Day 6
I decided not to go up to Twyfelfontein because I had to be at Naukluft by day 8 and going north another 200 km?s just to go south another 800 was a bit hectic AND now I had a good reason to come back to this part of Namibia, soon!
So on to Henties!
And another long straight dirt road!
I now know how fast my bike can go... :twisted:
This is one of those, I can see tomorrow coming places!
It?s hot, about 37 and there is this hot dry wind from the south, then?
And about 2 km on and I ride into a cloud, and for the next day and a half it was cold.
Henties with its nice golf course running across the main road.
And this funny little house
It has all the tourist attractions in Namibia on its doorstep.
The road between henties and swakopmunt is a salt road, normally good but it was a little wet, so slippery, Loads of fun!
Next stop Swakopmunt. And I got there just as the guys from the desert run were heading out. Everywhere you looked there were bikes, quads and small kids asking me how far I got with that heavy bike? The entire campsite was booked out? So I stayed in a Hotel/museum/old-age home. The Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim.
The lady that booked me in was 79 and she was born in the Hotel. Her friend an older lady was still driving a scooter everyday!
It was still early so I visited the Crystal gallery in Swakopmunt, Very nice at least it will be if you are a Rock hound. :lol:
This is the worlds largest Quarts crystal cluster on display in the world, it was split in 3 and every piece weighs about 14ton, it took 5 years of excavating to get it out!
Stats 4 the day
200 km
B&B R150
Day 7
So after paying 150 for a B&B I figured I might as well get my money?s worth at the buffet breakfast. So after eating until I could hardly get up I mounted my steed and headed of for duin7.
Walvisbaai was only supposed to be a quick fill up, but the guy filling my tank completely stuffed up and I ended up with petrol over the entire bike and about half a litter over myself, to make things better a passerby came to investigate with his smoke in hand! Man I was not amused! After getting the worst of the petrol off the bike and feeling a little high on petrol fumes, I headed for the famous Duin7.
What a let-down! I thought it would be a lot higher and bigger! I didn?t try it since the chance was very good some dam idiot on a Wang-tang might crash into me. Actually I was simply not lus to pack everything off the bike to try the dune! Yet another reason to go to Nam again!!
I had lunch here:
And then the Gogab and kuis Passes,
I passed the tropic of Capricorn for the second time so I thought I might as well take a pic of it
So on to Solitaire, And yes the apple pie IS the best!
I watched the sun set in the desert and enjoyed a Tafel.
Stats 4 the day
300 km
Camping R50
Day 8
Had another cup of oats so easy and slowly make my way to bulsport and the Naukluft park, I stopped everywhere I could since I only had 70km to cover for the day. The plan was to repack the backpack and find a place to store the bike while I do the hike!
I decided to take the day off and prepare for the hike,
The next day I went exploring since the hiking party was to arrive late due to Kulula that canceled one of the guy?s flight at the last minute! I knew there was a reason why I did not like green! Gamis is the place to fill up your tank if you are ever in the naukluft area! The pumps still work by hand! After about 15 liters the guy asked me just exactly how big the tank is. He just went O when I told him he was halfway.
The road to Gamis
The hike!
If you ever have the opportunity to hike this part of the world DO it but be warned it is long! 120km might go fast by bike but it takes 8 days hiking this terrain! 8 days hiking and only 1 day of sun, in the desert!
Some PICs
Keep ya eyes open we might be in the Weg!
Day ? (I lost count of the days) think it was day 17
Man what a splendid feeling getting back on the Beast and flying down the dirt highway!
I started the day at bout 12 and tried to make sososvlei but alas the darkness caught me, and I am glad it did since camping at sososvlei costs you about R250 per person per night, and then you still have to pay for the bike another R50. R300 rand to camp!
So I did the lodge thing, I had my own room with a double bed, shower, buffet dinner (after 8 days of mince and oats-so-easy this rocked!) Buffet breakfast (again this served as food for the whole day) Yes I am a Student! And the damage? R300, Thanks to the 3 blond German manager girls from The Petrified Dune Lodge I think the new name is Namib Desert Lodge. I guess I did about 90km for the day.
MORE TO FOLLOW SOON!
