Bat out of hell

Leo, the chef, is a big fan of the Power Ballad. We've had Celine, Bette, Mariah. My heart will NOT go on.

Left Bong-bong after the usual 5am start and on the Somalia Road (single-track mud road, full of potholes, and it poured with rain yesterday) and we're bumping our way to lake Nakuru for 2 nights. Yesterday was a day of camel-safari. Saw some zebra, thompsoms gazelle and a couple of giraffes. My first camel experience... Blazing hot sun, very iffy seats, and rather un-fleet-of-foot camels. I test-drove 3, one VERY uncomfy, then I had Keiths, which was luxury in comparison, then Troubles which was semi-comfy. Keith was definitely the baby-bears-porridge of camels.

The last campsite had running water (novelty!) And long-drop toilets, with actual closing doors. Unfortuitously I was informed by Steve on day 2 that a bat lived in the toilet, which Suze (tent buddy) confirmed this morning. Why? Of all the places in this beautiful countryside... Why would anything want to inhabit the hell-hole of the long-drop aside from flies and the odd ambitious mosquito?

I am feeling bad about being mean about Oliver now. He means very well, and is very generous and always up for a chat. He also has a very cool wardrobe, he goes for skater-boi chic, which is impressive for a 60+ year old. I still haven't learnt how to understand toothless diddly though.

So: trip-mate updates: they are v nice. Even now that we've all been a bit tired, and a bit rained-on and a bit frayed, people have all been kind. The skeletons are emerging, and the one with the most mileage thus far has to be photographer/head-cardiac-arrest-team nurse Keith. Almost just skidded off road. Panic. Ok, yes, Keith. I was covetting his 500mm lense and lovely camera, turns out the photgraphy part of his career is none other than glamour!!! Many questions left to ask. Feel free to email me any you want answered. I can only check work-mail here as gmail is blocked - and now facebook - argh, so mail me@barcap.

Lake Nakuru has hippos and crocs apparently (and I don't mean those revolting shoes). Neil - Trouble - said this morning that he'd get a t-shirt saying "neil is a lovely man", because even a crocodile wouldn't swallow that. His humour is right on my very lame level.

Quiet-steve-and-Jan are v pleasant - she's travelled loads so hopefully I'll be told more stories by her. She took a whole year off to go round the world so there will be many I'm sure.

Nothing else to report. I'm learning kSwahili. Slowwwly. I can stretch to hello and (jambo!) And thankyou very much (asante sana) and... Wait for it... Akuna matata! It means no worries... And now you'll be singing that all sodding day like I have been!

X
Kate