Ngong Hills - My First Hiking Experience

Loving the Scenery...

I have never gone hiking before. This was my first time ever! From stories doing rounds within the Kilowatchers Team, this was not going to be a piece of cake, clearly some of us had gone to the hills before and came back with not very pleasant stories, but one thing was for sure, they wanted to go back again.

So needless to say, my adrenaline started piling days to the hike scheduled for 30th April, 2011. I got this email listing things to buy and things to eat during a hike! Wooah! This was going to be quite an experience and I was definitely going to be a part of it. There was no way I was going to chicken out at this point. So, up at 5.00 am on the material day, dressed warmly and with my broom stick at hand, I left the house at 6.00 am sharp! Yes, broom stick, I'm not a witch though...hahaha...wasn't going to ride my broom to the hills, but rather climb them.

So 23 of us met at the Ngong Police Station at 7.30 am.... We gather around and then this Policeman, Mr. Ali comes by from his night duty and insistently & very lovingly takes us through some warm-up exercises. That almost knocked the socks off my feet, not the exercises, but the fact that cops in Kenya can actually interact with commoners like us up to and including making us do the "hep hep hurray" stunt that they do at Kiganjo! Hah, he also just dispelled the myth that I have held for a long time that no cop in Kenya actually exercises. Oh, but he told us, he does team building "on the side"-- ok ok that explains the moves!

Windmills on Ngong Hills

We started the climb at about 7.45 am...just the first 10 minutes were so tough for me. Right from the Police Station the inclination is quite steep. It didn't help that I was carrying almost 4.5 litres of fluids (water/juices) for some friends, a small umbrella, sun lotion and some fruits in my back pack. Lesson one learnt right there: next time I hike, I'll carry MY water only and MY walking stick, plus a very light snack. I'll never offer again to carry anything for any one :)  After about 40 minutes of climbing we came by a spectacular scene, the windmills!  I've never been so close to one before. They were just magnificent.

Kilowatchers doing their thing!

The mills were moving so effortlessly in the cold mist. It was quite chilly though. Those who forgot to carry warm clothing had a hard time fighting the chill. It was also extremely misty, there were times that visibility was almost zero. The hills were hidden in the mist and we could hardly tell how steep some were until we were literally at the top.

My back ached, my calves ached, my arms ached! But how else would you make your muscles stronger? Hiking is the most effective if one wants to tone muscles... I guess.  At around 10.00 am the mist cleared and I saw one of the most beautiful landscapes.

Considering that were were just 35 minutes from Nairobi City, this was just the perfect escape! We found a nice open space did stretch exercises with Kyalo (our trainer for the day). At around 11.45 am or thereabout, we settled for our "lunch" and Alice Ndong surprised us with this puzzle for finding bible books from a passage. It was such a cracker! My team only managed 23 out of the possible 30.

Alvin and I

Considering the fatigue, I felt as though we won the Olympics! Being up that hill literally felt like being on top of the world for quite a number of reasons. One that I actually managed to keep up with the team despite my slow pace b) I didn't quit until when everyone else quit :)  c) It was my first hike ever to tackle and I made it  d) At this point in my life, I'm more convinced that I am where I'm supposed to be doing what I should have done many years ago; that is, eating life with a big spoon..by doing healthy stuff.


Well after our brief break, we started the return journey, same route - with a small diversion though. The sun was out and hot at this point. But the sense of achievement overwhelmed my heart!

Dan and I

Despite these harsh weather conditions, the team soldiered on. Some of us were hike-gurus and so they walked quite fast, but in all honesty, I was the last; the one lagging behind. It was very tough for me, but I just couldn't give up. Thank you Bernice for walking besides me and encouraging me and telling me stories about the Royal Family and the just concluded William and Kate's Royal wedding; yes I agree Kate should have not lost all that weight! heheh- she looked too skinny. Thanks Kodhe for holding my hand all the way up the hills. Despite the fact that the climb was equally hard for you, you stuck by me! Thanks Alice Ndong for always being one of my biggest supporters, yes, there were moments up there that I almost gave up, but you kept telling me that I cannot afford to be pessimistic and that you were with me all the way! That was such a boost.

I was too happy to be up the hills.

My dear Sypie, your stories just knock the socks off my feet, "Huston is Calling" , hahaha that kept me going, it was just too funny. Bertrand, thanks for leading the way and for watching out at how the front terrain looked like and adequately reporting back at how the climb was gonna be tougher!! Disheartening indeed. Patrickkkkk, those lessons of how to immobilize a would be mugger were just too deadly; for my readers, Patrick taught us how to hit someone's Adam's Apple and in his words, "it will buy you ten minutes to run off" ! hahaha.... And for Job, "asante" for video taping all our hardships, screams, painful episodes indeed, I beg of you not to use any of those photos or clips against us! :) Especially when I run for president in some years to come.

Eunice, I don't have words for you! Carrying my broom stick half the journey was not quite helpful to me, but I'm glad it helped you climb!!! Your ever smiling face was calming. To Sam, Tony and Mike, the most patient people in the world! Thanks for walking at 0 kph when I needed to! Monica, thanks for coming; always nice to see you. To everyone else, I'm forever grateful for making my first hiking experience ever a worthwhile trip....

Beautiful!

 
And to my two very good friends Alvin and Dan, thanks for honoring my invite! Most importantly thank you for pulling me up that second hill, for sure if you never came for me I would have rolled down that hill. Big thank you.

And to all Kilowatchers, we made it! We have to have a round two of this for sure before end of this month to adequetly prepare for Mt. Longonot.

I'm still in pain to date from that hike, but I know once I heal, my muscles will be so much stronger. I tested my will power and I realized just how strong I am deep inside a valuable insight I got on that chilly April morning.


Miss Dee.