The Northern Frontier District

That's what the part of Kenya that Gatab is in used to be called. It's not anymore, but in some ways the name still fits. This is where the Chalbi desert is, and Lake Turkana. The vast majority of the land is desert, either alkali like the Chalbi or volcanic like most of the rest of the area. There are very few towns here, (there are some) but most people, and there are not many, live in small traditional villages.

Gatab, on Mt Kulal, is like an oasis. It's one of the green areas. The mountain collects what moisture makes it across the desert from the Indian Ocean, so there is water, and trees, and green.

We've been here about 3 weeks now. I drove up from Nairobi on the 16th of February, getting in on Monday the 18th. I could have done the drive in two days but we got a late start Saturday. Nathan Rozema, one of the short term volunteers at the hangar drove up with me. We stayed in Nanyuki Saturday night, and in Maralal Sunday night. It's only about 300 miles, but after Nanyuki the roads are dirt, and often little more than a four wheel drive track. It was about 16 hours of actual driving. The same trip, by airplane, takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Anyway, we're here in Gatab now. The airplane is getting regularly used, and everyone I talk with says how relieved and glad they are to have the airplane here. So far it's been lots of little flights, with one long one. I flew from Gatab to Moyale to pick up Tim Kelty and take him to Nairobi. Moyale is way up north east, right on the border with Ethiopia. In fact I landed in Ethiopia and taxied back into Kenya...the airstrip cuts across the border. Then back to Gatab. About 7 hours of flying yesterday. Most of the flights have been Loiyangalani and back, Nolpilipili and back...15 miles or so each way, but 10 minutes in the airplane takes the place of 3-5 hours by car. It's often less expensive too.

Susan is settling in here too. She's busy getting the garden in order, and learning to deal with the local women. The vast majority of whom don't speak English, and many of whom speak very little Swahili. We're taking Swahili lessons again, and it's helping. We can always find someone to translate from Swahili to Samburu. English to Samburu is a bit harder to find a translator for.

Alex and Beth are coping with home school. They've made the adjustment and so far seem to approve. Right now the Woodworths and Heidorns are down in Nairobi, so playmates are a little in short supply. Samantha in particular has hit it off with the younger Woodworth kids (David and Kayla) and spends most of the day with them.

So...Gatab. No stores, no movie rentals. No traffic!