DAY 16 PALMWAG to KHOWARIB

Had an amped up breakfast at the lodge, then tracked back up McGregor Pass to the Lodge on the peak which overlooked this enormous valley. The cottages all overlook the valley but only the Europeans can afford  it at R6000 a night maybe it include dinner and breakfast. 

Rode back down and up to Khowarib, which was an exceptionally scenic ride all the way and the road was in good shape. Am longing for the coastal temperatures cause am on a slow bake at 36*C. Managed to get a nice river campsite, not nice but riverfront on the sand, but the ablutions are okay.

DAY 17  WEDNESDAY 10TH AUGUST 

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Hiked up the Hoanib River for an hour and then came back and had a swim and then went on a game drive. 

Yesterday they saw eight lions chowing on a Zebra so was excited to go up and see the desert lion, which is somewhat of a rarity.

Drove up along the river to Schlucht camp which took an hour on an extremely knarly road with incredible mountains on both sides of the river, can't even bother trying to describe it. It turns out the lions knew we were coming and were nowhere to be seen, saw plenty of spoers, but no cats.The scenery was well worth the trip and the guide showing us some mountain features. 

    A tiny farm in the most inhospitable place.

At the bar pre hydrating for tomorrow,  hoping to leave early and take a specially scenic route seldom traveled to Opuwo over Robin's Pass.

DAY 17. KHOWARIB - OPUWO - EPPUPA FALLS. 339km. 5hrs.

Look on you tube for   Roy Cape to Cairo     and have videos posted     

                         Packed up in the dark to get an early start and avoid the heat, but didn't really matter. Decided against going through Robbie's Pass and took C43 all the way, rolling hills and the yellow grass is gone until near Eppupa the mountains begin again.

Campsite was full but they moved the trampoline where I pitched my tent. Dinner was Orynx medium rare and was very tasty.

    Got  5L fuel in Okongwati N$160.

    Stipped and gave the grader driver a pack  

    of wine gums and thanked him.

     An upside down tree, Boabab 

     Overlooking Epupa Falls 

    From the lodge deck at the falls.

    ORYNX,  but the rest not looking to good.

Day 18   Eppupa Falls

Went for a walk down the river to find the beach where I swam last time I was here but it was gone. Met some Himbas that are living on the river bank and allowed me to photograph them. The river and falls are beautiful but not flowing very strong this time of the year.

    Himba boy with typical hair style.

    Kids from the village gathering firewood.

My pannier brackets broke so rewired them and hope they hold, just used fencing wire, my handle bars are askew so need to fix that tomorrow.

DAY 15 LOST AND NEED PETROL. 209KM 11 HRS !

Ugab to Twyfelfontein but ended up in Palmwag.

Twyfelfontein is only 75km away, so will grab breakfast there. The ride out was through the river gorge and had to thread the front wheel through all the razor sharp rocks, but was a fun run till 1pm when 75 km came and went and I realized I had taken a wrong turn.

I tracked back to a camp I saw and nobody was there , but then a man appeared out of the rocks and a young girl. They told me to wait for the manager who should be here in an hour and he would be able to assist, they left and I waited. He got back and gave me 12 litres of petrol and told me just to follow the road straight N and I will end up on the C39.

The next 12 km is where I was handed my ass, it was all in a river bed, with thick loose pebbles and sand and I must have fallen fifteen plus times which exhausted me. At 31*C and my water down to half a litre and my Camel back empty it was a little disheartening and not knowing when thei was going to end. Each time I would have to remove my yellow dry bag, remove my helmet and jacket, sit and rest then pick up the bike,  strap on the dry bag and put on my gear and go again only to repeat it over and over. Physically drained and weak made it even harder to ride and that 12km took me over three hours.

Finally did get out of it and the rest was by no means easy as it was like riding on small round rocks and ever changing surfaces and it finally finished the 56 km at 7pm and then it was on C34 to Palmwag for an hour. Did not pass another vehicle the entire day. 

Not  having eaten the whole day I devoured a burger and a litre of beer and then had to go pitch my tent and shower. 

    Palmwag Campaite.