The Wife, the Ex and the Kid

[KTM BIGGER]

excellent RR

 

[Spore]

MJ and Family - you have my respect for doing what you do and the manner in which you do it - perfect! For me at least experiences like yours are spiritual and therefor many thanks for sharing your adventures with us. May the lonely roads and many unknown destinations never end for us!! Greetings :thumleft:

 

[Metaljockey]

Day 8 Brandberg

Brandberg is a special place, sitting on a plain on the edge of the desert, with the Ugab river skirting it’s skirts. It is part of wild Namibia, with free ranging everything, including elephant.

We are staying two nights which gives us the opportunity to explore the area today. Early morning we pull off on an attempted circumnavigation of Brandberg. I want to see the giant Welwitschias on the far side of the mountain. The easy route is there and back on gravel around the southern perimeter. Problem being the distance, and that you ride the same area twice. The tough route is one way around but it includes a short 40 km around the northern perimeter which is mostly in the Ugab river. So that’s the one we take.

The weather is perfect, cool and overcast, which surprises me, I didn’t know that the ocean fog intrudes this far into the interior. 

The first section is lovely hard packed twin track in the most beautiful surroundings. 

Look at that style, damn!

Where the track drops into the Ugab Tharina takes a couple of minutes to get herself psyched. This is where the skills learned the hard way on the Onseepkans trip is going to show it’s worth. 

And off she goes!

And so do I.

Our first stop is where Tharina hit the deck. 

She agrees, she fell for no reason, probably just nerves.

And off again

As we continue up the river we stop every couple of kilometers to rest.  And the spectacular scenery astounds.

Pictures can be misleading. See how controlled this looks.

Have a look at her track in the sand, that gives a fuller picture.

It is nice manageable sand but it tires you out pretty quickly so we take a break every couple of kms.

I start wondering about the tread left on my Michelin Desert. I can feel that I am not getting the grip I should have, a change in the revs takes too long to convert into a change of speed. I doubt these tyres are going to make the trip.

Another rest stop in the shade.

When we get to the western edge of Brandberg, we climb out of the river into the silty flood ares.

The scenery stops you in your tracks.

With the large amount of rain that Namibia had earlier this year the grass shows off the rocky ridges.

For some reason, only certain trees will be populated with nests while others have none.

Can you imagine the full 180 degree picture?

Tiny little Welwitscia.

We stop and just take in the views, this place is really something.

The mountain is actually quite expansive, the top has it’s own eco system, to ride around it, like we are doing, is a 200km trip. Check it out on Google Earth.

Once you have DRZ-butt, you can pretty much sit on anything and be blissfully unaware.

We search but cannot find the same Welwitschias that we stopped at on the Goat Meat trip.

We find other equally large ones though. The Namib desert is the only place on earth where they occur. And this one has been here since before the middle ages..

Just to give you an idea of the strength of the leaves.

Later that afternoon we stop under a bush for lunch and have hot chocolate and biltong.

The last 40 km in is this kind of thing, with herds of springbuck crossing the way every so often.

Back at the lodge we stop in for some cold beers and firewood. Again meerkat keeps the children fascinated.

This is a special place, this was a special day.

 

[Herms]

Inspiring stuff MJ !!

 

[Crop Sprang]

Really Amazing RR
Well done to you all

 

[Gray]

Gosh, thank you for all your effort in putting such a great rr together. 

Much appreciated & inspiring  :thumleft:  :3some:

 

[dakardrix]

:thumleft: This is like wow man!  Showed my wife, she looks at me all funny, frowning...

 

[KTM BIGGER]

My wife is following all the way long.

 

[Pistol]

Just spent a whole morning reading this and the Goats meat trip - respect for you and the family, and envy from me and mine :thumleft:

 

[Reg]

Blown away......respect.

Awesome report, keep it coming.

I got my wife to read it, hint hint.. my daughter is 2.5 now so we have a few more years to train her up.

 

[kevin]

Geez fantastic RR - the pics, the words, the story.... lucky man you!

 

[funacide]

:drif: :drif: :drif: :drif:

MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, Please!!

 

[GStry]

Fantastic RR!  :thumleft: Fantastic pictures  :thumleft: Well done to all of you.
Holy smoke, feel like packing my kit.  :biggrin:

 

[bradleys]

WOW ,what a great report and fantastic pics, you are blessedin your writing,your photography and your family,awesome just blady awesome . More please............ eepwall:

 

[wooly bugger]

it just gets better and better......
:thumleft:

 

[Thump]

So the DGW on the number plate.
Is that for Dirty Great Wobble as below

Or Damn Great Women  :thumleft: :thumleft:

very nice family stuff, that's awesome.

memories to last long into conquering those problems some guys have with their kids in the teenage years
Lekker man

 

[Would I?]

:thumleft: :thumleft:

Thanks........ keep it comming!!!

 

[Doerengone]

MAGIC.  :thumleft:

 

[GreenMamba1974]

MAGIC.  :thumleft:

100%  thanks MJ, inspiring report!  :thumleft:

 

[nemodakar]

This is great stuff!!!
We are following you guys with envy. WE have hard times getting Klippies to the hostel, because he might miss a report or 2.
Enjoy and keep it coming pllllleeeaaaasseee!!!!!! :drif: :drif: :drif: