Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[stcomza]

Ek pillion baie lekker saam met julle  :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

At The Oasis Shell garage, I filled up Matilda, NAD13,83 (R13,83) per liter and bought a Coke. Berto Mostert, the co-owner of the filling station came over and introduced himself. He offered me coffee and we had a long chat. He advised me to take a different, more scenic route to Canyon Roadhouse via Aussenkehr.

He also had his staff put a local sim card and load data onto my standby phone, which I could use as a Wi-fi hot spot when required. After that he gave me a bottle of water, his business card, so that I could phone him if I needed help anywhere, wished me well and I was on my way. Via Aussenkehr.

The first section of road was tar and boring, then there were the vineyards, local unusual informal settlements and then the view of the Orange River. I had to take some photos here.

 

[DASKOP]

I found a spot to stop and take some photos. I was not concentrating when I got back on the bike, Matilda was not fully vertical before I pulled the side stand up, gravity took over and I promptly fell over. The only damage, my pride, Matilda’s LH mirror and a lesion to my left forearm. I can’t pick her up, so might as well take a photo of my resting bike and wait.

Fortunately, some locals stopped and helped me get the bike upright and they left. I got back on the bike, and realised that it was at an angle that I could not get it up straight. Once again, fortune was on my side, some locals walked past and helped me, with great amusement, to get the bike straight up and I was on my way.

A short distance from there was the turn-off, once again gravel highway and Matilda was in her element.

I passed a cyclist on the road who flagged me down. I stopped and met Sven, he was cycling from Cape Town to Windhoek, to deliver a petition, which I duly signed, against the Bloody Canadians, his words, mining in the Okavango. Another kindred spirit with a cause.

He had a loose pedal nut and needed a 14 socket, I unfortunately could not help him, but we started chatting and the reason for my trip came up. We chatted and then it was time to leave. This stranger, this new acquaintance then asked me if he could hug me. Do you have any idea how much that meant to me, here in the middle of nowhere in Namibia?

 

[DASKOP]

The rest of the road to Canyon Roadhouse was spectacularly beautiful. It is desolate, quiet, serene, awe inspiring and soul healing. It is truly God’s country.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Wow,, awesome 

 

[Tony the Boney]

I'm living this with you. All these roads bring back memories :thumleft:

 

[Mev Vis Arend]

Dit is so mooi ..... 'n regte hartsveslag. 

 

[wooly bugger]

Great photos [member=13165]DASKOP[/member]
I have sent you a WA just to put things in context.
I feel your pain........................

 

[DASKOP]

I arrived at Canyon Roadhouse and was shown my campsite, very thick sand, but I got Matilda into position, found a hard spot for her side stand, and erected the tent under a tree. Then I found some flat rocks to use for Matilda’s side stand so that I could move her closer to the tent and use my LED lamp which I power off the bike’s power socket.

I was challenged by Jules to find his sticker in the Roadhouse, but could only find the one paw. I will check again tomorrow.

Hamburger and chips take-away and a cold Windhoek Draught for supper. I wanted to enjoy this at my campsite, not in the restaurant. Adventure bikers like me are odd in this way. I wanted to enjoy the black starry night and a sense of remoteness.

Into bed, then it got cold, very cold and I tried to put on whatever clothes I could find, including my bike jacket and pile whatever I could find on top of me, to try and generate some semblance of heat. An extremely cold and uncomfortable night.

 

[DASKOP]

17 May 2021

It was very cold last night, but I eventually surfaced, had a hot coffee in the sun to thaw out.

I showered in the camp ablutions and hit the road, the plan being to see the Fish River Canyon. As I left CRH, I turned left instead of right, who knows why. But it was a great gravel road and I saw Ostriches, Gemsbok, Springbuck, Donkeys and a windmill. Eventually, I realised that I was going the wrong way, turned around, stopped at CRH, and confirmed the actual way to go.

Not in a good head space.

 

[DASKOP]

Off to Hobas, My second time on this road with its magnificent surrounding landscape.

NAD150 to go in, worth every cent.

Viewpoint first. No photos will ever be able to do justice to the magnitude, the scale, the grandeur, or the breath-taking splendour of the Fish River Canyon. It is one of those places which you have to physically see, to truly understand what it is all about. It is monumental, it is spectacular, and the opportunity to stand there and take it all in, it is humbling, to say the least.

It was a truly emotional experience for me.

 

[DASKOP]

Brandon's third sticker went up and I broke down.

 

[DASKOP]

I saw the second viewpoint far to the right and drove there to take more photos. I stopped about half way near the edge first.

 

[DASKOP]

The second official viewpoint.

 

[DASKOP]

There is more to share regarding my visit to the Fish River Canyon, but now is not the time, when I feel comfortable somewhere later in the RR, I will do so.

 

[DASKOP]

The Fish River Canyon experience was the first time, on this trip, that my emotions got the better of me, to this extent. I miss my boy so much. The tears flowed freely on the ride back to CRH.

At CRH, I sat outside at one of the tables, having a beer and updating my journal. As it got dark, I asked one of the staff members if they could possibly get me some extra blankets, as it was freezing in the tent. A few minutes later, they brought me 2 blankets and I was extremely grateful. I was sorted for the cold night ahead.

Shortly after that, one of the staff ladies, came to me and said that the manageress, Natasha, had instructed them to upgrade me to a fully serviced room, at no extra charge, and I was duly escorted to my new accommodation for the night. My third blessing and they are getting bigger. Thank you Lord.

Really? NAD273 camping rate for a NAD1800 room?

My room number? 13, whoever said that 13 was an unlucky number?

I was truly humbled by this unexpected show of kindness and generosity. CRH is part of the Gondwana Collection, one of the biggest Tourist Accommodation providers in Namibia, and to receive such a blessing from such a big company, is a testimony of the quality and character of the people they employ.

I was not going to pack up and move in the dark, so I took only the essentials to the room and left the rest of my stuff and Matilda at the campsite. Tomorrow is another day.

Inside my room, a sign saying “WINDPOMP”, which I posted on the group. Knowing my fascination with windmills, my friend Eldridge, posted this comment: “A God-wink moment – too random to be random.

 

[wooly bugger]

A very well written (and illustrated) RR, well done, Marius  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

My room for the night with en-suite, I am not going to freeze tonight.

Ordered take-away again and put up Brandon's 4th sticker while waiting.

 

[DASKOP]

18 May 2021

It was amazing to have a warm and comfortable place to spend the night. It was such a blessing from my Father, His intervention gave me comfort in a very difficult time.

Early morning coffee on the verandah outside my room, shower, dress and move camp. The wind was pumping so I had to place rocks on the corners of everything I had to fold up. Eventually it was all done and all that was left at Campsite No 1, were the tracks left by a heavy laden Matilda.

 

[DASKOP]

Matilda has a new parking space and everything is in the room.