Well the hardest day is done and it deserved its name. We knew before we left this would be a tough one as it was 93kms long with a 26km uphill section. What the organisers left as a little surprise until the briefing last night was the 26km section was from the base of the Rift Valley to the top of the escarpment - an 1100m climb, which for those of you who are still Imperial is 3500 ft.
After a night in a very basic hotel - we have a great picture of the burnt down bar and restaurant - we left at 7am this morning all rather nervous. The Rift Valley is one of the most amazing things any of us have ever seen. Just a huge hole in the earth. It runs 9600km from Mozambique to Israel, looks very much like something from Jurassic Park. Tropical vegetation, sheer walls 1000m high with waterfalls cascading down.
We dropped the 1000m down one side of the valley, cycled across the bottom and started the long climb. All three of us made the climb despite it taking 4 hours 30 minutes. Most of the group made it in fact, with only 5 of the 16 having to be brought up from various places in the support vehicle. If you've ever watched the Tour de France and seen the Alp d'Huez stage, it was just like that although we were a bit slower.
Even once we had reached the top there was a short lunch and then a further 40kms to cover - luckily mostly downhill or flat.
We are exhausted but also very pleased with ourselves. A real sense of achievement completing a challenge like that. Just as well it's for charity or you'd have to be mad otherwise!
When you see rural Kenya you realise how much the country will benefit from education and in particular computers in schools. There is a lot of poverty here and education is one of the best answers. The children are all so nice, it's great to be helping even if in such a small way. We've learnt some really useful things we can put in to our recycling web seminar and Computeraid will be very happy to be on the panel if we want them. Demand is far outstripping supply for PCs. If we can show UK companies there is a way of recycling their PCs that benefits a developing country that could be a double win.
We are off to dinner shortly and then usually asleep by 9pm with the traditional 6am wake up. Just 91kms to cover tomorrow through an equatorial rain forest.
We're proud that Computing and the three of us as representatives are able to support this cause.
More detailed blogging as and when we get internet access which is very limited here.
Toby, Robin and Dave.
Nice one lads - glad you're earning your sponsor money in a suitably arduous fashion.
I do worry about the Rift Valley Fever though. As I understand it, early symptoms include aching and sweatiness, a sore backside, visual hallucinations (which often include exotic wildlife) and the panicky feeling that you are in a deep hole with no way out. Please let me know if you experience any of these so that we can prepare a quarantined area for you on your return.
Cheers!
John
Posted by: John Leonard | Tuesday, 06 February 2007 at 04:27 PM