Day3 : 29 January 2013

 

“ If we do not come apart and rest awhile, we may just plain come apart.” Havner

It was the usual up at 5:30am and not feeling to good this morning. Had a couple of mosqiotoes in my tent last night that sucked me dry. Usually Lynne is with me and her blood is far sweeter than mine so she is the one that is carried off. I usually do not get touched. However, last night was a different story!!

Todays ride took us from the arid part of Namibia towards the lush part of the beginning of the Caprivi Strip. Such a huge contrast for one days drive. Todays drive took us through the capital, Windhoek and then up north until we hit Otavi where we stopped for diesel and came a cross a LPG gass refill for motorcars. Man we need to learn from this. Literally you stop and ask for gass!

We then stopped on the side of the road for lunch and were met with thousands of butterflies. I am not sure what brings them on but they were awesome to see. The only problem is that they can clog up your radiator.

It was another awesome uneventful day. Just like we like them in this part of the world. Tonight we at the beautiful Roy’s Camp between Grootfontein and Rundu. Looking forward to a mozzie free night. It is a very rustic feel and helps you to feel a real part of your bush surroundings. It is a perfect evening and the Bosveld Louries are saying good night. Antisipate and awesome moon again tonight.

2000Km down and 7000Km to go.

Lord thank you again for an awesome day and just being able to enjoy the nature You created for us!!

Day 2 : 28 January 2013

“Ask God for directions because He knows the way.” RBC

Before popping off to sleep last night I set my alarm for 5:30 am this morning. Well not needed. My body seemed to have had enough sleep by 5 am so that is when I fell out of the tent, figuratively. But wow what a site to see. Goodbye moon and helloooo sun. Awesome sight of the moon going down.

A quick cup of coffee and a rusk, pack up camp, brush teeth and we off. On the road heading North. Really enjoyed the cool of the morning until we got down to the Orange River where we entred into Namibia. This is desert!!! It has its own beauty in many ways, so rugged, so rough. To days drive is mostly spent driving through this desolate  wasteland. At the border a policeman informs us that a few days ago the temperature hit 50Deg Celsius. Wow I think we came close today. If you wound down the window and stuck your hand out  into the wind it felt like you were placing it in front of a hairdryer. Even the vehicles engine was running so hot that we had to spend about 2 hours without the aircon. I would really hate to break down here!

Lunch was spent near Keetmanshoop under a shade awning, but the wind was so hot off the desert that the shade brought no relief from the heat. Absolutely unbelievable heat!

Tonight we bed down in a place called Mariental. Not a bad little spot. A patch of well watered green grass and a good toilet and shower. On the menu this evening we are having boere wors rolls with tomato and onions. Busy now heating them up on the radiator of the car. Why let such heat go to waste I say. So looking forward to saying good night to the sun tonight.

Just finished adjusting the fuel air mixture on the injection pump before the Nam police arrest me for polluting Namibia. Need to keep reminding myself to be a little bit more environmentally conscious.

Wow another uneventful day! Just what was needed. Thank you Lord for creating the beauty of the desert!

A River in the desert!

Travelled 1000Km to date and 8000 Km to go.

Jan – Feb A tale of my travels.

“Let your life tell the story of Christ’s love and mercy to the world around you.” RBC

It’s 4:30am on the morning of the 27th of January. I ease my stiff body out from under the covers to begin a 9000Km journey by road to Mbala, Zambia and then back to Cape Town. The question is do I want to do this?

But many times in life we very often have to do things that we would rather not do. Sometimes life is unfair. After a quick cup of coffee and the last minute throwing the remaining gear into the car I am off. Oh not forgetting the worst part of the start to the journey and that is saying goodbye to my babies, even though one is 15 years old. A big hug and (censored!!!!! long kiss good bye to Lynne) I am now off. Just praying that I have not left anything behind like passports, towel, underwear and other non essential items.

Accompanying me on this epic journey is my true and trusted friend, John Bowmer. We have done this trip together a number of times and really enjoy each others company. One last stop is to the padkos lady, Francie  , who has so graciously offered to feed us all the way to Mbala. Not sure what we will do on the return trip but those are the worries of another day. Today we eat and drink and be merry! Don’t worry it is fruit juice. No to drinking and driving!!!

Praise the Lord we have an awesome gale force wind pushing us from behind. I think that we can cut off at least an hour  of our travel time. A good stop on the side of the road for lunch and then back on the tar. Oh I failed to mention that we had to stop just outside Cape Town to have our last Wimpy Breakfast. Thanks Bruce!!!

Tonight we sit in the cool of the evening after an uneventful day in the heart of the Namaqualand and looking at a mongoose, who seems to be a local resident. Truly a beautiful evening!!!

Awesome first day and hopefully many uneventful ones ahead. Cross the border into Namibia tomorrow and make our way north through the desert. Thank you to the man who invented the air conditioner! These areas cook in the day.

650Km down and 8350Km to go.

Thank you Lord for the cool of the evening and a great day!