Day 17

Rather dreading more of the same road but it was worse, another 125km taking 5 hours including a terrible corrugated bit where our right rear shock went bang, oh no! We drove on for a bit but something was making a dreadful rubbing noise so we stopped to find the rubber wheel arch guard was ripped and trapped so we got the wheel off, took the guard off and replaced the wheel. We were watched by a very handsome tribesman with feathers on his head and beautiful beads around his neck, carrying a spear but unfortunately he did not want his picture taken. The people are very different to Ethiopians and live in a much harsher environment, not many smiles just looks of amazement. We drove on very slowly, then reached the tarmac with another 400km to go which at 50mph takes a while! Some white men were at the start of the tarmac in a village callen Mirelle, they shouted out "You're mad!" We are beginning to agree with them. Driving on the beautiful new tarmac was a big disappointment as the bushes have gone so the back wheels try to overtake the front, making the car lurch from right to left, was rather alarming. A new freeway has been built into Nairobi which has no lines on it, men were still digging the ditch on the edge and our lights were not good  and it was dark so we kept following other cars to give us a clue. Oh and the route book directions had changed from a year ago when they did the route survey. Luckily our guiding star Andy Inskip rang us with directions and was at the entrance to meet two very weary girls. The poor car limped into the carpark and I'm sorry but we just couldn't look at it tonight. Went inside to be presented with a bouquet of flowers and much congratulation at achieving the dreaded crossing from the border town of Moyale. We were told at dinner that it is real bandit country and very dangerous to drive through, much less stop to fiddle about with the car