Rest Day - Sesriem, Namibia

Namibia

Day 108 - Sesriem Rest Day

I spent the morning and afternoon at the Namibian Parks Board Restaurant, working on updating the blogs, couldn't stay in Camp as there was no shade or any other facilities available for us campers to use.

Some of the other Riders rode off on their bikes to take a trip down into Sesriem Canyon, while others went to Sossusvlei for either a sunrise or sunset viewing, and others just did the usual washing of dirty laundry, cleaning and checking of their bikes, or like me simply catching up on social media.


In the evening a group of us went out and had a buffet supper at the Sossusvlei Lodge, which was extremely posh, and their selection of starters, main course and desserts was simply outstanding and well worth taking the walk to the Lodge.  My Son & his wife had a buffet breakfast at the very same restaurant while on their Honeymoon & also mentioned it was absolutely worth visiting & a stunning setting.  


Today was our second last rest day, the trip is quickly coming to an end, we only have a five day and a seven day section left, with one rest day at Felix Unite Camp on the Orange River, before reaching Cape Town...


Cheers,
Mike T

Not much shade available for us Campers out in the Desert

Flowering Aloe at Sesriem Camp

Sunset at Sesriem 

The next Five Day Section to the Orange River

Sesriem to Betta Camp

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Solitaire to Sesriem (83 km)

Namibia

Day 107 - Apr 29 - Stage 75

Saturday: Back out on the gravel roads of Namibia, which seem to alternate between either a smooth or heavily corrugated (sometimes rocky) surfaces. At times they also include soft sand, and overall the roads here are more a Mountain Biker's Heaven than a roadie fest.


Judith cycled with the girls, who in true TDA tradition, stripped off their kit & rode the "Naked Mile" before lunch. Two of the Racing Snakes, Charles and Mark rode the complete 30 km Time Trial naked, much to the delight of the numerous Tourists in the immediate area. I waited until after lunch before doing my naked mile pose, photographed by Philip for prosperity's sake.

My solo "Naked Mile" effort for Tradition's sake

We arrived at Sesriem Camp, and TDA had to camp in the "Overflow Area" as the Camp was fully booked. TDA are aware of their dates well in advance, so why didn't they book proper camping facilities in advance!?  Really piss-poor organisation on their part (shower facilities were about 600m away from where we were camping!!). Did not take a room, as the accommodation is totally overpriced at Sesriem.

On arrival at Sesriem I went straight to the Bar to join Murray and Mike vd Berg, which wasn't the proper thing to do, Judith had to erect the tent by herself in strong winds, so I was not the most popular person in camp!!  In hindsight, not the cleverest thing to have ever done, and I should have known better.

Anyway, late afternoon & accompanied by a number of the other riders, we took a trip in the Lunch Truck into Sossusvlei, to climb Dune 45 and to appreciate the glorious sunset over the Namib Desert.

We will enjoy tomorrow's rest day at Sesriem, and have nothing special planned. Some of the other Riders will be going off early into Sossusvlei to see the sunrise, while others will be cycling a short distance to see Sesriem Canyon. We have previously done both, so will be giving it a miss.


Cheers,
Mike T

The Ladies doing their "Naked Mile" ride

Tallis and Helen at the start of the Time Trial

Charles and Mark rode the complete Time Trial naked!

Camping in the Overflow Area at Sesriem 

Gemsbok (Oryx) sighting while on the way to Dune 45

Michael, Andje and Philip on the way to Dune 45.
Still sleepy Mike?

Walking around Sossusvlei before climbing Dune 45

Michael on his way up the Dune

Starting the climb up Dune 45 one of the highest dunes in the world

Sitting and enjoying a sun-downer at the top of the Dune. We even had ice!

Sunset over the Dunes of the Namib Desert as seen from Dune 45

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Wessenfels Camp to Solitaire (124 km)

Namibia

Day 106 - Apr 28 - Stage 74

Friday: Rode the morning with Judith and most of the afternoon with Philip, highlights of the day included the crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn and the hair-raising descent down the Spreetshoogte Pass with Philip and Liz.

The Treloars cross over the Tropic of Capricorn

We rode on gravel and dirt the whole day, except for the Spreetshoogte Pass, which due to it's steepness (it drops over 500m in elevation over a length of 4 km) is paved with paving stones. The Pass is so steep, both the Lunch Truck & Main Truck had to detour around a longer alternative route to get to Solitaire.

I managed to achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/hr down the first portion of the Pass until my nerve failed and I reverted to feathering my brakes down the remaining length of the Pass. At one stage I had to stop to allow both my front and rear disc brakes to cool down!

Between the Pass and the finish at Solitaire, we stopped at Gecko Lodge for cokes, and experienced the best WiFi reception ever. This resulted in us overstaying our welcome, as we abused their facilities to update all things relating to any social network!

Eventually arrived at Solitaire quite exhausted, it had been a tough but also an exhilarating day of riding.  A welcomed reward at Solitaire was being treated by the consumption of large portions of Apple Crumble, from the only Bakery in a radius of about hundreds of kilometers!

Cheers,
Mike T

Sunrise before the ride to Solitaire 

Liz and Judith discussing the days tactics at breakfast

A group of the Ladies (and a parrot - see it?) getting ready to cycle towards Solitaire

An early morning puncture for Anmay who needed no assistance

On the road being greeted by the first ray of sunshine

Philip examining the nests of the Sociable Weaver which is prevalent in this part of Namibia

Group of the Ladies making gravel riding look so easy

Today's lunch position was just before the descent down the Pass

Philip helping Andje with her puncture while Sectional Rider Rick learns some new tricks

Posing at the start of the Pass

Liz and Philip taking a photo opportunity prior to descending the Pass

View from the top of the Pass

View from half-way down the Pass

Peter and Deborah checking their brakes and taking a breather coming down the Pass

Tom and Liz discussing their Pass descent experience

Arriving at Gheko Lodge

Some innovative art work at Gheko Lodge Up-cycling old cans

You can't miss Solitaire as it is clearly marked!

A tired Treloar arrives at Solitaire to be greeted by his wife

Farmer Michael (Mike VdB) getting some tips on how to fix a punctured tube by Deborah

Sunset at Solitaire & the end of the day.

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Windhoek to Weissenfels (123 km)

Namibia

Day 105 - Apr 27 - Stage 73

Thursday: Rode all the way to Weissenfels with Judith, while Mike van den Berg rode his first day of the Section. Judith and I rode out of Windhoek and just past the Windhoek Golf Club, we joined up with a road which we were very familiar with. It was the first stage of the 24 hour Desert Dash Mountain Bike Race road, a race from Windhoek to Swakopmund through the Namib Desert, which I had previously ridden. First in a Four-Man Team and a year later in a Two-Man Team.

So it was up the Kuffelberg Pass and onto the road towards Weissenfels, we enjoyed a good ride, through some stunning scenery of the Khomas Hoogeland.  Where we arrived much later, only to be greeted by some of the other riders already abusing the makeshift Bar facilities!

After having a discussion with the Owner of the Guest Lodge, Wiliston, I discovered that he was selling mineral specimens from his collection, so I fortuitously bought a few of his specimens. One being a great Aragonite Crystal,  which definitely deserves a place in my collection at home.

Cheers,
Mike T

Judith doing well cycling up the Pass

The top of the Pass - Which way to Walvis Bay ?

Some of the Ladies cycling up the Pass

Lunch Stop

The road stretches on for miles and miles !

Sometimes a photo gives the wrong impression.
Promise that I had help with these!

Team Carbo Load in Action

Staff dishing up supper for the Riders

Sitting around having supper around the still-warm braai fire

Weissenfels to Solitaire

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2 Rest Days in Windhoek

Namibia

Days 103 &104 - Rest Days - Windhoek

Spent two well deserved Rest Day's in Windhoek, Capital of Namibia, at the Urban Rest Camp. Was pleasantly surprised with the facilities and the great reception and friendliness from the Staff at the Camp, will definitely stay there again when next in Windhoek.

Up early to join the Australian and New Zealand Riders and others, at the ANZAC Memorial Service, conducted at dawn at the Commonwealth War Memorial Site,  commemorating the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War.  Attended by Australian, New Zealand, Turkish and Namibian Diplomats. Murray got to read the Ode, all very touching and quite emotional for me, as it included a reference to all those who had fallen. Afterwards, enjoyed coffee and snacks with the Dignitaries in attendance.

Then went off to the Mall for more coffee and breakfast, followed by a trip to the Bike Shop to get a new seat for Judith and for her to have a fitting.

Later in the day, I went off to the Windhoek International Airport and fetched Mike van den Berg, my good friend who was joining the Tour to do the last Section with us from Windhoek to Cape Town.

Dinner on the first rest night, was held at Joe's Beer House, which had been recommended and organised by myself, which was attended by the majority of the Riders, and enjoyed by all.

Day two was spent trying to update my Blog's and was generally a very NAFI Day for me. Mike VdB used the day to reassemble his bike and to get ready for the Tour. 

Unfortunately, while changing our bike tyres from slicks (for tar roads) to mountain bike tyres (for riding on the dirt)  I pulled my umbilical hernia again, and Dr. Helen couldn't get it to pop back into place, so she had to take me off to the local Hospital. There the Doctor in attendance managed to use her magical hands and got it to behave again. I was then read the riot act, if I continued to do heavy lifting and it popped again, I was to be sent home!!

So my last evening in Windhoek didn't end to well for me, although on the bright side of things, I was still allowed to continue cycling, as long as I behaved!

Cheers,
Mike T

The TDA Riders who attended the ANZAC Memorial Service

ANZAC Memorial Service in Windhoek

Thomas displaying his Waiter skills at Urban Camp

A "Metre of Beer" at Joes Beer House 

Michael van den Berg arrives in Namibia

Welcome to Windhoek (Windy Corner)

 

Wise words displayed at Urban Camp

The next three day section - Windhoek to Sesriem

Windhoek to Weissenfels

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