Day 26 Omoret to Lodwar
Well today was a huge undertaking.
It all started early with us getting the bikes across the river. This involved stripping the luggage, riding them down a steep bank to the river and then loading them one at a time onto a small rowing boat. This needs a picture tell the story.
The guys then started to row the boat over with a big wind and current Justin, who went first, was washed down stream with zero progress. Any way they then started again with more success. It took about 3 hours t5o get all 3 bikes across.
We then set off into the unknown. The GPS had no known track so we followed local advice and a dirt track. We got to a ropey police outpost and then Kenyan passport control.
Riding was very difficult with some very soft sand. I had the first proper fall in some soft sand and ended with my leg trapped under the pannier, unable to move. I was like that for about 10 minutes till the other was able to help me. It was a bit unnerving. In that heat I wonder what could have happened. There certainly isn’t much passing traffic.
The day was then a succession of punctures, falls in the sand and very tough riding.
We finally cleared the sand after about 150km and reached a tar road for the last 50km into town. We’re now in a small guest house which is quite pleasant, thatched rooms, with water and electricity. Ethiopia was starting to wear us thin.
From here it’s 500 km to Nairobi where we’ll regroup. We desperately need some washing and the bikes need an oil change.
Despite the stresses of the last 2 days we’re very happy to have come this route. At least the bikes are in one piece, which is more than we could have expected from the Isiola route. We’ll miss the views on Mt. Kenya. At this stage we don’t care.
Later. Jim
Well today was a huge undertaking.
It all started early with us getting the bikes across the river. This involved stripping the luggage, riding them down a steep bank to the river and then loading them one at a time onto a small rowing boat. This needs a picture tell the story.
The guys then started to row the boat over with a big wind and current Justin, who went first, was washed down stream with zero progress. Any way they then started again with more success. It took about 3 hours t5o get all 3 bikes across.
We then set off into the unknown. The GPS had no known track so we followed local advice and a dirt track. We got to a ropey police outpost and then Kenyan passport control.
Riding was very difficult with some very soft sand. I had the first proper fall in some soft sand and ended with my leg trapped under the pannier, unable to move. I was like that for about 10 minutes till the other was able to help me. It was a bit unnerving. In that heat I wonder what could have happened. There certainly isn’t much passing traffic.
The day was then a succession of punctures, falls in the sand and very tough riding.
We finally cleared the sand after about 150km and reached a tar road for the last 50km into town. We’re now in a small guest house which is quite pleasant, thatched rooms, with water and electricity. Ethiopia was starting to wear us thin.
From here it’s 500 km to Nairobi where we’ll regroup. We desperately need some washing and the bikes need an oil change.
Despite the stresses of the last 2 days we’re very happy to have come this route. At least the bikes are in one piece, which is more than we could have expected from the Isiola route. We’ll miss the views on Mt. Kenya. At this stage we don’t care.
Later. Jim
HiJimmy.
ReplyDeleteI would rather be fixing a broken bike with you than watch Hilton 1st play rugby.It is freezing back here so do not rush back.Stop and smell the roses or rather stop and drink the beer.Andre Snyman