Top of the Town

Yesterday we went on an amazing hike... which would have including some serious rock-climbing if it was up to Laura and Northe... but instead included bush-waking through the foliage and scaling a rock face to get to be the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th muzungus (and probably people) to climb to the "top of Mutomo."

After work we met up with our new Swedish friends and a man named "David Beckham" who claims he is the best guide in Mutomo. 

 

Headed out on the trail to to summit on the right, and the big rock on the left. 

David led us down the road, up a rock face and then straight up into the lush bushes and foliage. The hillsides of Mutomo are currently green because it is the rainy season, we've heard that most of the year it's very dry and brown. Northe gave David the Panga (machete) which he had recently purchased in the market. David chopped and slashed our way through the trees. We expected to see (or feel) snakes around every corner and up every tree but somehow made it without incident. 

Watching out for snakes.

Laura climbing up through the bush. 

As the trees cleared we found ourselves on the top of the rocks overlooking the whole of Mutomo. The vast plains and hills were all around us. 

It was actually shocking how far we could see and the variety of plains, hills, and jutting rock-faces that make up the near by topography. We scrambled across the top of the rocks to see Mutomo from above as well as its multiple dams now full with water. 

The whole team on top of Mutomo's highpoint.

Our fearless guide, David Beckham.

Laura found some time to do some yoga.

Northe & Meg overlooking Mutomo.

Not only did David prove to be an excellent navigator, he also pointed out local flora and fauna for us. 

Trying some cactus "milk".

The descent was no less thrilling as we hiked through knee-high fields of morning-glories into the neat crops of a local couple who had built their home up in the hillside. 

Walking through the shamba (farm) on the way down.

David showed us the local wildlife, including monkeys who had been transplanted here from the Masai Mara National Park (because they had grown too numerous there) and the giant arthropods that he called pets (but we thought looked more like a monster of some kind). 

A monkey in the distance (look closely).

Even Eddie enjoyed the trip.

We finally made it to a dirt road that led us through the surrounding farmland full of maize, millet, sorghum, peppers, beans and greens. We had to speed walk home for the last portion of the hike to make it in time for our evening dinner plans which included a feast to celebrate the last night in Mutomo of some of our friends: Margareta, the Swedish Dentist and Alexander, the Norwegan Surgeon.

Telling jokes in many different accents. 

The day was amazing and the night went far too long into the night as we shared various international jokes and too many boxes of wine.