We settle for the night. It’s even more windy tonight, the tent and palm trees make even more noise. It’s the second day I’m not getting a good full night’s sleep. Lack of good sleep and not eating well. It’s gonna take a toll on me, I’m sure.
DAY 4 | To Sibiloi National Park
I have to pack up my tent and strap my luggage bags back onto the bike. This takes time and we run late leaving. Timam says he is ready to leave while I’m still packing up. I finish packing and get on the bike ready to roll out, but he is not ready yet. I remove my helmet and and sit at a table and wait for him. Soon we are both ready to leave. Today we are venturing into more unknown places. We are doing the ride into Sibiloi National Park.
We reach the junction near Gas town. Straight ahead is Gas and farther on North Horr. We turn left, onto the road to Sibiloi.
I leave Timam at the junction and roll on. He rides fast and I know he will catch up easily.
I reach this large vegetation free clearance, and stop for a photo session. I have been riding slow, just enjoying rolling over the landscapes. Up to this time, I have no idea that a pressure kettle is boiling. I have absolutely no idea how my slow pace is causing Timam chagrin. I do not know that I will soon find out.
When I stop, there are two girls at the edge of the clearing, among the trees. I put my bike on the side stand, and walk away from it to take a wide photo. The two girls start running away. Part of me wonders whether they are running away from me, or I should be running too…?
We take a break. Timam is not having a good time. The thorn injury in his foot is causing him pain. The two jerrycans of fuel in his bag, strapped to his back are causing him discomfort. (Someone told him that if he straps the fuel to the bike the vibrations will cause it to explode.) We decide to empty one 5 litre jerry can into both our bikes to lighten up his burden. Then we resume riding. The road here is kilometers upon kilometers of gravel and stones.
After some hours, about 50 kilometers from Sibiloi gate, the kettle finally boils over. Timam stops and says he is tired of riding slowly. He wants to ride fast. He wants to go ahead and leave me. I see absolutely no problem with that.
“Sawa,” I simply say. It was my trip, I was prepared to do it alone, anyway, and I will do it in a way I’m comfortable with.
We bid each other farewell, and he shoots off. A little distance away, I find him stopped. He has remembered that he was carrying some of my money. He hands it to be. We bid each other farewell again, and he shoots off.
I continue riding at my pace.
I arrive at Sibiloi National Park Karsa gate.
Timam is here. He immediately expresses his dissappointment that I have taken a whole thirty minutes longer than him.
I’m tired, and need to rehydrate and take a rest. Most of all, I’m really craving sugar. I have not eaten anything since breakfast, and the effect of not having eaten well for two days is taking its toll on me. I regret not having carried a couple of bottles of soda from Loiyangalani.
“Let’s go on up to Koobi Fora!” says Timam.
Empathy does not come easy. I try to explain it to him: “Hey I have just arrived here, I’m tired and need a rest. You have rested for thirty minutes already. I need to rest too”
He still insists we ride on to Koobi Fora. We had already parted ways. I, in fact, see no need for this conversation. I tell him to go ahead. “I’m sleeping here at the gate, I will proceed to Koobi Fora tomorrow. You, please go ahead.”
