Bahir Dar

Vertrek: Debre Markos (Ethiopië)
Eindpunt: Bahir Dar (Tanameer)
Afstand: 253 km

Nog 'n heerlike dag in Afrika is verby.

Ek sit op die oewer van die Tanameer, drink 'n yskoue 7 Up, skuins
voor my 'n reuse boom wat se skadu wyd oor die oewer en water val, en
kort-kort die roep van 'n visarend. Dis mooi hier.

Vandag se ry was maklik, stadig, en afdraend. Die KLR se
brandstofverbruik oor 253 km was net 'n bietjie meer as 8 liter.

Ek sit vandag 'n foto by van 'n vrou wat 'n swaar waterkruik op haar
rug dra. Die vroue hier werk hard, bitter hard. Ek is verstom oor die
afstande wat hulle met sulke kruike moet stap om water by hul hutte te
hê. Waar jy ook al dié beriggie lees, dink vir 'n kort oomblik aan so
baie manne en vroue in Afrika wat vandag bitter hard moes werk / ver
moes stap om iets by die huis te hê wat vir my en jou 'n
vanselfsprekenheid is.

Ek het vandag hier by die Tanameer maar die tweede motorfietsryer
ontmoet. Hy is uit Ierland, op pad Ierland toe met 'n BMW. Na
Noord-Kenia se woestynroete het sy motorfietsenjin opgepak, die gevolg
van konstante oorverhitting in die woestyn.

Ek groet julle uit die skaduwee van my groot boom op die oewer van die
Tanameer.

Another wonderful day in Africa is over.

I sit on the shore of Laka Tana in Ethiopia while drinking an ice-cold
7 Up and writing this short report. In front of me is a majestic big
tree. Now and then a fish eagle calls while soaring past, scanning the
surface of the lake for something to catch and eat.

The ride today was short, slow and easy. Die KLR used just over 8
liters for the 253 km to Bahir Dar.

I include a photograph of a woman carrying a heavy urn, filled with
water, on her back. To see how the women work here is heart-breaking.
They have to cover huge distances every day to go and fetch water and
carry it on their backs back home. When you read this short report
spend a thought to those men and women in Africa who had to work
bitter hard today to have something at their homes which is quite
second nature to us.

I met only the second motorcyclist today, an Irish guy on his way to
Ireland on his BMW. The engine of his BMW seized after reaching the
Ethiopian border, the result of constant overheating in the Northern
Kenya desert.

Regards from the shade of this wonderful tree at Lake Tana!