Why doesn't the spell check work? This is embarrising. Back by popular demand (one person said it was nice, thank you) and to you other 2 or 3 that read this crap, I cant be bothered to edit! Skipping out of Ethiopia, I was hassled to the last. Boarder towns in the 3rd world aren't often nice. Normal people only want to get past them. I wonder at those who want to set up shop or work the streets. Malaba is a town of vice next to religiously puritanical Sudan. A long strip of bars, hotel that functioned as brothels and [View Full Entry]

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(no photos, memory card was formated) Addis Ababa Rattled around. Felt very alone, miserable. Tried to busy myself with little tasks, washing my sandals, mending my trousers, emailing. I wrote some gear rating in my journal then got tried of it. Printed off a sign in Amharic that read "no stone throwing," or at least I hope that's what it says. I felt empty and done with Africa, tired of being a stereotype of privilege, good only for some cash or maybe a little entertainment. I pined to ride through this beautiful continent unmolested. I spent 6 hours waiting at the [View Full Entry]

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Kenya Goodbye to the history saturated, back road, easygoing coastal towns of Tanzania. Entering Kenya I climbed up and away from the coast and soon declined back down to a different place. The coast around Mombassa is a long strip of highly developed beach resorts walled off from the shanty hustle of Kenyan urban life. Kind of typical of “Kenya is a great place to visit if you are a rich retired Italian couple” impression I was forming. Beach resorts, guided hikes and safaris, best take some domestic flights. Note: A perk of being a white in Africa is I can [View Full Entry]

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Ethiopia Often I wonder what would remain if magically all the foreign influences were removed from East Africa. Pull the imposed NGO’s western concept of development, the meddling of the missionaries, slavers and merchants; carve out the sleazy modern culture of bitches and gangsters along with its older ideals of individualism and free markets. Good bye to the Arab aristocratic types and Indian businessmen and the public education transplanted from Europe. What is left? Certainly it is Africa. But what is it? I can’t see it. What is the African method, religion, culture [View Full Entry]

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Crossing into Tanzania from Rwanda I stopped at a shop that sold the regular soft drinks and Malta! The non-alcoholic malt drink. When I turned around after buying it 2 little girls looked up at me and greeted me with "scum." Weeks later I have learnt that this is a abbreviation of "shikamoo" which as best I can understand means "I lay myself before you." It is a phrase that the Arab slave traders forced the locals to say when passing. Now it is a sign of respect the younger use when meeting elders. Only a few km into Tanzania I [View Full Entry]

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This is going to be expanded and improved once I get my camera-memory card-computer communication problem fixed. I have seen lots more but the camera won't testify! [View Full Entry]

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Rwanda Tomorrow I will most likely leave Rwanda. This country has been a highlight on my trip. The people are approachable and the countryside is stunning with steeply sloped hills springing from cultivated valleys. The usual Mzungu bullshit is tempered here as lots of people seem to be to surprised to shout when they see me. I stayed with a friend named Mdi in Kigali for 3 days. He is employed as a mototaxi driver and appreciates my company as he wants to practice English. He gave me rides to the embassies and must-sees and provided a rough guiding service. I [View Full Entry]

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It was nice to leave the congestion of Nairobi behind. I stayed in a comunity called Kayole on the outskirts. Although my hosts were very accomidating I felt cramped. I either had to fight for floor space with my bike or bed space with my host. Kenya is experienceing a drought, so all the taps in the city weeze dust. Folks must pay to have undrinkable water deliverd in jerry cans labled "sulfuric acid." Lots of things are second hand here and and every one does the best with what there is. Washrooms of the hole punched in the concrete floor [View Full Entry]

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Most bolts on this bike have been tested, tightened, loosened, greased, cleaned and loctited to "peace of mind" tight. I should probably get around to purchasing a plane ticket and visa. A list of gear! Finally my turn has come. Clothing Water resistant Cycling Jacket 2 cotton T shirts Long sleeve shirt Mesh T shirt Shorts Long pants that zip down to shorts Bandanas 3 pairs of high performance underwear 1 pair of cycling shorts Running shoes $3 blue Tarp as a ground sheet that probable will get tossed because it negates all the super lightness of my tent. Tent Down [View Full Entry]

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