East of Nairobi along the main highway is the market town of Sultan Hamud. Going north and west from there on dirt roads, you come to Ngoto.
The road was smooth dirt - except for where it wasn't. Here I'm fording a small stream.
(Click on the photos for larger images. All images and comments pertain to the 1984-86 period.)
Yes, we tried hard to make this look fearsome. Actually, I learned to drive in Africa because we had much of this in rural areas. Pretty slick during the rains.
But the experience has stood me well over the years since.
Well, it wasn't just me that got stuck from time to time. Here a professional driver needs a push. I'm the one with my face to the camera. Dave is the tall one in the hat next to me.
Of course, the road was used by many who did not have cars. Here two share a bicycle in order to get some goods back to the house.
So, five gallons of water - that's about 40 lbs each of these women is hauling on their backs, and without any fancy load-distributing pack frame either.
They walked down to the spring, loaded up on water and walked back. It was some distance. Note that they are barefoot.
Another little market town was Mutyambua, but I was never there when it was open for business. The rest of the time it was mostly deserted.
| Last modified 11/20/09;; original material © 2009 John P. Nordin |
