Metema, Ethiopia
Posted by: Ewan McGregor | Date posted: 20/06/2007
Pictures
One man and his bike ©
Off into the hills. Clearance to ride on towards Ethiopia and a goat supper - not even Russ's snores can quell the guys' excitement. Read on to discover more about the bikes - and Charley's underpants count.
Ewan's ready to go. 'So we've got clearance now to go, Claudio, Charley and I, to ride out of the customs compound here on our own, while our support crew has an armed escort because we've got Claudio and he's been militarily trained so we're safe, but they don't. So we're off, we're going to ride into Ethiopia, here we go.'
Charley enjoyed another night camping. 'It was nice to camp in the compound. A nice bit of rain last night. It was a bit cooler.'
'And a bit of goat', remembers Ewan.
'Mmm, yes, a bit of goat, that was delicious. (And thanks Russ, snoring away there) ... so wish us luck.'
So they enjoyed another night of camping - another chance to work on those camping skills. We've had a few queries about this. How's it going? Who gets their tent up first? Charley pondered that. 'If it's raining, we can get them up pretty quick. If it's good weather, we take our time.' Ewan was keen to point out that he had got his up first the previous night. Charley reckoned that was only because he'd been busy. Making the food ...
* please note Claudio is not military-trained, but has previously taken part in military-based projects.
We're promised news of the wildlife and their visit to a mine clearance site later in the week. We'll keep you posted when we hear more. Meanwhile, the guys have been answering more of your questions:
Andy - How do the bikes compare to the 1150 used on the Long Way Round?
Ewan: Yeah really fallen for mine, they are much lighter they handle beautifully. I miss the 1150s as I’m really wedded to the look of the 1150 as I think it looks like a solid bike. I really miss the look but yes they handle very well.
Charley: Yes I like it as a riding vehicle much better, nicer to ride and um yeah it’s good.
Claudio - Does Ewan know about this little town called McGregor, near Robertson, maybe he’s got distance relatives there?
Ewan: Yeah we do know about that and in actual fact we are going to try and go through it. Last time we went to a lake called Charlie’s Lake and we visited Lake Mcgregor both in America. So this time we are going to visit the town of McGregor in South Africa
Tyler - Is your journey so far reminding you of Ted’s Simon’s 'Jupiter Travels'?
Ewan: Yes. There have been a few instances like on the ferry from Aswan down into Sudan and I remember Ted talking about that though. Also some of the descriptions of the desert are very reminiscent to ours. I wasn’t approached for sex by and Arab man in the desert like he was, but you know never mind!
Gina - Was it hard to keep your humour in the sand storm
Charley: Actually the sand storm was actually quite incredible, I mean it started up the night before when we were camping and then it just didn’t let up until we got to, where was it? - until we got to Kurbok.
But it was really good fun actually, having never ridden through one before it was a right old laugh and looking back on it was quite ridiculous - 15 hours in a sand storm but yes, it was really good fun.
Ewan: Like all of these things they are incredibly good fun in retrospect. There are moments during it when you think ‘what the hell am I doing’. The tough stuff is the stuff you remember afterwards ….you don’t really remember the easy stuff.
Harvey - How many pairs of underpants have you taken with you this year?
Ewan: Well yes, I came with eight pairs of underpants but half way through I changed to boxers shorts because my saddles very hard and my elastics were digging in so now I’ve got 8 pairs of boxers and eight pairs underpants so now I’ve got endless choice!
Charley: I’ve gone for Y fronts and as usual I’ve just gone for two pairs as I can get at least eight uses out of one – so you know I wear them once turn them round, wear them again turn them inside out, wear them again and then turn them round again – so I’m kinda happy with those two so I travel light.
We asked if you had any memories of great dishes from your travels. See the comments you sent in below.
Comments
Comments 1 - 10 of 79
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At 05:24:18 PM on 20/06/2007, Teresa (Hurst, Texas) wrote:
So much fun
Hi, You guys look like you are having a blast. I just want to send my support your way with everyone else! It is so great to get to get these updates to see and learn where you guys are!! Try not to freak out about the sand Ewan, you can do it!! Take care!!!
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At 05:42:49 PM on 20/06/2007, tim (London) wrote:
what the!?
can someone please tell me what the green tent type thing is on the top of the 4x4 in the picture with the caption about russ snoring?
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At 05:57:01 PM on 20/06/2007, Grant Wyness (Hereford) wrote:
Goat tastic...
Yeah. When Lynne and I are on our bikes or camping in general, we make a special effort to produce the best food we can muster. It's definitely the highlight of the day. Simple pasta dishes or maybe a Thai curry. Not sacrificing on the flavours of home brings a continuity to the unknown...Sand , heat, whatever, your taste-buds need pampering.
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At 05:59:53 PM on 20/06/2007, Evil Puppy (Istanbul TURKEY) wrote:
Go easy on the GOAT!
Hey guys, glad to see that you're doing OK after the goat! But still, go easy on it ;D !
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At 06:08:39 PM on 20/06/2007, Lea (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) wrote:
Sounds tasty!
Ah camping, a fine and pleasant misery. I love it! Looks like everyone's got it down to a fine science by now, including enjoying good camp food like goat. Mmm. Can't wait for the next update! Look after yourselves!
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At 06:21:30 PM on 20/06/2007, Morgan (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) wrote:
A veritable feast
Hmmm... Last time it was testicle soup and a sheep's head. I well remember those eyes glaring up at Ewan as he lopped off a tasty morsel. I can't help but wonder if the roast goat had the same glazed expression.
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At 06:22:33 PM on 20/06/2007, Shellie (Loughborough) wrote:
Nice bit of goat.
When I was in South Africa we found a restaurant which served crocodile, ostrich, elephant and wild boar. I told my dad to ask for an ostrich drumstick but he reckoned even he wouldn't be able to manage one of those. Try a bit of crocodile if you get a chance, it looks white and flaky like fish but has the taste and texture of red meat. Good luck in Ethiopia. Love Shellie
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At 06:49:42 PM on 20/06/2007, Michael Lobodzinski (Toronto, Ontario - CANADA) wrote:
best dish?!
Cook some eggs on the hood of a car on a hot day!!! The bug splatter caked on from miles of driving gives a tangy taste, the crunchiness is but the piste de résistance!!!!! Keep up the good fight gents!
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At 06:49:15 PM on 20/06/2007, Scott Murray (Glasgow) wrote:
Gonnae dae that!!
Haaw McGregor, Claudio 'n Charlie. REMEMBER, camping is always a magic experience...as long as there are no Scottish midges in your milk!! Could you have gone this far on a Ducati 998? Do the AA come out that far? AAaaaawwww..me back!! Hope you are all lovin every minute. Big smiles from a wee Scot
At 05:06:40 PM on 20/06/2007, Richard AW Tortorella (Langley, BC , Canada) wrote:
Rambo Claudio...
I honestly cannot even ponder what type of delicacies you gentlemen have been eating in Africa, I have tried Doro Wat, an Ethiopian chicken dish; but that is about it for my central African culinary knowledge. Although I do not doubt for a second that Claudio has been “militarily trained “, I just somehow cannot mentally picture him in full battle gear – at least without a camera in tow! It would be rather amusing I think. Joking aside, please be careful, and watch yourselves. We all want to see you back in one piece! Richard T.
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