Position: 05:50.534N 38:15.694E
Into the 5 degrees north now! Just down the road of a place called Hera
Lipitu...not sure you will find it on a 'normal' map!
Cycled 104km today, but it felt like 140km...lots of hills and valleys, and
then one huge hill..the one that was supposed to have beeen the day before!
Had a hyena come quite close to our campsite last night....
The ride started off wonderfully at 6 45am, heading out just before sunrise,
in this heavy equatorial type environment.....very lush, and lots of
traditional grass hut villages.
Went through Dilla, which was quite a big town, with a few good coffeee
shops.....the coffees are wonderful here in ethiopia, as one may
expect....machiatto's that cost 1 birre or 25US cents!
Broke a chain again today...too much power connecting in up the mountains!
Also broke a spoke...too much speed on the downhills and the road surface
has deteriorated.
Fixed the chain on the run, but with at least 40 locals watching EVERY
single move in the process!
I got into camp at abou 2pm feeling quite tired, but satisfied.
Forgot to mention yesterday...that we were 7 are in Rastas country.....lots
of reggae stuff and people have a different outlook...more in the
newsletter.
The people intrusion thing hit MAX today....maybe because i know I have only
two more days of it.....I'll expand on this in the newsletter...the
psycological effects on me is something I wasn't prepared for....!
Lots of fresh fruit around....bananas, pineapples, avo's etc.....these
people here aren't starved!
Thats about it for now
Howard.
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