This definitely was surreal. We hired some mountain bikes which arrived with only one brake working and other minor “challenges”. After a little fettling and a few hits with a hammer etc they were just operable. A boys trip today by pure coincidence. There was a suggestion that it was because the boys can handle hangovers better than the girls but I could not comment on that of course!
We were cycling to Hell’s Gate which is a gorge cut in the volcanic dust by rivers. The entrance of which is described as Hell’s Gate. It has been used for many film sets including Tomb Raider and Lion King. The approach requires cycling through a safari park. The entrance says “Beware of the Cats!” I presumed it was a joke but apparently not!! (we found out afterwards there are leopard and cheetah (but no Lions) luckily for us they are very shy of humans! Cycling down an ever narrowing valley with Giraffe, Zebra, Warthog, many Antelope and Baboons whilst having the free feeling of being on a bike was an experience to savour. The animals are fairly used to cyclists too so we could get pretty close. The heat was intense too as was the dust from the road when the occasional car passed us.
The water falling is shower hot!
At the start of Hell’s gate we picked up Austin a guide who was excellent. We saw volcanic plugs, washed in hot waterfalls (where is the Shampoo when you need it!! (well I don’t need it obvioulsly….!)). Because the volcanic dust is deep and soft, the water has cut very deep narrow channels and it is immediately apparent why this area would make great film sets.
At the end of the walk bit of the gorge it widens
out again into a deep wider valley that is heavily forested due to the water and was the main Lion King setting. We climbed to the top of the gorge and just stood and admired the splendour of it.
As we said our goodbye’s Austin said “So boys now you have been to Hell and Back!”
The cycle out of the valley was obviously uphill and the heat had not abated but our water supply was limited. By the time we got to the entrance we were parched. A long rest and a couple of cold drinks and we were tired but heading home.
The track out was raised slightly with loose gravel at the edge before a 2 foot deep narrow ditch. Not concentrating I drifted onto the gravel and the front wheel slipped into the ditch. A quick 360 or two over the handle bars (including a face plant) and I was folded in the ditch entangled with the bike. I could not move as I was tangled but the boys behind me had seen the crash and then me not move so they were just a little concerned. Luckily we had Doctor Bob (a paediatrician volunteer) with us. We quickly assessed that most of the blood was from superficial grazes including the one on my face. The worst was two gouges in my arm where my now very mangled watch with a metal bracelet style strap had been ripped off. At least they were clean cuts. After reprimanding the boys for not getting a picture of the crash or me in the ditch we set off back a little slower.
Milking the sympathy
Back at Carnelleys I prioritised a medicinal beer over a shower and cleaning up the wounds. There was much sympathy from the team but that soon wore off and turned to the usual banter which is much more fun.
That evening after a couple of days of living the colonial, expat style of eating and drinking we decided to go to a local café for dinner and have kokoo choma (barbequed chicken). 8 of us remained and we were the only muzungus there which was great. Good to put some money into the real community too.
Back for a beer and a round robin game of table tennis and then we all crashed after the New Year festivities the night before.
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