Damaraland & Kaokoland – Finally!

[Vis Arend]

Bart, if I was dealing with my sins, I would probably still be there.

Not long after this @hartebees brought me the customary mug of OBS and then sat down next to me and smoked his pipe which is reserved for special occasions. A companionable silence, appreciating the vista followed: no small talk...actually, not much talk at all, but special.

Irreplaceable, that's magic moments. No need to talk...............nature does the talking.

 

[Hardy de Kock]

F O K K I T
What an awesome RR. I am dead tired just reading it.
Wish I had the bike, money and time to do this. Even as a newbie in sand this looks like an awesome trip.
As a video and photo man even doing this trip in the Unimog and documenting it would be great.

Well done to all and thanks for sharing

Speak to me before the next trip.
Let’s see if we can make a plan to get you there

 

[MegaPix]

Speak to me before the next trip.
Let’s see if we can make a plan to get you there

Send me some details please
kobusschoemanphotos at gmail dot com

 

[ETS]

Very bad news for you Hardy......................................







I'm going again next year

 

[Hardy de Kock]

Very bad news for you Hardy......................................







I'm going again next year

I was hoping for this, and I promise you that it is everything but bad news.

 

[BuRP]

Bart, if I was dealing with my sins, I would probably still be there.

Pffff, if the amount of sins is the yardstick then I'd be born & bred there...... but better tell that to someone who cares about them!

 

[BuRP]

I'm going again next year

There you go guys, your uncle in the furniture business needs some support I recon!
Perhaps though I may sway your mind Uncle, because I may do same if some very specific others will do too

 

[Hardy de Kock]

Amicitia Peregrinatio

 

[BuRP]

Amicitia Peregrinatio

I'm not fond of arms Hardy, and you should know I cannot get pregnant!

 

[Hardy de Kock]

I'm not fond of arms Hardy, and you should know I cannot get pregnant!

Nou hoe reken jy sal ek weet

 

[Rooies]

Today we are heading for Twyfelfontein where we will be camping at the Abu-Huab campsite, situated on the banks of the (dry) Abu-Huab river. Again, there will be a truck route as well as a more challenging route. After a brief self-assessment, I positively count myself as part of the SLL group (Sick, Lame and Lazy) and opt for the truck route, giving my injuries some time to recover and not risk it on the more technical stuff.

We will not be going directly to the campsite, but instead take a detour and visit Twyfelfontein Country Lodge, a magnificent retreat in the barrens of Damaraland, for lunch and some R&R.

It’s a 140km dash on a gravel highway to Twyfelfontein Country Lodge, but first some fuel just outside at Palmwag.

The two groups split and I continue on towards Twyfelfontein with Bernice and Schalk.

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the non-SLL group on the technical route. If any of the guys who were there took some, please add.

 

[Rooies]

We arrive at Twyfelfontein just before lunch and walking into this place, dirty and disheveled I am convinced I am convinced we are going to be kicked out. But we are received warmly and we are offered the pool to cool down.

The rowdy bikers quickly take over the respected establishment, draping furniture with dirty socks and jackets.

Then time for a swim...

And a snooze...

 

[Rooies]

Cheers Twyfelfontein, it's been swell! We head off to camp not too far away and set up shop, getting ready for a relaxing early night.

 

[MegaPix]

Sjoe daai vervalle gebou sal mooi maak met 'n model en fotos.

Love daai grasdak setup. Hierdie is nou een awesome trip

 

[hartebees]

Photo of the day is this one with @ETS, Andries and the Huab elephants.

Heading down to the river.

 

[Rooies]

Stem @hartebees , daardie pa-en-seun foto is goud!

 

[Rooies]

Today we are heading for Twyfelfontein where we will be camping at the Abu-Huab campsite, situated on the banks of the (dry) Abu-Huab river. Again, there will be a truck route as well as a more challenging route. After a brief self-assessment, I positively count myself as part of the SLL group (Sick, Lame and Lazy) and opt for the truck route, giving my injuries some time to recover and not risk it on the more technical stuff.
...

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the non-SLL group on the technical route. If any of the guys who were there took some, please add.

Thanks @NIMMO

As per his video they sent out scouts to survey the river and check for lions and elephants. Coming around a bend in the river and running into a herd of elephants or a pride of lions will test your 180' turning skills severely, something not to be tried for the first time in deep sand.

 

[Rooies]

Today will be our last day of trail riding, and I am not going to miss it for the world.

Cataflams – Check.
Teaspoon of cement – Check.
I can see Hardy’s scepticism when I mention that I would like to do the Divorce Pass route. He must be thinking something along the lines of: “As jy dom is, …”, and probably was right. However, this day turns out to be one of the most spectacular and enjoyable days for me.

Our destination is Brandberg White Lady Camp. There are two routes for the bikes, the one a shorter, sandy riverbed route, where I believe a lot of action occurred. The other is a longer route, taking you through the Doros 4x4 trail onto Divorce Pass, into the Ugab River and then a long and daunting hours-long approach towards Brandberg, the mountain just not getting any closer as you approach and playing tricks with your mind.

I am up early, excited for what this day will bring.

And for one more day, we will follow the sun on this incredible trip.




The two biking groups are formed and take off our separate ways. We are soon on the Doros 4x4 trail and again the landscape changes magically in a short space of time. We are riding a grass-covered hilly tweespoor the one moment, the next we’ve landed on the moon.

Rodger always has a smile on his face.

We re-group often and @bowmansharonlee checks on me at each stop, making sure I have water and offering eats. Thank you, Sharon!

And just like that, the landscape changes.

 

[Hardy de Kock]

Photo of the day is this one with @ETS, Andries and the Huab elephants.
View attachment 777366

Heading down to the river.
View attachment 777367

Riding Desolation Valley is one of the highlights on this tour. It is a place with unbelievable landscapes and it will test your riding proper.
It is also very dangerous because of the elephant and lions that frequent these riverbeds.
We use a scout strategy and so far it has worked out well, and all our riders have always been able to see the elephants or lions from a safe distance instead of up close and personal.
Johannes and Andries was taking up the daunting task and I must admit that they did a great job.
On last year's tour ETS never got to see the elephants and I was hoping that his luck would change this year.
Allan and Sharon saw the big herd from their Cruiser and radio'd me. I called @hartebees (who also carried a radio on the bike) and gave him the coordinates.
On their way to us, they almost took a wrong turn that would have led them straight into the ellies.
Luckily I was able to call him over the radio and guide him towards where we were standing.
I remember the smile on Ets 's face when he and Andries arrived together to witness what must have been one of the highlights of the tour for them.

 

[Rooies]

We continue on towards Divorce Pass. The scenery is stunning and as I meander up and down through those rocky tracks, I am thrilled to be alive.

@Striggs and Patty:

Andries was bored and pretended as if he was falling, coming up a little incline. I don't think he can fall.

@Johannesf getting ready for @Striggs and Patty to come up a tricky incline.

The Starship Enterprise:



Riding on the red side of the moon: