Another exciting academic year is coming to an end at St Monicah's with christmas time being there main summer holiday. We are trying hard to find some new land for the school in the local area as we have to move off the current site in 2013. Land however is not in abundance. Nakuru is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa and prices for land are increasing day by day. Hopefully we will be able to find somewhere in due course.

There was a little scare at the school a few weeks ago as a couple of the older girls caught Malaria. There was an outbreak of it in the slum and unfortunately some at the school were effected. One of the girls collapsed and had to be taken to hospital which upset a lot of the younger children. Thankfully both girls have now recovered and are back at school

A new Kitchen

A few repairs

Some of the buildings at the school are getting a bit old - especially the ones that were made of mud! Again at the request of the local education authority we had to do a few repairs. The picture to the left was part of the repairs to the mud classroom.

Fundraising for 2013 - fancy a cycle ride?

After the success of this years LEJOG cycle ride we have decided to begin to plan for more cycle rides next year. One of the ideas we have is to cycle from our hometown of Bury St Edmunds to its partner town in France, Compiegne. This ride will take place from Wednesday 29th May - 1st June, returning to Bury on the 2nd.

If you would be interested in taking part in this event or any others we may be running then please get in touch.

Event being organised by Act Cycling Tours (www.actcyclingtours.co.uk), exclusively for St Monicahs.

The cycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats completed at the beginning of July rasied around the £10,000 mark with sponsorship. This is fantastic, so thank you to all that sponsored. All the money raised is going into a separate pot that we have aptly named 'The Building Fund'. We will continue to try to build this up till we have what we need to buy and build - indeed we have to find land in Kenya which is getting quite expensive in the area around the school.

If anyone would like to donate specifically into the building fund then please let us know, we obviously have a way to go to raise all the money we need so we will be continuing to fund raise and look for friendly and generous donors :-)

Just put together a video of the trip.

Our final day !

We said goodbye to The Crask Inn with all its midges biting madly, but having had a great night. What a unique place.

So we continued our journey up the A836, a single track ‘A’ road through the wilderness north of Scotland. The sun was shining, blue sky, fantastic scenery. It was a superb ride, along the side of wass slLoch Naver, which in the still of the morning gave reflections of the mountains like glass. It was an incredible ride. So many photo opportunities that progress was slower than expected, but what a journey.

Eventually we reached Bettyhill, on the northern shores of Scotland. Upon reaching the coast though, the mist immediately started rolling in, and the next part of the journey was once again in thick mist.

The landscape had changed too, to a more barren and bare one. Eventually the sun emerged and the afternoon was spent mainly in glorious sunshine as we travelled along this most northern of coastlines. Unfortunately though, the wind had turned to an easterly, and we battled against a strong headwind all the way along to John O’Groats. This slowed us down and made us even more weary, but eventually at around 6.30, as a group, we cycled into John O’Groats together.

Met by cheering crowds (well, Kenny’s Inlaws), we gathered for the compulsory photos before loading up the van, and starting our journey home.

An epic journey of 970 miles. It has been an incredible time. Mostly good weather, lots and lots of good humour and banter, a real camaraderie built up between all who participated, but mostly a great cause (St. Monicahs), that needs our continued help. If you have not done so yet, please please contribute and sponsor us on-line.

www.stmonicahs.co.uk

We decided to get an early start today as we had over 85 miles to ride, so we left Carrbridge Youth Hostel at 7.30am, while it was dull and overcast. An early start for Davy on his birthday !

Inverness was 23 miles away, but fortunately it was a relatively easy 23. Again beautiful countryside, easy roads, shadowing the main A9 mainly. Into Inverness and over the bridge to meet up with Shaun immediately on the other side.

The first group arrived and saw Shaun looking out over the Moray Firth. He quickly pointed out the dolphins swimming just a couple of hundred yards out from us. Plus a seal bobbinng around as well. What an amazing sight.

Past Inverness we continued north eventually into Dingwall, and along the Cromarty. All the time the cloud seemed to be getting lower and lower, with the odd spot of drizzle. It was when we then started over the hills towards Bonar Bridge that the weather got worse. We went higher and higher and quickly lost ourselves in the clouds. At one point the visibility was down to about 20 yards, with rain falling and very difficult conditions, but we all made it through, dropped down on the other side and gradually the day brightened from that point on.

In fact as we went further north the weather got better and better and the sun started to shine through as we got to Lairg. The last 12 miles upto The Crask inn were just breath taking. The scenery had been lovely so far, through lots of glorious rivers and valleys, but once up on to the highland plateau it is just breath taking. Wild open space. Mountains in the back ground. A real wilderness with striking beauty. We pedalled along in silence mainly just in awe of the beauty of this place. The far north of Scotland is just in another league to the rest of the UK, because it is just so different.

Along route today we had great views of curlews, plus sight of red squirrel, Golden Eagle, weasel, grouse and lots more.

We ended our day arriving at the Crask Inn, somewhere in the middle of the highlands, on the A836. Set miles from anywhere else it is just a unique experience. A time capsule from years ago, selling wonderful ale and great traditional food. Being Davy’s birthday, a card and present was presented, happy birthday sung, and an odd pint drunk.

Being, in effect, our last night though, during our meal at the inn, we sat around the table, reminiscing, giving out awards, and just talking about what a wonderful experience it had been thus far. A great bunch of people, a wonderful cause, a terrific experience. Thank you Lord.

John O’Groats tomorrow

A SPLENDID DAY

Brodies hostel in Edinburgh is not to be recommended. While we had a bed, it was the noisiest and worst place we have stayed at so far. A water pump just above our ceiling was going all night.

So we were glad to leave Brodies behind, but sad to leave Kenny behind. Some excuse about a conference in Edinburgh meant he had cycled as far as he was going to, so after waving us goodbye, he went off to a luxury hotel, large breakfast and comfort !!!

Unfortunately the rain was falling when we woke, and continued virtually all day long. The morning especially was foul. Everyone got soaked through, cold and down. At the first break, many had to change clothes, blankets were wrapped round to keep warm, hot drinks all round. Gradually the rain slowed as we progressed but it was a very tough day, and everyone was exhausted at the end of it.

The Forth Bridge was particularly difficult. Torrential rain and high winds just as most of us crossed it.

Nevertheless it was of course an eventful day as always. Brian, another friend of Davy’s, joined us for the days cycling from Edinburgh to Pitlochry.

Even in the rain and low cloud, Scotland is beautiful. Lots of wide, fast flowing rivers, with mountainous backdrops. Often stunning views. Low cloud covering the tops. Dunkeld was beautiful. Just outside of Dunkeld a Red deer with its fawn appeared and disappeared quickly in front of us.

Today’s route often followed the main A9 up into the heart of Scotland, but we mainly cycled on b-roads shadowing the main route.

Rays front tyre today bit the dust, having been worn down to the canvas, so eventually the inner tube blew. Daz came to the rescue, cycling back nearly five miles to take Ray a new tyre that he had only bought that morning, knowing his old one was severely worn.

As this group entered the high street of Pitlochry, a bagpipe started playing welcoming them to the town. The Pitlochry Backpackers Hotel seems so much more helpful, warm, clean, reassuring, comfortable and friendly than Brodies !