rubiblue
Race Dog
Was looking forward to today, over the border at Senderlingsdrif, then hugging the orange river back into SA at Vioolsdrif. I had heard conflicting stories about bikes getting through, but majority of the opinions before and druing the trip were that all would be fine, so was a little apprehensive abiout it.
We got up nice and early, had a quick breakfast, then we were on our way. It was a dark and gloomy morning, quite chilly, but I knew it would get warm once the mist/fog had burnt through. Harsh but beautiful landscapes at the same time.
We were at Senderlingsdrif before we knew it, topped up with fuel, did the necessary border crossing routines on both sides and then headed on, via Pont.
Not sure if the life jacket would keep me above water with heavy boots on, but anyway, rules are rules.
The Namibia Customs staff were very friendly and full of questions to which we entertained them. Great to feel welcome, often different when coming back into SA - enough of my opinion.
The next 100 Km's was brilliant, would highly recommend this road to anyone wanting to touch Namibia for a short period of time. We stopped half way through and had a good laugh once again, I was leading and came around a corner to find a young lady quickly pulling up her brooks and running (boskuk or wee, who knows), but she almost more over whilst trying to opearte her pants and running simultaneously. The my old man, she was back in full swuat mode when he came past - she must have thought when i cam flying by, shew that was a close one and then continued her relief duties, only to find my Dad following close behind me. haha, brilliant. She got a thumbs up when I passed here by.
Once off the gravel, the next stretch was quite boring to Vioolsdrif, crossed the border back into SA, and then onward to Springbok. It was a tar road from Vioolsdrif to Springbok, and I found myself getting border along the way, so I started checking T4A on my GPS for something a little less "tarry".
About halfway between the 2 I found a gravel road (although it did say Sand/Twee spoor), without telling my Old man about that part he decided that we take that route, otherwsie we would get to springbok and have nothing to do. Lekker. Well it started out as gravel for about a kilometer, then quickly turned into nice jeep track (this is the riding I really love, slow going, a few rocks here are there, and the fact you know not many people would be taking this route). A couple of fences to open and close and we where making good headway, then it all changed, twee spoor / sand / twee spoor/ sand / sand / sand/ twee spoor. THis time when my old man fell, I have to take a curteous pic.
I dont need to mention that he once again asked me nicely to not put him on these roads, huh, what can't hear you with my ear plugs in, but I got it (I am a slow learner). I forgot to mention the fact that my Dad was clearly not used to the panniers, 2 days earlier he clipped the side of my bike whilst passing me, once on the left and once on the right (the right hand side he managed to crack my Akropovic end cap), but its all good, revved him a bit about it though. During this sandy part whilst I held the gate open, the left pannier narrowly missed me by a ballhair travelling around 40kms an hour. That would have been eina. Not sure if that was going to be pay back for the sandy routes or simply him not being aware of the 2.5m width of that bike.
Then we saw some beautiful flowery hills just before Caldonia. To be honest I think the timing was slightly off, or too much rain. But we saw plenty of flower covered hills that held a general colour scheme, was pretty nonetheless.
Anyway, we made it to Springbok in one piece, managed to only find Nandos open, grabbed a quick lunch, then went to find accomodation. Nothing special, let my Old Man have a lie down to recoup himself, we freshened up and went to a famous Pub/Grill for a few beers and some great food - I cannot recall the name. But the beers were cold, the food was perfect, the place was busy, and we chatted plenty into the late evening. Slept like a log (regardless of "snore a lot" sharing the room). It was VERY cold and windy once again.
We got up nice and early, had a quick breakfast, then we were on our way. It was a dark and gloomy morning, quite chilly, but I knew it would get warm once the mist/fog had burnt through. Harsh but beautiful landscapes at the same time.
We were at Senderlingsdrif before we knew it, topped up with fuel, did the necessary border crossing routines on both sides and then headed on, via Pont.
Not sure if the life jacket would keep me above water with heavy boots on, but anyway, rules are rules.
The Namibia Customs staff were very friendly and full of questions to which we entertained them. Great to feel welcome, often different when coming back into SA - enough of my opinion.
The next 100 Km's was brilliant, would highly recommend this road to anyone wanting to touch Namibia for a short period of time. We stopped half way through and had a good laugh once again, I was leading and came around a corner to find a young lady quickly pulling up her brooks and running (boskuk or wee, who knows), but she almost more over whilst trying to opearte her pants and running simultaneously. The my old man, she was back in full swuat mode when he came past - she must have thought when i cam flying by, shew that was a close one and then continued her relief duties, only to find my Dad following close behind me. haha, brilliant. She got a thumbs up when I passed here by.
Once off the gravel, the next stretch was quite boring to Vioolsdrif, crossed the border back into SA, and then onward to Springbok. It was a tar road from Vioolsdrif to Springbok, and I found myself getting border along the way, so I started checking T4A on my GPS for something a little less "tarry".
About halfway between the 2 I found a gravel road (although it did say Sand/Twee spoor), without telling my Old man about that part he decided that we take that route, otherwsie we would get to springbok and have nothing to do. Lekker. Well it started out as gravel for about a kilometer, then quickly turned into nice jeep track (this is the riding I really love, slow going, a few rocks here are there, and the fact you know not many people would be taking this route). A couple of fences to open and close and we where making good headway, then it all changed, twee spoor / sand / twee spoor/ sand / sand / sand/ twee spoor. THis time when my old man fell, I have to take a curteous pic.
I dont need to mention that he once again asked me nicely to not put him on these roads, huh, what can't hear you with my ear plugs in, but I got it (I am a slow learner). I forgot to mention the fact that my Dad was clearly not used to the panniers, 2 days earlier he clipped the side of my bike whilst passing me, once on the left and once on the right (the right hand side he managed to crack my Akropovic end cap), but its all good, revved him a bit about it though. During this sandy part whilst I held the gate open, the left pannier narrowly missed me by a ballhair travelling around 40kms an hour. That would have been eina. Not sure if that was going to be pay back for the sandy routes or simply him not being aware of the 2.5m width of that bike.
Then we saw some beautiful flowery hills just before Caldonia. To be honest I think the timing was slightly off, or too much rain. But we saw plenty of flower covered hills that held a general colour scheme, was pretty nonetheless.
Anyway, we made it to Springbok in one piece, managed to only find Nandos open, grabbed a quick lunch, then went to find accomodation. Nothing special, let my Old Man have a lie down to recoup himself, we freshened up and went to a famous Pub/Grill for a few beers and some great food - I cannot recall the name. But the beers were cold, the food was perfect, the place was busy, and we chatted plenty into the late evening. Slept like a log (regardless of "snore a lot" sharing the room). It was VERY cold and windy once again.
