“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.”

– Erol Ozan

We were eager to cycle the penultimate day after an exciting time at Tsavo the other day and a delicious breakfast in Voi. We all looked like Zombies who had not slept for eons, yet our spirits were all high. We carried out major repairs to all the bikes last evening with the help of a professional. So everyone got a bike today. We started early in the morning as a ritual to avoid the sun and humidity. It was supposed to be an easy ride today, as we would be almost going downhill. It was a gentle reminder of the approaching sea in Mombasa!

I joined the first group after doing sweeper duty for the previous two days, thanks to Kim, who had volunteered to be the sweeper for the day. It was a refreshing change for me. Apart from a few flat tires, the ride went as planned.

We decided to have an extended lunch and discuss the mental health of healthcare workers during that time. The discussion was emotional. This was especially true after hearing about two of our colleagues’ inspirational experiences with depression. They eventually overcame it. It was also eye-opening to learn about the various healthcare support systems that exist in different regions of the world.

Some crazy thoughts came to my mind towards the end of our day’s ride. We were about 15 kilometers from our destination when I decided to try some bicycle sprints. Clement joined me as I began to sprint. We cycled like mad, clocking 45-46 kph for the last 10-15 km without stopping, completely disregarding upslopes, traffic, and headwinds. The adrenaline was rushing, the legs screamed in pain, and the lungs begged for oxygen. Despite this, those 15-20 minutes were some of the greatest of the entire journey.

We arrived safely and had a wonderful evening in the small village of Samburu.

As I lay down for the day in my bed, a thought occurred to me: Tomorrow is the last day of this tour!

Read next chapter: Champs-Élysées! – 0.5

Read other chapters in the series:

• My tryst with Kenya – 0.1
• My tryst with Kenya – 0.2
• The ghost and the darkness! – 0.3
• Champs-Élysées! – 0.5
• Reflections! – 0.6