On Our Own . . .

We drove to Naivasha this past weekend so LeRon could audit the branch books.  We decided to see a little of the countryside on our way. . . and all ON OUR OWN!  We felt so grown-up to be traveling by ourselves in Kenya!  The 100 kms should have taken only an hour and a half but because we got lost a couple of times and because of the pot holes and speed bumps and traffic, it took about 3 hours.  But it was so nice to get out of the city again.  We also took a microwave and water filters to the missionaries serving in Naivasha and it was great to spend a little time with them. 

I love the red soil which is so prevalent here.  Looks lovely with the green foliage.  Here we are -- on our way to Naivasha.  We only got lost a time or two!  (And we were using GPS and a map too!)

Looking down on the Rift Valley.  It's green and brown and red and hazy blue.  Very lovely.  Photos don't show the depth of the Rift Valley.

We traveled up this narrow road on the edge of the Rift Valley.  Very steep.  No guard rails.  No shoulders.  Lots of trucks.  Thankfully no one drives very fast.

Lots of tourist stands along the way.  These two young men live down in the Rift Valley and walk all the way up every morning so they can man their stands.  I bought this sheepskin hat for way too much even though I told them I was a resident Kenyan and they told me they would give me the Kenyan price.  Even after I dickered I paid five times too much.  And besides all that, the hat looks really quite corny.

While I was dickering over my hat, LeRon was dickering over a Masai blanket.  Again we paid way, way too much.  But we made their day!  LeRon is learning how to wrap the blanket.  Lots of people wrap up in these blankets when it's chilly.  We see it all the time in Nairobi.  But NO ONE wears a hat like that!!!

The hat really stinks too.  It's supposedly washable but . . . I'm not so sure.  LeRon's hair stank (stunk?) so bad when he took it off (he left it on much longer than I did) that I rubbed hand sanitizer into his hair!  That helped somewhat.  Couldn't wait for the shower that night!

Hats and sheepskins were for sale in many places along this Rift Valley Road.

Corn for sale too.  Already cooked for you over a charcoal fire.  But trust me, it does NOT taste good!  I don't know why so many Kenyans buy it every day.  They don't know what Taber Corn tastes like I guess.

It's very dry right now in the Rift Valley.  It's the dry season but soon the rains will come again.

We love these cactus plants.  They dot the land, standing out dark against the lighter shrubs.

You wouldn't want to run into these prickles!  They are the thorns of the acacia tree.  Acacias are the flat-topped trees that say "Africa" to LeRon and me.

We're close to Naivasha now.  Lots of clothing for sale!  But no thanks.  Where would I try them on?!

The Naivasha area is home to many, many donkeys.  They are used as work animals and are often not treated well.  Just like we have SPCA's at home for the prevention of cruelty to animals, so they have KSPCA's (Kenyan Society for the Protection and Care of Animals).  Donkeys are particularly at risk of being beaten by their owners.  You know how stubborn donkeys are.  In the background are greenhouses.  This area has thousands of acres of flowers in greenhouses for European markets.

We had arranged to meet Elder Noel and Elder Emmanuel at this intersection, which was in the middle of nowhere.  The Elders walk everywhere for miles and miles.  They are in great shape!

Here are Elders Emmanuel and Noel at their front door.  So nice to see where they live.

Inside the missionary flat, we found the decor very . . . uh . . . colorful!  Elder Torrie is giving Elder Emmanuel a short piano lesson.

Elder Noel in the "colorful" living room listening in on the piano lesson while I inspect their housekeeping skills.  Not bad, Elders!

A Catholic Church next to an abandoned air field.  Lots of dust and dirt and little children playing in the sand.  This church reminded me of all our wonderful Catholic friends.  Hello to all of you!

Cactus plants in the dust by the greenhouses.  You can see why contact lenses are not recommended here.  Interesting that I rarely see Kenyans wearing glasses and yet I'm sure they don't wear contact lenses.  Much too dusty here.