The heat of the north
A hot dawn, the omen of a day of infernal heat. And so it would be. Straight out of camp the track climbs from the 1,650 metres we’re at to almost 3,000 metres. The track, with a good surface and not too steep, lifts us over the 23 kilometres of climbing to another idyllic landscape. This time, as well as the beautiful scenery, the local wildlife comes out to meet us. I’m still not sure whether they came to say hello or to see if they could find something to eat, but the gelada monkeys, known for the red triangle on their chests, keep their distance, apart from the odd male that comes closer to, we think, keep an eye on his territory.
The heat is fierce again, and we make the most of a stop in Wegel Tena to eat and have something cold, served by the village’s lovely waitresses.
The rest of the stage runs along rocky tracks through lovely scenery, until the fast descent to the riverbed comes round again, this time to a river with more water than the last one and a bridge in better repair. It looks like a good place to pitch camp.