Round and round we go

Stage 33
Day Total: 118km

A small spell of panic settled on the camp with this morning’s sunrise as 4 riders awoke to find their cycling shoes stolen overnight. Opting to keep them in the covered vestibules of their tents in lieu of inside the tent itself, the shoes were whisked away into the darkness to be worn by the more sporting members of the local community. Not a member of the fashionably aware sector of society I cannot comment on their choice of footwear other than to say I find cycling shoes rather uncomfortable for any activity other than cycling.

The plan for the day’s ride was more of the same from yesterday – ride with a bigger group at an easier pace and see where that took us, with tentative plans for one or more coordinated coke stops. UK Paul got a flat tire overnight so the two of us with Paul W set off behind the rest of the group. The ride featured a 17km climb which we rode steadily, followed by a 20km descent which challenged me greatly. Donkeys and cattle were the nicest of the obstacles, shouting and darting children with sticks presenting something altogether more concerning. At one point I rounded a bend at approximately 50km/h only to find two children holding a stick across the entire road. They cast aside the stick just before I was on them… fortunately. A slurry of gravel thrown into the road as I passed would complete the experience.

We lunched leisurely and left as a large group, expecting to encounter gravel at 92km on the day. We found none, and instead opted for a coke stop to rehydrate where I sipped a cold “Obama Mango Juice” with the catchy slogan “Yes We Can” printed on the label alongside the President’s smiling face. UK Paul, knowing Paul W was ahead up the road and not keen on riding gravel quickly, went onward as we sipped cool drinks. Favorable tail winds and smooth roads meant a fast final 25km to camp, ahead of the trucks. Interestingly, there was no dirt or gravel on the day.

Another dry, dusty camp, the local support staff quickly went to work clearing the camp of massive thorn bushes, the machete proving the top tool for the task. The thorn bushes would be scattered along the perimeter rope to discourage any attempts of theft overnight. I sweated out a brief nap in my tent, definitely worse off for that effort. Dinner was a delicious fish curry with a wonderful mango salad and hot cocoa for a post-meal drink. Not bad in my opinion.

Tomorrow is a 105km jaunt that is supposed to be mostly paved. The rest day is scheduled for the town of Arba Minch along the shores of two large lakes. For once, I will find a way to simply rest on the rest day and not get caught up in the running around (hopefully).