanic because the truck was shorting out somewhere.

Meantime, Vernon had to call a cab for Arvo and Nina, and Ichiko, who had to get to Nairobi to catch a flight in the evening.

We finally were underway again about 9:00. The rest of the day was tiring, boring, and bumpy as hell. The road from Arusha to Nairobi is under construction, or maybe destruction. Parts are paved and other parts are incredibly bumpy and dusty cement beds.

As I said, I'm surprised (and pleased) it didn't happen earlier what with all the 9000 kms we've done and the road conditions we've had.

We arrived at last in Nairobi and the Boulevard Hotel (where I will stay after Uganda and after Kilimanjaro) to drop off all the remaining tour members. Only John, Katerine and I are heading on. There are plans for all of us to meet tonight at a restaurant for a goodbye dinner, but everyone might not make it. So we had a very said short goodbyes to everyone, especially Richard, Filip and Ed. The really rotten part, was that I still have larynigitis and can't talk. So it made saying goodbye really difficult and frustrating. I wanted to say lots to the guys, but unfortunately hugs had to do for now.

Then the rest of us, plus Georgina and Jane who are staying overnight in rooms before they fly tomorrow, and the truck drove through Nairobi's congested streets to get to Indaba Campground. Set up our tent for the last time and got ready for tonight and tomorrow.

Vernon, John, Georgina, Katerine, Ichiko and I took a couple of cabs to The Carnivore Restaurant to meet the rest for our last dinner together. The restaurant is famous and very popular with travelers and expats. They have a security check point in front to protect us from any nerdowells.

The have a big bbq with lots of spits of meat cooking. They bring the spits to the table and cut off a piece for you. They brought, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, ostrich, and crocodile. It was all good and we ate our fill. It was good to share one last meal. I had a good talk with Ed and told him that I was going to miss him. He said that he wished he was starting school again! What a nice thing to say. He said he thought it would be lots of fun to be in my class!

When we went back to our camp we had a shot of brandy, curtesy of Richard who left it on the trunk and talked to another GAP guide/mechanic from South Africa named Vimpy. Great guy and very funny. Then Ichiko phoned Vernon and told him that she had missed her flight! Vernon told her to come back to the camp.