From Eldoret to Nakuru

Eldoret is called the “City of Champions.”  More world and Olympic champion long distance and marathon runners come from the Kalingen tribe of this region than any other.  We rode past a number of these champions out on training runs as we made our way into and away from the city.

In Eldoret, we visited the piece of property that Kenyan ICCM leaders are hoping to be able to purchase and build a high school on.  It is about 11 acres near Eldoret International Airport.  There is enough land for a high school campus as well as land for cultivation to develop sustainable projects.  We are riding through Kenya in order to draw attention to this project and invite friends, associates and ICCM supporters to make a per-mile contribution for the school.  At the property, we joined hands with our Kenyan friends and prayed together for fulfillment of the vision of this ambitious project.

Our ride from Eldoret was intended to be a destination about halfway between Eldoret and Nakuru.  However, when we reached the town, the arrangements that had been made for our lodging had been voided and there was nowhere else in the small town suitable to stay for the evening.  Tired from a 5-hour bike ride from Eldoret, we decided to put our bikes on the back and top of the little van and the 4WD that are traveling with us and drive what would have been a day’s cycling ride.  We arrived in Nakuru late in the evening and checked in to a guest house.

Because of circumstances beyond our control, our plans have changed several times along this Bike Kenya 2012 journey.  Five of us were delayed a day in getting to Nairobi because lightning struck the plane we would have boarded in Chicago.  Lodging was unexpectedly denied us in the town between Eldoret and Nakuru, forcing us to skip a day’s worth of cycling.  We don't know why these things happen.

But here’s what happened today that made us grateful to be in a major city like Nakuru today. Mark Booth, our team member who took an incredible head-over-heels tumble several days ago and seemed to suffer mere road rash and who had continued riding through yesterday, started experiencing intense pain and swelling along his right side early this morning. It was very concerning to him and to us all. But the fact that we were in a major city with an excellent hospital (we wouldn’t have been had we stayed in that small town 50 miles back toward Eldoret), Mark was able to get expert medical attention. X-rays showed no broken bones or punctures; just some internal bruising. He was able to get some medication and will take a few days break from riding. He hopes to join us for our last two stages of riding.