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Published: August 27th 2013
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Today was a shortish day because of the need to cross the border into Namibia. But its up at 6:45 as usual, do the packing until all but the last things are stowed, then breakfast at 8:00 if we are ready. The thermal inners to the suits were removed today as we don't expect any real chills anymore, and of course that made the packing harder.
Breakfast was bacon, eggs and pie. I skipped pie. Then off to refuel and change some currency. Having brought US dollars with me as per instructions, they are useless, so more ZAR required. By the time this tedious exercise was over, most of the others had left the gas station, but Billy was there to point the way.
Pam and I have achieved a reasonable level of competency riding off-road by now. But the fact remains that we are carrying a lot of weight on this bike, probably around 180Kg if you include the top box. Add that to the GS's wet weight of 280Kg, we are trying do this trip on two wheels with almost half a ton on two patches of rubber.
So today's ride is a measly 180Km, the
first 50Km off road. Two patches of deep sand catch us out and two low speed tumbles occur. Pam lands on her tail second time and that hurts her back, but after a couple of minutes she's ready to roll again. Top Tottie! In any case, she now has the outlook that falling flat out ones face allows closer examination of the wild flowers and is to be regarded as a good thing.
But everyone has problems in that stuff, even the best solo riders, so we feel pretty good about our showing.
Back on tarmac, we head north to the border, going through several long stretches of one-way road works, where you have to sit for up to 10 mins. Pam needs a comfort break, so we pull off the road in a hilly area where she dismounts and gets in with it. I drop the bike again. Then back on the road, another mile through the hills and we are at the border where inevitably there are perfectly good loos.
The border folk are highly amused by our surname, and that and Pam's natural flair for engaging with people get us through without mishap. Then
another hour's ride in the straight Namibian roads get us to the Norotshama River Lodge in Karasburg around 1:30PM local time (Namibia is an hour behind SA). Beautiful drive into the lodge, Pam standing on the rear pegs squealing as we go over the speed bumps!
The lodge is set amongst the worlds largest vineyard for table grapes and is right on the Orange river (Gariep in Namibia). We have a couple of Savanna Drys whilst having lunch and looking over the river. A restful afternoon leading up to the 5PM trip to see the sunset from the top of a nearby mountain.
We sit in the back of an open truck that climbs to the hill for a great photo-shoot opportunity. Then unexpectedly, we head back down and further up the gorge in almost complete darkness to find a braai all laid out, tables set, campfires burning. Very idyllic. The stars are of course incredible and a very pleasant evening was had. Pam fell asleep leaning on me in the back of the truck on the way back to the lodge.
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