Iten for 28 hours

We spent the week writing grant proposals and doing math clubs. On Friday, we went to several schools for kids with disabilities with a Kenyan who is doing research for his PhD on the effect of computer training on this population. 

One of the schools we visited was far north of here so we decided to explore that area on the weekend. We stayed Saturday night at Kerio View, a lodge perched atop an escarpment. It has a magnificent view of the valley with farms below and then a further view of another escarpment and valley.It's all part of the Rift Valley and we had a good view of Lake Kamnarok. We went on several hikes, one lengthy one down to the first valley. It was quite a steep hike both up and down and we saw a beautiful waterfall with a rainbow at the bottom on the way back up.  

Iten is the name of the town where we stayed and it is becoming quite famous as a place for marathoners to train. The Kenyans (who win a lot of marathons) have trained there for a long time and many of them come from that area. The altitude is about 7500 feet, the air is clean and the area has some well maintained dirt tracks. While we were there, we met the Japanese man who had won last year's Tokyo marathon and a Kenyan who is a world champion. Also, while we were there, the Berlin marathon was won by a Kenyan from that area. The lodge is owned by a friendly Belgian who seems to know everyone in the world of marathoners. We enjoyed chatting with him.

We do need these small getaways to relax and have some time to ourselves. We returned in time to finish up a grant proposal.

The pictures were all taken during our stay at Kerio View:

Water is constantly being hauled in Kenya, mostly by children

Mel fell while crossing a small very muddy stream.

The onlookers were quite amused..

Passion fruit growing

Some boys playing hooky from Saturday morning classes

A very polite young man who accompanied us part of the way.

Love that expression!

The sign leading into the town

The view down the escarpment was gorgeous.

We hung out in this palapa Saturday afternoon

These kids befriended us.

By the fire Saturday night. The weather was beautiful in Iten-much cooler than here in Maseno.

The sunrise from the windows in our room.

For our lengthy walk, our guide gave us walking sticks.

An eagle's nest

Our guide

We did need those sticks at times!

A friendly farmer

Traditional house.

The waterfall and rainbow

Mel and I making our way across a log!