Tired and Buffed

We woke before sunrise and took off on our final leg back to Nairobi. We once again caught the sunrise as we drove, making it 7 straight sunrises that we saw on our 8 day trip, a sort of medallion that we boast for packing each day with at least 18 hours of adventure.

Our tires were in terrible shape, as was the engine but after calling the rental company they assured us that we must drive the car in ourselves, a stark contrast to the promise that they made when we left that they would come get us if the car broke down. We drove halfway and the hole in the side of the tire began to widen. Since we payed 20 dollars for the tubing inside the tire to reinforce it, we didn't want to risk blowing the tube so we swapped the tubing in our one blown tire with another, slightly less blown tire that we had as a spare.

Once in the city the real challenge began. Driving in Nairobi is a free-for-all, it's like Nam, there aren't any rules. Since our car stalled anytime we idled, Nathan would have to keep the car constantly moving. Whenever we could not move Nathan would pop it into neutral and rev the engine, then pop it back into gear. It was terrible for the car. We dropped off Abdi, drove across town to drop off some gear that Louise had given us, then back across town trying to find a hostel, then finally, back across town to drop off the car.

We were prepared for a fight with the rental company since we were returning a busted car, missing two tires, and covered in dirt, inside and out. In the US, this would all be fine given that they gave us a spare that didn't work, a jack that didn't work, and we called a day earlier explaining that the engine was slipping but were told to drive dangerously anyway. But this is Africa. The rental guys were shocked to see the dirty car and I could tell that they were displeased. Then when they saw the condition of the engine, I knew they would try to pin it on us, regardless of the fact that this car had 220,000 kilometers on it. They called a mechanic who called a mechanic who finally called another mechanic and the final mechanic discovered that there was a problem with a sensor, a relatively minor problem. When I asked him what causes such a problem he said, "these are like light bulbs, with time, they just stop working." Not our problem right? Wrong.

First thing they did was lock us in. The guards closed the gates on us in case we decided to run away, something I had strongly considered since we paid in cash and didn't give them any significant info. Then they started finding superficial problems with the car. Like the brake pads being worn. How is that our fault? It doesn't matter. The reasoning goes, "All I ask is that you return my car the way I gave it to you." Eventually he would ask for about 50,000 Kenyan shillings, nearly double the price of the rental. I told him that it was an impossibility.

After nearly an hour of arguing I gave in to the fact that we were locked inside a guarded compound and would either be leaving with the police escorting us to jail or by paying some unfair amount. In the end, we got it down to about 220 dollars, which he argued was the price of 2 new tires and a buff. Nevermind the fact that we already paid nearly 100 dollars on tire repairs and lost 100 dollars in returning our car one day early. I wrote up a release of liability and made the guy sign it upon our paying him. My only hope now is that they find something worse wrong with the car and that they lose a lot of money on the deal. And then of course that they become infertile and their lines are removed from the gene pool. Any future travelers to Kenya, steer clear of HYPER CARS LTD.

Nathan and I made it back to our hostel and had a nice meal at hooters. Again, shops use American names but actually have nothing to do with the original, American chains. The journey was complete and had brought us nearly 2,000 kilometers in 8 days. It was a great journey filled with adventures and of course, problems and challenges. But it was certainly a highlight of a very long trek through Africa. It is a short downhill race now till Thursday night when I leave. We will spend this week in Nairobi, a very busy and modern city with a lot to offer in the way of entertainment and culture. Hopefully some photos in the next day or so, so check back!