Up Van Zyls Again... ;-)

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Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
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Location
Cape Town
Bike
Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom
After running out of water, and stuggling up Van Zyl’s in May 2009, we thought it was time to do it again.
Here’s the first trip: https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=35018.0

Alan, Chris, Kevin and Peter signed up for this one. We left the incoming Cape winter storm on Friday, 27th Sept 2013. Chris set off from Upington on Saturday morning.

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Caught in a 60s time warp, Springbok Lodge was memorable for its dining area and general off the wall feel.
At Joe’s Beerhouse in Windhoek, we enjoyed our first Namibian hospitality. Wild place. We ended up sharing a table and many Jagermeisters with a German geology professor and his young female post grad student.
Peter’s Isuzu bakkie’s engine seized 100km before Kamanjab.  :imaposer: When this forced a stop, we found that an important part of the trailer had broken as well - a disaster was avoided by the stop!

Bikes off the trailer and the first day to Sesfontein started off mildly as you can see from Chris’s relaxed confidence.
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But it was soon to be Kevin’s Dust Initiation:
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Kev got very tired and needed to focus.  :dousing:
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At a stage, when his DR was flooded, I did a bit of towing.
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Al took a tumble as well.
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Some way down the otherwise dry and very sandy Ombonde river bed, we found running water.
A welcome stop and a splash. Last green grass for some time…
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On the road to the Warmbad community campsite, we were alerted to “ClickClicks” by some men at a kuka shop.
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There had been a serious drought in Kaokoland for the last two years. We saw hardly any game the whole trip – a few gemsbok & springbok. But we did get a rainstorm following us North on the first day.
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Some BEEEG spaces to ride around in. I ride where i like!
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Few choices in direction. “I think there is more chance of finding a beer if we follow this one”
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After some encouragement, we got Kev to stand up, look up & open up...
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The Marienfluss valley is great, with a few big dunes near the Kunene. Looking north.
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Looking south.
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The woman at the campsite warned us not to swim (crocs), but also said that we were white and would probably swim anyway.
She was right.
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And the slow satellite comms enabled some email contact to try to get money organised for the seized engine back in Kamanjab.
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Van Zyl’s was much easier this time. We worked together to get all bikes up each difficult section, and found a way around the crux section.
1 ½ hrs bottom to top vs 6 ½ hrs in 2009. Old age (experience?) seems to help...   ;)
At the bottom:
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When we got to the first hill, we saw two vehicles coming down. They kindly gave us a cold beer each!
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Some hairy parts suggested a gear carry.
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Chris, Kev and I found a track around the crux, but Al wanted to ride. We ended up carrying his bike up! :lol8:
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Not much traffic on Van Zyl’s, but the top lookout is worth going to, if only to support the lonely trader.
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A joint was most well come after getting to the top & then going to Otjitanga to get some beer.
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We had a pool challenge in Otjitanga the next morning. This bar’s owner was the big man in the village with 12 kids.
He was surprised that I had one only. Pool cues doubled up as walking sticks.
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Mandatory cooling off at Epupa.
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There was some Wilddog Music and dancing at a bar in Okangwati.
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Leaving Epupa we set off for Swartbooisdrift following the river. At one point Chris’s skills with the GPS deserted him.
We took a wrong turn and practically ended up back in Epupa.
The decision then was to head for Opuwo and the opulence of the hotel on the hill.
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Next day we bought braai meat in Opuwo. On the way Al had a narrow escape when his luggage was set alight by his exhaust.
Burnt plastic offerings. Thankfully the gas canister and petrol tank held out.  :dousing:
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Our last camp in a riverbed. :pot:
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Another friendly beer stop with herbal offerings.
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Kev in a 1000 yard stare...
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More friendly people!
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Later, we needed to celebrate, the barman was also getting pissed.
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Back in Kamanjab, still no bakkie. Peter decided to console himself with a haircut at the local tyre repair/barber shop.
Herero style was in vogue.
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All into Chris’s bakkie as far as Upington. A lovely meal at Chris’s place then Al, Peter and Kevin back on
the bikes the next morning for the ride to Cape Town via the Tankwa Karoo.
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Lots of fun. Except for the seized engine, and burnt luggage all went well! ;-)
Pics by Al, Chris and Kev. Text by me and Al. Great trip guys!
 
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