Sticks and stones and whips

Posted by Lindsey Cole at 22:49 on 6 Apr 2010

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Insulting names or not, I think I'd prefer anything to what the kids in the rural countryside of Ehtiopia throw as I pedal pass. I used to think Ethiopia was synonomous with the 1985 famine and drought. I didn't realise how lush and mountainous it was until I researched this trip. Yes, I was very narrow-minded. Hence,the army of children in the hills after the border, in addition to the steep climbs, slightly scared me. The main problem with me is that I'm the slowest in the group. So, the first two will pass an area and children will spy them and come running from afar. Subsequently, not being ready for their: ready, aim, fire approches. However, they'd have ample time to get in position and ready to taunt me. I managed to survive the first gang of 7 year-olds, only to be welcomed by a slightly older group of kids, one of whom was cracking his cow's whip, imitating Indian Jones. Needless to say that whip met my bottom-which was understandably sore from cycling for 6 weeks. I was left with a red burn. What an incentive to rotate those pedals faster! Unfortunately, It didn't work!

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