Day 27 – Beautiful camp, incredible climb

Stage 27 – Forrest Camp to Blue Nile Gorge

88km, 5:39 hrs riding time, 15.8 kmh 6000 ft ( 20 km of climb).

Wow! From the sounds of Hyenas last night at our beautiful camp to bands of baboons on the incredible climb.

First light brought beautiful tidy farms and fences. Contrary to my preconceived notion there is very little trash and lots of wide open spaces.

It is as if things are as they were 2000 years ago, harvesting wheat by hand, ploughing with cows, cutting and carrying large piles of wheat, separating wheat from chafe by throwing in the air.

Not sure how the Blue Nile Gorge compares to Grand Canyon but geez it seems big and further across. About halfway up I started feeling better and was able to settle into a comfortable climb. Not fast but with my lack of energy and still tender ribs, I’ll take it. I felt like I still had reserves when I made it to camp and didn’t have to run to the toilet, victory!

Highlights:

• Coming across an Ethiopian Ti Kwan do team stretching and running out in the middle of nowhere.
• Realizing how good I had it compared to the men and woman carrying great stacks of hay on their backs.
• Giving high five to kids and scaring a little guy when I held out my hand, he ran terrified. I put my hand on my heart and said friend in Amharic, I slowed down and he saw me shake hands with the other kids. He caught up and when it was his turn he gently kissed my hand. He may have been five.