To Namibia.
Me as my shadow.

21st, headed out of Jo'burg minus a load of gear and south through the North Cape area. Worst days riding I have had, had to put the thermal liners in to start as it was so cold but stayed ahead of the rain.
Filled up after 50km of riding and the wind started, coming from the left and front, bike was blown all over the place and when lorries came past felt like I was being punched at times. This kept up for 250km. To make it even more interesting the farmers were ploughing, harrowing what ever their flat, dry, sandy red soil. The result was sand storms every few kilometers, at times a red out at others really pretty as the soil danced about on the road making pretty red patterns.
Took off the thermal layer at the next petrol stop, only 100km but there you go needed a rest as well so a bite to eat, a Voers roll, (ask Stephan) cooked in the petrol station forecourt on an open fire, was wicked with chilli sauce. Then onwards along long straight roads to Vryburg, Richard (KAMG) would love this route.
Did not get to Upington, 700 odd KM but did manage Kuruman almost in the North Cape, maybe only 350K but in that wind good going. Riding along a campsite appeared at 2-30 so pulled in.
Now the rain, thunder,
and it is hard, giving up and heading for the restaurant. At least it waited until late afternoon. Tomorrow Upington to sort money for Namibia and on to border.
Never been in Namibia so not sure what to expect will have to wait and see. Oh well electricity just gone in storm so no restaurant.
Oh dear,
Hid in toilet block but given up and booked a chalet as it is pelting down with gale type winds. Tent flat on ground and tree's at 45 degrees, Lightening brilliant and thunder constant, do not need lights, good job as the electricity is out.
So glad I am holed up.

22nd No electricity this morning so cold everything except coffee on the petrol stove. Out at 7-00, thermal lining not in but very cold, stopped after about 2km and zipped the top in. Was actually getting tired I was so chilled. Roads got interesting as I headed into the Orange River area, twisties and cambered, even kept going at 110, roads when good have a tendency to have policeman hidden behind trees with cameras over here so try to stick to limits, rode into at 1.30 after several stops to make and drink tea to warm up. Got to B and B I had booked and had a list on the gate, had to phone to confirm, wait for them to arrive from their house to get in, phoned told it would be about an hour so told them not to bother, rode down the road and this man, looked at bike and asked where I was off to as I was a stranger and he ran a guest house with a room, booked in and had a chat, poor couple had just had their son die in Pretoria and were headed off for the funeral but were waiting for a carer for his sister in law with a brain tumor. No one should have to bury their own child, so sad and they keep on going. Hope it all went OK for Jani and his wife, they deserve it.
Went into town and stopped to purchase another bike chain, left the other 2 in Jo'burg and the owner was a biker, liked off road and had tales to tell about Namibia, main one they arrest you and lock you up till court for speeding. Then about the gravel roads??? Then about the falls Augrabies, further down the river but off route. Headed off after talking bikes and travels for a steak dinner, brilliant.
Next morning up with the sparrows, packed and ready at 8-00 when the sister stopped me and showed me family photos of where her husband had been born and said she hoped I was visiting the Augrabies falls. Poked it in the GPS, only 150km south west out of the way so headed off, got 40 km out of town when notice said next town 90km, guess who was running on one bar of the tank so return and back to town to fill up. Once filled off again and 55km later a petrol station. Rode along following the river some of the way and along twisties but all tarmac till the turn off. 30km later the Augrabies National Park, they let bikes in so off I went for a look at 11-30. They had a campsite, shop the lot. Parked and walked to the view point, amazing place for a geographer,
thanks Dr Young water features everywhere, brilliant. After and hour was getting burnt so headed back in all my bike gear to the office and booked into the campsite. Parked and had to sort out the GPS mount, getting sick of Garmin, out here they are totally unreliable and not up to the road conditions. Got changed into shorts and t shirt with Motocross type bike boots and headed back to the gorge at three. Scrambling about and the ankle went, ladies I will have the baby any day, oh how it hurt, did the boot straps up and got up hobbling to a path. I know I am a wuss but tears were streaming down my face so sat on a rock in the shade and eased the boot off. Poured a bottle of water over it, redid bandage, boot on and tightened it up and off I went, pain went. Bonus so headed for the other view points gingerly.
Other than the ankle it was breathtaking, well worth the day. Went back to the tent to make food and the baboons were out and about, foraging and snarling at us, keeper came along and got rid of them for a while but they are nasty creatures, got one couple into their van to escape them and ate their dinner on the table.
Went to see the highlight, they light the falls up at night. What a disaster, turning something naturally beautiful into a disco. It really did not work for me so I headed back for some sleep.
23rd I think, headed out of the falls GPS getting confused so went my own way, back on long straight roads or twisties like yesterday so I headed for Springbok, started Ok then went long and straight, no joke 60km with no bend or very slight just up and down, then some hills where the road headed up a pass then down and straight again till next
pass, fuel stops were the highlights. Got to Springbok and decided to fill up and head North for border, guess what said after several hours and hundreds of kilometres, battery low switching off?? Yup MR Garmin.
How to describe the landscape, lunar, barren, kopies on top of kopies, not the Alps, Better than the lakes but all the same brilliant bends sweeping around the hills, up and down, it is mountains, possibly the southern end of the great Karoo Mountains but lots of road works. They stop you as only one lane in use for a couple of kilometres for up to 10 minutes, fed up drivers, no they get out and chat, this happened 5 or 6 times. Came out the last one and there was the border, surprised as the gps had turned itself off. But had seen a sign for a Band B so uturn and back along roadworks, bumped my way over to them and a place for the night and somewhere to look at Mrs Garmin, (Turned out to be a piece of plastic bent over the terminal. Broke it off and all seems well, we shall see). Namibia tomorrow, only 1 day late.
Once again struggling with Internet places told Keetmanshoop has a Cyber Cafe will wait and see. Shopping centres do not seem to have wifi this far out. When I get it some brilliant photos.

Keetmansdorf, a one horse town with little going for it. Stayed on the municipal campsite, nice place but used to house people on contract while the boss stays in a hotel. Another good ride after I got over the border, done and dusted by eight fifteen and on through the mountains. They are old mountains that have been eroded to piles of rock really but make the roads nice to ride. Tried some gravel roads but after 25 km decided to get back to the black stuff as kept jarring the ankle. Then it became one long straight slog again with lots of up and down. Bought dinner and ate it in company at the campsite as well as making them all tea.
Up at 5 to head for Windhoek, guess it was long and straight for about 400km and then the hills reappeared for about 100km. Ups and downs, rounds and rounds and the IAM saved my bacon a few times, cheers lads and lasses. Done over 500km today but had to keep stopping to drink, hot in the semi desert
. Can drink 6 litres out here and no loo breaks amazing. Don't know the temp as no thermometer but very hot, burns your feet when you walk outside with no shoes on. Found a place for the night with internet so here it is.