Last night in Kenya

  
           

What can I say? Kenya has been an awesome experience and has lived up to all of my expectations. The country delivered in a big way; challenging roads, spectacular scenery, wildlife abounding (this morning I woke up to the sounds of lions roaring… and we were still in Nairobi), friendly people and great weather for the most part. We rode south today from the bustling capitol of Nairobi through a rolling countryside. The riders were treated to sightings of zebra, Thompson Gazelle and even a few giraffes. The day was long but silk smooth roads and strong tailwinds helped the riders along the way. It was also our first full day with our new Indaba staff, and a few minor hiccups notwithstanding, they did a wonderful job. 

Tomorrow we cross the border into Tanzania and while everyone is anxious to get another country under our belts, no one is desperate to leave the plush campsites and industrious hospitality of Kenya. Adding to the excitement of the border crossing is the arrival of a bunch of new riders into the camp, including a new Lonely Planet contingent who have a tough job ahead of them to stack up to the incredibly friendly and personable teams that LP has sent along with us on all of our previous stages. That being said, I think maybe a few racers will be relieved to no longer have to deal with the powerhouse LP rider Jim Hsu who pushed all our racers to their limits when he arrived in Addis Ababa last section. 
           
Tomorrow also promises to deliver the 2009 Tour d'Afrique riders their longest rest so far. Three days in Arusha to truly get a good rest, wash all their worldly possessions and sally forth into the Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park for a true African safari. We are all looking forward to it.