Waking up in Mai Mahiu is a huge challenge. By nature I am not an early riser. And I do not tolerare the cold well. I woke up at 6.30am and to give myself a stern mental jerk to crawl out of my sleeping bag.
The temperatures outside were at 13ºc and the sky was a dark grey. The trucks were on their way, thundering down the road without much grace. Our camp last night was at Reba Springs, a quaint little hotel at the foot of the escarpment. This little place has finally offered a decent stop-over in the sleepy truck town of Mai Mahiu. It is right opposite the legendary little Italian Catholic Church that is the hallmark of Mai Mahiu.
The hotel management offered us a hot shower to jumpstart our day and after Dan's infamous pancakes, boiled green maize, matoke and a hot cup of milo, we were ready for the day.
Our next stop is Limuru, yet we have not secured a night stop. Joy and I set out ahead of the team to find one. We were getting desperate when we saw a school from the highway. We had to drive a kilometer away to find the turn off from the highway. We got to the school and were warmly received. Unfortunately, the school has function there this afternoon that will end late. Our spirits are dampened but we thank the teacher and head out.
As we are about to rejoin the highway, we notice the gate to a small school nearby is open and we try our luck. I still haven't met Mrs. Kinyanjui but we are mighty grateful. She spoke to us on the phone and gave us unlimited access to her premises, Muguga Heritage School. She even had the gates left unlocked for us when we arrive.
It is greatly touching when we come across people like Mrs. Kinyanjui. No questions asked, no hesitation, just whole hearted welcome even on phone, and we are made to feel at home. This is the kind if support a cancer patient requires. She is already going through so much in her life that a show of kindness is like rain to parched land.
We feel this kindness as we walk and motorists stop to make their donations to Thomas Chacha and to shake his hand for gallantly leading his team this far. Bus drivers plying the route who have seen them walk all the way as they drive by everyday, hoot encouragement and wave to the team as they go. Kenyans who flash out their phones as we go by and send something to the campaign....all in support if this noble cause. My heart swells with pride. This is what being truly Kenyan is about. They make us know, that our dreams and efforts to actualize that dream, are not in vain.
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