Rain in the Richtersveld Two.0 - Desolation & Dunes

[51Mobile]

Last year this road had been covered by windblown sand, causing a riot of small dunes running across the road at regular intervals. This year, someone must have decided they wanted an easier road.

 

[51Mobile]

Day 7 - our final day dawned.

We think Mark was afraid of losing Craig to his new wine swilling compadre, Paul. Forcing Mark to make another plan.....

Did Craig accept.........?

 

[roxenz]

Hardy indeed. One of the gravestones has the person's life years, months and days.

My grandfather (Dirk Frans van den Heever) had that mule train route. He sold it to Jowells transport company (which roundabout that time had the largest fleet of Leyland trucks in the world - running between Bitterfontein railway station and Springbok). How's that for a bit of useless information?

PS. My grandfather grew up in the veld looking after stock - starting living that style when he was about 8 years. He spoke both Nama and Bushman at mother tongue level. Was a fantastic storyteller around a campfire. Miss him very much.

 

[Chrisl]

(which roundabout that time had the largest fleet of Leyland trucks in the world -

Daar moes seker baie mechanics gewees het by Jowells!!

 

[Chrisl]

Sorry for the hijack. I would have liked so see and hear those mule trains.

https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/heritagereports/Copper Railway Line Historical background_ACO (4) final.pdf

https://steam-locomotives-south-africa.blogspot.com/2010/07/nababeep-namaqualand-copper-mine.html

 

[51Mobile]

Sorry for the hijack. I would have liked so see and hear those mule trains.

https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/heritagereports/Copper Railway Line Historical background_ACO (4) final.pdf

https://steam-locomotives-south-africa.blogspot.com/2010/07/nababeep-namaqualand-copper-mine.html

This is AWESOME!

Thank you.

 

[51Mobile]

My grandfather (Dirk Frans van den Heever) had that mule train route. He sold it to Jowells transport company (which roundabout that time had the largest fleet of Leyland trucks in the world - running between Bitterfontein railway station and Springbok). How's that for a bit of useless information?

PS. My grandfather grew up in the veld looking after stock - starting living that style when he was about 8 years. He spoke both Nama and Bushman at mother tongue level. Was a fantastic storyteller around a campfire. Miss him very much.

Wow. What a privilege it must have been to sit around those fires!

It's a pity his stories and knowledge of the languages was not documented and used to interpret more of the tales of both.

 

[roxenz]

Wow. What a privilege it must have been to sit around those fires!

It's a pity his stories and knowledge of the languages was not documented and used to interpret more of the tales of both.

A great pity indeed! We were young and stupid. Now I wish we could have recorded all his wisdom. Like in all non-writing cultures, the stories usually had a life lesson as well.

 

[51Mobile]

Day 7 - our final day dawned.

We think Mark was afraid of losing Craig to his new wine swilling compadre, Paul. Forcing Mark to make another plan.....


View attachment 925973

Did Craig accept.........?

To Mark's great delight, Craig gave him a slightly reticent Yes!

The prevailing Ménage à trois will be subtlety wound down.

 

[51Mobile]

View attachment 928061

Sorry Paul! We will have to find you a new wine swilling, rock climbing compadre.

 

[51Mobile]

For our last hoorah on this tour, Gus had arranged a little ….. SAND! You guessed it. Starting with a quick stroll down the Oemoep river after visiting a dormant Granite mine. Then on to the Namaqua 4x4 trail and into the Kamgab river, which joins with the Oemoep somewhat downstream, all the way to the Orange River, and then back again. BLISS!



The granite mine sparked our creative juices with a few photos taken whilst Craig found some rocks to climb (or was he in hiding from Paul).

 

[51Mobile]

 

[51Mobile]

Photos taken, it was off into the Oemoep river.

 

[51Mobile]

 

[51Mobile]

Gus said GO! I went.

 

[51Mobile]

Sorry Jarod, did not see you hiding there.

 

[51Mobile]

The sand is buoying Paul's mood as he takes a breather during his next favourite activity after drinking wine.

 

[51Mobile]