We left Addis early today because we had a long 600km run to Bahir Dar.
Ethiopia has without doubt been the most scenic, exotic and surprising part of our journey through Africa thus far. It is green and lush and none of our pre conceived ideas of drought and famine have been true at all. The road conditions were also better than what we experienced between Yabello and Addis as the route is less populated and therefore less heart attack material crossing the road every few hundred metres.
The ride to Bahir Dar took us through the magnificent Blue Nile Gorge where we descended from a height of 3000 metres to 1200 metres down a steep mountain pass with the most breathtaking views imaginable..this is a part of the journey that will remain with us for the rest of our lives.
The one oddity that we have come across in Ethiopia thus far is the different attitude of the people when riding through the towns which vary from incredible warmth and friendliness to downright hostility. Shouts of “youyouyou” and “youyouf**kyou” from the kids followed by a stone being thrown at you is not uncommon..wonder what that is all about???
During the ride we also saw some remains of the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea that have simply been left to rot on the side of the road,
After the blue Nile gorge the heavens opened and we rode the next 400 km in a relentless rain that saw us arrive in Bahir Dar after 10 hours of riding so absolutely exhausted that the concept of falling asleep at the hotel door was an appealing one. We are spending the night at the Lake Tana Hotel (flea, not fine) and will be here for 2 days to recuperate after today’s ride.
On the road to Bahir Dar
Descending The Blue Nile Gorge
Blue Nile Gorge
Rui loving the sweeping turns.
Rui Descending the Blue Nile Gorge
Dale crossing the Blue Nile.
On the road to Bahir Dar
Massey at the waterfalls.
The new and the old bridge over the Blue Nile.
Rui crossing the Blue Nile.
Remnants of the Ethiopia, Eritrea war left to rot on the side of the road. We must have seen 10 of these old tanks on route.
