Out of the mountains and off the road

Fortunately, the first few days heading south from Addis Ababa were relatively easy and flat, with a couple days around 100-120km and I took them easy while recovering from being sick. Just when we headed back into the mountains for the last time in Ethiopia, I felt good again and could do a few days of racing, grabbing another 2 stage wins to wrap up country number 3.

Earlier this week we arrived at the Kenyan border town of Moyale. The piece of rope hanging across the road marked not only the border between two countries, but the beginning of a very different experience. The tarred road ended and the dirt “road” began, the people got a lot friendlier, there were suddenly no stone throwing kids and the landscape opened up in all directions.

Three days (including “The most difficult day of the tour” – TDA staff) took us from Moyale, about 240km south over sand, corrugations and loose lava rocks, to Marsabit. Today is a rest day in Marsabit and there is serious rain coming down. We need a 4×4 to get from camp 3km into town. If the rain keeps up, the next 3 days until we get back to tarred roads may well be more difficult than “the most difficult day.” Let it rain!

After 3 more days of African roads we get back to tar roads and the roadies that are still alive may be able to force a smile over the following 3 days as we roll into Nairobi.

Finally a good enough internet connection to upload some pics from the last few weeks…

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