Day 32: Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar
Well rested and relieved to have the bikes running again, the team was up at 4:30 am and after making sure that everything was packed and fastened down, we said goodbye to the Sheraton and set off into the still waking town of Addis Ababa. Fortunately for us few people were up at this time of the morning and after about an hour of navigating Addis and its city limits we once again found ourselves in the Ethiopian countryside. About 200 km’s from Addis we reached the Blue Nile Gorge and after admiring the breathe taking scenery we began to wind our way down to the bottom of the gorge, taking our time round the hairpin bends, thoroughly pleased to be back on the bikes. Once we had reached the bottom it was over the Blue Nile and back up the other side of the gorge towards the town of Dejen. Just outside Debre Markos, Mark having forgotten to plug in his headset found his cable tangled up with his rear wheel and after a lot of pulling and heaving, Grant and Craig decided that the best option to resolve the situation was to remove the rear wheel. After the last few days in Addis, this was easily achieved and in a short time Grant and Craig had the wheel off and the problematic cable removed. The next hurdle of the day was trying to fill the bikes petrol, after filling up with a 30 L drum some kilometres back the team was in dire need of fuel and after 3 towns and thanks to a very helpful local, we eventually found a petrol station that had fuel, unfortunately though the power had been off all day, so the pumps did not work. They did however posses a generator and after a few very inventive hand signals we were able to convince the attendant to turn on the generator, thus solving the pump problem. Apart from the tank wreckages on the side of the road, the final part of the day wore on for far too long and after spending some time on the side of the road re-energizing the batteries we eventually found ourselves in Bahir Dar on the southern edge of Lake Tana. Our accommodation for the night was very comfortable and after weathering a massive storm that rolled in, the team dashed over to the restaurant eager to appease the appetites which had become quite ravenous seeing that breakfast was non-existent and lunch had been coffee and a meager egg sandwich.
Stopping at the top of the Blue Nile Gorge.
The Blue Nile.
A spectacular view.
Crossing the Blue Nile.
The African Petrol Station.
Our lunch stop.
Mark staring down his opponent
Mark and Rob having a rest.
Mark taking a few laps arounds his bike.
The Kuruftu Lodge.
Braving the storm.
COMMENTS
Really appreciate these photographs. Find it hard to believe there would be such an elegant bridge in this region and the road looks good too!! Interesting looking Lodge. Mark - were you considering taking the tank on? Wouldn't be surprised!!! . .more
by Marilyn on June 30 2009, 15:24
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
I suggest Craig gives up the idea of studying and rather becomes a BMW mechanic - seems he has a natural talent, and he certainly has the experience.
by Kean on July 01 2009, 04:05
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it
Kean, Craig was waiting for someone to support his notion of no "bum on chair" for the rest of his life! Then an educator, like yourself, has to go and support his theory,
" No work and all play, does not make Jack a dull boy!" I am very proud . .more
by Mom- Noeleen on July 01 2009, 11:36
Find this comment inappropriate? Report it