Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[DASKOP]

It is gravel nearly all the way to Calvinia.

Along the way, I stop to take some photos, among them of something which is of great nostalgic value to me, windmills.(windpompe)

I was a single father and Brandon traveled a lot with me, and I can remember, every time we saw a windmill, he would say to me, "Look daddy, there's a turn-turn".

 

[DASKOP]

What more do you want?

 

[Tommy Transalp]

Following your route with great sentiment and interest...

I'm sure this helped with the mourning process..... the scar will heal, but memories are etched in your soul forever..

Tommy  :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

The road from Calvinia to Vredendal is not really awe inspiring, particularly when your tongue constantly reminds you of the chunk out of your front tooth and you spend most of your time praying to find a dentist who can help you without an appointment. Many suggestions from the group, but I have to get to Vredendal first.

Outside Calvinia, I see a private plane parked in the middle of nowhere, what a way to get to Lake Malawi, but nothing beats the Matilda way.

Vanrhyn's Pass breaks the monotony. It is hot as I enter Vredendal and I find shelter in the shade of a building on the road I came in. Just happens to be the Provincial Traffic Department building and a traffic officer walks by. So, as their main job should be directing traffic, I ask him for directions to the nearest dentist and he directs me to Gentle Dental, just around the corner. Dr de Klerk sees me within 15 minutes of my arrival and fixes my enamel coated appendature. His story, I will share when I feel comfortable to do so.

It is now heading to late afternoon, I am not going to make it to the Orange River, and as the Covid test results are only valid for 72 hours, I am rather going to do it tomorrow. I get directions to Pathcare, go there, I meet Magriet Kotze and make an appointment for early the next morning. Magriet also has a story to tell, but now is not the time.

I ask for recommendations regarding accommodation for the night. Kat-Ma-Koep, it is just down the road, thank you and I get on Matilda and start her. GPS immediately shows Kat-Ma-Koep at the top of the list of local accommodation, obviously that is where I am to go. Settled.

Bennie gave me a great room with a private entrance and undercover parking for Matilda.

 

[DASKOP]

14 May 2021

Some coffee first, then Pathcare at 09h00, swab taken and back to Kat-Ma-Koep to pack and head out.

I settle my bill and receive my second blessing, a discount and under the current Covid affected economic situation, it means a lot to me.

As I am packing Matilda, Elizabeth, Bennie's wife comes out to check on their aviary and we start chatting. My story is revealed and she shares with me. Another encounter to be shared when the time is right.

From Vredendal there is some tar and then the turn off to Nuwerus, gravel and some photo opportunities before the tarred N7 to Springbok.

 

[Tony the Boney]

what's that aircraft doing in  the middle of nowhere?

 

[DASKOP]

Next to the tarred N7 to Springbok, you can still see the old original gravel road.

 

[DASKOP]

what's that aircraft doing in  the middle of nowhere?

There is a landing strip, so it must be some rich person who owns who knows what in the area.

 

[DASKOP]

Springbok Pathcare, negative, good to go.

 

[DASKOP]

It is a looooooong straight road on the N7 from Springbok to the Orange river.

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

Dit sal 'n voorreg wees om die rr te volg. 

 

[DASKOP]

Baie dankie, dit is my voorreg om dit met julle te deel.

 

[DASKOP]

The Orange River. The Namibian Border Post buildings can be seen in the background of picture 3.

 

[Knucklhead/knuckey]

Thankyou for sharing, following with great interest. :thumleft:

 

[JohnB]

.

 

[DASKOP]

The initial plan was to stay at Bushwacked Adventures on the Orange River. I did not book, but it was my first choice during the planning stage. However, like in most cases with adventure bike riding, plans are more likely to change than not. I knew that they did not have a restaurant, so once on the gravel road, next to the Orange River, I decided to explore all the accommodation options available. I saw a sign, River Side River Lodge, +/- 16 km. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and off I went.

The last section of road was interesting, ups, downs and bends, but not in good state and as I just missed the turn-off to the lodge. I had to get the bike turned around, but a rut got the better of me and I turned to get to the gate, I fell over. My first, but not my last defeat to the effect of gravity. There was nobody in sight and no way that I could pick up the 500+ kg that is Matilda, as she was lying at an awkward angle, so I walked to the lodge, there I met Josef, manager of the establishment. He came to my aid, we picked up Matilda, and he told me that the only establishment along the river which had a restaurant was Oewerbos River Lodge and Campsite. I thanked him profusely and drove to Oewerbos. Little did I know, right there, what that decision would eventually result in, many weeks later.

Oewerbos was more than what I expected, a beautiful setting on the Orange River, character-filled restaurant and pub leading onto a deck overlooking the river, WI-fi, all the amenities and then, Neville, the owner. Neville epitomised the most important requisite for any owner or manager of a successful accommodation establishment, he makes you feel at home. I felt comfortable staying there.

I set up my camp and went to enjoy the sun and the view on the deck. There, I met Graeme and Shelagh Harker and we struck up a conversation. They are retired, currently living in a house they own in Knysna, although their actual home is in Sake, British Isles, but due to Covid, they have not been able to return there since November 2019. Graeme shared with me and this is another story I will tell when the time is ready.

Beautiful sunset on the Orange River.

I had the amazing Oewerbos pizza for supper and then sat on the deck until 11 pm, trying to make sense of why. That inevitable, infernal, unavoidable question, WHY?

 

[DASKOP]

15 May 2021
Oewerbos rest day. Beautiful hot day on the Orange River.

One of the tented chalets, close to my campsite, was unoccupied, so I used the facilities there to boil water for coffee, charge everything that needed charging and shower. I had my coffee at the table on the deck in front of the tented chalet and enjoyed the river view and my tranquil surroundings. I then did some laundry and re-packed the bike to make the most used items more accessible so that I do not have to unpack the whole bike when setting up camp, or alternatively, only having to take out one bag if I was staying in a chalet or room.

Late afternoon, time for a beer on the deck and final checking of the documents required for the border crossing, my proposed route, and some posting on the group.

Supper and bed.

 

[DASKOP]

Tomorrow I will be on the other side of the Orange River in Namibia.

 

[Bike_Buddies]

Dankie vir die deel ...

Ek ry lekker saam ....  :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

16 May 2021

The planned route was, Noordoewer Border Post into Namibia, B1 north, left onto the D316 towards Ais-Ais, right onto the C10, left onto the C37 to Canyon Roadhouse, where I will camp . Done.

I made use of the unoccupied chalet again, coffee on the deck, shower and pack up. Saw Neville and paid my bill. I only later realised that Neville only charged me for my meals and drinks, not for my accommodation.

Brandon’s 2nd sticker went up in the restaurant / bar area of Oewerbos, with Neville’s permission, and I left for the border.

The border crossing was quite painless and quick, until I was sent to the scanner area, on the Namibian side, which is the last port of call before being checked at the security point, where after you are officially in Namibia. Quite normal procedure, but the lady at the scanner office asked me if I had anything to declare and I said no. I did not expect her next question which was to ask what I had in those fridges on my bike. I explained to her that these were not fridges, just metal boxes to protect my belongings, this seemed to satisfy her and I was allowed to proceed.

I was in Namibia.