The Beauty of the land God made in anger.
- Thread starter LMG
- Start date
LMG
Race Dog
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Day 4: My route for the day – https://goo.gl/maps/l56ln
The plan was to ride via Aranos to Gobabis, sleep somewhere in the vicinity of Gobabis and try and do as much gravel as possible from Gobabis to Windhoek on Sunday – more or less like this: https://goo.gl/maps/c4GW8
But then a woman interferes. Since it was also a long weekend in Namibia, my sister and her family were at the Oanob Dam for the weekend. Of course, she succeeded in convincing me that I need to join them at the Dam and to take the tar road from Stampriet with a “nee, kom vroeg” argument. Thus, I found myself instead heading in that direction.
Leaving Gochas at around 08h00 I had a quick coffee on a farm just outside Gochas en-route to Stampriet. They are working on the road between Gochas and Stampriet and the first 10kms you need to contend with roadworks and the big yellow beasts that go with that. The rest of the road, though, is a 140km/h piece of art. The challenge is to keep the numbers as low as possible. Once again, the views are spectacular.
I stopped at Stampriet to full the lady and down a coke. As always, a lot of kids were drivelling about the bike. I also pumped the tires since it’ll be tar from Stampriet. Ten kilos out of Stampriet, I realised I’ve made a mistake. This is not for me. A quick orientation on the map and I saw a road turning right towards Uhlenhorst. Problem solved. Turn right, get the tires back to gravel standards, and I’m on my way as happy as a cANCer politician.
My nr 1 photo of the trip.
Arriving at the dam.
It turned out to be a very good decision. Firstly, the scenery was simply out of this world. I haven’t seen Namibia like this before. And secondly, shortly after I arrived at the Dam, one of the kids had a misunderstanding with the ski board behind the boat and we had to return to Windhoek to have his teeth fixed at the dentists.
Sunday, though, was my sister’s wedding anniversary and she invited me to join them at the GochaGannas Lodge for lunch - https://www.gocheganas.com/. The views, the company and the food were outstanding. Obviously, the place is directed towards the high end of the tourist market. Not really my cup of tea, though. I’m simply not the luxury seeking kind of tourist. And I also have a strong ethical-driven conviction about these kinds of places in a world where so many are struggling to make ends meet just to survive. Enough said!
Monday morning I started off with a week of lecturing to an outstanding group of people who are busy completing their MA-programmes at the UNNAM. I really enjoyed my time with these students - high levels of maturity, eager to learn, hardworking, very well-mannered and almost overdressed as students. They really made me think about what we are doing (wrong) in SA. I had a really good time at UNNAM.
The old lady in front of the class.
Three of them are ex-SWAPO guerillas. The guy second from the left were a member of a typhoon unit. I have to admit, he is the special force type. Tough as nails. The guy in the green shirt next to me was a SWAPO company commander. He has the air of a senior leader; the kind of guy that don't take shit and that demands respect at all times. He has, without doubt, a nuanced understanding of guerrilla warfare. The kind of guy that I want on my team.
The plan was to ride via Aranos to Gobabis, sleep somewhere in the vicinity of Gobabis and try and do as much gravel as possible from Gobabis to Windhoek on Sunday – more or less like this: https://goo.gl/maps/c4GW8
But then a woman interferes. Since it was also a long weekend in Namibia, my sister and her family were at the Oanob Dam for the weekend. Of course, she succeeded in convincing me that I need to join them at the Dam and to take the tar road from Stampriet with a “nee, kom vroeg” argument. Thus, I found myself instead heading in that direction.
Leaving Gochas at around 08h00 I had a quick coffee on a farm just outside Gochas en-route to Stampriet. They are working on the road between Gochas and Stampriet and the first 10kms you need to contend with roadworks and the big yellow beasts that go with that. The rest of the road, though, is a 140km/h piece of art. The challenge is to keep the numbers as low as possible. Once again, the views are spectacular.
I stopped at Stampriet to full the lady and down a coke. As always, a lot of kids were drivelling about the bike. I also pumped the tires since it’ll be tar from Stampriet. Ten kilos out of Stampriet, I realised I’ve made a mistake. This is not for me. A quick orientation on the map and I saw a road turning right towards Uhlenhorst. Problem solved. Turn right, get the tires back to gravel standards, and I’m on my way as happy as a cANCer politician.
My nr 1 photo of the trip.
Arriving at the dam.
It turned out to be a very good decision. Firstly, the scenery was simply out of this world. I haven’t seen Namibia like this before. And secondly, shortly after I arrived at the Dam, one of the kids had a misunderstanding with the ski board behind the boat and we had to return to Windhoek to have his teeth fixed at the dentists.
Sunday, though, was my sister’s wedding anniversary and she invited me to join them at the GochaGannas Lodge for lunch - https://www.gocheganas.com/. The views, the company and the food were outstanding. Obviously, the place is directed towards the high end of the tourist market. Not really my cup of tea, though. I’m simply not the luxury seeking kind of tourist. And I also have a strong ethical-driven conviction about these kinds of places in a world where so many are struggling to make ends meet just to survive. Enough said!
Monday morning I started off with a week of lecturing to an outstanding group of people who are busy completing their MA-programmes at the UNNAM. I really enjoyed my time with these students - high levels of maturity, eager to learn, hardworking, very well-mannered and almost overdressed as students. They really made me think about what we are doing (wrong) in SA. I had a really good time at UNNAM.
The old lady in front of the class.
Three of them are ex-SWAPO guerillas. The guy second from the left were a member of a typhoon unit. I have to admit, he is the special force type. Tough as nails. The guy in the green shirt next to me was a SWAPO company commander. He has the air of a senior leader; the kind of guy that don't take shit and that demands respect at all times. He has, without doubt, a nuanced understanding of guerrilla warfare. The kind of guy that I want on my team.
heti
Pack Dog
Bliksem maar die Kalahari is groen!! :thumleft:
Ernst Jr
Pack Dog
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Namibia bly maar die land met die mooiste landskappe. Voeg water by en sien hoe kry lewe alles nuwe lewe. :thumleft: Ek wil nou net :ricky: en gaan kyk.
Vis Arend
Bachelor Dog
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Kwaai mooi. Dankie vir die deel. :thumleft:
JACOVV
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Lekker gelees - baie dankie.
Alpine Al
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Exellent RR, thanks.
Mens kan nie glo dis dieselfde landskap van verlede jaar April nie.
Dankbare wêreld die oomblik as dit reen.
Dankbare wêreld die oomblik as dit reen.
Hinksding
Race Dog
Bie said:Mooi man. Ek lees lekker.
Nooit besef jy is so 'n kortgat nie Hingsding.ot: :imaposer:
Oh please Bie! Amper het ek 'n kompleks ontwikkel. Ek is glad nie gewoond aan opkyk na mense nie, maar gelukkig is ou Abel nie die tipe wat neersien op 'n mens nie.
NOW PLEASE MODS: REMOVE THIS PIC! ;D
Hinksding
Race Dog
Hoi, ek sien nou eers daai fellow brakke wat jy op die grens gekry het is Ricky en Abrikus Aggenbag (heel links en heel regs op die foto) van Upt.
Kaboef
Grey Hound
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Baie mooi LMG. Die wereld is groen!
Ons gesin gaan oor 3 weke deur Namibie ry tot in die Caprivi, en ek wil nog altyd daai duine by Koes/Wegdraai gery het (al is dit met n kar).
Dankie vir die detail padaanwysings.
Ons gesin gaan oor 3 weke deur Namibie ry tot in die Caprivi, en ek wil nog altyd daai duine by Koes/Wegdraai gery het (al is dit met n kar).
Dankie vir die detail padaanwysings.
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aaa dit was nou n lekker lees! Dankie vir die deel. ek wil regtig plan maak om die jaar nog daar uit te kom!
Karoo Rider
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Ingeskryf. Waar's die terugry se stories? :deal:
Sub! Hoe mis ek nou my geboorte land!
Keith Barbier
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Baie dankie vir die deel - nog altyd een van my drome !!
