18 MAY - DAY 10 REST DAY IN SWAKOPMUND

 Swakopmund is a scenic, historical, coastal town that is one of the main tourist destinations in Namibia. After a few days of hard riding we get a chance to leave the bikes for a day and explore the town. First we took a morning tour of Sandwich Harbour - a spectacular, unique place where the dunes and ocean meet. After returning to town I did a short Segway tour then walked around the town although most shops are closed as its Sat afternoon. Although its supposed to be cooler as its on the coast, the weather today is a nice 29deg with an overnight of 18, very pleasant.

17 MAY - DAY 9 GAMSBERG TO SWAKOPMUND 360 km

So after a night listening to wild donkeys and jackals I am awoken by some noisy birds. Another 360km mostly on the dirt & sandy roads, through the beautiful mountain landscapes of the scenic Kuisib canyon and across the Namib desert to the coastal resort town of Swakopmund. We stop occasionally to take in this extraordinary every changing landscape. During one of these stops I had a close encounter which I care not to repeat. I was standing and then sitting on a bench above a deadly puff adder. Although we were warned to watch out for snakes but our guide had never seen one before now.

After some time in the dry heat of the desert it was supposed to get cooler as we approach the coast, but the wind is blowing from the desert and the temp reached 40deg on the bikes, the last few km is a smoother ride on a compacted salt road to Walvis Bay. We end the day with a short ride along the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean as we head north to Swakopmund, where we will have a rest day tomorrow..... 4x4 through the sand dunes.

After 3 or 4 days on these roads I think I have spent as much time standing as sitting while riding. although I have  been in some challenging situations on the other rides I have been on, this has been the most challenging so far, with constantly changing road conditions stretching my riding skills daily.

for my Bonsai friends here are a couple of  photos of the very old stunted trees growing in this area, overnight bedroom and views outside the windows

this was our route today  https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqo5Jj1KyO

16 MAY - DAY 8 SESRIEM TO GAMSBERG 200 km

Wed evening I'm looking at the stars and listening to the calls of the black-backed jackals. but today we have a very early start today to get to the reserve gates at 7am and take a guided 4x4 and walking tour of the famous dunes and dry lake beds at Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei, a breath-taking landscape of red desert dunes white salt claypans and dead trees. stopping for some of our group to climb Big Daddy a 325 mtr high sand dune. Returning to the Desert Camp lodge we then had a 80km ride to our lunch stop, then another 120km to our overnight stop, all of our riding today was over a mix of average dirt roads interspersed with sections of rock or sand or both... the last 20 km was a more technical ride through a rough track to our accommodation at Corona Guest Farm and Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge set in the hills of the scenic Gamsberg region, a beautifully farm-stay in the middle of a mountainous area in the middle of nowhere.

15 MAY - DAY 7 HELMERINGHAUSEN TO SESRIEM 236 km

After about 120km we stop at a Roadhouse in the middle of nowhere. Only dirt roads for the next 3 days, not so much sand this morning but rougher roads.

Unfortunately before we had travelled 30 km I realised that I have lost my camera fell out of my bag on the bike, went back to look for it but nowhere to be seen, so sad, but still have the camera on my phone, maybe I will be able to claim it on my insurance when I get back. Now after another 130km we are waiting for our guide who has a puncture.

On the roads to Sesriem we ride through ban amazing desert landscape and descend an escarpment with beautiful views, riding on some more challenging gravel roads before arriving at our Desert Camp lodge for the night, again set in some breath-taking desert landscapes, where the first thing I do is jump into the pool and grab a cold beer.

14 MAY - DAY 6 LUDERITZ TO HELMERINGHAUSEN 265 km

We start early this morning so we can catch the sun casting its morning light on the old diamond mining ghost town of Kolmanskop which is slowly being overrun with sand from this desert environment. We walk through this fascinating settlement and get some photos of the buildings slowly being overtaken by the drifting sand. 

After lunch we are back on the sandy dirt roads across the breath-taking landscapes of the Namib desert towards our overnight stop at the Helmeringhausen Hotel, the last couple of days have well prepared us for these roads and by the end of the day I'm not sure if the roads are getting better or my dirt riding has improved, I would say though that this day was one of my hardest riding experiences next to Laos.

Scootours Cape Town

Photos from Scootours,

Cape Town

13 MAY - DAY 5 FISH RIVER CANYON TO LUDERITZ 385 km

 

So I think I finally get it, and understand how one of my friends rides so quickly on the dirt roads. Depending on the terrain, gravel or sand, putting weight on the front or back, and Standing up feels much more stable as you can feel the rear snaking away as I go through the sand following the front, which is better that feeling the movement of the bike through your body, and accelerating out of difficulties.

The dust on the road today is bad and I need to keep well back from the bike in front, although the roads are relatively quiet, as a car goes by you can't see anything, and there is no wind so the fine dust just hangs in the air.

After about 80km of gravel & sand a heading out from Canyon Roadhouse, we ride on through more of Namibia's big open country and beautiful landscapes. occasionally stopping to gaze at the breathtaking scenery that keep unfolding. The last section is on a good sealed road that descends to the coast, through the old diamond fields and continue through the desert where we see some of Namibia's wild horses, possibly the offspring of horses abandoned by South African troops during World War 1, onward we go to luderitz where we  settle into the hotel get a shower to rid myself of the dust, and then head out for dinner in a local restaurant in Luderitz. 

route map for today  

Relive 'May 13 Namibia'

View my motorcycle ride: May 13 Namibia

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