As I set off from Windhoek just after 9am destination Sestriem approx 320 km away it didn’t take long to realise : 1) it was going to be a long day driving - the guide said up to 6 hrs!! - and 2) the relatively nice tar road wasn’t going to last long – barely 5km into the journey and it was onto the gravel which actually in places was far better- a lot smoother and way less potholes than many of the main roads back home!!
The C26 twisted higher and higher and the scenery became more rugged and timeless – a bit like the choices on Kudu FM – “Painter Man” by Boney M, “if I said you had a beautiful body” the Bellamy Brothers and “wasted again in Marguerittavitte” by Freddy Fender sounding as old as the rocks piled up beside the road!
On and on the road went – the searing blue sky dotted with clouds and the temperature climbing all the time – frequent stops for photo opportunities broke up the monotony and each car coming the other way – there weren’t many!! – announced by a cloud of dust in the distance.
Finally Kudu faded into static and whilst the scenery kept going back in time at least the music managed to return to the here and now via the ipod!!
Finally after some 5 hrs almost the first real bit of civilisation around through the dust cloud though somewhat ironically called Solitaire it was good to get out stretch the legs and tuck into a Magnum ice cream from the general store!!
Arrived at my Destination Desert Camp – not really tents at all but very well appointed washblocks with canvas roofed bedroom section and a deck with a view to die for. Used all my scouts backwoodsman badge knowledge to build a fire form scratch and braai for tea!!. Watched the sunset casting longer and longer shadows until it finally disappeared over the mountains behind me.
Nightlife has a totally different context here as various animals appear from out the bush chattering away to each other
Early night as an early start tomorrow to the Dunes for sunrise!!..........
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