Why is all the good riding so far away from Kathu...

[Xpat]

Xpat. Have you ever looked at a way to go along the boarder from Twee Rivier to Rietfontein avoiding the main routes. I see there is some sort of track there.

No, I haven't. Chances are those tracks are on private land - Namibia is as bad as SA in terms of public land. But I don't know that for sure and if you find out they are public, please let me know.

P.S. Ask Rickus (that is his name as well as his WD name) - he is from Koes and knows the area very well. I believe he is the main organizer of Koes rally.

[Rickus]

Xpat. Have you ever looked at a way to go along the boarder from Twee Rivier to Rietfontein avoiding the main routes. I see there is some sort of track there.

No, I haven't. Chances are those tracks are on private land - Namibia is as bad as SA in terms of public land. But I don't know that for sure and if you find out they are public, please let me know.

P.S. Ask Rickus (that is his name as well as his WD name) - he is from Koes and knows the area very well. I believe he is the main organizer of Koes rally.

We have contemplated this route before....it will be doable with some prep work and some organizing from the farm owners, luckily I know quite a few of them......this terrain is very harsh though and some of the BIGGEST dunes of the Kalahari are found along this piece of the border.

[armpump]

Awesome read thanks for sharing

[Tampan]

I grew up, and still farm between Van Zylsrus and Askham, not too far from Middelputs. Well done Xpat and all I can say is that you have GUTS man, taking that part of Botswana on like you did!

[Dustdevil]

Day 2 & 3

Route on Day 2:

That road north out of Tshabong is another great adventure waiting.
It runs parallel to Mabuasehube nature reserve and finally reaches Ghanzi.
It is a sand track of the double version and goes through some real lion country.
Have been trough there in a 4x4 but would love to do it on a bike.

Great read on the rest of the story. Love those remote tracks but would not recommend riding them alone.

[Xpat]

Thanks 👍

That road north out of Tshabong is another great adventure waiting.
It runs parallel to Mabuasehube nature reserve and finally reaches Ghanzi.
It is a sand track of the double version and goes through some real lion country.
Have been trough there in a 4x4 but would love to do it on a bike.

Great read on the rest of the story. Love those remote tracks but would not recommend riding them alone.

Been there and have done it 3 years ago on the way to Kaokoland. Here is the report: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=168377.20

[andrew5336]

I take 12 litres with me

That is a lot of water but a good idea.
I once bought a small sleepingbag rated as -5. One night in the mountains close to Rosh Pinah convinsed me that the -5 was the temp you will die not the temp it will still keep you warm at.
Now I have a -9 down sleeping bag that takes up a lot of space but I am warmer.

You also get silk liners for inside your sleeping bag - a) adds about 5 degrees' warmth and b) a lot easier to clean than the whole bag

I was looking into sleeping bags now for hiking, and it seems the answer is not a bigger sleeping bag (unless you are climbing Himalayas of course), but layers. You can buy these thermal bags, that are small and waight nothing (e.g. SOL Escape bag), and bivvy bags - smaller and lighter - and yet in final result more warm sleeping solution.

[Xpat]

Yes, that is what I do now - use lightweight sleeping bag rated for relatively high temeperatures and then use layers. That said, just the thermal liners are not good enough - you need one of those survival bags to snug into. And in my experience, much more important than sleeping bag is mattress. No sleeping bag is going to insulate you from cold ground because your weight will eliminate the insulation layer underneath you.

I have tried it now eve in freezing temperatures in summer sleeping bag and without tent, and it works 100. Here is the report about that test:

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=217872.0

[Spearo]

Hi Xpat,
                       I must say all your ride reports are amazing, did you ever finish the one from Europe to SA.
                       If you don't mind, may I ask what you do for living.

[Xpat]

Thanks Spearo 

Yes, that African report is big sore in my backlog, just cannot find a drive to finish it. But one day I will try...

Right now I'm on extended riding sabatical (well right/right now I'm on idling sabatical doing what I do best - procrastinating as you can clearly see from this post), so I don't work. I made living mostly implementing big IT systems in banks. Not sure what the correct name of the position is - something between business architect (designing solution) and project manager (managing the implementation). I came from background where those two go hand in hand, but in this modern specialization world people believe (wrongly IMO) that they can be separated.

One of the objectives of the sabatical is to figure out what next - not making big progress on that so far. Well actually I know what next - get my ass in gear and go for another trip pronto 

[P.K.]

Thanks Spearo 

Yes, that African report is big sore in my backlog, just cannot find a drive to finish it. But one day I will try...

Right now I'm on extended riding sabatical (well right/right now I'm on idling sabatical doing what I do best - procrastinating as you can clearly see from this post), so I don't work. I made living mostly implementing big IT systems in banks. Not sure what the correct name of the position is - something between business architect (designing solution) and project manager (managing the implementation). I came from background where those two go hand in hand, but in this modern specialization world people believe (wrongly IMO) that they can be separated.

One of the objectives of the sabatical is to figure out what next - not making big progress on that so far. Well actually I know what next - get my ass in gear and go for another trip pronto 

Well if your sabatical brings you to the epicentre of civilization...set aside a day or two and I will attempt to make you  the holster-type of luggage you wanted....no charge!
I`m no expert, but have learned a few tricks in the last couple of months.
Will ideally need whatever bike you want to fit it to as well as I don`t believe in the `one size fits all` theory.
Even have accommodation for you .

[Xpat]

Thank you P.K. 

I am focusing more north now, so will not make it there this time. But will let you know when I'm heading that way some other time.

And for sure, there is not one good luggage solution for all. Everybody has their own needs, and you seem to be doing quite well making what majority of people are asking for.