Though a bit late as it is February already, I will say Happy New Year!!  And it is a happy 2015 so far with January starting off at high speed!  Though, to get into 2015 we actually were moving quite slow on 31st December 2014 when traveling from Ngurunit to Maralal in our Land Cruiser with kids, dogs, visitor Rupi Mangat (Travel writer for Saturday Nation - Kenyan Newspaper) and myself.  Our goal was to reach Maralal by 7 pm so could join Reuben for some New Year parties and attend the re-opening of the Maralal Safari Lodge.  We had left Ngurunit late morning and leaving Baragoi about 5 pm we were on track to make it in time.  Then, about 25 Km into our 100 Km journey, the car started developing some gear problems.  The car was still moving forward so we continued on with hopes it would last the next 75 Km to Maralal.  After about 20 more Km, just outside of Marti, it started to overheat.  We made it into town and while checking water and radiator issues, a church bus tour pulled up to assist us.  With assurances they would assist us on the road, we decided to press on towards Maralal and our New Year parties!   It was still only around 6 pm and with normal travel time from Marti to Maralal being 1 1/2 hours at most, we felt sure we could make it.  That decision led to a challenging travel adventure.  Not only was the gear system giving problem, and the radiator starting to give up, the alternator stopped working as well so no battery charge.  We had to keep stopping to fill the radiator with water and make sure we stopped on a hill because the second I took my foot off the gas pedal, the engine died.  Then after filling the radiator, kids had to push the car to get it started again.  We were stranded several times without enough water or not enough pushing power.  Each time, providently, a vehicle would appear with kind people to either give out water or help to push start.  One time the kids had to walk a 1/2 km to a stream to fetch more water as we had to stop on the closest hill for the easy push start!  This mode of travel meant that the next 20 km took over 4 hours!  So at 10:30 pm we had arrived in the town of Morijo in dire-straights.  The radiator had given up completely so that as fast as water was added, it poured out onto the ground.  We still had 35 Km ahead of us, the first 10 up a very big hill.  This is when we met a pick-up truck full of soldiers heading to Maralal for leave.  They were kind enough to help us get the car to the Catholic Mission station to park in a safe place and offer to carry us, dogs and all, to Maralal.  We gratefully accepted this kind offer and leaving the Land Cruiser behind, piled into the back of the pick-up.  45 bumpy minutes later we arrived safe at our Maralal home.  We were too late and too tired to attend any New Year parties, but we did arrive at the house about 1/2 an hour before midnight.  So we started a fire in the fire place, got out some drinks and were in time to toast in the New Year 2015 and give hugs all around and congratulations on surviving the challenges of travel in Northern Kenya.  We also gave thanks for all the kind people that had a part in getting us home.  Then off to bed for a well-deserved sleep!