We arrive at the border post, knowing that time is of the essence, we frantically repair Dave’s puncture and unload the crippled BMW complete with buggered shock and removed battery (used to get Jo the last 50 km up the road from hell). We prepare for the dash across the border, clearing Kenyan customs we are reminded of a South African guy’s comments that we would be denied entry into Ethiopia. Surely not, we had done our research and we are smart Kiwi’s we know our stuff!!!
We all clear Kenyan customs, we have now exited Kenya. Not being keen on pushing my bike up the hill to cross into Ethiopia I remain on the Kenyan side of the border while the others transgress (Not trans-dress) into Ethiopia. Sure enough I see Brendan returning across the 200m strip of No-Man’s land. He passes on the message, we have been denied entry. This is good as I have saved myself a large amount of effort. With 1.5 hours to go, we once again call in the services of Noor “The last King of Kenya” Armed with experience and some US dollars (God Bless America) he spends the next 1 hour in serious discussion with the Ethiopian authorities.
After paying the fee for several taxis across the border and a couple of Soda’s for the Kenyan border guards Noor returns. He has a battery and some tie-down straps but no access or Visa entry permits for the team. The bikes limp back into Moyale, the whistle blows and the Ethiopian and Kenyan Flags are lowered, the border is closed. We farewell Noor and as the sun sets he departs for his 6 hour return journey down the road from hell.
We scour Moyale for accommodation and a place to recover and repair damaged bikes. With accommodation sorted we move to the more pressing problems that face us, we are now illegally in Kenya with no options for Ethiopian Visa’s. We set out on a mission for cold beer. Jo finds the only place in town and soon we are at the prison guard’s mess-block drinking coldish beer and eating rice and chicken (I think it was chicken).
Two beers down and we have the energy for the next fight. We start with a 5:00am wake up call to Colin Perry at United Travel in Porirua. He takes the matter into hand and after a two hour exchange of information he is on our case and communicating with MFAT. We retire to bed exhausted from our day on the road from hell.
Tomorrow is another day, will we cross into Ethiopia or will we be locked up as illegal Kenyan immigrants????
Tony & Floyd
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