Day 8

Day 8 was supposed to be a drive to Twyfelfontein, but because the SL & SLC had taken a bit of a pounding on the rutted dirt roads we decided not to follow the rest to Twyfelfontein, but instead to head directly for Swakopmund, where the rest of the cars would join us a day later. This meant a trip of 530k’s in one go, but because the roads were all tarred we decided this would be the most sensible course of action. The SL had bottomed out a few times the previous day and had lost it’s number plate and some trim. The SLC had a stone stuck in the left front brake and we had to take off the wheel and coerce the stone out of where it had lodged itself, between the disc and cover plate. The driver who has bad sciatica, was also suffering. The 230CE was doing fine, but had a slow puncture and a battery that was flat every morning and the co driver had a “bad back” and wasn’t keen about travelling on more rough stuff. The 280 was starting to use water and overheat a bit as well has having selective co operation when it came to starting, especially at the most inconvenient times – like on a garage forecourt just after filling with fuel! The occupants of the 280 were in very high spirits.

We left the camp after a leisurely breakfast and headed for the gate 17 k’s away. We got there without incident and waited our turn in the queue. We passed the initial inspection, but when we were asked to produce our permit and proof of payment the document was nowhere to be found. No amount of pleading helped. My persuasive powers failed me and even Jill in her sweet way couldn’t persuade the fat authoritative all powerful woman in charge of the gate to let us out. The only thing we could do was head back to the camp and sort the problem out at the “office”. So, back we went and after a five minute wait left with an official piece of paper and headed back to the exit gate. They were ready for us when we arrived, the guard said, “they have paid” and the fat, authoritative, all powerful woman, after studying the map on the side of my car, incredulous we had traveled “so far” in an old car, wished Jill Happy Mothers day and waved us on our way!!

As we progressed the landscape was getting decidedly more like we expected Namibia to be like – sandy! The road was tar all the way and we made good time.

I’ll carry on with Day 8 later – I’m being hounded to go to lunch!