“Riding a bike is everything to a cyclist. The friendship and camaraderie you have with other cyclists… to a cyclist, it was the be-all and end-all of your life.”

^{— Tommy Godwin, English long-distance cyclist}

• Read the previous chapter: My tryst with Kenya – 0.1

Day 2: A Ride to remember!

The fact that we completed 120 kilometers on the first day broke a psychological barrier. Anyone who had any doubts about their abilities to cycle 500 kilometers had those doubts suddenly disappear. However, I continued to feel uncertain. I had joined the group in the middle and only cycled for around 50 km on the first day. I avoided the torture of cycling through Nairobi’s streets. However, I hadn’t yet cycled for a full day to gauge my level of readiness. On Day 2, I also chose to be the sweeper. I therefore felt a little nervous before we began on the second day.

The team marched when it was still early enough for dawn. The goal was to travel as far as possible before the sun was over our heads. The sleep deprivation was evident on everyone’s face. We got going steadily and gradually. As part of our entourage, we had a pilot vehicle up front and a rescue vehicle behind. They made sure that cars and trucks, particularly big lorries, passed us at a safe distance.

The weather Gods were also kind, and traffic was less congested than the day before. The sun eventually began to rise, and its golden rays illuminated the sky on the horizon. We enjoyed the early morning ride across the gorgeous Kenyan countryside.

After around three hours of cycling, we arrived in the town of Makindu. In the local dialect, it means “The place of palms.” In railway jargon, it is referred to as “Mile 100.” It was a significant technical stop for railroads at the time. It has a well-known Sikh temple that was constructed in 1898 AD by Indian semi-skilled labourers. The British brought them here to assist in building the former Ugandan Railway’s lines.

Over time, it grew into a major relaxation and meditation centre. It served as a landmark for travellers between Mombasa and Nairobi who may otherwise get lost in the area’s deep woodlands or be slaughtered by the man-eating lions of the Ksavo or get lost altogether.

Today, it is a large temple that serves pilgrims from all over the world as a meditation centre. It offers free food and lodging to everyone, regardless of religious views.

We were also provided a lunch and hot tea at the Temple Kitchen (Langar). The lunch was warm and tasty, and the temple administration was quite friendly. We were fully refuelled and ready to face the rest of the day.

We had a rather easy day after Makindu. The scenery was breathtaking, and the roads were wide enough for cycling. Though the sun became harsher in the later half of the day, and we also encountered some long uphills and a lot of flat tyres. Despite the odds and exhaustion, everyone managed to pedal the entire day and no one entered the recovery vehicle. It was a very wonderful moment for me as a sweeper and another milestone for the team.

We travelled over 100 kilometres in about 10 hours with no one requiring physical or medical help. It was a wonderful day filled with cycling, temple visits and meals in the wilderness. We retired for the day by repairing a lot of flat tires and drinking ‘Stoney’ and ‘Tusker’.

Epilogue

In two days, we had covered roughly half the distance.

Everyone is now performing at their peak.

There will be no retreating into the bus!

The group’s synergy is at an all-time high.

It’s going to be a smooth voyage from now on!

Really?

The Weather Gods and the Ksavo National Park were inquiring!

—–

to be continued….

Read the next chapter: The ghost and the darkness! – 0.3