Living the Dream Solo Around the World Trip

[schalk vd merwe]

Informal shops Northern Kenya

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st  Photo this is common all over Kenya forced stops by the cops
2nd Photo Now we know who build the road
3rd  Photo Beautiful Northern Kenya

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st Photo The Mountain in the veld and the mountain on my bike
2nd and 3d Photo Camel power

 

[schalk vd merwe]

The only windmill I saw in Africa so far.

 

[Dragonfly-XC]

:sip: Dis 'n pomp Schalk nie 'n meul nie, gahor!  :spitcoffee:

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Crater just outside of Marsabit northern Kenya

 

[schalk vd merwe]

First have to resize more photos. Don’t know why WD forums program don’t make photos smaller by itself like FB. Will be back just now.

 

[StuartC]

Legend !

 

[Coxwain]

Dammm ....I just want to give that 660 a big hug ..

Great trip report ...following with great interest  :thumleft:

 

[Xpat]

Ethiopia seems unfriedly in comparison with other central African countries, this seems to be a common issue here, is it advisable to no go via Addis at all on your way through? Will this be worthwhile?

Ian, do you mean to avoid Ethiopia, or just Addis?

I wouldn't avoid either - yes you get more hassle than in other African countries (at least east coast wise) and they are quite rough around the edges, but IMO it is probably the most interesting African country - at least on the east coast. As the only African country with ancient Christian history (unlike any other African countries, where the Christianity was brought by whiteys much later) which gives it very different character. It is also at the border between northern semitic (I think) people and black Africans further south, which makes for some interesting contrasts as the south is very different from north. And it has beautiful nature, as half of it is on high plateau with mountains just like Drakensberg (just bigger), and half desert with some of the most outlandish sceneries on the planed (Danakil Depression, which I idiotically missed).

Sorry for hijack Schalk - I wanted to ask, you have missed Somalia that you were contemplating at the beginning of the trip. Could you please let us know how does the situation look like there in terms of travel? Thank you and thanks for the report.

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Now over the border into Ethiopia
1st Photo First meal in Ethiopia, Goat meat with tomato and a lot of chillies which force you to eat slowly and therefore little coals underneath to           keep the food warm and some pancakes.
2nd Photo  TV in the garden in a lockable box
3rd Photo   Rules in hotel room

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st  Photo Nice potholed road
2nd Photo Huge ant heaps
3rd  Photo Nicely painted traditional houses

 

[schalk vd merwe]

More giant ant heaps and traditional houses

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Beautiful landscape Ethiopia

 

[schalk vd merwe]

On the way to Addis Abeba

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st Photo  At pumps like these I use a women’s stocking (sy kous) to filter the petrol into the tank
2nd Photo On the way to Addis
3rd Photo Where ever I stopped I got crowded and ask many questions which I don't mind

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st  Photo Some more potholes
2nd Photo Although it did not look deep the water came over my knees and over the engine. Came short due to a big rock under the water
3rd  Photo Bike properly dirty now

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st  Photo Tied after a day's hard riding
2nd Photo Rainbow from hotel room although no rain
3rd  Photo Big interest again in my bike

 

[Platbrak]

Sterkte Schalk.  Dit lyk na 'n regte avontuur. :thumleft:

 

[schalk vd merwe]

1st  Photo As some pumps are sometimes 300km apart and sometimes no petrol at pumps, you buy petrol from these vendors
2nd Photo Taxis alla Indian style
3rd  Photo Wind power although they were not turning just before Addis Ababa