Bearish Bumbles

Springbok to Windhoek is 2 days of almost relentless straight road unless you detour onto gravel and dirt. It is of course a very worthwhile sidetrip. After crossing the border (straight forward - just a couple of forms) you are cleared to carry on your 160kph (100mph) scream north. From Springbok we decided that the 120kph limit was what we would drive at - until 5 or 6 cars ripped past us. So we crept up a little. And more cars left us in their rearviews. So we crept up a little more until we were running at 160kph. Not the most comfortable of experience, but no more cars barreling into our rear-end just to overtake at the last minute. After about 15 minutes of this, there was a scream as a BMW left us standing. And I do mean standing - it must have been running at least 120mph or about 200kph. I stayed at a safe 160... (yeah, safe... - something like that).

The border came up quite rapidly at these rates, and we prepared ourselves for the 1hour of waiting about which we had been warned. Not for us. I was accused of murder, but let off (I claimed that the bird committed suicide, and therefore I was not at fault) and we filled in a couple of forms. Travelling into Namibia was great. We finally clambered into "real" Africa.

Just up the road from the border is a road off to the left to a place called "Ai - Ais". It is the Namibian version of Pontins or similar. A holiday camp that really needs some good old-fashioned British Caravans, deck chairs and complaints about the food - you can get Fish and Chips, and all sorts of german sausage, but I was really hoping to meet some Namibian Redcoats, but it was not to be. We paid for a place in the swimming pool and did indeed get to have some relaxation until 3 large spouts spattered us with water. After a sort of hammering massage we got back on the road and ended up at the Canon Lodge in Ai-Ais.

Populated with D&G wearing luxury travellers this was not our scene but the thatched huts and mosquito nets were. The food was awesome and the host very welcoming. We had a couple of beers and some Savanna Light and nipped to bed. The morning was wonderful with great breakfast and good coffee. The fact that someone had had the time and presence of mind to straighten her hair with straightening irons so that she matched her designer shoes and glasses was just a little mind-boggling, but we had to get on the road for a 600km dash to Windhoek.

Not much to say on my part for that - just a lot of driving and some lovely wide open spaces. Namibia is VERY friendly and we like it.

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