Hi everyone! We arrived in Kakamega about 1 hour ago. It was a great day of riding, and seeing some of the most beautiful countryside that I have ever seen! Very lush and green, lots of climbing for the cyclists, and some good down hill rides! The bikes are holding up, though there were a few incidents with chains, tires, and brakes, but a little jiggling and tightening and cajoling the bikes seemed to help. We had one unfortunate accident. Two cyclists fell and got a bit scraped up, but nothing too serious thankfully. Both were back on their bikes in no time.
This trip, the group has agreed, is not about cycling. It is about bringing together people from different backgrounds, traditions, cultures and languages, and getting to know each other, breaking down stereotypes, building friendships. And yet, it is really all about the cycling in a way. The reception at each place that we stopped at was overwhelming, and even as the cyclists rode on the highway, people would wave and shout out affirmations and blessings. Seeing a group of 17 cyclists, all wearing matching jerseys, plus 3 vehicles with banners exclaiming "Cycle for Life", was a sight to see. And people gravitated to the message of building peace. The majority of the post-election violence from 2007 took place in Kisumu, Eldoret and Naivasha...all places that we will be traveling through. The wounds of violence, trauma and loss are very fresh, and so is the wish for peace.
Here are a few pictures from the day.
Kim
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