I am staying with a 'settled' Masai family who have a compound with tin shelters and a more traditional mud and stick kitchen. We have a little solar power which provides either lighting for one room or tv. All cooking is done over an open fire in the kitchen, which keeps us all fumigated from the flies. We have little water but seem to keep healthy, even though there is little chance to clean hands or utensils, even after slaughtering the chicken and plucking it in the bowl we use to wash up. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger; and these people are mighty strong, both physically and mentally. They rise before dawn, some of the children set off for school at 4am, and retire about 10pm although again the children are often studying beyond this.
The day consists of milking cattle, taking them out to graze, along with the goats, feeding the chickens, growing crops mainly maize, cooking, and cleaning, very time consuming over a fire and heating water too; collecting fire wood and water, etc etc. There is no machinery, just everyone knowing what is to be done, cooperating and getting on with it.
Visits to the loo are interesting, across the cow yard, with or with out cows blocking the gate to the next compound and across another paddock, to the pit latrine, which is fine; but I have now been told not to go on my own after dark!, but have been given a more convenient place behind the house for a 'short call' .
My family are always cheerful, caring and considerate. The children are a delight; for all the hardship they are some of the most cheerful and relaxed people I have met, even those family members working in town with all amenities prefore being on the shamba as it is more relaxing. I think 'modern life' will means something different to ma after this experience.
Hopefully this is a quick flavour of where I am. I hope to blog more when I have more time. This is my one visit to town, in the back of a pick up truck and I must meet with my volnterr coordinator and buy my essentials of water and loo roll before I have to get another matutu to get back
Barbs's Big Bike RIde
This year I have decided to stay and enjoy an English Spring. It has been a long time coming but at last it is here and I am off to explore my own back yard. Well actually travelling up the UK mainland as far north as possible before 21st June and see how close I can get to the Midnight Sun.
After my travels along the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain last September on my trusty old iron donkey, I have bought a lighter bike in the hope that I can get up a few more hills and by going from Lands End to John o Groats (LEJOG) I can avoid the killing headwinds of the Spanish meseta.
So here she is, we had a jolly naming ceremony on Saturday and hopefully the good friends, food and weather I enjoyed will carry me through to the farthest northern climes. Thank you all for a great send off, admirably topped off with one too many pints The Village Bike listening to Mojo Triangle.
And she is called Eleanor, isn't she beautiful, I hope I still have such tender feelings after 6 hours in the saddle, but probably only in the nether regions I fear.
The map link on the right will show a rough itinerary and route and I will try try to update with my actual route, if I can work out how and where I am as I go along, you know there will be little correlation but I will get there or somewhere in the end!
If you want an email update, submit your address in the box also on right and hopefully it will find its way through the ether to you.
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