of hopes and dreams for a successful
tour through Africa.
Addis Ababa would be the entry
point due to some very real safety is-
sues at the time to the north. It is here
where I claimed my motorcycle at the
airport a few days after arrival. I re-
ceived a large, wooden crate with my
motorcycle that was packaged in Ath-
ens and it was dropped on the loading
ramp after being x-rayed in the largest
machine I had ever seen. The crate
was made for me in Athens – and it
was more heavy-duty than I usually
use – complete with about 2000+ nails
holding it together. I had no idea how
I was going to pull apart the crate and
assemble the motorcycle, but once the
local people saw me struggling about
twenty of my ‘newest friends’ came to
help me until the task was completed,
only out of the kindness of the heart
and not expecting anything in return.
And so began the trip on the continent
of Africa with the warmth of the Ethi-
opian people!
After less than one week of logis-
tics and receiving the motorcycle,
insurance for most of the countries
we would visit, preparing maps, and
TRAVERSE 63