Our journey to Bahir Dar on the shores of Lake Tana, Ethiopias largest lake with squadrons of pelicans flying over its surface, took us through many villages dropping down several hundred feet onto flatter land. Again people were walking along the sides of the roads from village to village carrying anything from bundles of firewood on their heads to huge clay pots of water on their backs. Also we passed 4 or 5 burnt out tanks and armoured personnel carriers left over from more troubled times. Driving is very difficult all the way as there are so many obstacles in the road like people, cattle, goats, donkeys, dogs, children and huge potholes you need to keep your eyes peeled to avoid an accident.

We easily found the camp site which is in the grounds of a hotel by the side of the lake. there were tow other overlander vehicles there, a huge truck with two German guys and a 40 year old converted Mercedes van with an Austrian couple called Micheal and Stephanie and their 18 month old daughter Marie Louise. They had travelled through Libya from Europe and from Egypt the same route as us but Ethiopia is the end of the line for them and after a month they will return to Europe through Syria and Jordan the way we came. I don't envy them as they will have to do the desert route back through Sudan which virtually wrecked their truck and it is literally on its knees now.

We spent a good few days beside the Lake drinking beer at 25p a bottle, eating fresh fish caught in the lake beside the bonfire which was built every night to keep the chill off as nights are getting cooler now as we are at about 2500 altitude. The days are still very hot though and Peter and Micheal worked up a sweat playing a game which is a cross between squash and badminton in the car park. The young lads that live at the hotel also enjoyed a game or two. It is very interesting chatting with the kids most of whom either have no mother or father or both and as usual the are all avid Manchester United fans.

We took a boat ride out to the monestries some dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and were lucky enough to visit on a holy day when many of the monks and priests were praying. As with the dervishers in Sudan they whip themselves up into reall worshiping frenzy banking drums and singing but it was a very interresting morning. When we got back the backers had arrived taking 3 1/2 days to do what took us 2 days but obviously it is so much harder on the bikes. We all enjoyed dinner together at the hotel restaurant (food is so cheap in Ethiopia it is not worth cooking for yourselves) and in the morning we waved goodbye once more although we hope we see Michael and Stephanie again in Addis as they have to go there to arrange visas for their return journey.