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Showing posts with label Sunset. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunset. Show all posts

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

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Day 25 - Stage 21 - Senna to Canal Camp (88 km)

Breakfast time is usually quiet time


Monday: It was a shorter day, but not necessary an easier day, but our first on gravel and sand roads, allowing the mountain bikers among us to show off our skills. Muzz won the Stage,  beating the younger racing snakes by over an hour. 

Left our wooded campsite next to the Blue Nile, climbed on to the bridge and crossed the River, and headed South.


Route markings are now either the orange tape or flour arrows laid out on the ground, unfortunately either the sheep/goats or cattle eat the flour or kids steal or move the tape.

Lunch was at 46km, and we were surrounded by school kids who were totally amused by our lunch time pantomime. It must be quite an experience for them watching us going through our lunch time rituals, which seem quite normal to us.

Then into the nearest village for a Sudanese Soda (a type of raspberry) very sugary and not so nice. But necessary because it was another hot day, highest recorded temperature was 42 degrees C.

Four of us riders and the Lunch Truck, took a wrong turn today, because some juvenile delinquents had moved the orange tape and set it up on a different road, which sent us off in the wrong direction!!  Fortunately we hadn't done too many kilo's before the truck came back and informed us we were going the wrong way! When we cycled past the guilty party, I managed to teach them some 'nice' Afrikaans swear words, not that they really paid much attention.

Coke Stop in the village was utter total chaos, we were surrounded by both kids and adults, it was such a suffocating experience, we had to move on, but not before Judith had some retail therapy and bought herself a pashmina. 


Because of the heat, the last 20 km was a big grind, I kept stopping at any large available tree which threw up some decent shade, just to cool down our core body temperature.

Judith and I walked the last 2 km into camp, the head wind was just too strong and we were buggered. Didn't put up our tent up until the sun started going down - it was just too hot to do anything.

We had our first Sudanese donkey cart wash today, for a total of 5 Pounds, they will bring borehole water to you in a 44 gallon drum mounted on a cart and pulled by a donkey, tap off about 20 liters for you to use to wash yourself. 

After today's ride it was greatly appreciated. 

I had a full body wash, lily-white-ass and all, not a pleasant sight for any of the villagers who might have been watching.

Riders Briefing, followed by dinner, followed by an early night to bed. Its getting to be quite a simple routine in the evenings.

Tomorrow is a tough day (so they say) let's see what materializes.

Cheers,
Mike T


Packing up the tent in the early morning light


Leaving our wooded camping area 


Today we start following the orange tape road

Canal with large areas of cultivated fields

Helping Andje to fix her puncture

Arriving at the Lunch Truck

Philip and Niklas encouraging the school kids to interact with the lunch time cyclists 

Close up of today's lunch 

Andje helping herself to lunch

Judith meeting and greeting a bunch of young shepherd's

Group photo of the kids who had been removing the orange tape while Tallis hangs up some more tape

Unofficial water replenishment moment

The bunch of juvenile delinquent's who moved the tape sending us on a wild goose chase!

Sudanese cattle crossing

Coke Stop with lots of spectator value

Judith having some retail therapy 


Old British Austin Truck

Slightly dirty today but there is promise of a donkey shower


Judith has her first 'donkey shower'
Today's Camp site

Philip teaching the locals to fix a puncture


Michael taking a donkey shower

Judith thanking her donkey shower assistants 

Bike repair time with Leo the Bike Mechanic 


Welcome to Camp

Tomorrow's Ride

Sudanese Bus Journey


A very chilled dinner

Sudanese Sunset :)



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