Today we travelled from the Sossusvlei area north towards Swakopmund. In the way we would go past Solitaire and Walvis Bay. We would also cross the Tropic of Capricorn.
There was quite a lot of wind when we started but it died down within the first 30 minutes. Temperatures went as high as 32C in the desert and as low as 16 C as we approached the coast.
It was 345kms, with 300kms on dirt and the final ones on asphalt. We went over two passes and had lunch in a gorgeous location with a most beautiful African scenery unfolding before our eyes.
Our first stop would be in Solitaire, aptly named by the wife of the person who founded it because like the well known diamond that stands alone on the ring finger of a lady, the town has nothing else around it. The main attraction for us was the apple strudel from the local bakery.
"More than 20+ years ago a Scottish adventurer moved to the town and opened the bakery. A man bigger than life in all aspects, Percy Cross “Moose” McGregor, was a wonderful baker and started selling a variety of bakery items including a German apple pie (Apfeistrudel), made from an old family recipe. Once there, it was clear that his pie and warm, friendly attitude soon became the reason thousands of people — local and worldwide — come to Solitaire."
Unfortunately "Moose" passed away in January 2014 so we could not meet him, but fortunately the Apple strudel gets made every day and you can sit, and eat, and people watch on the large outdoor covered patio.
It was very good and well worth the stop.
For the bike, the main attraction was the fuel and it was while we were filling up that we met Joao de Almeida, an Angolan that pilots the hot air balloons that you can take to see the region from the air.
We then moved on through the most amazing countryside. There is no substitute to seeing a country riding on the back of a motorcycle. It is an amazing experience and when the sceneries are beautiful even better. Your senses are constantly being perked up for new experiences and even though riding on dirt is not easy it makes it very special as you think of yourself an old-timer adventurer riding the plains and discovering new worlds. My Portuguese DNA was having a full day. Vasco da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias, Diogo Cão and so many other's genes stirred in satisfaction and made me smile wide inside my helmet.
The next stop was for nourishment and after looking for over 30 minutes of riding for a suitable shade (there just is no shade in the desert), we found this man made structure that we could hide under and enjoy our lunch. It was here that we took what I consider one of the best pictures so far that really shows Africa in all its glory. The wide spaces that seem go on forever in its most peculiar colors and very native vegetation and surrounded by mountains in the distance.
We also had the opportunity to meet some locals that were traveling with school children.
We then moved on towards Walvis Bay and as we approached there was a significant decrease of temperature. We could also smell the ocean.
We stopped and had another local encounter with two young people that were taking pictures and that evening would be going to the matric (last high school year) dance (like the prom). His pink suit was an omen for what was to come next because as we started looking around the water we saw hundreds of pink flamingos. We then began our quest for the perfect picture of the flamingos. We moved to different parts of the bay to look for that perfect combination of flamingo, ocean and sunlight.
What beautiful and elegant creatures, the way they walk in the ocean is absolutely beautiful. It is a slow motion dance that hypnotizes you.
The final part of our journey was on a road that borders the ocean on the left and it has sand dunes on the right. At any moment you can turn left and go very close to the ocean front which is totally unspoiled and raw. The waves crush down strongly and the wind blows on probably one of the most harshest coastlines I have experienced.
But the scenery is unique. We arrived as the sun was setting and the images were unforgettable.
For dinner we went to Jetty 1905 where we were surrounded by water as the restaurant in on top of stilts at the end of a jetty that enters into the Atlantic Ocean.
The ambience is very good and the food was delicious.
What another outstanding day.
Make Life a Ride !
There was quite a lot of wind when we started but it died down within the first 30 minutes. Temperatures went as high as 32C in the desert and as low as 16 C as we approached the coast.
It was 345kms, with 300kms on dirt and the final ones on asphalt. We went over two passes and had lunch in a gorgeous location with a most beautiful African scenery unfolding before our eyes.
Our first stop would be in Solitaire, aptly named by the wife of the person who founded it because like the well known diamond that stands alone on the ring finger of a lady, the town has nothing else around it. The main attraction for us was the apple strudel from the local bakery.
"More than 20+ years ago a Scottish adventurer moved to the town and opened the bakery. A man bigger than life in all aspects, Percy Cross “Moose” McGregor, was a wonderful baker and started selling a variety of bakery items including a German apple pie (Apfeistrudel), made from an old family recipe. Once there, it was clear that his pie and warm, friendly attitude soon became the reason thousands of people — local and worldwide — come to Solitaire."
Unfortunately "Moose" passed away in January 2014 so we could not meet him, but fortunately the Apple strudel gets made every day and you can sit, and eat, and people watch on the large outdoor covered patio.
It was very good and well worth the stop.
For the bike, the main attraction was the fuel and it was while we were filling up that we met Joao de Almeida, an Angolan that pilots the hot air balloons that you can take to see the region from the air.
We then moved on through the most amazing countryside. There is no substitute to seeing a country riding on the back of a motorcycle. It is an amazing experience and when the sceneries are beautiful even better. Your senses are constantly being perked up for new experiences and even though riding on dirt is not easy it makes it very special as you think of yourself an old-timer adventurer riding the plains and discovering new worlds. My Portuguese DNA was having a full day. Vasco da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias, Diogo Cão and so many other's genes stirred in satisfaction and made me smile wide inside my helmet.
The next stop was for nourishment and after looking for over 30 minutes of riding for a suitable shade (there just is no shade in the desert), we found this man made structure that we could hide under and enjoy our lunch. It was here that we took what I consider one of the best pictures so far that really shows Africa in all its glory. The wide spaces that seem go on forever in its most peculiar colors and very native vegetation and surrounded by mountains in the distance.
We also had the opportunity to meet some locals that were traveling with school children.
We then moved on towards Walvis Bay and as we approached there was a significant decrease of temperature. We could also smell the ocean.
We stopped and had another local encounter with two young people that were taking pictures and that evening would be going to the matric (last high school year) dance (like the prom). His pink suit was an omen for what was to come next because as we started looking around the water we saw hundreds of pink flamingos. We then began our quest for the perfect picture of the flamingos. We moved to different parts of the bay to look for that perfect combination of flamingo, ocean and sunlight.
What beautiful and elegant creatures, the way they walk in the ocean is absolutely beautiful. It is a slow motion dance that hypnotizes you.
The final part of our journey was on a road that borders the ocean on the left and it has sand dunes on the right. At any moment you can turn left and go very close to the ocean front which is totally unspoiled and raw. The waves crush down strongly and the wind blows on probably one of the most harshest coastlines I have experienced.
But the scenery is unique. We arrived as the sun was setting and the images were unforgettable.
For dinner we went to Jetty 1905 where we were surrounded by water as the restaurant in on top of stilts at the end of a jetty that enters into the Atlantic Ocean.
The ambience is very good and the food was delicious.
What another outstanding day.
Make Life a Ride !
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