Northern Namibia with my brother......and a few other clowns

[Hardy de Kock]

At this point I have been informed by the manager of the Brandberg White Lady that the Ugab lions have killed some of their livestock on the nearby lodge, which also belonged to them.
From what I understood the lions were still in the area and Nam Wildlife was on their way to the lodge, to assist in the removal of the big cats.
He asked us not to leave our campsite on foot.
Steff immediately developed a stutter.
As the sun was now setting, we realised that the riders were going to ride through a section of the river in the dark - exactly where Nam Wildlife thought the lions to be.
Janco and myself took the Cruiser and started to back track on the route the riders were using to get to the camp.

 

[Noneking]

Hardy and the team were informed about the lions earlier that day and they were more than a little concerned when none of us had arrived by the time it got dark. Arriving at camp we felt a mixture of emotions, mostly elation at completing a very tough day on the bike. We attemted a high-five, but failed miserably and ended up in a awkward embrace. Steff walked up to us and offered us a sip of his Brandy and coke, needless to say we returned the cup empty....

The crew had set up our stretchers and our luggage was ready next to them. We got undressed in the open and downed a neat Jameson's mini each that [member=18545]Ri[/member] had in her bag.

 

[Jackol.]

It was getting very late and we were still riding away from Brandberg on our left. I started thinking about what could happen to  two South African softies in the desert after dark.......

Fascinating how the top layer of gravel differs in colour from what's underneath......

Looks like the top layer got a bit of sunburn over the years...

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[Hardy de Kock]

I must admit that the Booty boeties were very calm and followed instructions on how to get to camp safely, to the tee. 
The camp called me over the radio and reported that they arrived, as we continued on the track looking for Trevor and Hannes.
By now it was pitch dark and we were on the lookout for lights.
After about 20 minutes drive I spotted Hannes's orange headlight in the distance.

I stopped next to him..

Hardy: Howzit Hannes, need a lift?.

Hannes: "No worries, I will ride it back"

Hardy: "There are lions on the track"

Hannes: I am up - (without his tankbag, gps etc..)

More or less the same conversation repeated itself with Trevor before we turned around and headed for the camp

 

[Hardy de Kock]

After we dropped the two musketeers of, we returned to the spot where we left their bikes.
Steff and Gary joined us this time as we were going to load the two bikes on the back of the cruiser.
With tension in the air we drew straws on who was going to push the bikes up the Cruiser - just after the old headman of the kraal we passed told us that the lions went past there about twenty minutes ago, all along our trail.
We met up with Nam Wildlife officials who confirmed the old man's story.

Funny how everyone suddenly starts looking around, even if you can't see **** in the moonless night.
Anyway, I drew the shorty and had to do the dirty work.
Steff manned the Cruiser from higher ground and made me aware of EVERY sound that he heard or thought he heard.

We strapped the bikes, and made our way back to camp where we found all the riders - Mostly moer tired and mostly moer happy.
What a day.

 

[Noneking]

Unfortunately, once back home Hardy informed me that the lion had been shot

Disturbing image in the link - don't open if these things upset you




https://africageographic.com/blog/gretzky-desert-lion-shot-namibian-authorities-after-killing-livestock/

 

[Oubones]

I must admit that the Booty boeties were very calm and followed instructions on how to get to camp safely, to the tee. 
The camp called me over the radio and reported that they arrived, as we continued on the track looking for Trevor and Hannes.
By now it was pitch dark and we were on the lookout for lights.
After about 20 minutes drive I spotted Hannes's orange headlight in the distance.

I stopped next to him..

Hardy: Howzit Hannes, need a lift?.

Hannes: "No worries, I will ride it back"

Hardy: "There are lions on the track"

Hannes: I am up - (without his tankbag, gps etc..)

More or less the same conversation repeated itself with Trevor before we turned around and headed for the camp

Hardy the more I read about you the more I like you.
Good to have you covering their backs and looking out for the guys!

 

[Fransw]

Unfortunately, once back home Hardy informed me that the lion had been shot

Disturbing image in the link - don't open if these things upset you




https://africageographic.com/blog/gretzky-desert-lion-shot-namibian-authorities-after-killing-livestock/

Hey! Hoekom het die donn3rs die leeu geskiet!? Dis was n navorsings leeu gewees!...idiots!

 

[Oubones]

Unfortunately, once back home Hardy informed me that the lion had been shot

Disturbing image in the link - don't open if these things upset you




https://africageographic.com/blog/gretzky-desert-lion-shot-namibian-authorities-after-killing-livestock/

Hey! Hoekom het die donn3rs die leeu geskiet!? Dis was n navorsings leeu gewees!...idiots!

Daar is nie medisyne vir daardie siekte nie!

 

[trevo]

Gretzky the lion

 

[Jaakmh]

Unfortunately, once back home Hardy informed me that the lion had been shot

Disturbing image in the link - don't open if these things upset you




https://africageographic.com/blog/gretzky-desert-lion-shot-namibian-authorities-after-killing-livestock/

What a great pity. A possible relocation maybe could have helped since Nam is such a vast wilderness area. Not that I’m any expert.


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[Hardy de Kock]

I must admit that the Booty boeties were very calm and followed instructions on how to get to camp safely, to the tee. 
The camp called me over the radio and reported that they arrived, as we continued on the track looking for Trevor and Hannes.
By now it was pitch dark and we were on the lookout for lights.
After about 20 minutes drive I spotted Hannes's orange headlight in the distance.

I stopped next to him..

Hardy: Howzit Hannes, need a lift?.

Hannes: "No worries, I will ride it back"

Hardy: "There are lions on the track"

Hannes: I am up - (without his tankbag, gps etc..)

More or less the same conversation repeated itself with Trevor before we turned around and headed for the camp

Hardy the more I read about you the more I like you.
Good to have you covering their backs and looking out for the guys!

Thanks Hennie - much appreciated.

Unfortunately and in all honesty, I would have chosen a very different end to that evening. I had visions of the whole group flanking Brandberg around the southeastern corner, and riding through the klipkoppies, as we watch them. Unfortunately, they had a moer of a lot of punctures and other problems that took almost three and a half hours out of their riding time.
This is Northern Namibia though and things do happen. Ri helped us to set the rider's camp, prior to their arrival, and all worked out well.
It is a tough ride that they did this day - Very tough.

They were a gutsy crowd with grit - and that is what is needed in a place like that.

 

[JannievandieVaaldam]

I must admit that the Booty boeties were very calm and followed instructions on how to get to camp safely, to the tee. 
The camp called me over the radio and reported that they arrived, as we continued on the track looking for Trevor and Hannes.
By now it was pitch dark and we were on the lookout for lights.
After about 20 minutes drive I spotted Hannes's orange headlight in the distance.

I stopped next to him..

Hardy: Howzit Hannes, need a lift?.

Hannes: "No worries, I will ride it back"

Hardy: "There are lions on the track"

Hannes: I am up - (without his tankbag, gps etc..)

More or less the same conversation repeated itself with Trevor before we turned around and headed for the camp

Could not have asked for a better ending to an awesome days riding.... 

 

[Hardy de Kock]

I must admit that the Booty boeties were very calm and followed instructions on how to get to camp safely, to the tee. 
The camp called me over the radio and reported that they arrived, as we continued on the track looking for Trevor and Hannes.
By now it was pitch dark and we were on the lookout for lights.
After about 20 minutes drive I spotted Hannes's orange headlight in the distance.

I stopped next to him..

Hardy: Howzit Hannes, need a lift?.

Hannes: "No worries, I will ride it back"

Hardy: "There are lions on the track"

Hannes: I am up - (without his tankbag, gps etc..)

More or less the same conversation repeated itself with Trevor before we turned around and headed for the camp

Could not have asked for a better ending to an awesome days riding....

Dis wat ek wou hoor Yster...

 

[Dwerg]

This was riding wise my favourite day. There was a short section of gravel road before Doros reserve, the rest was jeep track, rocks, river bed and sand. A tough but rewarding day and one of the best days I’ve had on a bike in my life


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[Kobus Myburgh]

This was riding wise my favourite day. There was a short section of gravel road before Doros reserve, the rest was jeep track, rocks, river bed and sand. A tough but rewarding day and one of the best days I’ve had on a bike in my life


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Jy bedoel jy’t actually dié dag gesmile?  Die dag wat toe uit daglig uit hardloop voor dit op kamera vasgevang kon word?

:biggrin:

 

[Noneking]

We took a shower under the stars, had a few cold beers and watched as the woman braaied T-bones for supper while the men of the Specialised crew were out collecting bikes and riders. This was our last day of proper riding and we  started reminiscing about the life changing trip we had been on.......

 

[Noneking]

DAY 11 - BRANDBERG - USAKOS

Our last day on the bikes was going to be a short one. Open gravel highways to Uis to refuel and the a 130km to Usakos. It was nice to wake up and not be in a rush. We lazed around the breakfast fire and chatted about this and that (and even Hardy's roses).

 

[Noneking]

It was a beautiful morning and Brandberg was on fire in the early morning sun......

 

[Noneking]