Today was a long day travelling in the truck. Our driver took us along some back roads to avoid the very rutted road that we took into the park. It was definitely smoother, but also very challenging for the driver (Sam). In places the road was washed out so we had to negotiate detours not meant for large trucks. Having said that, we passed a school bus packed with kids going the other way.
It was an early start and very cold in the truck as a number of the windows wouldn’t stay up with all the bumping around. I was glad to have my beanie and Masai blanket.
We passed lots of zebra and gazelles and wildebeest. Evidently wildebeest is another name for gnus. There was me thinking they were different.
The roadside was also devoid of litter. The homes are mostly without power and all have outside loos/long drops. Some had solar power and you can see wires going from the electric fences into the walls of the home.
The electric fences mainly have those little Gallagher black brackets which seems odd. They also have long electrified pieces of wire dangling from each of the posts which are clearly designed to keep things out rather than in. I’m thinking baboons rather than humans but who knows.
All across the countryside you see these cactus shaped trees. They are quite distinctive. I’m not sure if they are a type of cactus. The farmers use branches to form a hedge and I think they will grow when stuck in the ground. It looks pretty effective.
We passed through the area where most of Kenya’s marathon runners come from, though we didn’t see any out training.
Eventually we came to the main road and headed south towards Tanzania. There were many markets in towns along the way and it was quite fascinating. The countryside also changed heaps. From very flat grazing plains to verdant horticulture with firstly wheat and sorghum (like corn), then tea plantations, coffee plantations and finally sugar cane.
I am constantly amazed at the different clothing worn by people. Today there were more women wearing traditional clothes, but no consensus on temperature. At the same time their were men in tee shirts, in suits and in jeans with puffer jackets.
We stopped for lunch at Kisii town which is in the middle of the coffee and tea plantations. It is clearly a wealthy area with some large houses behind electric fences and gates. I was really glad of the travel pillow that Jen gave us and had a bit of a snooze at one stage. All these early mornings.
In the afternoon we visited a soapstone factory where they do carved figurines, mainly for export to the states. It was interesting and they do some lovely work but the carvers and sanders weren’t there as it was Saturday. 
We stopped at a very nice conference centre for a comfort break. It had lovely grounds and was quite modern.
Then we went to another hotel place for lunch, not that we needed any.
Along the way, we stopped a couple of times and Erellah bought sweet bananas and then these ginormous black and green avocados. We had them with dinner and they were delicious. You just have to pull up and all these people materialise with every type of produce.
The guides try to lead us to very clean and modern restrooms but now and then that doesn’t happen. This afternoon was an example. We went to the restrooms in a supermarket and of the 3, only one was in working order and it was the hole in the floor variety with a bucket of water in the corner that you used to ladle water for flush. Not smelly but pretty wet. 
It was a long day but eventually we got to Migori where we are staying at a local hotel. It’s pretty basic but ok. Mike got an electric shock off the shower head when he tried to adjust the flow. The shower is connected to an instant tepid water system but there is something not right about the wiring. Then we can’t get the sink to empty. The lady at reception looked at it and informed us you have to pump the open/close pull thing, but we’ve both tried and it doesn’t work. Luckily there’s an overflow outlet.
We had a very nice dinner, though mine mainly comprised avocado. So much food!
Tomorrow we are off to Tanzania.
Postscript
Our hotel is near both a mosque and a nightclub. Being Saturday night the nightclub was in full swing until 2am.
I’m not sure if it is just because it’s Ramadan or normal but there was a call to prayer at 9pm and 9.15pm. Also at 5am, 5.20 and 5.45. I guess the locals that are neither Moslem nor frequenting the nightclubs, get used to it.
I also checked with our driver, Sam, about the electrified fence posts and he said it is to keep out elephants. If they get into the farms they eat and generally destroy everything.
Mike is not so well toady. He’s had trouble with his sinuses from all the dust and now has a nasty chest cough. Dr Joan has dispensed antibiotic as the daily malaria stuff hasn’t worked its magic.