Day 41: Addis Ababa – Lake Langano

We’re planning on having half a day in Addis, then heading south. It’s approx one and a half days to the border. Bit of bike maintenance in the morning, I take my wheels to Flavio, the KTM guy in Addis. It’s just a few minor bits, and the total labour cost for three hours or so is £5. Sweet!

Getting out of Addis is another matter. I’m following the 4x4, and the 4x4 is getting lost! After about 30 mins we’re almost back where we started, so we jump on the satnavs and head straight south. We’d been advised against this, but we’ve got to do it now. It’s no big deal in the end, and 45 mins later we’re busting out of Addis. Although busting may be an overstatement. It’s a single carriageway road, with all the city traffic on it. It’s pretty tedious, but after another hour, we’re in freer flowing.

After about 130 miles, I’m exhausted, tired from not sleeping well last night due to a dodgy spag bol. The campsite is down 10 miles of tricky unsurfaced road, and when we get to it, it isn’t open! The security speak to the boss, and then he asks us to come to his house. He asks ‘What’s up?’, in an American accent! ‘Um, we’re looking for a campsite!’. Turns out the campsite shut about a year ago, but he immediately offers his garden as somewhere to camp, legend. He also invites us in for a beer once we’ve setup, but I’m so dead, I hit my bed, at eight thirty in the evening! Brian and Anna pop in and have a really nice evening though!