Ah... What a change!
Our first day in Northern Kenya and it's so peaceful. We don't have to duck and dove for rocks or put up perimeter fencing around our camp anymore. Plus you can actually stop and have a decent conversation with the locals as most of the speak English and are friendly and welcoming us into their country. Karibu (welcome) is shouted at us as we ride past.
The ride was a great 80km from the Moyale border town to Sololo, a little town in the middle of nowhere. There is a shop with a warm coke or two an a few camels, cows and baboons roaming the camp but that's all. However, the roads are horrible: corrugation, rocks and sand the whole way. For the road bike riders it's definitely not that much fun but for the mountain bikers it is just short of heaven. I just can't see myself on a road bike with no suspension on these horrible roads.
What can I say, the title says it all! People running up and down with shovels and white gold under their arms- which at this stage is the most valuable item to have. It started 2 days ago in Addis Ababa, the potent bug that wipes you out for 24 hours- Extreme Diarrhea, fever, vomiting, stomach cramps and a headache as an add-on bonus.
Trust me, it’s not fun having diarrhea in the bush!! Sometimes you make it, sometimes you don’t. Almost a third of the camp is down. Both the trucks are packed with sickos and our nurses are having their hands full- thanks to Alex and Erin for doing a great job looking after everybody.
The challenge of our physical discomfort is doubled by the fact that our condition could potentially kill the local children if they are unlucky enough to catch what we have. Additionally, the serious riders have to get up on their bikes every single day, with or without the bug, and cycle- you guys are a real inspiration to all. Riders who have retained their EFI status through this nightmare seriously rock- Keep it up!
Vandag se trap was nog ons korste dag van die toer sover net 61km van Addis Zemen na Bar Dhar.
Ons het nou ‘n rus dag hier in Bhar Dar reg langs “Lake Tana” wat ‘n goeie ding is want ons het ‘n paar ryers wat nog aan sterk van maag aandoenings en ander peste.
Sover geniet ek Ethiopia baie dit is iets anders ek meen dis nie orals waar jy op ‘n fiets ry en met klippe gegooi word of met stoke geslaan word nie.
Die grootste uitdaging is om koel en kalm te bly as die son jou pik, jy teen ‘n berg uit trap teen 6km/h en jy die teiken is vir 10 klein ethiopieers wat jou bestorm met stokke,klippe, tamaties,suiker riet of jou somer met ‘n ui agter die kop gooi. Dis regtig ‘n belewenis! Die meeste pret van die dag is om te “duck” en te “dive” dat hulle jou fiets tref en nie jou lyf nie want party van die klippe is so groot soos tennis balle. Ons is gelukkig het nog nie enige klip gooi beseerings nie net ‘n paar beseerde fietse wat se speke uit gegooi is.
Tyd gaan so vinnig verby ons is al in die 3de land van die toer en net 6 dae oor van die 2de seksie van die toer. Om elke dag op te staan en ‘n 100 plus km te ry is nou net deel van die daaglikse roetine.
Ek sien baie uit na die res van Ethiopia ek dink dit gaan nog rof raak soos ons verder suid beweeg maar dis hoekom ek hier is vir die uitdaging!
SO FAR SO GOOD! For me the Sudan has just been great I’m loving it! Miles and miles of desert, sand and nothingness. It’s definitely doing something for the soul. Everyday is a new challenge; it’s either the heat, or the wind, or millions of bugs and the latest challenge are volcanic eruptions in the stomach as the happy campers call it. But everybody seems to cope well with the personal challenges they face every day.
Today’s ride was pretty much flat, very HOT and windy. Quite a long day.
The last rider just came in to camp and bailed in the sand right in front of everyone. He He nice way to end the ride. Looking forward to the rest of Sudan, Take Care
Tjoedel Doe
