I think the pin location is wrong, but I'm not going to try to correct it now.. (From Carole - pin is correct now)

Yesterday I left Dire Dawa at 5:30 AM for the trip east to Awash, a small town just outside the Awash NP . 
I'm on the express bus to Addis, they do not stop to pick up additional passengers and only drop of people upon request. I've requested to be dropped off, but the driver forgets and I find myself 50 KM past Awash.  I just decide to skip it, was an iffy stop because arranging transportation into the park can be a problem. While riding  I have a great conversation with a 25 year old law school graduate who is now an associate dean in Dire Dawa.

So now I'm in Adama which is located 100 KM east of Addis. It's a fast growing city and is now the second largerst in Ethiopia. From here I will take a bus south to Asela, and then onward to Dodola, the entry town to the Bale Mountains, where I plan to trek for a week or so. The scenery and and animal life will be a good change, more like being back in the Simien Mountains.

The route to Dodola will be through the mountains. One of the small towns we will pass through is named Bekji, situated at an elevation of 2,700 meters . A note of interest regarding Bekji, it is the home of five Olympic medalists, including the legendary Haile Gebre Selassie. Quite a few world class runners from such a small town. Something in the water??

I'll update when I return from the Bale Mountains.

Oh yes, another pickpocket attempt last night on the way back to my hotel after dinner. The measures I've taken work great, the wallet did come out of my pocket, but it is securely attached to my pants. Two shoe shine boys see what is happening and chase the 2 men away. They then escort me back to my hotel room, one on either side of me. If I see them today, I'll have them shine my shoes. I've been getting my Timberlands done every few days, 3 birr, 25 cents, US.