It’s Christmas day and I’m in Nairobi in the heart of Africa, far away from the famaliar Christmas-feeling I’m used to having in my hometown, Bloemfontein in the Free State in South-Africa. We covered 500km really bad roads since we crossed the border into Kenia and the bikes were in need of some nurturing when we arrived here in Nairobi. It’s the stretch between Moyale and Isiolo in Northern Kenia which is well known for destoying shocks on one’s vehichle. Those of you who saw Ewan and Charlie’s “Long Way Down” will know which stretch I’m talking about. We made it to here in Nairobi in one peace though.
We’re staying at a place called Jungle Junction which is quite famous under the biking overlanders mainly ‘cause it’s owner is a BMW-Mottorrad guru. With his help I ended up playing Mechanic for the whole of yesterday.
So much for old Christmas-day. At least we joined all the overlanders for a lovely Christmas-dinner last night. Barbequed lamb-chops for the first time in ages. Yummie!! It was good fun listening to all the different adventure stories. I’m amazed at how many people are actually doing trips like ours.
Now that the bikes are sorted and running smoothly again we’ll be leaving for Uganda tomorrow. One of our destinations there is Kampala where we have a invite from Olaf, a friend of my dear Munchen friends, Romy and Bernhard. Olaf has invited us to visit there when we’re in Uganda.
I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and all the rest…
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2008.12.26 at 00:03
Enduro
Merry Xmas and “Hakuna Matata” (which means ‘no problems’ in swahile/kisuaheli) for you both, neither yourself nor your bikes. I follow your pictures an stories sitting in germany an waiting for some snow. Thanks for your interesting postings an all the best for your “second half” (of your way to kapstadt). Enduro.
2008.12.26 at 01:53
David Handley
Merry Christmas Gideon, I’m very jealous of you and your adventure and missed
you when I was in Cape Town recently.
Yo Ma buks for buffols!
David
2008.12.26 at 12:15
Mehmet
it is impossible not to envy you both… We are following your progress via MC.
We all wish you joyous ride and holidays from Adana - Turkey.
Metin the terrible Turk.
2008.12.26 at 18:37
Wynand
Jis Gideon! Thanx vir die fotos - ek kan nie glo julle is al so ve^r nie! Time flies! Almal hier in SA hou die goeie ou familie kerstyd. Ek’s in keurbooms en gaan more vir Anri en oormore vir Elizma kuier! Dis altyd lekker as die Noordelike halfrond maaikies in Desember kom kuier in die Kaap! Ons mis jou hierdie jaar! Beste wense vir die kerstyd en alle voorspoed. Hou links en gaan regs verby! Wynand
2008.12.26 at 20:47
Celia
Hi Gideon!
Jou posts is short and sweet. Mens wil tog nie heeltyd alles dokumenteer nie, want dit ontneem dalk iets van die ervaring self, maar ek is BAIE bly jy deel darem so af-en-toe ietsie met ons.
Ons het ‘n heerlike Kersfees ete gehou by ons huis met die hele familie, hopeloos te veel kos, Christmas crackers met baie slegte grappies in en hope roomys vir poeding!
Ek het die coolste cd en dvd gekry. Nog ‘n Cecilia DVD (geen verrassing daar nie) waar sy Haydn sing!! Fantasties!
Ek en my broer gaan vir 3 dae bietjie Bonnievale toe na nuwe jaar. Gaan lekker visvang en hopelik wynproe…:) Dis hoe ver my “travels” my van die huis af vat…
Hou aan skryf en foto’s post. (Jy neem nogal baie mooies van mense. Is dit vir jou portfolio..? Hehe!)
Lekker ry!
Ciao,
C#
2008.12.29 at 19:46
claudia, detlev, phelix
Merry Christmas Jungs!
Fotos are super cool, keep our fingers crossed that you are continuing to travel with the angels protecting you!
love,
claudia, detlev, phelix
2008.12.30 at 07:15
romy
Dear Gideon,
I wish you and Christoph the best start into the New Year.
We are like every winter in Asia (this time Thailand) and send you lots of power and good energy from a hut under the coconutpalmtrees.
I’m so glad that you’re save,
enjoy your trip and the hopefully best coffee in Kampala you’ve ever had,
bigest hug
Romy
2008.12.30 at 07:28
bernhard
dear gideon and christoph,
we even follow your stories here from our holiday in thailand-
because we are so impressed and inspired.
and i for myself was really thinking yesterday of following your trip with my landy- as you know me,gideon - i am to much planning instead of doing this trip….
anyway you a are a great inspiration for me, your adventures and stories are great and let one really feel into it.
i am supprised that it seems almost that you pass all the countries without too much hazzle and harm.
please say hello to olaf and thomas from us soon in kampala.
and we wish you both very much a happy new year and a good trip.
bernd
ps: privat to you gideon:
please contact simone under
simone.gutberlet@kircher-burkhardt.com
she would love to hear from you and needs information as well-urgent!
(account doesnt work)
take care my friend
2008.12.30 at 19:18
ruhuth@gmx.net
sallaam,ihr wuestenritter,das beste fuers neue jahr wuenschen euch fathy und ruth.wir geniessen sylvester morgen im bawadi.fathy ist ganz begeistert von den gruenen bergen in aethiopien.zuhause is es grau,weihnachten war schoen mit der familie,aber hier isses noch schoener.allah maak-meit:gott schuetze euch und kommt gut durch und heil nach hause.masalama
2009.1.1 at 12:38
Judith
Hi Gideon!
Happy New year vanuit Kaapstad! Ek is seker 2008 was vir jou most memorable, en mag die jare vorentoe van dieselfde kaliber wees.
Jou posts en fotos is ‘n absolute treat - wat inspirasie betref, kan ek jou se dat dit my letterlikaan die lewe gehou het in die doodsnikke van laasjaar toe die jaar nou erg lank geword het so met die working 8 - 5 leefstyl… Om perspektief te kry oor die groter prentjie van onse kontinent en sy raw beauty. Dink wat julle doen is fantasties - baie dankie dat julle so moeite doen om te dokumenteer (jou fotos is fenomenaal) en te share, weereens - dis inspirational soul food, ek is seker almal wat julle trip volg sal saamstem.
Hier in die suidpunt het ons die een mooi dag na die ander, as nuweling in die moederstad staan ek nog daagsliks verstom oor hoe mooi dit hier is. Die ‘festive season’ gee maar so biki van ‘n ongemaklike edge (ek is seker jy mis nie ‘n MALL nie, of doen jy dalk..? is dit moontlik..?) - hulle se mense het hierdie jaar 20% meer as laasjaar gespend, ten spyte van die recession. Nou maar toe - plaas almal koop Vespas en ry net noord en noord en voort.
Sterkte met wat voorle - sien uit om jou hier te sien aan die einde. Sal nogals graag daai bike in lewende lywe dan wil sien ek moet seg.
groete
Judith
2009.1.1 at 21:23
ana
Frohes neues Jahr! Sehr erfreut zu sehen, Sie sind immer noch in einem Stück, und das Abenteuer fortzusetzen und zu intensivieren! Hope 2009 behandelt Sie wie ein alter Freund! Vielen Dank für die große Beiträge und Fotos, von der Sie beide!
2009.1.5 at 09:54
Flo
Hey Gidion & Christoph,
what a pain-in-the-ass-road that was. Schoen zu lesen, dass Ihr gut voran kommt. Habe die Piste auch ueberlebt und entspanne nun am Mt. Kenya.
Roll on und Gruesse von
(slow) Flo