..love the smell of desert in the morning - Southern Nam August 07

[Biesie]

Super duper stuff !!! Excellent report ....for a numer cruncher you sure have a way with words  ;D ;D

 

[Adventurer]

Awesome report, we've been to most of those places, some years back. It's about time we did another Namibia trip, FANTASTIC place...... 8) 8)

 

[funacide]

Awesome report, thanks for sharing.....

 

[Sam]

Just a suggestion
This is a really lekker report and I'd like to read it to the end (which I definately will)

There are three or four pics that are too wide and make the whole report difficult to read
Would you consider making them a bit narrower ??

Pleeeease !!! ;D

Apologies - the wide one's are "stitched" pics (ie. about 2 - 3 joined. They looked fine when I previewed (and still seem to be ok on my browser??). Tried to adjust on Photobucket, but no luck.

 

[Sam]

Great Report.
That sandy road looks hectic.

It was pretty bad, but at least the surface was predictably bad! The condition of the some of the others changed so quickly and often, it was difficult to keep a decent pace (the road from Betta to Sesriem being one....)

Cheers

 

[JourneyMan]

Great report!

You made me want to go back and ride those routes again.  :razz:

 

[popipants]

Great report!

You made me want to go back and ride those routes again.  :razz:

mmmm, you made me want to there and ride those routes for the first time.

 

[Ama ride ride]

Great Report.
That sandy road looks hectic.

It was pretty bad, but at least the surface was predictably bad! The condition of the some of the others changed so quickly and often, it was difficult to keep a decent pace (the road from Betta to Sesriem being one....)

Cheers

Next time, yes I bet  my whole month's beer budget there will be a next time ;D, take the turn off at 24 42'10,40" S  16 01'16,98"  E.

This road joins the Betta Sesriem road at the Soussvlei campsite gate. The condition of the road is also lekker sandy and rocky but nearly no traffic comparing to the Betta to Sesriem road

 

[Al]

Nice writeup !! As the other participant  in the trip this sure brought back some memories.
Notably yours truly uttering the following words at the D707 turnoff " 120 kays ? How bad could it be ,I mean I have ridden further on a  mountainbike  !! " I was reminded of those words many times as the afternoon progressed.

 

[wino]

you make it all look so easy, love it!

 

[letsgofishing]

Awesome story and pics Sam - well done and thanks for sharing!

 

[keithk]

Great report , have ridden those routes many times in the 4x4 and would love to ride them on the TA ! Thanks Betta se kamp brings back great memories as well. 

 

[Plothond]

Brilliant !!
I loved it, made for a really good Saturday afternoon read

Namibia seems to remain one of those fantastic destinations that everyone should do at least once in his life

 

[Goose]

Thoroughly enjoyed this rep. thanks a million... beautiful country!

 

[Kev]

Brilliant! :thumleft:

 

[Carnivore]

Very, very nice story... thanks for sharing. I enjoyed your touch of humour too. My friend and I, and two others, rode pretty much the same route in April 2007. Your story brought it all back so nicely.

10/10..

 

[YellowFever]

Lekker report sam!

eventually got time to read it all the way.

 

[Frankie]

great report and I agree with the others - a definite MUST on the list of "things to partake in with your adventure bike" before too long! ;D

 

[MrBig]

Nice one Sam - thanks for taking the time to share.

Me and the BetterHalf did a similar route December 2up on a Tiger.
To say that it was hot is an understatement!

Interesting these Namibian roads...
Every time you ride them they might be different.
The kakkest road by far was from Solitaire to Walvis believe it or not.

D707 was a sandy ******* but it definitely didn't take 5 hours! 
And oh yes the joy of a heavy bike on that 25km's to Rosh Pinah will stay with me for ever! 

 

[Ama ride ride]

Agree with Mr big

It seem to me that the condition of many Namibia's roads are linked to the seasons. This includes the tourist high-season.

Wind blowing the sand layers off a gravel road and then again on a week later. So a certain month a road is a gravel high way and the next month a real sandy monster. The roads are also used by thousands of heavy loaded (or overloaded) 4X4's and overlander trucks.

I rode the last 25 km into Ross Pinah 4 times on a bike since 2002 and each time its worse that the previous trip. The mine trucks knows how to make a gravel road interesting.