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| Day 70, 2011/07/10 |
The GPS says it is only 380km to Dese, my overnight stop to Lalibela. However, I had bad experiences already in Ethiopia where one battles to maintain a good average speed, and something as short as this can become an eternity. Initially, I get horribly lost leaving Addis Ababa. Tracks 4 Africa, do not have all the streets and I ended up heading out of town on the wrong road. After some hardcore, follow your nose navigation, i manage to find the correct road and head out of town. The roads are truly amazing! Double lanes, with some huge traffic circles. And to think that private car ownership in Ethiopia is almost non existent. So except for the odd minibus taxi, bus and truck, i have all the roads to myself. The initial 200 km is at fairly high altitudes, so lush and green. The occasional mist, or low lying cloud makes for some very cautious riding. Then afte, the altitude drops, and the scenery becomes hot and dry. Much like what was the case in northern Kenya. Camels as transport also makes their appearance, and I start to feel like I am now in the middle east. Eventually, after a very long 9 hours, I arrive in Dese. It is very busy place, and finding accommodation turns out be a nightmare. All the places appear to be full! Nothing like being tired and hot,with all your biking gear on and riding from hotel to hotel looking for accommodation. Anyway, eventually find a room in a run down hotel called Ghoin. I am not complaining! And after a lovely big plate of pasta, i get some good old R&R!
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