Day 12 & 13: Ai Ais - Springbok - Lambertsbaai - home
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| A regular visitor |
The next day we left just after 8 (almost on time!) and made
our way through the last parts of Namibia.
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| Our campsite |
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| Our life savers who brought us some meat over |
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| Departing Ai Ais |
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| Back through the beautiful mountains |
Once again through the same mountains and beauty as we came
in. One specific corner I wanted to check out, as I had almost bought quite a
sharp bend (and the rocks to its side!!) as we were trying to make up time on
the way in. I wondered if it was my haste, or a really serious bend or just
silly me who, after more than 4000kms of dirt road could not take a decent turn
in the road? To my relief there was plenty lose sand and a fairly nasty corner
if one came from the other side. Then again, as much as I loved this country, I
would preferably get home in one piece, without having to show off the property
I accumulated along the trip!
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| On the moon? No, not quite! |
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| Our last stop with sand, endless, awesome sand. |
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| Growing in the middle of nowhere |
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| Our last picnic in Namibia |
With a heavy heart I got to the border. I was leaving behind
a place that had touched my heart and I was determined to come back some day!
Shortly after the border we came across some beautiful flowers along the way.
Stretching as far as the eye could see. Unfortunately we left the good weather
behind with the flowers. After Springbok, we stayed over in Lamberts bay. A
nice little fishing village where we bought fish and chips from the corner café.
We went and ate it on the beach in cool and cloudy conditions - out of the
paper bag.
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| At the border |
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| Spring flowers |
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| Flowers as far as the eye could see |
The following morning the weather became worse and we rode
in rain. We stopped to refuel at Piketberg and have something hot to drink at
the Spur. Drenched and freezing we each needed a second cup to defrost. I asked
permission to eat the sandwiches we had made that morning – from bread we still
bought in Ai Ais. The rain washed away our plans to have a picnic along the
way!
Our paths parted at Piketberg and I had to say goodbye to
the wonderful riding buddy I had for the last week or two. I spent the following few hours battling
strong winds and rain in the storm I was facing all the way home. But maybe the
storm was worse inside me?
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| Chips on the beach |
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| Lambertsbaai |
Our last day in Namibia brought the strangest
feeling over me. I had fallen in love with this arid, barren country. The
vastness and variety appealed to me as I drank up its beauty every day. That morning
we made our way through the mountains and later over the open plains towards
the border, I felt close to tears. While lapping up the last bit of the
magnificence it dawned on me that shortly I would be facing reality again. Daily life and stress I could put aside while
in the saddle of my trusty steed. Worries I could put aside because I had more
beautiful things to see and experience while being in a country that sneaked in
under my skin. I have to go back! Soon!
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| The end of an awesome trip! |
My next post will be a summary of my experience of this awesome trip and some of my favourite pics. Stay tuned!
