Hello Namibia!!

Hellooo Namibia!! Wooohooo!
The moment I've been dreaming about for over 3 and a half years finally came today! Waving farewell to my beautiful South Africa Just for a little while) and crossing over into Namibia!

When I woke up in Springbok yesterday, the town had been transformed into an eerie ghost town overnight! Thick, thick mist hung over the town and it was freezing! And this on the day that I had to set out again after my 2 rest days!

And then, I think I was about halfway to Steinkopf, a puncture to my front tyre broke my momentum! And my kickstand gave in! Feels like the Universe is set on pushing me a little harder every single day!

Luna leaning against a railing while a puncture in her front tyre gets attended to and some emergency repairs made to her kick stand.

Steinkopf is a humble little town. The people are friendly. A little unsure of me at first, until they realise that I speak their language! :-)

Antoinette, a friend of mine who has cycled these parts before, told me that today would start with 30 kilometers of uphill and then down all the way to the border. It was beyond freezing cold when I got up this morning! I'm used to handling crazy heat on the road, not cold!
And of course, I was greeted by yet another flat tyre! Always only the front wheel!?

That puncture just HAS to be here, somewhere!!!

Though none of that mattered when I hit the downhill! Pure bliss, that's what it was!! I absolutely flew to the border!

Though 500 meters from the border I came to an abrupt halt. It hit me. "This is it! This is the moment you've been waiting for"! I have always said that once I enter Namibia I will not turn back, no matter what! This is my 'point of no return'. And today, I crossed that point!

I'll admit that I had tears in my eyes as I made my way through the border. Brought on by excitement, pride, the unknown that awaits and realising how much I will miss my nearest and dearest!

Departing from my beautiful South Africa!

Paperwork in hand for my FIRST border crossing!! YAY!!

Being welcomed to the Namibian side of the border post.

I am so excited and proud - Luna and I made it to Namibia!!!

I'm staying over at Noordoewer Guesthouse & 'Die Mielie' Farmstall tonight. Tomorrow Luna and I head toward Grünau!

Ready or not, here I come! ;-)

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Cape Town to Springbok - Done Twice!!!

I have now covered the stretch of road between Cape Town and Springbok on the N7 twice in the last year and half! The first milestone on my journey reached succesfully! And I am now only 2 days away from crossing my first border! Yeeehaaa.

What a week I've had! I even got to meet up with some friends along the way! On my way to Garies, my friends Elise and Hanret had told me that all accommodation in Garies was fully booked, but that there are a whole group of cyclists setting up camp in town. So as soon as I got into town, I headed directly for them!

First thing I noticed on entering the camping grounds was about 40 odd tents set up, about 50 bicycles standing around and around the same number in people. As I approached them someone called out: "self supported coming in".

And I only then noticed the signage on the trucks - 'Tour d'Afrique'! I had run into the Tour d'Afrique group! And I actually know someone in the group! So while everyone stood checking out Luna, I went about finding fellow South African André Ormond.

They welcomed me into the group, fed me and that night I slept among them as one of them! I found it interesting how I met up with them at a time where they were at the end of their journey, and I but at the start of mine! :-)

10 May 2011: Meeting Andre Ormond (Tour d'Afrique cyclist) in Garies.

10 May 2011: The Tour d'Afrique support truck

From Garies to Kamieskroon you just climb seemingly endless hills all day! It made me remember why last time round I felt like Namaqualand was trying to keep me out!

11 May 2011: Arriving in Kamieskroon

The stretch to Springbok remains one of my favorites! The harsh beauty of the mountainous surroundings. You can lose yourself here!

Though this time round I experienced one of the toughest days I've ever had on the road! At one stage it felt like I might actually faint next to the road. I couldn't even stay on the bike and had to resort to pushing Luna along.

Tomorrow I head to Steinkopf and then on Monday I wave farewell to my South Africa! Not to be seen again untill I return in about 2 and half years!

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