1 February
Yesterday we cycled 30km/hr and then 37 km/hr to catch up with a faster group; we then did a few kilometers with them at a good speed of 30km/hr. We completed the day with an average of 29 km/hr. I was exhausted after the day and did not even take photos and decided to take it easier the next day.
Today we also had a good day of easy cycling. On the way, about 10 trucks with army tanks on passed us on their way to the north. We speculated that they must be on their way to man the border to Egypt.
Tonight we once again camped in the desert. The most difficult thing is to dig a hole in an open desert, so you have to wait for the dark so that no one can see you.
The stars are so lovely every night out here, and I even saw the Southern Cross. The Southern Cross in the north?
We are camping near a little town and walked over for a soft drink in the afternoon. The locals are very polite and friendly. Not all of them can speak English. We bought some dried dates at the one little shop and as we came out of the shop a new white land cruiser stopped next to us and 4 Sudanese men came up to us. They were all dressed in the white dress and head banners. The one man asked us where we are from and said that he just came from Johannesburg for a conference, and asked what we are looking for and whether we have been helped. I showed him my dates and he said it looks a bit dry but is OK. This he demonstrated by tearing open my plastic bag of dates and biting into one demonstrating it is good. The other locals then later said that they were government officials
Chef James out did himself tonight again with barbecue chicken, noodle salad and sweet pumpkin – delicious!
4 and 5 February
Start of Section 2 – The Gorge
First 2 days of 145 and 148 km was very hard. The first section was definitely just a warm up.
7 February
85 km – off road – mostly very corrugated
Early in the morning it was already warm and at lunch time 45oC! Cycling on the corrugated road was very difficult and my whole body was in pain. After lunch I went slower and slower which just made things worse and then I only finished at 17:00. We passed two very nice towns and in the evening the minister of the Dinder region came to our camp to bid as welcome.
8 February
The off road corrugation and heat of 50oC continuous! I was cycling with a cold for a few days and by now I was so tired, so tired. I cycled all day and only finished after 17:00 again.
9 February
The day I Lost my Virginity aka EFI status..
I decided to rest today and rode on the truck for a rest. It was very nice to cross the border to Ethiopia early and we arrived at the Ethiopia camp at 14:00.
Mentally I feel a lot better and think the rest of the tour is going to be more enjoyable again. I proofed to myself that I can get through pretty tough days.
10 February
Today we had a climb of 1200m. It was mostly rolling hills and a very enjoyable ride. So far the Ethiopian landscape is very beautiful and I cannot believe how fast it is changing from the Sudan desert. Tonight we are camping near a village and all the locals are surrounding us. The little children walk around the tents and made everyone a bit nervous. The women are very entrepreneurial and brought beers and Pepsi to us for sale. A lot of people were very sick during the night and there was a lot of diarrhea and vomiting. The campsite looked like a minefield the next morning.
11 February
Today we had a climb of 2200m! The morning was lovely and I enjoyed it to the lunch stop at 60km. Here most of the climbing was done. The country is very high populated and everywhere you see a lot of children. They are friendly and we talked. I could only go 5km/hr at times on the tough hills and then they would walk next to me, push me up while trying to unzip my saddle bag and take some stuff from there, One girl even tried to open my handlebar bag and tried to take my water bottles even. Friendly children. The when you ride away from you, you get a stone or 3 thrown at you. The Ethiopian children are very good with stone throwing – accurate and very hard over very long distances they will still hit you! They are also very good runners , at 11km/hr, they could still easily keep up with me and even op my saddle bag to take my tube.
10km after lunch at 70km I was depleted of all energy and then I let the lunch truck take me the last 30km to Gonder.
12 + 13 February
Gonder – I got the Ethiopia diarrhea stomach thing and was in bed for a whole day.. Stomach cramps etc! Luckily I had a hotel room – and the luxury of my own toilet! Only had to share with my roommate, Alice… shame, poor her!
14 February
15 February
Only one cycle day and then another rest day in Bahir Dar!
Tonight we had a party with the theme: “Where are you go?” After one day of cycling in Ethiopia you will have heard this 1000000000 times!
Most people got dressed in traditional Ethiopian dress.. Teri as a woman?? Some dressed in SA soccer.. we are going to SA!
17 February – 21 February Bahir Dar to Addis
Riding days from 167 km to start with to 89 km to climb out the Gorge!
This was a hectic week of hills, hills and more hills – or Rolling hills as Sharita calls them…
The Gorge was magnificent…the view of it that is! We started at 2460 m, then at 48km we descended 1860 m, then at 69 km we started the ascent of 1881m over 20km to finish at 2473 m! That is 13m higher than we started! It took me 3h40m to do the 20km climb! I had a few coke stops, water refreshers and an orange stop in between. The best time by the racers was 1h22min.
This week I was hit by a stone on my arm. The skin was actually broken, although I had a long sleeve top on and the area around the wound was swollen. While we were descending down another crazy hill at about 50km/hr a rock from out the trees hit my arm. The little sh*ts must have been waiting there in the trees. When I stopped, a few meters after the incident – they were already gone. Don’t know exactly what I would have done if I got them. I do have dreams of them bleeding and I get a smile on my face..
I think I got the stone throwing under control now – when I see a child with a stone, I point and scream at them and then they seem too afraid to throw! Otherwise if they have thrown the stone, I stop, but they just run away.
The convoy into Addis was a steep downhill. I could not feel my fingers any more after 10km of braking!
We are camping on the grass in front of an old hotel. There are no rooms available in the hotel.. They have been revamping for 2 years now or something. We do have a toilet and a shower that is a huge luxury now.
We also had very good pizza, burgers and fruit juices so far. All within walking distance from the camping are.
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