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May 2018 - December 2031
  • K and A's road trip
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Travels in a motorhome
This blog is written to remind us where we have been and what we have done Read more
  • K and A's road trip
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  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Wesa House, Kilifi

    October 13, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We all rose early as our bedrooms were flooded with glorious sunshine, and we were all eager to make use of the wonderful infinity pool in the garden. We decided instead to venture onto the beach (a mere 3 minute walk from the house). The Indian ocean looked too inviting, and our swim was taken there. GGM was already in the water with Stew and family before we got down there.
    Breakfast was fabulous and substantial - pancakes, honey with lime, bacon, sausages, eggs, mandase (donut) toast, tropical fruit, tea coffee etc. etc..
    We had a lazy day by the pool, Matt did some snorkelling on the rising tide and we had a little go later to reacquaint ourselves with the process.
    Returning through the garden we noticed the magnificent baobab tree there.
    For lunch Charles prepared a traditional rice and beans dish which was very tasty. K had a Spanish omelette.
    Charles prepared a fish BBQ in the evening using white snapper. Yum    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Wesa House, Kilifi

    October 12, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today was a travelling day.
    We rose quite early to prepare a picnic lunch for later in the day.
    We piled the safari wagon with people and loaded the roof rack with luggage for Moses to take us on a short drive to Wilson Airport. The airport lies alongside the Nairobi National Park. We had a late morning flight booked to Mombasa on the coast.
    Everything worked according to plan. Arriving in Mombasa 90 minutes after take off we were met at the airport by our taxi (a 16 seater) which transported all of us to a house by the sea we had rented for a few days.
    The ride through Mombasa was interesting - colour and chaos as usual. The main road north is being re-developed (Chinese money), and driving through heavy rainfall, our driver negotiated the bumps and crevices in the road with aplomb. After about an hour, the dirt track road turned to tarmac, and the speed picked up. Our house for the week lay behind the beach about 15k north of Kilifi, accessed via a dirt track about 3k long. We passed traditional homes and villages on our way. Esme did not enjoy the journey and screamed for much of it (as she was restrained in her car seat and angry about being so).
    We were welcomed by Charles, our host and chef for the week, with his staff who were busy sweeping water off the floors after another downpour.
    The property comprised of an old colonial style beach front house with masses of living space and an infinity pool. It was soon in use.
    Charles and his team provided us with an outstanding fish curry for our evening meal. The fresh local fruit was also very welcome. This has all the makings of a major weight gain.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Thigiri Ridge

    October 11, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We enjoyed a quiet morning with Esme. K and M were due to return in the early afternoon. They duly arrived at 2pm and advised that their safari had been spectacular. They saw a group of lions on the prowl, stalking buffalo, the effort spoiled by their exuberant cubs joining the action. They were also able to see a leopard with her cub up a tree with their prey.
    After lunch K and A walked round to the Village Market, a modern shopping mall not far from Thigiri Ridge. The mall hosts a Maasai market in the carpark every Friday.
    On our walk we passed by the road side enterprises, which sell all manner of things, from small curios through to hand made furniture, beds and cupboards etc..
    The Maasai market was everything we expected it to be, very colourful and vibrant. The stall holders were quick to engage you in conversation, in the hope of encouraging you to buy their wares. We bought some curio items after a bit of bartering (we did quite well and everyone was happy.)
    It is a very happy market, if a bit in your face, and we escaped to have a look around the very modern Carrefour Supermarket in the main mall.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Thigiri Ridge

    October 10, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today was a national holiday. Moses took GGM, K, A and the four children to the National Museum. Magnus was a good tour guide within the museum which showed off a lot of the Kenyan culture, flora and fauna.
    GGM rested in an Indian restaurant while we visited the museum, and after our visit we joined her for a meal. Alan's Kadia chicken curry was particularly delicious. The children enjoyed chips, rice and tandoori chicken. GGM had a lovely prawn curry and K a lightly spiced chicken sandwich. There was so much food the doggie bags were needed.
    After lunch GM and GGM took the four children into the snake park. A returned to the reception to see if he could buy a ticket, as we were one short, but the bureaucracy involved, (passport numbers etc. ) and the failure of the logging in procedures conspired against. A very fraught Karen exited the snake park. Esme was getting very tired by this time.
    G and Ts were necessary in the evening.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Thigiri Ridge

    Oct 9–11, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We all got up early today to see Kirsty and Matt off on their safari. Simon, our driver from last week arrived, once again, bang on time at 7:30.
    We had a quiet morning with Esme, who enjoyed reading books with Granny Mac and Great Granny Mac.
    In the afternoon Moses took us to the childrens school so we could see Jemima's year group open exhibition in the school hall. It was very lively and we met some of the children and parents from the weekend party.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Nairobi National Park

    October 8, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Stewart had a business meeting in the morning, so we enjoyed a lazy morning by the pool, before we all piled into the safari wagon to visit the Nairobi National Park. Nairobi NP is the only park of its kind within a city in the world.
    After completing the entry procedure - Kenya is big on the need to provide passport information etc. in such places - we entered the game park. We had organised lunch at the Olulo Lodge. On the way to the lodge we drove with the expectation of sightings of lion, antelope, rhino, impala, gazelle, giraffe amongst others. The lion and rhino were elusive, but by one water hole we spotted a couple of crocodile in the water. We quickly wound up our windows as one crocodile awoke!!
    Lunch at the lodge was terrific, all the produce served came from the lodge's farm. After lunch we were given a guided tour of the farm, where we observed an organic and recycling restorative form of farming in action. Everything was geared to maximising the use of all produce. Waste products were composted, the compost used in the regenerative farming vegetable beds and the kitchen garden. Poo from the animals was collected
    and composted with the methane gas used to power the kitchen ovens. Rabbits, chickens, ducks, pigs were reared on site for the kitchens. A most impressive set up.
    Wandering back to the family A met the owner of the lodge, Joanne, who is an Australian who once farmed in the hinterland of New South Wales. Next time you come she said, "I'll give you residents rates" - we might hold her to it.
    On our return we found some rhino, but no lions. We did get very close to a large croc by the waterhole.
    Stewart did a great job of negotiating the chaotic Nairobi rush hour on our return to base. Driving here is really chaotic, with no regard at all for use of driving lanes.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Thigiri Ridge

    October 7, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today was Kirsty and Matt's first full day in Kenya. We decided on taking a short walk through the local forest park. There was a good chance of seeing monkeys, snakes and other exotic birds along the way.
    The entrance to the park is a short walk from the house. After paying our non-residents entry fee, we wandered down the broad walkways in the woodland (Sigiria Forest) surrounded by lush green vegetation. The monkeys were very shy, but appeared every now and again in the trees by our side. No sign of snakes thankfully.
    After a little while Kirsty, Matt and Esme returned to base and Karen and I continued on through the park. We wandered off track a little at one point, but eventually found our way to the exit gate we were aiming for and crossed over the highway to re-enter the park on the Karura Forest side of the road.
    It was now lunchtime, so we stopped off at the River Cafe, in the park, for a nice lunch. The Karura Forest is home to some waterfalls and Mau Mau caves so we decided to extend our walk to take in these sights. The waterfall was quite impressive, but if the Mau Mau were hiding in the caves then it is no surprise that they were eventually neutralised. The walk along the river was, nevertheless, most enjoyable. Climbing back up to the main path we took a wrong turn at the top and marched on to the exit to the park diametrically opposed to the point where we thought we were heading. After a 15k walk in the heat we did not relish another 8k return walk to base.
    Thankfully, Uber came to the rescue and, after a 2 minute wait, Bonface turned up with his little car to take us safely home. The ride took us down United Nations avenue, where we passed the Chinese and US Embassies, amongst others.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Thigiri Ridge

    October 6, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We had gone to bed the night before thinking that an early start would be required by some in the morning. Kirsty, Matt and Esme were due to arrive on the morning flight, scheduled to land at 5:00am. It turned out that they were considerably delayed, so Stewart, Alan and Magnus were able to leave at 9:15 in order to get to the airport in time to welcome their arrival.
    Three very tired people emerged from the arrivals hall. Thankfully the Sunday traffic was very light, and we were all back at base without any further delay.
    We had booked a table at a local restaurant for lunch. K and M decided that powering through was the way to go, so we all piled into the the car for the 15 minute drive to Shamba.
    The restaurant supports local crafts people. We were taken with a colourful wall hanging for our new dining room and agreed a price at 33% of the original opening figure. The ladies selling their various items gave us a charming hard luck story as to why we should buy lots more, and told us it took them ages to complete the work. As it happens, Paul, our waiter for the meal was delighted to see what we had bought, as it was one that he had made. Magnus re-acquainted himself with grandad's camera, he let him loose to take some snaps, the one of Esme being delightful.
    The new arrivals had an early bed time.    Read more

  • K and A's road tripTravelerBig Adventure

    Thigiri Ridge

    October 5, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Our return to Nairobi was just as interesting as the drive to the Mara. Passing through the villages they were alive with all kinds of life - cattle, sheep, goats etc by the way side looked after by Maasai handlers in colourful robes. Women were washing clothes by the river and hanging it out to dry by the road side.
    The market places were teeming with people buying goods and livestock. Goats and sheep were being transported away from the market on motorbikes.
    We arrived back in Nairobi in early afternoon to see the final preparations being made for Stewart and Emily's childrens party.
    100 or so people pitched up a little later to celebrate Magnus being 10, Jemima being 6 and Mary 5 (21st party).
    The party had clowns to entertain the children, a bouncy castle, caterers to do pizza and wraps for all. There were two lifeguards on duty by the pool which was well used by adults and children throughout. A well stocked bar kept the adults lubricated.
    We met many of S and E's friends and neighbours as well as the families of the childrens school friends on a lovely afternoon and evening.    Read more

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