Day 37 - Monday 06/11/2006
Backtracking a bit with a more detailed account of the last few days.
Sudan:
We were detained by the police due to incorrect immigration procedures. We were held for hours in little more than a cell with no water to drink. The chief looked remarkably like Idi Amin and his attitude was not much different. Finally we were let go but only after parting with $80 each!!
The roads and the desert were gruelling. When we reached Ethiopia we were made to wait 27 hours. We were forced to stay in a local "hotel", which was worse than a filthy toilet. I started feeling ill and got worse as time went on. I had had enough and threatened to report them to the British Embassy. Strangely, within two hours our passports were stamped and we were allowed to carry on.
By the time we arrived in Addis Ababa we were both ready for a rest. The last couple of week have been tough going. Not just the physical aspect, which we had expected and prepared for, but the constant begging and poverty was overwhelming, and very disheartening. It certainly made me feel guilty about staying in the Sheraton for a night although I was very grateful to our benefactor.
It was great to speak for such a long time to Deirdre, Tom, Jamie & Eleanor on Saturday at the hotel. I had just had the most fantastic Ethiopian dinner in a "locals" restaurant and a refreshing cold beer, so I was relaxed and ready to catch up on all the news. Well done Jamie on winning your cross country race and to Eleanor for doing so well in your race. Congratulation overall to Rodmarton. The Blues beat Edinburgh, Wales held the Aussies to a thrilling draw and just the Bluebirds let me down. Good luck to Cirencester U13's on Sunday - still playing flanker Tom? Your letter keeps me going when the going gets tough.
Back to earth with a bang, Sunday morning and onward to the Kenyan border. The teritory from Wadi Halfa in Sudan as far as Nairobi is very hostile in places and the roads are virtually non-existant
We are now camping in the safety of a police compound just inside the Kenyan border at Moyale. We are heading for Marsabit at 7.a.m. Tuesday and aiming for a long late lunch Nairobi on Thursday. NG spoke to Andrew Jones tonight in Nairobi and he assures us the beers will be cold and the pool warm!! Maybe a few days rest there and get the bikes ready for the long push to Cape Town. Still got Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and finally South Africa to go.
HI TO EVERYONE AT RODMARTON SCHOOL. I hope to visit Thika on Friday with your letters. I will take some photos there of your friends and try to post them on the website.
We are now half way through our estimated 10 week journey but Cape Town still seem a very very long way off. Keep the blogs coming.
Bye for Now
Two Scary Bikers
Sudan:
We were detained by the police due to incorrect immigration procedures. We were held for hours in little more than a cell with no water to drink. The chief looked remarkably like Idi Amin and his attitude was not much different. Finally we were let go but only after parting with $80 each!!
The roads and the desert were gruelling. When we reached Ethiopia we were made to wait 27 hours. We were forced to stay in a local "hotel", which was worse than a filthy toilet. I started feeling ill and got worse as time went on. I had had enough and threatened to report them to the British Embassy. Strangely, within two hours our passports were stamped and we were allowed to carry on.
By the time we arrived in Addis Ababa we were both ready for a rest. The last couple of week have been tough going. Not just the physical aspect, which we had expected and prepared for, but the constant begging and poverty was overwhelming, and very disheartening. It certainly made me feel guilty about staying in the Sheraton for a night although I was very grateful to our benefactor.
It was great to speak for such a long time to Deirdre, Tom, Jamie & Eleanor on Saturday at the hotel. I had just had the most fantastic Ethiopian dinner in a "locals" restaurant and a refreshing cold beer, so I was relaxed and ready to catch up on all the news. Well done Jamie on winning your cross country race and to Eleanor for doing so well in your race. Congratulation overall to Rodmarton. The Blues beat Edinburgh, Wales held the Aussies to a thrilling draw and just the Bluebirds let me down. Good luck to Cirencester U13's on Sunday - still playing flanker Tom? Your letter keeps me going when the going gets tough.
Back to earth with a bang, Sunday morning and onward to the Kenyan border. The teritory from Wadi Halfa in Sudan as far as Nairobi is very hostile in places and the roads are virtually non-existant
We are now camping in the safety of a police compound just inside the Kenyan border at Moyale. We are heading for Marsabit at 7.a.m. Tuesday and aiming for a long late lunch Nairobi on Thursday. NG spoke to Andrew Jones tonight in Nairobi and he assures us the beers will be cold and the pool warm!! Maybe a few days rest there and get the bikes ready for the long push to Cape Town. Still got Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and finally South Africa to go.
HI TO EVERYONE AT RODMARTON SCHOOL. I hope to visit Thika on Friday with your letters. I will take some photos there of your friends and try to post them on the website.
We are now half way through our estimated 10 week journey but Cape Town still seem a very very long way off. Keep the blogs coming.
Bye for Now
Two Scary Bikers
posted by Dutch Rob for Cotswolds2Capetown at 08:23
7 Comments:
Glad to hear you're in more hospitable territory. Keep safe!
Half way - just keep on expecting the unexpected! We were in the Tunnel a few days ago, they're getting the postcards, keep 'em coming and keep on going...
Best, Jon
Hi, really enjoyable and informative blog. You seem to be getting all the goodwill messages NC, are you on your own?
hello determined bikers.......... keep on riding.... :) :) :) :) :)
2
Nick
Keep up the good work and hopefully you are in a more familiar and friendly part of the dark continent, after all Bob Geldorf did you think they would have been a bit more hospitable!! Keep your guards up however and don't get too relaxed.
I am currently in Manchester on indoctrination with the new job and it's hissing down. Bloody Lancashire!
Regards
'Manc Mac'
Temporarily out of the Bak
Hi Guys
Your great adventure continues and we all love reading about it. Over half way there, keep it up and be careful. It all makes life here seem rather dull.
News for NG - we all had a good time at Nansi's 90th at the weekend, you were greatly missed, but you and your exploits were talked about alot. The kids were on great form and we took a team to BWFC vs Wigan at the Reebok on Saturday crap game, crap score (Wigan won 1-0!)but they seemed to enjoy it. Mike and Giles fell asleep the former with boredom the latter with exhaustion (working hard!) Nansi had a great time, Wendy wrote a song that the grand children sang, Vanessa will send you a copy of the words.
Looking forward to nes from Nairobi where no doubt you will be having a drink or two and relaxing.
Lots of Love J&W
Nick G supporters club,
We are rooting for you mate, We bet you cant wait till Nairobi- bike in for service and a few beers with the boys. Cant be any harder than the trip to Hertfordshire and back every day. It's about time we heard from you a little more on the blogs. Your wit and stories are sadly missed.Hope youve kicked the fanta habit by the time you get back, we cant say we've heard of anyone suffering gout as a result of that fizzy stuff, get some beer down your neck! that will soon have you back on track.You are one in a million mate and we are all behind you.
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