Author Topic: NAMIBIA (AS NEVER SEEN BEFORE) - ON THE ROAD AGAIN (MAPS NOW ATTACHED) (Read 24360 times)

Vis Arend · « **Reply #40 on:** May 04, 2011, 11:51:24 am »

DAY 5 QUIVER CAMP TO BETTA

Our aim was to reach Duwisib Castle via Aus, Helmeringhausen and then Betta. We reached Duwisib Castle but decided to go back to Betta as they had lovely and cheaper accommodation and it was in any case on our route for the following day.

We again had an early start, but my body started to feel the strain of the last few days in the saddle. We needed a rest day but that had to wait as we still had a long way to go.

Early morning start

The shadows are faster than me.

On route to Aus

And then the Blou Bliksem was 5.

Road in the distance

General dealer at Aus where we bought lekka lam ribs. Fuel available here.

Time to deflate the tyres. (I know this stretch of gravel to be on the sandy side)

Einstein’s invention for a windmill.

And then the road became sandy, muddy and every drift had some sort of water flowing. It was evident that heavy rains were in this area.

The sand was softer than I anticipated.

The road looked like this all the way to Helmeringhausen. There we got fuel, pies and coke and took the C27 towards Betta/Duwisib Castle. The road to Duwisib was no better and the going were slow, you had these river beds almost every 500m, just as you picked up speed, and you had to brake again. The scenery made up for it, though.

We still had time to play

More scenery

Betta has fuel and accommodation and very friendly people. We filled up and headed to Duwisib and planned to come back to stay for the night.

The road to Duwisib, very sandy at places

Diwisib

On our way back we had a cold one, and boy was it nice.

The road back to Betta

At Betta with a lekka Whisky and my wife’s Vodka

Sunset at Betta

This fella came to visit us, the naughty bugger.

Ribs bought at Aus

The naughty guy even came to say good bye the next morning

UncleAl · « **Reply #41 on:** May 04, 2011, 12:02:42 pm »

Lekker . . . Sien uit na nog!!

Mzee · « **Reply #42 on:** May 04, 2011, 12:04:44 pm »

I can but say you are really having fun. All the best mate

.

Lotta · « **Reply #43 on:** May 04, 2011, 01:16:37 pm »

Ai maar dit lyk lekker. Mooi fotos en baie nice rapport. Geniet dit verder en sien uit na die res.

Ama ride ride · « **Reply #44 on:** May 04, 2011, 01:26:08 pm »

Chips maar dis nou mooi groen.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #45 on:** May 04, 2011, 06:08:03 pm »

DAY 6 – BETTA TO SOLITAIRE

Our aim for the day, Solitaire via Sesriem and a quick look at the dunes at Sossusvlei, then to Solitaire where we will pitch camp and head out again for a round trip to Remshoogte, Nauchas and then down Spreetshoogte back to Silitaire.

This morning I woke up with an aching body (and head). My arms and legs felt heavy and my muscles were sore, but a couple of more kilometres lay ahead and we departed early.

On the way to Sesriem/Sosusvlei

The grass was standing tall

You could stop every second and take photos, the area were beautiful.

First signs of the dunes

Funny formation in the mountain/dune

One sort of spa close to Sesriem

Close to Sesriem

The road this far was pretty good, just be on the lookout for the sandy bits in the river beds. This detour is better than our main roads.

We stopped at Sesriem/Sossusvlei and were denied access to the area. We begged and pleaded but in vain. The officials informed us that all bikes were banned because of some bikers that rode off road and on the dunes in the park. Although we visited the area a couple of times by cage, we were still very disappointed not to do it with the bike.

Fuel is available at Sesriem and this is also available. How long did I not wait for this? Brotchens and salami.

We filled up, had a quick grub and headed for Solitaire.
Close to Solitaire

Solitaire

Our possie

Apple strudel pie at Solitaire

Day 6 to continue, the best part of day 6 is to come

Strompie · « **Reply #46 on:** May 04, 2011, 07:33:54 pm »

Regtig besonders om te sien dat julle dinge so saam doen. Op die HEEL eerste klomp fotos, het jy regtig ARIL in plaas van APRIL geskryf

Julle fotos is besonder.

JMOL · « **Reply #47 on:** May 04, 2011, 07:53:51 pm »

Quote from: Valinnipad on May 04, 2011, 07:33:54 pm

Regtig besonders om te sien dat julle dinge so saam doen. Op die HEEL eerste klomp fotos, het jy regtig ARIL in plaas van APRIL geskryf

Julle fotos is besonder.

kan net saamstem

Vis Arend · « **Reply #48 on:** May 04, 2011, 08:33:18 pm »

Dankie julle, ons geniet dit om alles saam te doen, dit gaan binnekort vir 30 jaar wees.

Jammer vir die foutjie

. Ek glo daar gaan nog baie wees.

JMOL · « **Reply #49 on:** May 04, 2011, 08:40:16 pm »

Sorry - dis wat ek eintlik bedoel het.

Quote from: Valinnipad on May 04, 2011, 07:33:54 pm

Regtig besonders om te sien dat julle dinge so saam doen.
Julle fotos is besonder.

Sien nou eers my fout. Jammer

Vis Arend · « **Reply #50 on:** May 04, 2011, 09:03:28 pm »

Day 6 continue.....

Then we headed for the round trip to Remshoogte. Now take a tip from a fool, if you plan to visit Namibia, make sure you know how to ride soft sand, there is plenty of it, and if you plan to visit Namibia in the rainy season, ensure that you can handle a lot of water crossings and plenty of mud. We encountered more than we bargained for, but o boy, was it fun.

If you find yourself in the area of Solitaire, this route up Remshoogte and down Spreetshoogte is a must do. Photos do not do justice to what you physically see.
On route to Remshoogte, let the photos do the talking.

These 2 pictures taken backwards

This is a video, I don’t know if it will work

Die likkewaan het my goed gepiets

Some more scenery

And more water crossings

We became gatvol for this stop and goes, little did we know this was only the start.

A dam near Nauchas, I have no clue of its name.

On the water crossings again

This was not helping my aching body at all.

Spreetshoogte

A cold one on top of Spreetshoogte, and I needed it.

They are busy to pave the whole pass, at this stage paving is only on the very steep areas.

Boots and helmets drying

Camp for the night

cheesy · « **Reply #51 on:** May 04, 2011, 09:29:47 pm »

This report is stunning and the composition of the photographs, to the layman, is amazing. The apple pie at Helmeringhausen with thick farm cream is to die for, excuse the pun. I enjoyed photo 4, all kitted up and ready to go, it looks so class. The soft silver colour of the grass, for miles and miles is sooo pretty.
Keep the report coming, it's food for the soul.

Harry the Buffalo · « **Reply #52 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:04:55 pm »

Baie goeie RR..Ek GAAN nou definitief my geboorteland binnekort besoek. Baie nice foto's ook...............Se vir jou vrou sy kan maar foto's neem

Just Blip It! · « **Reply #53 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:35:29 pm »

Nice!!

Berty77 · « **Reply #54 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:43:21 pm »

Nou dis regte Afrika, sonder politiek en negatiwiteit. NEt wat ons almal nodig het. Goed om te sien daar is sulke mooi landskappe nie te ver van ons almal se bereik af nie.
Dis n EPIC RR die, goeie advertensie vir/van Suider Afrika vir Internasionale ryers.
Pragtig!!!

Vis Arend · « **Reply #55 on:** May 05, 2011, 05:22:16 am »

Thanks for all the positive remarks.

Namibia is this year the best I've ever seen.

If you can, you should visit Namibia this year.

Pickle · « **Reply #56 on:** May 05, 2011, 06:26:33 am »

This is fantastic!!! And to think that I pulled out of an overland trip through Namibia at the same time of year

Keep it cming Visarend

Lynn · « **Reply #57 on:** May 05, 2011, 08:28:54 am »

Awesome!

Mzee · « **Reply #58 on:** May 05, 2011, 10:14:52 am »

Keep them coming.

Spore · « **Reply #59 on:** May 05, 2011, 10:56:16 am »

Dis nou n fantastiese trip! Dankie vir moeite met RR! Pragtige fotos ook! Kannie wag vir die res nie!