Hiking the Railway

I had heard that the railroad running above the RVA campus was part of the famous Kenya-Uganda Railway and wanted to see for myself. 

My first step was to watch the movie, "The Ghosts in the Darkness," which is based on the "man-eating" lions who killed men as they worked to build the railway bridge over the Tsavo River, 6 hours south of RVA. 

As it is now VAC, I decided to take the extra time and hike to the Railroad.  With the Kenyan book, "Facing the Lion" on my audible, and directions from another staff member, I headed off.

As I walked the Kijabe town road, I could only think about the fact that I was just outside of campus in a place I hadn't yet been.  With only one piki pass me by, it was quiet and peaceful. 

 My directions included, follow the Kijabe town road until you see a path up.  I was told that there are many paths up and I could take any of them.  I was enjoying wandering the road so I took the second trail. It was fascinating to hike the trail on my own being the only person around in the forest. Although the path was true there were some points that were overgrown and at one point I couldn't quiet tell where it was headed. I even ended up at a fire pit without a continuing path on the other side.  Just when I wasn't sure I was headed in the right direction I came upon a dried up river.  Just above the river bed was the railroad.  I had made it.

I decided to walk along the rail road in one direction 

and then headed back the other way hoping to see RVA.

 As I walked the trees would open up and there would be a view of the valley below and the mountains beyond.  

I loved the rock of the mountain peaking out among the green trees. 

Once I had seen the sights in both directions I decided to find a path and head back.  The path I picked was not as clear as the one up the mountain and there were times when it got quite steep.  While I walked I found a railroad candle in the forest and decided to keep it.  It was interesting to carry the candle while trying to use tree branches to steady me.  At one point I came to a fence.  I did my best to follow it down although it was quite steep. When I got to the bottom of the fence there was a drop off.  I decided it was too far to jump so I had to head back through the trees.  I finally came to a point that looked closer to the road with more of a gradual decline.  Quickly, I realized I was wrong about the gradual part.  While hanging with my hands around two branches and sitting sideways on a rock face with my feet slipping below I knew I had some decisions to make. 

Decision 1: Do I have enough of a platform before to drop or will I end up rolling and falling to the road below.  

Decision 2: Am I strong enough to climb back up?

Decision 3: Should I take a picture of myself squatting here?

Thankfully, I was able to maneuver my feet in such away that I could make it to the landing below me and then I headed down through the brush to the road below.  I was comforted by the fact that there was a man tending his garden along the road below and if I needed help I could call him.  Although he never looked at me, I knew he knew I was there. As I walked back to campus I felt accomplished.  I had hiked to the railroad and now I can say I saw it.