Gael back in Africa.

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Although not 100%, I booked out of my semi confinement in Windhoek and headed north. Not sure how I'd feel on the bike, I had a few destinations lined up. I was reminded that when riding here, its not unusual to be a little under the weather, whether some grumbling ailment, the heat or general tiredness. So I just got on with it.

It was a good travelling day, overcast and not hot. Once I'd passed Okahandja I was on a road I'd not ridden before. Over time the cloud broke up a bit but never got hot. In fact there was the odd shower around and I caught the edge of one but nothing significant.

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[simondippenhall]

Apologies, this is all a bit technical but there wasn't a lot else happening.

So while there, Tommy wheels in this HP2 Enduro, looking in excellent nick. It had been stood for years and not started. With the tank cap off, we could smell the stale petrol. I'm no expert on HP2 but here's Bennets description:-

"The HP2 Enduro was meant to fulfill the dream of fans of the GS for a full-on off-road boxer that would eat boulders for breakfast and poo out pebbles."

As I say not my words, but not a bad summary of the concept. I'm not sure in reality many people explored their full potential but still a desirable bike, unless you're 5ft 7ins. I know someone who has a well prepped example, tucked away for the day he takes to African roads again. Now that's a ride report I'm looking forward to, right Ed?

Tommy's plan was to clean everything in the fuel line including injectors, replace oil and try and start it. I'll check before I leave on the result.View attachment 523779View attachment 523780View attachment 523781

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Jim: I think I spotted your next top box behind the HP2

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

When I got to Otjiwarongo I had a decision to make. This was a reasonable to stop, if only for the wonderful name and I'd already covered 250km. I stopped, filled up and tried to judge if going on was sensible. I felt I could do another hour or so, so pressed on.

I had in mind a lodge, just passed Otavi. While resting in Windhoek I'd decided to try and stop at destinations, not just a places to sleep. Before getting there there was something ahead I'd have to deal with. There was a heavy rain shower right in my path. Checking my path on the GPS, it was unlikley I'd miss it, so the decision was when to put on the waterproofs.

As Simon and I know, this is not an exact science, you make your choice and live with the consequences. I started to look for stopping places but they were all taken up with people selling giant mushrooms, the size of dinnerplates(sorry no photos). I stopped and dressed and rode into the shower and in fact it was disappointing, I was through most of it in 5 mins.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Jim: I think I spotted your next top box behind the HP2

You know I've been lusting after one of those for a few years.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

In Otavi, I decided I'd go for the Lodge, it was about 30km beyond the town and down a 3km gravel road. The gravel road was a concern and hoped it wasn't deep gravel or sand. I headed off in light rain and shuddered when the GPS said, "Turn right in 2km, onto gravel". In fact the gravel was OK, some bits semi tarred but some downhill sections needed care. I checked in and when going to my cabin noticed antelopes grazing nearby. I might like this place!

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

The cabin didn't immediately inspire, with its crazy paving shower, but I became impressed. The shower was one of the best I've had. The room preparation was excellent and it has aircon and good lights and plugs.

I'm sitting outside writing this under my veranda light, but earlier, this was the view. While taking the photo of the view, I heard a noise in the tree and this hornbill was sitting about 10 meters away.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Later I wandered down to the lodge and had a drink and a light dinner. Looking out I could see lots of springbok, some guinea fowl among the springbok, a Grey Go-Away-Bird and lastly a Dik-Dik.

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[simondippenhall]

Whilst my lust is concentrated on the HP2

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Rightly so Simon!

Lastly, I just wandered down to see what was at the waterhole, under the floodlights, but my viewing was spoiled by a barking dog, who assumed I was an intruder, but I got this one photo.

You might assume that this place is a bit upmarket, but B&B plus my light dinner, came to less than N$750(21 N$ to the pound).

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[The Other PaulG]

Grey loerie, the frustration of many hunters!

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Grey loerie, the frustration of many hunters!

Paul, I worked with a guy, who's response to a colleague arriving unexpectedly at the office, was "its amazing what you see, when you haven't got your gun"!

Only a few birds around the pond this morning.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

No big post tonight. Too much Rugby to watch. Well done Ireland , and Scotland. I'm up in Rundu, which is at the entrance to the Caprivi Strip, a thin sliver if Namibia, that runs 500km between Botswana and Angola. I'm on a river and the other side is Angola . I going along to the Caprivi Strip tomorrow with a plan to enter Botswana in a day or so.

This tent, is where I'm sleeping tonight.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

And this is my view of Angola.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

The Cubango river at dusk.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

The road into this place, the dry bits are sand.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

It rained a fair bit in the night and thunder rattled around. I knew the sandy 6km out of he campsite would not be in better shape than yesterday. The owners warned me this morning, and gave me their number if I got stuck. Well I may have to accept that with a bit of care, I can negotiate sand at my own pace, as I got out to tar without incident. When I did get out I still had 510km of tar to navigate.

Riding in this area is more interesting than the rides further south. It started yesterday with seeing people along the road, and continued today. Yesterday it was people transporting stuff or coming back from working the fields.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Today it was people going or coming from church in bright smart outfits.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

I came across an accident scene yesterday which shocked me, particularly the condition of the car. It seems clear the coach impacted the car on this corner. I doubt the car cut the corner but the coach may have strayed wide, causing the collision. The police were still at the scene, so it happened pretty recently. This scene played on my mine for much of yesterday as I'd have been riding that carriageway.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Back to today and the 510kms... As I suggested riding here has similarities to riding in Angola, Zambia, Malawi or Tanzania, because life goes on next to and along the road. Villages are near the road, some still with rondevls, or locally called kraals. Cattle are being driven and grazed along the roadside. Through much of Namibia you see little of this life, but here it's all around you.

The gentleman driving his donkey cart.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

The kraals.

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