Debre Sina to Addis Ababa is a distance of about 200 kilometers on good roads. Approaching Addis the roads started getting a lot busier. I didn’t want to go through the centre of the capital, and drove through the city on the eastern side. Lots of construction in progress, with buildings going up everywhere, both residential and business. On the way to Addis I also passed several major Chinese industrial estates. I hope the Ethiopians haven’t sold their soul to the Chinese! Wanting to take the toll road further south, just outside Addis, I drove up to the toll booth to pay, but was stopped by police before I reached the booth. No motorcycles allowed on the freeway, he told me. I tried to explain to him that this was a much bigger bike than normally used in Ethiopia, and faster than most of the cars on the road. Not allowed, the friendly police officer told me. I would have to find an alternative road south.

I drove for another couple of hours until I reached a town called Shashamane. Found a nice hotel right next to the main road. Enjoyed a meal in their restaurant - rice with mince meat and vegetables - before an early night, so I would be in good shape for another long stage the following day, where I wanted to reach Yebello, about 200 km from the border to Kenya.

Got an early start on the morning of the 28th September - my final day for exciting Ethiopia - and reached the border between Ethiopia and Kenya at 10.00 in the morning, after 200 km on absolutely perfect tar road with not a single pothole! The perfect farewell gift from Ethiopia! 

There are almost new customs buildings on both sides of the border. My carnet de passage was quickly stamped on the Ethiopian side and the exit stamp in my passport sorted. I was free to drive the couple of hundred meters to Kenyan customs, who handled both my carnet and passport in no time, despite the fact that their computer systems were down. Welcome to Kenya, the official said. The smoothest border crossing on my trip, so far.