The Treloar Herald : 05/27/17

Canon Roadhouse to Felix Unite Camp (171km) - Namibia

Namibia

Day 113 – May 5 – Stage 80

Left the Canon Roadhouse Camp, rode with Judith, we had a good morning’s ride, albeit at rather a slow pace. Cycled the same route as the Desert Knights Tour which we did in April 2016, except this time we did the first two days distance of Desert Knights in a single day, we also did it in the daytime and not in the dark of night.

Sunrise at Canon Roadhouse

Mike vd Berg eager to get going even after last night's celebrations

Peter and his Daughter Catherine making last minute adjustments

Leaving Canon Roadhouse after a great stay

Lunch was at 91km, unfortunately we took our time getting to the lunch position, so decided to climb the Lunch Truck, there was no way we were going to complete another 80km and get to Camp before sunset. We should have known better than to have had so many stops for photo opportunities, rest stops, and exploring the countryside - but it was worth it!

Judith riding the corrugations

Cycling a section of the Desert Knights Tour

Distant rain falling in the Ai Ais Transfronteir Park

Sharing the road with the motorised tourist's

Ingenious rock sculpture " Bobberjaan klim die Berg"

Tom having quality time by himself

If only the wreck could talk !

Posing with an old wreck

Judith on her way to infinity and beyond

Arriving at the Lunch Truck

Marie helping to pack up after lunch

Climbed the truck, and our first stop was at the Aussenkehr Spar for a Coke Stop, where we did some grocery shopping as well (ice cream, chocolates and Amarula). Aussenkehr is an extensive table grape producing area, where the vines are irrigated from water taken out of the Orange River.

Before we reached the Felix Unite Camp, Wynand off-loaded our bikes from the Lunch Truck and we cycled to the Amanzi River Trails Camp to see our friends Johan & Colleen, owners of Amanzi. A few years ago we did a 5-day Amanzi River Rafting Trip down the Orange River with them. We have also stayed over at their Camp on numerous occasions when we visited Namibia in the past.

Johan & Colleen were pleased to see us, and since we were having a rest day at nearby Felix Unite tomorrow, invited us to have a braai with them at Amanzi on the rest day; an invitation we could not refuse. We then cycled the short distance back to the Felix Unite Camp for a well-earned rest day.

As tomorrow will be a rest day at Felix Unite (staying in quite a nice room), we had to organise dinner for ourselves, so we decided to eat at Felix's own Restaurant. However, dinner at Felix was a right royal stuff-up :/

Mike vd Berg’s steak was rotten (had to send it back), Wendy finally received her food an hour late, Paul & Wendy’s drinks orders never arrived. While on my side, I was refused the privilege of opening up a tab at the bar (a first for me) - it seems that I was regarded as a credit risk!

A bitter-sweet arrival to Orange River, but another rest day tomorrow to look forward to.

Cheers,

Mike T

Marie & Judith two of the Lunch Truck Riders

View of the rugged Namibian County Side

Table Grape Vineyard along the Orange River

Judith at Amanzi River Trails Camp

Our little piece of heaven at Felix Unite Camp for the next two nights

Overlooking the Orange River with South Africa on the opposite bank

Wendy and Paul in relax mode

Sunset over the Orange River

Seeheim to Canon Roadhouse (93km) - in Namibia

Namibia

Day 112 – May 4 – Stage 79

Sunrise as we leave Seeheim Hotel

Started the day’s ride with Philip, the dirt road surface for the first 20km’s were either large concentrations of irregular corrugations or drifts of sand, and sometimes a combination of both, it was as if you were on the road to Hell !!!

Accompanied by Philip and Nelson, I stopped at an undesignated coke stop at the Bauerhof Stall situated next to the old Chamieites Railway Siding, we saw a coke sign, made a quick decision, and crossed the railway line and made our way to the Farm stall via their chicken coop. We were pleasantly surprised to find the Dinner Truck Staff and a group of the day’s non-riders enjoying the delights on offer! Soon after our arrival, they left, but we stayed and enjoyed coffee and apple pie as well as me leaving with a large package of biltong and dry wors, to be consumed later.

Sunrise at Seeheim Hotel Camp

Breakfast around the natural rock table

The calm before the storm - Will it be an anti-climax ?

Seeheim to Canon Roadhouse

Phillip ready for his ride to the roadhouse

Seeheim Hotel in the early morning light

Party time at Bauerhof Stall for both riders and non-riders

Bauerhof garden vista

Accommodation available at Bauerhof

Philip and Nelson ready to continue the ride to the Roadhouse

Leaving Bauerhof, we were joined by Murray and we rode together to the Lunch Truck situated under a group of Camel Thorn trees. Exploring the lunch position, I came across two German war graves, from the Herero War of Rebellion (1904 to 1907). Both soldiers had died in 1906, Corporal Rob Lietz (21 yrs) and Cavalier L Lichte (27 yrs). Both died young and buried far away from their beloved homeland Germany, a poignant reminder that Namibia is a beautiful, but harsh country.

Arrived at the finish at Canon Roadhouse and went straight for a swim at the swimming pool, the water was cold, but very refreshing after the day’s dry and dusty ride. Some of the other adventurous riders and Lunch Truck riders, cycled to Hobas and then to the Fish River Canyon View Point, a 32km round trip. Judith and I didn’t go as we had seen the Fish River Canyon on numerous other occasions (having hiked the Canyon twice previously), but definitely worth a visit if seeing it for the first time as it is the second largest Canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA.

Retreated to the Roadhouse Restaurant/Bar for some liquid and solid carbo-loading, the Bar being one of my favourites in Namibia. A good time was had by all, and what made it even that more special, was that we had reached the 10 000km mark which we (Murray, Mike vd Berg and I) celebrated later that evening with copious amounts of Amarula!!

Cheers,

Mike T