Day 12 - part 5(pictures in this episode can be viewed in higher resolution here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskB5oLf7)
After about 15 km in the Hoab river, the track turned south towards Brandberg and Ugab river and I hit an open desert for next 70 km. The ever changing nature and scenery of this track is one thing that makes it to stand out from the other routes we have done on this trip (or anywhere actually), with the possible exception of ride from Puros to Sesfontein through Huarusib and Huanib river. So far I have done about 60 km and I have already done 40 km of barren red rock mountains, about 20 km of sandy and green Huab riverbed and now was about to enter open plain desert with views opening dozens of kms away. And there was still more to come...
Turning away from Huab river heading west to the Skeleton NP and Atlantic ocean (I'll be back):
I have lived in Africa for 12 years, travelled it's length, as well as other continents, and yet this is the very first time I encountered a scorpion. And a dead one at that - not much of a consolation for the elusive elephants, but hey - better than nothing:
After short stop at the turn-off, I hit the track heading south towards Brandberg across the open plains that were descending gradually west towards Atlantic:
About noon-ish I stopped and feasted on a Tex bar, before pushing on south:
Eventualy I crossed the plains and reached high ground above Ugab river with Brandberg dominating the landscape behind the river. Just when I thought I saw it all, the landscape changed its colors and came up with whole new set of abstract shapes. This whole area is like something out of Salvador Dali painting or Pink Floyd album cover - in fact I suspect that those people must have ridden through the Valley of Desolation or at least seen the pictures and just plagiarized it:
Zebra hills craddling Ugab river in this section. Basil from Brandberg Rest Camp directed me to this particular track (the one I plotted at home followed different route) and I'm very grateful for that:
Welwitschia and double track heading down to Zebra hills and Ugab further on: