March 05, 2008

So long Ethiopia


The last four riding days in Ethiopia were very different: first we rode two days over non-paved roads, in a hilly landscape with many banana trees and a lot of dust and heat. Knowing that I had two flats within a few kilometers after another, you can imagine that I was happy to arrive in camp on time.
The last two days we had good tarmac, with the occasional pothole to keep you on the alert. At the start it was nice and cool, and no wind, but later a headwind developed. At the end of the four days we found ourselves in Moyale, the town on the Kenyan border.
Because Kenya is of-limits, we rode back by bus to Addis Abeba, from where the whole group will be traveling to different parts of Africa. On march 16 everybody will meet again in Arusha, Tanzania, to get on with the Tour.
On rider stayed behind in Moyale: Tony Tuck from New Zealand wants to ride the Kenyan part, one way or the other. Equipped with extra gear, food and water he will ride through Kenya by himself. We tried to make him change his plans, without result. I hope to be able to shake hands with him in Arusha on march 16.

Ethiopia


*Beautiful mountain landscapes
* Small scale agriculture, no tractors or other machines are used.
* Perfect roads, not one kilometer is flat.
* Own language (Amharic), own writing
* Own calendar, this year the millennium has changed.
* People are everywhere, especially children
* Children herd the cows, children carry their brothers and sisters on their back, children carry enormous weights, children throw rocks, children ask for money, ….
* The best coffee so far
* A lot of shirts of the English premier league, especially Arsenal
* National sport: table football
* "Hey you, where are you go"