Full update of terror in Northern Kenya to come.

8^th March 2011. 115kms.  Marsabit to Bush Camp. More bad roads.

Not to bore you with details, we got on the road at 6.30am happy that this would be our final day on the bad roads of northern Kenya  and probably won’t hit the dirt again to after Arusha in Tanzania.

The first part of the day was bullshit bad road.  We had to climb a couple of long hills in the granny gear dodging boulders and trying to keep the front wheel pointed up hill. The scenery was quite spectacular for the first part of the day.  With huge rocky mountains growing out of the ground and just standing there on their own was amazing.  The greenness of the acacia tree and the ochre colour of the road and surrounding fields made the morning ride a real joy.  Although the road was pretty tough, the first part was a gentle descend into the valley floor.  We stopped at the 46km mark for a nice coke and some biscuits.  I was the first to arrive at the hotel and soon we had about 15 cyclists joining us.  These little towns must revel in the money they make the day the circus comes to town.

Like usual as we approached the town the kids would run beside us asking us, ‘how are you’,  everyone one of them would ask you that same question.  

As we continued on the rocky peaks that grew and grew was so spectacular to see and if I had a better camera I could show you.  I’m using a Nikon coolpix which is good for close ups but rubbish for landscape.  

The lunch stop was at 65kms and I was glad to see it.  The majority of the day I had been riding by myself.  On bad roads you can’t ride anyone’s pace other than your own.  Some people ride gravel and sand better than others.  I’d like to think I do a fair job of riding in the dirt.  Still I just cruise along each day, not busting my gut to get to camp and sit around and do jack shit like so many of the other cyclists do.  I prefer to stop at every village and meet the locals and take plenty of photos to show the family back home.

After lunch I had to ride 30kms to the refresh stop.  Since the road was atrocious  and it was so hot with the sun belting off the sand on the road, we were going through litres of water every hour.  The corrugations were getting worse and at times I was riding at 5kph.  I would have been better walking.  Some of the guys did get the chance to see an elephant in the distance today. I got to see little shits yelling and screaming at me asking for money or my name.  My names Brian now go away and leave me along.

At the refresh stop I met up with a couple of cyclists for nice drink, a pack of peanuts and some more drink.  Filled up the bottles and we were on our way again to a coke stop about 3kms up the road.  It was so nice to sit down and have a cold coke with a chocolate bar and some biscuits to take back to the camp to enjoy over a nice cup of tea in the afternoon.

Whilst we were at the coke stop some of the local women brought over their necklaces and head beads to sell.  Some of them looked nice but I know that no one from my family would ever wear that gear.  I did make an offer for a bracelet, but the old women would not budge.  Stubborn like me the old cow. So no sale today.

I finally left Peter behind who wasn’t feeling that well and headed for my final destination of the day, bush camp. It was a welcome sight to see the flag in the distance and what was more impressive is the sight of tar road just behind it.  This means we have finished the hardest section of the tour more commonly known as ‘meltdown madness’, due to the heat and the worst roads on earth. I pulled into camp after riding the final 20kms in 1 & ½ hours at 3pm.  I had started at 6.30am and had spent far too long out in the Kenyan heat.  I’ll need to eat and drink plenty to recover for the long 158kms tomorrow.

The schedule for the next couple of days.

The grey sandy rocky roads of northern kenya

Taking a well earned rest on the way to Marsabit.

Heading off into the morning sun along the terrible roads of Kenya.

Coke stop and well needed in the heat of the day.

Peter came in about 10 minutes after me and just laid down on the ground stuffed.  I don’t think he’s feeling that good right at the moment.  I built my home changed my tires back to road for tomorrow and got ready for dinner.  Before that I devoured 4 cups of soup, 2 cups of tea and about 10 biscuits.

Time to hit the sack and do it all again.

URGENT UPDATE: TDA CYCLISTS HELD AT GUNPOINT.

Hi All

Just spoke to my dad on the phone. 5 TDA cyclists were held at gunpoint during todays ride.The riders stopped on the side of the road to take a short break. 4 bandits through rocks and spears at the cyclists as they attempted to get away. Shots were fired and spears were thrown. The bandits told them to lie on the road. 1 person was shot at but missed, another 3 were hit by the end of there spear.The bandits stole all of the cyclists belongings including the bikes.The military are currently searching for the 4 bandits.The tour may ride the truck tomorrow.This happened in North Kenya today 9/3. Dad is OK as he was 5 minutes ahead of the bunch that were held up.

Dad will have a full report when he can access internet.

Matt

Hell of the north.

28^th February 2011.  106kms Arba Minch to Dry Lake Campsite via Konso, Ethiopia.

 

Today was going to be paved roads and the start of gravel again.  I had enough of the gravel in Sudan, but this is Africa so I need to just get on with the show.

Up nice and early and hit the road at 7am.The kids were now becoming a real menace, yelling and screaming in this homicidal tone was enough to crack anyone.I rode on with rolling hills to accompany me the majority of the way until we reached the lunch time stop at 60kms.An excellent meal and now the gravel was to commence.Fortunately the gravel lasted for 35kms then we had to climb the 8km up to the town of Konso, Ethiopia.The road was quite good and once again the scenery was spectacular and the top of the mountains down into the valleys is something I wish everyone could see in their lives.

We stopped in the town of Konso for a drink and then hit the gravel for the final 15kms into the dry lake bed campsite, It was so hot when we got into camp it was killing me when I had to change my clothes in the tent.  It must have been over 50 degrees in that sweat box.We had nothing to do for the rest of the day other than to contemplate the mando day tomorrow.Tomorrow is going to be a real cracker of a day and it’s not going to be easy at all.We just sat in whatever shade we could find and waited till 6pm for dinner to be ready.As soon as dinner was ready I headed for the tent and crawled inside.Shit I was boiling in that thing.I had to do the naked thing again because I was sweating like a pig.I lay on my towel on the mattress and was in a lather of sweat for 1 hour.Eventually I fell to sleep and woke around 4.50am for what should be an exciting day. 

On the issue of kids, one of the cyclists had a collision with a pedestrian and suffered damaged ribs, helmet, and bark off.Will be in the home of the OROMO people tomorrow and the following days as we make our way to the Kenyan border in 2 days time.

1^st March 2011. 98km of gravel hell from Dry Lake Bed to the Town of Yabello Ethiopia. Mando

Today I was ready to hit the gravel for the Mando Day to the town of Yabello.The climbing is 1450 metres and this is on gravel road.  The first part of the day I was not going to stop until I reached the lunch at 50kms.  With plenty of water and food onboard I was off at 6.50am.This would never happen at home My mates are all too lazy to riding at that time of the day.That includes Josh and Ashley.

Up the first rise and I’m on my way.On gravel roads it’s really hard to ride with another cyclist so I just plodded along at my own pace.The road was so bad it was hurting my ass with all the bumping.The road was rutted, gravel, deep gravel, rocks, boulders, camels, baboons, dogs, goats, cows and throw in a couple of stick wielding teenage vigilantes and I was having a ball.Not to forget a full on headwind to contend with and I was getting extremely tired.I did see some incredible scenery right out of a national geographic documentary. 

The villages out in this sparse land really goes to the heart of poverty.I did see some women picking up the seeds from a truck that had spilt small portions of its load over a long distance.As we climbed each enormous mountain we would fly down the other side through the corrugations, being bounced around from one side of the road to the other, hanging on for our life.It was pretty crazy how fast I flew down some of the mountains but to slow with the brakes was just a dangerous, I just let the old silver dart do its job and ride it out.

After lunch I stopped in this small village and took my eyes off the bike for a split second.This little thieving Ethiopian stole my bike computer.It’s no good to him without a bike.I offered 50Birr to get the thing back, but after ½ an hour I left in further disgust with the youth of Ethiopia.

I rode onto the refresh stop at 70ks and filled up the bottles took some food and off I went again.The story of the days goes to RAMBALA the Tamil tiger. Ram changed the tube yesterday because it had a slow leak.  He couldn’t find the tire leaver so he thought he just lost it.Today after 75km,Rambala found his tire leaver.  This was after his tyre went bang.As he took the tyre from the rim he realised he had left his tyre leaver inside the tyre the previous day.Now that’s hard to top, good on ya, Rambala.

The next part of the ride was more brutal corrugation and all uphill in some pretty intense heat.  We kept climbing and climbing all afternoon.Because it was so hot and I was sweating so much my ass was so sore.  I needed to spend a bit more time standing off the seat to relieve the pain.On some of the hills people had to walk that were so steep, I was too stubborn to walk and rode every hills even if it was a slow as a poke.

I rolled into the town of Yabello around 1.30pm pretty satisfied with my effort on the gravel roads of southern Ethiopia.  I met up with a couple of cyclists and enjoyed a nice coke before heading  down the road to finish the ride at the Yabello Hotel.Luke had arrived before me and got a magic room which had 2 double beds, toilet and shower, and a flat screen television.  

I went and had a nice burger and chips and another coke around 3pm because I was still hungry from burning all that energy today.We just hung around the hotel drinking and eating and waiting for our free dinner to be dished out.  

Tonight is real good, we can go to the room to relax and not in my stinking smelly hot tent.Tomorrow is an easy 128kms with a 8km climb.Nearly in Kenya.Good night from Yabello, Ethiopia.

2^nd March 2011.  128ks. Yabello Hotel to Bush camp outside of Mega Town.

 

After yesterdays hard day, and a great night in the Yabello Hotel, Yabello I was ready for a recovering ride of 128kms.  I left for the ride with Peter Lamond, an Australian now living in South Africa.Peter’s very strong on the flats, but I can get him on the climbs.

The road was nice and basically downhill for the first 40kms, with the occasional rolling hill to spruce things up.The roadside was littered with those thorn trees and hundreds of Acacia trees in the distance.I know my mum and dad are keen on the birds and Peter is a wealth of information on describing the birds in this part of the world.So after receiving a good lesson on birds, I can tell you I saw blue ones, black ones, big ones and small ones.  

We didn’t stop for a morning coffee as the town was just lucky enough to have humans in it, let alone a coffee machine.  We did stop further down the road and got a cool photo standing in front of an old km sign which was on the old road of course and no longer used, as we now have a new road with new signs.

We continued on to lunch with a nice light tailwind and soon we were sitting down eating banana rolls, rolls with eggs, peanut butter, jam and mayonnaise.That’s a healthy lunch in my eyes.We had reached the lunch stop of 70kms at 10am.Back on the bike at 10.30, Peter would have gone earlier if I was prepared to move off my chair, NOT. 

We continued on for 18kms and hit the 8km ascent which would take us to the highest point of the day.The climb wasn’t steep compared to yesterday but still was hard as my legs felt heavy from the beating I gave them yesterday on the corrugations.

I cruised along on top of the mountain and rolled down into a little town for a nice coke stop.Within 5 minutes other cyclists had joined us and the place was full to the brim.I think these shop owners must think its Christmas when the lycra clad cyclists come to town.

The last 25kms into camp was pretty hard.  We rode into a strong headwind on really bumpy road and that’s not good for an ass (that’s not me) that’s already sore I just soldered on into the headwind with Peter pushing the pace like usual.I was glad to see the finish line and the trucks and tents in the distance.  It’s back to Tent Hilton again, but I don’t mind as my little smelly home is not that bad after all.I have changed a little since I started this trip.You all know I hate getting out of bed early, so now I decided to joined those who get out of bed at 5.45am and get ready for the day.I don’t think I’ll ever get use to it, but I have to on this holiday. 

 

Camping is in a nice area, not many kids surrounding us.Now it’s time for the rider meeting where we’ll be told of the issues that we may face as we leave Ethiopia and cross into Kenya tomorrow. Good night from about 85kms away from the Kenyan/Ethiopian border.

3^rd March 2011, singing well camp to Moyale on the Ethiopian/Kenyan border. 85kms.

Today is the day we leave Ethiopia and enter Kenya.It’s been some 7 years since I’ve been to Kenya and that was with Josh when we did our amazing trip through Africa.The day was set down for 85kms of rolling hills in pleasant weather.The roads were pretty good all the way and traffic had almost gone compared to other towns in Ethiopia.

We only had to climb 850metres day and descend about 1200metres.The town of Moyale is a typical dusty town with plenty of little wooden shacks selling the same stuff.  From biscuits, lollies, drinks, water, toilet paper, washing powder, you need it, they’ve got it, and so has the next shop and the next shop and the one after that.

I stopped with Rodney for a nice coffee and spend the rest of my Birr, as I would get nothing for it if I transfer it to Kenyan shilling.By the time we had spend all my money on a pair of Ethiopian socks, 2 new pieces of cloth which will be good for a tablecloth, we were on our way down to the Ethiopian immigration to try and get a stamp and head down the hill to the other side.

We arrived at 12.10pm and quickly got in line, we had 3 people in front of us.  The guy sitting at the desk stood up and said he was going for lunch about 50minutes early than usual.So this Africa.We had to wait another 2 hours before this lazy bureaucracy driven Moran came back from his lunch.We all laid outside on the tile steps and fell to sleep.  Eventually we had our exit stamp and rolled down the hill to the Kenyan side of the border line.

This was much easier, a simple 2 forms, $25US and we were on our way up the hill to the Kenyan Wildlife Service Camping Ground.  By the time we got there, there were already tents everywhere. I found a nice piece of turf, set up tent and I was ready for another night at Tent Hilton.

Lindsay and I went for a walk up the town and got our Kenyan Sim card for 100 Shillings and 250 Shillings credit.  Like I’ve said in previous entries the Telstra system is a disgrace in Africa and I don’t recommend any Australia travelling to this part of the world to use their incompetent system.Back to the camp, for a nice dinner and get ready to hit the sack for tomorrow we hit the lava rock roads of northern Kenya.

4^th March 2011. 80ks. Moyale to Sololo District Camp.

I got up at 5.30am to get ready for my long hard ride ahead in the lava rocks of northern Kenya.The morning was nice and cool but we all knew that the day would end up hot enough to cook an egg off your fat ass. I don’t have a fat ass.The first part was out of the madness of another village town and race down the dirt hill into the valley below.The hill went down for about 10kms of rough sandy gravel rock road.It was far too dangerous to take the hill full steam because of all the hidden obstacles to get over.

I rode with Rodney to the 40km lunch and took the rest of the afternoon on my own.The early part of the day was just rutted and corrugated all the way.The sandy edges of the roads and the trucks bearing down on us from behind made us fearful of being run over.It was the case of getting out of the way because they couldn’t give a shit if you didn’t get out of their way, they would just run you down.

At one stage we got to see a camel train about 1km long with a thousand camels, plenty of goats and plenty of children looking after the herds.  It’s obvious these kids won’t be going to school any day soon.

As soon as I hit the road after lunch I was on a mission, I couldn’t believe how good I felt.  Although the weather was hot and dry and the roads were appalling, I just seemed to fly over all the corrugations and caught so many people.I even caught up to Luke and Peter.We rode the rest of the morning together and got into camp at 11.15am. 

We did the 40kms over the worst roads possible in 1hr 45mins.Went straight across the road and had a couple bottles of coke in the cool room of the hotel, otherwise described as a shack with the words hotel painted on the outside wall just for a joke.

Back to camp city and put my home together again.  For the rest of the afternoon it will be just lying around, reading a book on the fatherland, and having some dinner.Tomrrow is a mando day which is supposed to be one of the toughest days on the tour.So it’s going to be a big dinner, an early night in the tent and do it all again.  Good night from Sololo, Northern Kenya.

5^th March 2011. 85kms of Hell, Mando Day, Sololo Camp to Lava Rock Camp.

Today was slightly different to the rest, today breakfast was served at 6am.  That meant I had to get up at 5.20am, pull the tent down and be ready to eat at 6am.This is not healthy for me at all. So on the road at 6.30am for a nice ride over the lava rock road of northern Kenya.This is the main road between Moyale and Marsabit. 

During the morning ride it was impossible to get any speed up at all. As soon as you got some speed you would hit brutal corrugations, and once you finished with the corrugations you then had to face some deep sand.This was not fun at all, and extremely tiring. People were crashing all the time on the uneven surface and this was giving the medics a huge headache to manage throughout the day.At some stages I seriously could have walked faster than ride the bike.The rocks are so small in places your wheel sinks and then the front wheel goes all over the place and down you go in a screaming heap.  

My good mate Luke rode an exceptional race and won the day, with a powerful performance over some of the toughest roads in the world.I left Rodney early in the day and just rode by myself.Riding by me is not a problem because you can always see people ahead and it also gives you a chance to do some dreaming. It’s an amazing place this part of the world,with its lava rocks on both sides of the road heading into the abyss.  You truly cannot see how far the rocks go in either direction.The villages were spreading out, but we when came across some small huts the children would always come out and say hello to us, and not throw stones.

So after lunch I just pushed on and reached camp at 1pm.I should say that the camp was in a lava rock area, so pitching my tent meant I had do some gardening first by removing all the rocks, levelling the ground and building my home.  We were surrounded by cattle, donkeys and camels all night.On this road they have these large open trucks where the people sit in the back and also over the driver’s cabin.These trucks roar along the roads without any concern for the bad roads or for the people in the back. If one of these trucks went over there would be at least 50 people killed.And they dont stop for anything.

Once in camp and having built my new home, it was time for some soup, followed by a couple of cups of tea and just watch all the other cyclists drag their sorry asses into camp.Some of them looked shattered by the time they came in, but I’m sure they’ll manage to get the strength to do it all again tomorrow.

The wind picked up really strong later in the afternoon and saturated the whole tent with dust.  Everything I now own is filthy with dust.  I hope tonight I catch up with the sleep I lost last night due to the heat of the evening and sweating all night.

6^th March 2011.  86kms another Mando Day.  Hell in the lava fields.

To go straight into today could best be described as ‘turning up the volume’.  A mando day is a day that the racers must race, short for mandatory.  I hit the road with Luke at 6.30am just as the sun was starting to rise.  Every sunrise is so spectacular in this part of Africa and once you’re on the bike there’s no turning back, it’s just magic.

This day is described as the hardest stage on tour.86kms of lava rock roads, dodging them, hitting them, riding over them, and if you really want to try and crack a cyclist throw in some sand, headwind, sloping tracks, hills and you should have the time of your life

.

There’s no other way to describe the day other than to say, it’s the hardest and most difficult off road riding I’ve ever done in my life. My hands were going numb at stages because of the intense grip on the handlebars making sure the wheel pointed the way I wanted it to go. It was so tough trying to avoid all the rocks, hour after hour.

In the morning the lunch truck found it so difficult to manage the road we overtook it.  That means the truck was going slower than 10kph in this rough terrain.  There was all the usual holes, wash out roads, ruts that would cause damage to the underneath of any vehicle if not taken slowly.

We stopped for some photos and a drink at the 38km mark for about minutes and then continued on to the 41km mark for lunch.  It took about 3 & ½ hours to do the 40kms.We could see at lunch that many people were still a long way behind and would be struggling to make it to camp before the cut off time, that’s when the sun sets.  All riders must be off the road once the sun sets for safety.

The road was starting to go up and up and the rocks were coming more difficult to navigate.Due to gravel and rocks, I fell twice and Luke fell twice also.Just a bit of bark off here and there, nothing major to worry about, after all we’re Australians and we’re built for this kind of punishment.

On to the refresh stop at the 67km to fill the bottles and the camel pack.I’m so happy I decided to bring a camel pack for the trip, you really do need one on days like this.Without water on these roads in this heat and headwind you would crack big time.

Luke left me at the refresh stop and rode on into Marsabit on his own.  I was getting pretty tired after 7days of riding and I was not going to push myself over the edge this close to town.As soon as we left the refresh stop the road continued up this huge mountain which was full of rocks and sand, so picking your path was so important to keep up some speed and not to fall over again.   

The view from the top looking down into the valley was amazing.To one side we had an old crater and on the other an extinct volcano. It doesn’t get much better than that.

I rolled into Marsabit at around 2.50pm and headed for the Diocese Mission of Marsabit where we are staying on our rest day.I was given a warm welcome by the cyclists who had already arrived at camp which is really nice after turning your body inside out to complete the day.

I have just ridden 7 days straight in some of the hardest terrain on earth and survived.I’m actually amazed how my body has withstood the punishment I’ve given it lately.The place we’re staying at is run by a group of nuns. Luke and I went down to town with one of them in the jeep to buy some food for tonight.The nuns are cooking tea for the cyclists.  They even sell beer for the thirsty cyclists.Time to put the ipod on and get some sleep, I’m exhausted.

Road To Kenya

Over the last few days the tour has covered 500km.The kids throwing stones has been a constant over the last 4 days but it is all worth is when i get to ride through beautiful valleys and see spectacular scenery.We have been riding on gravel and riding up some huge hills.Camels,dogs,baboons everywhere. Crossing into kenya tomorrow. Kids are not as bad as they have been at the start of this week.The landscape and terain are changing and hopefully we will get to ride on better terain next week. It has been stinking hot this week. i am disgusted with the village kids

A full report to come soon !
Cheers
Matt 

4 days of more Ethiopian mountains.Terry and Rodney crack on the mountains.

23^rd February 2011.  Addis Ababa to Bush Camp. 106kms. Rolling hills.

After spending 2 nights with Rodney at the Hilton Hotel it was time to head back to the Guennet Hotel to meet up with the other cyclists and get ready for today’s ride. We had to do a convoy out of the city for our own protection but also there’s no way we could have navigated out of the mayhem of the capital’s traffic.

After a slow roll out of town with the intersections closed so 65 cyclists could make it out of the city without being hit by a mad truck/bus/donkey driver. After 15kms the racers headed off and I rode along at a nice leisurely pace until we reached the lunch stop at 62kms.The ride was pretty hard up until this point due to the hills and the never ending rolling hills.  Even the flats appeared to being uphill. 

By the time we reached lunch we had climbed from 2400metres to 2500metres.This doesn’t seem much at all, but if you try climbing a huge hill, then dropping down into a valley and do it about 15 times before lunch, one does get tired.We were accompanied by the usual group of kids doing the same shit all morning which does get to you after a while.

Lunch was at the top of another climb and in a beautiful location.Mountains and valleys surrounded everywhere I looked.It was well worth the climb to the lunch stop.I really do enjoy mountains as I found them so easy and  I know so many people on this trip find them so hard.At times I wish I had my road bike, but if I did I know I would be trying to go harder and that’s not what I came here for, I came here to have a holiday, not a stupid race.

After lunch we had a couple of stops at some really nice coffee/restaurants and chilled out for ½ an hour at each place.It appears the kids are thinning out when we stop, this is a good sign.  At one stop there was beer on tap and some of the riders took the opportunity to have a beer before screaming downhill the final 6kms into camp.

Now I love to speed on 2 wheels, and my downhill speed for this trip was broken today.I reached 80kph on my heavy metal mountain bike.The camp is set in a nice setting with mountains surrounding the camp.The land is getting much greener and there are more clouds appearing as we travel further south.  

Tonight’s going to be an early night, for tomorrow is 130kms of more rolling hills.  One of the girls on the trip missed the orange finish flag on the side of the road and the trucks in the camp and rode another 80ks for the day.  Now 190kms on your first day after a rest day has to hurt, and your pride.

24^th February 2011.  130kms Bush Camp to dust bowl campsite. Shattered.

Today started just like any other day, 6am morning call by Rodney Sanders @ Mr Hilton, pack the tent, get dressed, eat my breakfast and get on the road around 7am.

Today was not surprising, full of mountains to climb with a top altitude of 2240metres above sea level.I was suffering right from the start of the day.My legs felt like bricks and just didn’t want to come out and play.  I struggled to the first coffee stop at 30kms, but was rewarded with a nice coffee and a beautiful cookie the size of hand, full of chocolate.  It didn’t make me feel any better and soon I was back on the road suffering like a dog.

The scenery did give some reprieve to my pain,with spectacular mountains to climb and some beautiful people on the side of the road giving encouragement.I stopped at one point to take a rest with good friend young Andre (Pretoria) and was immediately surrounded by 50 kids watching me lay down and not die in the process.It’s amazing how 1 day you can feel good and the next you feel shit.

After a 15minute break and being starred at where I couldn’t stand it no more it was back on the bike to travel the final 30kms to lunch.The lunch break was at the 65km mark and boy was I glad to see it.I waited around the lunch stop for a good ½ hour to try and get as much food into me and rally some effort to get back on the bike.I honestly don’t know why I just didn’t jump on the truck and take the easy option for the rest of the day.Some would say I’m just a stubborn old man, others would say that’s ‘Terry’. 

During the morning ride I lost it, I had a kid throw a rock and hit me on the leg, which was witnessed by the group of old people with the young child.They were laughing,so I thought I’ll give you something to laugh about. So, I did a ‘U’ turn rode across the road and picked up a hand full of gravel and threw it at the whole lot of the grubs.You should have seen them try and run through the small opening in the fence to take cover, at the same time.Yeh, I know it’s wrong, but there’s so much shit and stone throwing you can take before you retaliate.Would I do it again, absolutely.

So after lunch with a couple of more coffee breaks I rolled into the town with Andre around 2pm.I did make good time even though I wasn’t feeling that good.We found a little café and again had a nice Pepsi  and then some of the other riders coming into town saw us and joined us for an afternoon drink.

We got into camp around 3.30pm to what I would call a dust bowl. Now this is not a dig at TDA for their decision to camp there, because sometimes in this part of the country there’s nothing better or safer at that point in time.The place was good enough for me to set up my tent and die for an hour before dinner.

I forced down my food knowing that I had a long day with more hills to climb and food was a must.The overall climbing for the day was 1750metres.By the time we leave Ethiopia next week we would have climbed over 27,000metres, now you have to be impressed with that, even my obnoxious mates would have to agree with me on that one.Even the thonged bandits.

I went to bed at 7pm absolutely shattered, no energy, nothing left in the tank.  You have no idea how exhausted I was today.  My legs were burning on every rise, but I did have some energy on the flats.  A couple of panadol and see how I feel tomorrow.

25^th February 2011. 120kms. Dust bowl to Bush Camp. Rodney cracks on final mountain.

Well what a night’s sleep. I woke up at 5.40am and felt reasonable.Did the same again and was on the bike with Rodney and Peter Lamond at 7am.The first part of the day was rolling hills for 12kms than a 20km climb to 2240metres.The climb was pretty good, not a steep gradient, went on forever.

The lunch stop was at 70kms.We stopped a couple of times to take photos and once again I got some nice photos of the locals and of the surrounding valleys below.Once we reached the summit at 32kms it was a mad dash down the other side to the 50km mark.I reached 78kph and the metal beast, and at the base of the descent we had to enter a town.  Now this is where  all the problems can happen, more people wanting to touch you, grab at your handle bars, whip you, throw more stones, get the picture.

As I looked down into the town it was a mess of people, I just cruised through until 1 idiot decided to get his donkeys to cross the road.  Now my rubbish bike doesn’t have disc brakes like all the flash ones have, it’s the old style.  I jammed on the brakes as hard as I could, I couldn’t go left unless I wanted to have a head on with a bus driver, so I went straight through 2 of them and nearly took one of the donkeys head.  I don’t know who was more terrified the donkey or the dumb white bloke on the bike.Next time I’ll slow down or will be going home early than I should.

After lunch we had to get to the 92km mark for the next coffee stop.  Once again some little bitch hit me with a rock on the hand and I didn’t do a thing other than to tell her what I thought she really was, and because there were about 20 blokes around her.  The numbers were stacked up against me this time.

The hills kept getting worse and when about 5kms away from the town of SODO we had this brutal climb.  It was straight up and steep.I led the way with Peter close by and Rodney taking up the rear.The kids were being their best arsehole behaviour on the hill, I mean hundreds of them calling out and running beside us. 

Now when you’re tired and sweating profusely I don’t need to have a kid ask me for money or a pen, because it unsettles me.The guys behind weren’t so fortunate as myself.I was about 100 metres in front of Rodney who is usually a placid gentleman scream out, I mean scream out,  “F..k, OFF.  I turned around and could see at 15 kids running beside him.I turned around with Peter and headed back down the hill, the gutless little pricks decided to do a runner.

We dragged ourselves further up the hill into town and found a nice café for a cold drink.Some of the guys had café for a cold drink.Some of the guys had 4 cokes, coffee and water.I had just a coke and water.I had drunk 3 bottles of water in the 22km stretch due to the mountain we had to climb and the intense heat of the midday sun.

After a fantastic break it was downhill to the camp.A bit of loose gravel and the usual idiot wanting to kick you off your bike and throw a stick in your wheels  and I was home safe and sound to put up tent Hilton and rest around the camp with 100 locals watching me.Now that’s living, good night.

26^th February 2011. 110kms. Bush Camp to Abar Minch.

It was so hot last night in the tent compared to other nights we’ve had in the high Ethiopian mountains, and sleeping was really difficult.We got up and did the usual stuff to get ready for the ride at 7am.I left with Rodney and we rode along nice easy to the lunch stop at 60kms. 

I took it pretty easy today and the climbing overall was 600metres. At the 20km mark we hit the gravel road.For the next 40kms we were belted by the rocky ground, and little shits still throwing stones at us,soft gravel and being dumped on by a ton of dirt every time a truck or bus passed us bye.I felt so dirty by the dust and couldn’t wait for a shower when we get to camp in the afternoon.  

After lunch it was back on the bike to dodge the rocks and sticks and head to our final destination at Abar Minch on a lake heading towards the Kenyan border.I don’t know the name of the lake but it’s about 540km south of Addis Ababa.

We stopped after an hour for a nice coke on the shore of the lake and took in the amazing view.We had travelled through many villages today and some were obvious dirt poor.The kids would come out and yell at us but many were wearing no clothing.The sides of the roads were swamped with kids but not to the degree we have been experiencing.It’s obvious we’re getting into the rough section of Ethiopia and the villages are further apart and consist of huts and nothing more.The villages are into growing bananas by the bucket loads and not much else.

About 15kms from town Peter Lomand blew his tyre to pieces.Because Peter is an EFI candidate who was prepared to walk the final 15kms to town rather than to take the truck.We fixed the tyre and road into a town which is small, nothing much to offer.At least I know I can get a shave for 10Birr which is about 70Aussie cents.The hill to the hotel where we’re camping is up a 6km hill.By the time I got to the camp I was pretty tired and happy to call it a day.Luke got into camp before me but still there was no room left so tonight I’m sleeping in the tent.I don’t mind the tent but I do need power to recharge all my gadgets. 

The boys are going down town tonight to try out some local food and of course I’m going too.Since tomorrow is a rest day I’m sure there’ll by plenty of beers sunk by the boys. I’m not sure how I’ll go with connections over the next 7 days until I reach Kenya.Matt will continue doing brief updates while I’m on the road.

Until next time, from some dirty, dusty, gravel pit in southern Ethiopia, good night.

the scull of an ancient finding in Ethiopia Museum.

Rodney and I visited St Trinity Cathedral and received a blessing from the Priest. I think he thought we needed it.

one of the games played by the locals.  this board game can be found in other places throughout Africa

the photo was taken of a young lady who's image is in the National Museum of Ethiopia

the lady is selling blocks of salt in the Merkato Market, Addis Ababa.

that's my feet while laying around the Hilton swimming pool, while checking out the talent

standing on the side of the road waiting for the boys to arrive before we continue on with more mountains to climb

Andre and Luke packing up their gear and getting ready for the long ride ahead

We stopped going down the mountain for a pee break and came across this lady who wanted her photo taken.

The view behind me is looking down into the valley after climbing a 20km mountain.

The amount of burnt out wrecks we come across on these roads is amazing.

 

Traffic + Hills

 Hi All,

Just thought i would do a update for my dad who has not had access to the internet for the last few days.After speaking with my dad on the phone he has covered 355km in 3 days. There has been mainly hills for the last few days and the tour has reached 2400m above sea level. The kids throwing stones are still a problem for the riders.The usual coffee stops along the way is a highlight as it gives dad the opportunity to speak to the locals.He has been taking a lot of amazing photo's of beautiful scenery along the way and he will post these photo's when he gets the opportunity.The weather has certainly taken its toll on the riders as it is still hot and dusty.He did 50km riding on  gravel today ( 25th February) needless to say there were many tyre punctures.

A full report will follow soon.

Cheers
Matt

I returned back to the top of the Blue Nile Gorge to take some photos the day after the huge 20km time trial.

Looking down into the mighty Blue Nile Gorge,

photo of Rodney and myself enjoying a cup of tea in an ethiopian home

photo of Rodney Sanders climbing out of the Blue Nile Gorge.

Getting a photo with my mates at the highest point of the tour 3130 metres above sea level.  Now that was a climb.

Jubilation after completing the hardest time trial of my life. 

This was taken at the bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge Ethiopia and the commencement of the 20km time trial back up the other side.

Typical crowd of children who watch the cyclists each day at the morning coffee break on tour.

one of the manner tanks left standing