Having mastered the intricacies of temporary import over land and sea my next lesson is airfreight.Just when I was recovering from the shock of the cost of servicing I got a couple of quotes for airfreight that have put me back on my back.The price doesn't look too bad per kilo and is just about acceptable when multiplied by the wt. of the bike. This is when you learn about airfreight wt.,; the volume divided by 6!!
Riding up to a border or arriving at a port you just get on with it but I have now entered the murky world of the freight forwarders who are evidently doing me a favour even replying to e-mails. Any road up I think I have arranged to send the bike to Addis Ababa next week.Are capital letters shouting I wonder?
I have been studying hard and planning and I now know that the unit of currency is the burr and Addis Ababa is in Ethiopia and I can get a visa at the airport what else do I need.?
One other difference is that the "maninarush" ( thanks Chris) is slowing down to see some of what there is to see.
New site is underway and has been published http://www.manonatrip.bleddry.com/ .If I can think of anything to put on the extra pages I should arrive at the situation where all my spare time isn't spare any longer.
8/8/11
Things are never as bad as they seem and my faith has been restored. Took the bike to The Cargo Village at the airport and cold called on Rainbow Cargo. Within 30 mins the tank was drained and the bike was well on its way to being crated up.
Rainbow were very helpful indeed and even sent a man with me to the RTA office to get a letter confirming the bike was mine.There was also a pleasant walk between the RTA office and Interpol. Just two or three miles in the midday sun, what is the opposite of bracing? I guess I'm not wanted because I got my letter.
Really that is all I had to do,air seems so much easier than sea but I will reserve judgement until I clear customs in Ethiopia.
9/8/11
Back to Rainbow to pick up the airway bill and my Carnet (duly stamped out of UAE ).More good news,the bike is leaving today so will be waiting for me when I arrive tomorrow.Now, how many sandwiches do I need to last me a week?
Watching the world news I am just relieved I'm not heading to anywhere lawless and out of control such as the UK.I just wonder if this is the start of the UK Summer with the people taking to the streets to demand a regime change!!!
