Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[DASKOP]

I saw some giraffe along the way, and a windmill, which had to be added to my collection. A turn-turn for Brandon.

 

[DASKOP]

Back on the gravel.

It was getting hot. I stopped at this shop, aptly named Wildernis, and, no I did not use the right hand side entrance, I went in on the left to buy a cold Coke.

I turned off towards Torra Bay. There was plenty of elephant dung on the road, but no elephants to be seen.

 

[DASKOP]

The road to Torra Bay.

I stopped at a roadside resting area and really wished that there had still been a roof on the three poles which were all that remained of what must have been a covered area. It was hot and I just needed a little shade for a while.

 

[DASKOP]

The temperature had gone up to 31,5 deg Celsius and it was not even midday yet.

 

[DASKOP]

Skeleton Coast Park.

Springbokwasser Gate, very friendly staff, quick in and out and sticker no 43 was up.

It was hot, the temperature had reached 35 deg Celsius.

The first signs of sand dunes were becoming visible.

 

[DASKOP]

Then, the whole landscape changed as I was heading to the T-junction where I was going to turn south. I could also feel the temperature dropping.

At the T-junction Brandon's sticker no 44 was put on the Yield sign.

 

[DASKOP]

Where I had come from and where I was going.

 

[DASKOP]

Within about 30 minutes, the temperature had dropped by 10 degrees. I was surrounded by a barren landscape, obviously close to the coast, I could smell the sea, but there was no sign of the ocean yet.

Fortunately, I had not yet experienced the wind which I had been warned about.

 

[DASKOP]

At last there were some dunes next to the road. I thought that getting to the top of the dunes, I might have a glimpse of the ocean.

Not yet.

 

[DASKOP]

Passing the old Toscanini Diamond Mine.

And then my first view of the ocean.

 

[RobD]

Ah! The sea.........

 

[DASKOP]

The old oil rig.

 

[DASKOP]

Some close-ups.

 

[DASKOP]

It was like being in the middle of nowhere.

 

[DASKOP]

This was too big for Matilda, or it would have been destined for my garden.

 

[DASKOP]

Back on the road along the coast. The wind had picked up.

Computer screen warning, tyre pressure dropping. Because the performance of Matilda had not yet been affected, I decided to push on to the Ugab gate and then review the situation.

 

[DASKOP]

Ugab Gate.

Another quick in and out. I put up sticker no 45 for Brandon.

The wind was howling. I checked the rear tyre, which seemed fine and the computer showed 1,9 bar at the rear. I decided to push on, maybe it was a faulty sensor.

 

[DASKOP]

On to the salt road, but soon the Tyre Pressure Monitor showed that the rear tyre had gone down to 1,4 bar, but I was traveling over 110 km/h and Matilda was as solid as a rock. Despite the howling wind.

The supposed hard tyre walls of the Dunlop Trailmax Missions were now being tested.

I saw the St Nowhere Spa and Campsite sign and decided to pull in there, I had everything on the bike to do a repair, but I needed to get out of the wind. Even if I had to spend the night there, I just wanted to get out of the wind.

Seeing the campsites, I knew camping was not going to be an option in this wind. There were chalets, so this was a possibility.

I met the owner, explained my problem and discussed the possibility of staying over, but the restaurant was closed, no beers for sale, all due to Covid. I was in no way stocked for self-catering, but he said that he had a compressor, so, time to pump the back tyre to 4,0 bar and see how far I get.

All done, back to the main road through the salt pans.

 

[DASKOP]

Took some time to put up sticker no 46 on the St Nowhere signboard before heading to Henties.

Passed mile 108.

Then, a photo for my brother, His wife's name is Adri.

 

[DASKOP]

Soon after leaving St Nowhere, the rear tyre pressure was once again heading down, then I saw the Cape Cross Lodge shown on the GPS and decided to take a chance, running at 120 km/h and my lady and the Dunlops did not fail me. I got there and then, to top it all off, a special rate for accommodation. I did not have to put up my tent.