Author Topic: Namibia and Back My 4600km ride (Read 6074 times)

Mother · « **Reply #20 on:** April 19, 2020, 12:54:25 pm »

After our easy day at Ai Ais the plan was to head north and camp on the Farm Aubures which i have done many times over the years

the route took us to Seeheim then Helmeringshausen and finally Auberes farm which is between Helmeringshausen and Betta

crossing a small river just before Seeheim i got caught out in the moss

the front end just went hows your father and before i knew i was on my arse

Mother · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19, 2020, 12:59:57 pm »

always nice to stop for a cold beer in Seeheim and we did the same in Helmeringshausen also here we stocked up for camping the night on the farm Aubures

Mother · « **Reply #22 on:** April 19, 2020, 01:15:59 pm »

One of my most favourite places to camp is the farm Aubures
great hospitality and one of the most peaceful and tranquil experiences ever being out alone in the desert

Mother · « **Reply #23 on:** April 19, 2020, 01:28:12 pm »

After Aubures Camp site
our plan was to head via Betta to Sersriem and then Solitaire for the night

At Betta we started seeing many tourists and the roads were clearly more deteriorated than i had seen before

Hardly any maintenance seen and they were sandy as hell .......corrugated like i had never before experienced........really had more appreciation for my motorcycle than ever as it just soaked up every shitty condition the namibian road threw at her

On one section between Betta and Sesriem i had a "Mother" of a tank slapper and thought that i was really going to wipe out but managed to just hold it together.......i was sure i needed to change my undies that evening for sure

Mother · « **Reply #24 on:** April 19, 2020, 01:36:25 pm »

Namibia is just Beautiful even if the roads are so shitty now

Mother · « **Reply #25 on:** April 19, 2020, 01:48:16 pm »

Clearly we had chosen peak tourist season to be in this part of the country as the road between Sesriem and Solitaire looked like there was Nagmal in Koppies.........traffic and dust it was just a nightmare

finally we got to Solitaire to be told the facilities were being upgraded and no camping site available........we managed to find accommodation for all three of us sharing one room ....not too far away at Solitaire lodge for the night.

Solitaire highlights were legendary old Mooses Apple pie......shame he has long passed but his pies live on

and the meal at the lodge with plenty to drink was a delight after spending so much time in buses and tour guides dust all day

Mother · « **Reply #26 on:** April 19, 2020, 01:50:38 pm »

tourist invasion of the Tropic of Capricorn

Mother · « **Reply #27 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:00:36 pm »

The ride from Solitaire to Swakop was hectic with all the tourist vehicles and traffic
on top of this the wind was blowing across the desert and made riding upright very difficult

had another close call on a blind hill

i was keeping to the far left to stay out of an oncoming vehicles dust and stones and my line grew worse by the second forcing me to the very edge of the road with stones and mounds of sand
i just forced the bike to power back to the road and im sure it must have looked wild as i was nearly sideways for a while those tourists probably thought i was Alfie Cox or something....

.....i made a note to change the undies again that night

Eventually we got to Swakopmund and chose to chill at the fisherman hut for a few days in the Municiple Camp ground

Mother · « **Reply #28 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:02:49 pm »

great meal and drinks at Solitaire lodge

Mother · « **Reply #29 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:07:44 pm »

Swakopmund
This was Shaun and Charlenes turning point so we just relaxed and took in the sights spending an awful amount of time at the Brau House in the Square drinking lots of German beer

life was good

the next day we headed in our separate directions Shaun for home and me for the skeleton coast park

Mother · « **Reply #30 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:16:16 pm »

After our goodbyes I headed up the coast to Henties the wind was pumping off the desert to the sea and was really unpleasant to say the least
but as all adventure riders we push through

stopped for a picture at the ship wreck between Swakop and Henties
and after eating lots of sand decided to move indoors and have a nice breakfast at the Henties Hotel and wait a bit for the wind to subside

Mother · « **Reply #31 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:18:18 pm »

Henties Hotel was a nice relief from the wind and sand

Mother · « **Reply #32 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:23:17 pm »

After Henties the wind calmed a bit and the ride to Mile 108 where i wanted to camp on the beach was uneventful

Camping on the beach with no one else is a great experience I must say

I have been blessed to camp at Mile 108 a few times

This experience was no different and certainly a highlight of my trip

Mother · « **Reply #33 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:35:21 pm »

the last time i was in the Skeleton coast park was 2014 just after i had sold my business in Botswana .

I remember the solitude of riding there, alone..... the feeling of being completely isolated from the world ......it was a liberating feeling and this time it was no different

Also when i was last here they gave me a bit of grief about taking a motorcycle in but luckily i used my charm

to get in ........also took some pictures with the then guards ...........
so when planning this trip i asked my wife to print copies of my previous entry with me and the guards posing...... it was a great call

So on arriving this time i whipped out the pictures and guess what..... the same guard was on duty and we laughted and joked and became instant friends once i gave him the pictures of my previous trip

needless to say going in to the park was a breeze

Mother · « **Reply #34 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:38:10 pm »

Entering the Skeleton Coast Park

Mother · « **Reply #35 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:42:11 pm »

in the Skeleton coast park it is a quiet lonely place with very few tourists

I was planning to go to Torra Bay as my furthest point then make my way out near Palmwag and start heading south for home

Mother · « **Reply #36 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:49:35 pm »

to tell the truth the roads in Namibia had really gone south compared to my previous trips and by now i was gatvol so instead of heading for Palmwag after coming out of the park i headed towards Otjiwarongo and some tar roads for a change

on this section of gravel my front mudguard lost a bolt from all the corrugations.... i stopped under a solitary tree to do some repair work.......wire....duct tape and zip ties a mans best friend

also on this section found a tourist with a flat spare tyre and helped him pump it with my pump i always carry on trips

Mother · « **Reply #37 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:53:29 pm »

After camping on the beach with sardines and salticrax for dinner the lodge in Ojiwarongo came as a lovely change and i went out to the hotel for a nice meal and some drinks reflecting on a long days ride from mile 108

Mother · « **Reply #38 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:57:26 pm »

Homeward bound i found riding all day on the 1250 a pleasure and the tar road was a welcome break

The bike just ate up the km and i kept riding the whole day making it to Springbok Hotel as it was getting dark

Mother · « **Reply #39 on:** April 19, 2020, 03:00:56 pm »

Otjiwarongo to Springbok

Life was Good

Next day got back to Cape Town total 4600km ride

Love my 1250 Adventure