Just about made it to the Cape (a little later than envisaged when we set off last December) but for a minor event today. We were less than 50 kms away and in sight of Table Mountain when a passing motorist signalled we had a problem. We pulled off at the Stellenbosch exit to stop and found a flat rear inner tyre. Chris set to removing both rear wheels and fixed the puncture, but it took nearly 2 hours and made it too late to enter the city today. We are at a holiday beach resort at Melkbosstrand for the night. We have been out for a meal to celebrate our achievement at a good restaurant on the sea front.
Going back a couple of days: on Saturday morning, after an early swim at Maritza Country Lodge, Keetmanshoop, we set off along the B4 towards Luderitz for the turn to Fish River Canyon. Unfortunately the road turned out to be dusty and corrugated and we had only just cleaned the sand from Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay, so we turned back to go the longer route via the B1 to Grunau and shorter dirt road to Hobas and the Canyon. At Grunau we found a very nice new campsite for the night, intending to make an early start on Sunday. However, waking late after a good night's sleep, and considering why we wanted to go to Fish River, we decided it was a lot of effort and hard driving just for the view. It is the wrong time of year for canoeing (too dry) or for walking (too hot) and we have seen so many wonderful vistas along the way. Decided instead to head for Cape Town to leave plenty of time for the driving. Chris has an appointment in Gabarone, Botswana on 9th/10th (delayed from 2nd/3rd) for a meeting with a start up balloon company, as consultant, and the Botswana CAA.
Leaving later yesterday morning gave Chris the chance to listen to the Malasian Grand Prix via wi-fi! The B1 after Rehoboth, all the way to the South African border where we crossed the Orange River (a little green oasis) was mainly desert and high savannah with occasional rocky outcrops so the scenery was rather boring and tedious. Our aim last night was to reach the Hardeveld Lodge at the small village of Nuwerus, highly recommended on IOverlander. Faye, the owner, made us very welcome. There were no other campers but her B&B was fully booked. We were pleased to meet other people as we have seen few other travellers. It was almost as if we had Namibia to ourselves, the campsites and roads were so quiet.
The scenery today has been much more interesting: along the Olifants River there are large expanses of vineyards and irrigated crop fields, then further south, orange groves emitting a powerfully sweet aroma of blossom as we drove by. We have a bag of large oranges (similar to those we bought in Morocco in January.
It has taken us both a while to settle in to this trip. In the past we have been broken in gently, rather than landing from the skies! In a way Namibia and South Africa are too civilised for us as we thrive better on adversity and the challenge of less easy countries. We are being much more careful and not letting our guard slip, especially in towns and busy places. The advantage of campsites is that they are safe.
Going back a couple of days: on Saturday morning, after an early swim at Maritza Country Lodge, Keetmanshoop, we set off along the B4 towards Luderitz for the turn to Fish River Canyon. Unfortunately the road turned out to be dusty and corrugated and we had only just cleaned the sand from Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay, so we turned back to go the longer route via the B1 to Grunau and shorter dirt road to Hobas and the Canyon. At Grunau we found a very nice new campsite for the night, intending to make an early start on Sunday. However, waking late after a good night's sleep, and considering why we wanted to go to Fish River, we decided it was a lot of effort and hard driving just for the view. It is the wrong time of year for canoeing (too dry) or for walking (too hot) and we have seen so many wonderful vistas along the way. Decided instead to head for Cape Town to leave plenty of time for the driving. Chris has an appointment in Gabarone, Botswana on 9th/10th (delayed from 2nd/3rd) for a meeting with a start up balloon company, as consultant, and the Botswana CAA.
Leaving later yesterday morning gave Chris the chance to listen to the Malasian Grand Prix via wi-fi! The B1 after Rehoboth, all the way to the South African border where we crossed the Orange River (a little green oasis) was mainly desert and high savannah with occasional rocky outcrops so the scenery was rather boring and tedious. Our aim last night was to reach the Hardeveld Lodge at the small village of Nuwerus, highly recommended on IOverlander. Faye, the owner, made us very welcome. There were no other campers but her B&B was fully booked. We were pleased to meet other people as we have seen few other travellers. It was almost as if we had Namibia to ourselves, the campsites and roads were so quiet.
The scenery today has been much more interesting: along the Olifants River there are large expanses of vineyards and irrigated crop fields, then further south, orange groves emitting a powerfully sweet aroma of blossom as we drove by. We have a bag of large oranges (similar to those we bought in Morocco in January.
It has taken us both a while to settle in to this trip. In the past we have been broken in gently, rather than landing from the skies! In a way Namibia and South Africa are too civilised for us as we thrive better on adversity and the challenge of less easy countries. We are being much more careful and not letting our guard slip, especially in towns and busy places. The advantage of campsites is that they are safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment