23/03/18

I awoke this morning with high hopes that this saga would be over. It has proved to be quite a drama, not only staying in a strange flat but also the long drawn out wait for this small part to get Betsy going.

I went to the garage with the part due to be there but was told that it would now be in the afternoon. This really is getting quite annoying. I also decided to leave the flat and book into a hotel, hopefully for one night, as even if I get the truck it will be too late to leave today. I just wanted some personal space which I don’t get at Phil’s although he has been very accommodating.

It is also getting frustrating as Charlie is arriving on the 26^th and if I don’t leave soon I am not sure I will not be able to meet her on arrival. I still have over 1000 miles to drive. Well, hopefully good news later.

The hotel I am staying is a modest place situated in Hyde Park, close to Sandton and Illovo but not as nice. To be fair it is also about a third of the price.

It is strange when you are on your own as time seems to go so slowly and to be fair this is not a city really geared up for a single tourist.

OK news update. Betsy has been sold and I’ll be flying to Cape Town. Not the ending I wanted but time is of the essence.

Just to say she has been a real trooper and with a better owner/driver would probably have made it all the way.

I really look forward to catching up with everyone when I’m back in blighty.

Take care

Ian

22/03/18

It was strange night with Martin having left and I’m still staying at his mates flat. Never mind I managed to stay out for most of the evening to give everyone a bit of space. There was however the bonus of the spare room, including bed, which was free as his flat mate is away hiking for a few days. It was bliss.

Re Betsy, the part we are waiting for won’t be here till tomorrow, so the morning was spent trawling around the Nelson Mandela shopping centre. I must have walked it about 10 times now, but it is a great place to while away the hours.

I have contemplated doing some more sight seeing but every where that is suggested, like the Kruger prison are in locations I am not happy travelling alone to. EG. Hillbrow. I am sure I read that this is not a good place to be a tourist. This was confirmed when I spoke to the mechanic and Phil. OK back to the flat and watch a movie.

The weather here has been dreadful for the last few days, with constant heavy rain so I have spent most of this time sitting in restaurants and cafes. It has been quite a challenge not to eat and drink copious amounts but I’m trying my best to behave. The plan was to lose weight on this trip not put a stone on.

I am sorry to say there is not much else to report. So keeping everything crossed that I will be able to continue to CT tomorrow and thank god for DSTV.

21/03/18

Bank holiday Wednesday here in SA. Normally that would be fun but it feels more frustrating as it means nothing is going to happen with the truck today.

So, lets have a day exploring. I have also just realised that my Uber app works here so this going to make life very easy.

First of all, the Apartheid Museum next to Gold Reef City. This is a must apparently and I found it not only very interesting but also quite moving. It has also brought back memories of watching our television with the footage of the last days of apartheid being played out. It seems an age ago now.

I think if you are in Johannesburg a visit to Soweto is a must. For sports fans you drive by the fabulous FNB stadium, which unlike most stadia is more impressive in real life although a lot of the coloured panels are now starting to look a little dull now. Then on to see Nelson Mandela’s house and the street where some of the demonstrations/riots were. There were a number of plaques to fallen demonstrators, with a particularly moving one about a 7 year old boy who was shot and a moving narrative from his brother of how he saw him being carried away. Somehow seeing the street today with life carrying on as it always does makes it all the moving.

Anyway, on to Rosebank, another lovely part of this vibrant city and Martins last meal before he heads home. I’ll carry on as soon as we can get a part for the truck which with fingers and everything else crossed will be tomorrow.

Martin leaves

20/03/18

Disaster. Up early to get the truck and when I got to the garage they were just finishing up. So far so good. I headed for a bit of breakfast and returned about 45 minutes later. The car had been cleaned and was ready to go.

I happily drove back to the flat, which is literally across the road and we duly said our goodbyes and thanks for letting us stay etc. With our possessions packed and the truck reorganised for the journey we set off towards Soweto and onto Rourke’s Drift. Then as I put my foot down we had no power. Without panicking we went back to the garage explained the problem. After an hour of investigative work, it was diagnosed that the turbo had gone. It couldn’t be fixed here and would have to go to a specialist on the other side of town. Fingers crossed and we would be informed of the outcome later in the day.

OK, it’s not the turbo but another part. Apparently, they may be able to get one or not. Useful hey. Anyway, we should know later today but it means we are not going anywhere today. And the good news keeps coming, if the part doesn’t come today it won’t be till Thursday at the earliest that we can leave as its a holiday here tomorrow.

Oh yes there is a huge thunder and lightning storm so not really looking to go outside. So, what do 2 guys do, turn on the tele and watch some good films; Alien Covenant and Escape Plan.

Well we are not getting the part today so will be here till at least Thursday. How annoying but nothing we can do.

This delay though has thrown our plans somewhat. Time for us to take stock and plan.

19/03/18

OK so we took Betsy to the nearest car repair centre and was given the bad news that the clutch had broken and would have to be replaced. Ouch. £620.

The manager said he would get it done for us today but if not definitely by tomorrow morning. So, another day in Johannesburg. Without transport it is not a great place to get around, so we would have to amuse ourselves at the local shopping centre, again, and treat ourselves to a decent lunch. Life could be worse.

After a lengthy afternoon and early evening we were joined by Phil and his flat mate Martin and we were taken to a nice bar, somewhere in the city and not sure what it was called. where we had further drinks. I survived till about 10 and headed home leaving the youngsters to carry on playing. I think they came back a hour or 2 later.

18/03/18

Ok so today has been a very quiet day with Martin's friend Phil not surfacing all day.

We just had a lazy morning and then i headed out to get Betsy cleaned of all the sand and dust we had picked up from our last leg in Namibia. Something very satisfying when she is clean and the organised.

With little to occupy us we headed into Sandton for lunch and to look around Nelson Mandela Square. A very impressive complex strikingly similar to Broadgate. With lunch in a fine restaurant and the purchase of some high quality Ribeye, dinner was sorted.

I wanted to see the old CBD so we had a little excursion into the old part of town, to see what remains after the main businesses decamped to Sandton. I have to say it was an eerie place where you could city former glories but with an undertone of menace. With Betsy playing up a bit we didn't hang around but we were pleased we had seen it. I know Charlie would have been uncomfortable and it would have made a great location for zombie apocalipse film.

As we were heading back the heavens opened and the torrential rain and lightning made this little excursion all the more dramatic.

The evening was a quiet one watching a film and early to bed. Last night had taken its toll, most dramatically on Phil, who apart from some fleeting glimpsies didn't leave his room the entire time.

Tomorrow Betsy in for a check up and rep

17/03/18

Ok this was going to be the longest driving day of the entire trip. We are leaving Upington and heading to Johannesburg in one hit. A total of 750km.

So, an early start and 80mph all the way along the N14. Martin will have to eat as we go today as we are leaving before breakfast is available here.

As you can guess there won’t be much to say apart from ¾ of the way I knew we were down on power and made a stop to get the exhaust checked. Yep, a 2inch crack along the pipe, so a grinder to cut out the broken section, and another new piece of pipe that is lying around cut to size and then welded into place. £10 and 1 hour later we were off. Regardless of the assurances we were given I bet it doesn’t last the trip.

Also, soon after Martin complained that his feet were getting soaked. Air con malfunction. It has to be fixed but not today.

We reached Martin’s friends flat at about 5. A lovely apartment in Sandton and over looking The Wanderers golf course. Phil is a nice guy, loves sport and a drink so should be a good couple of days. We watched a recording of the England Ireland game, that was waste of time and then headed out for some beers.

Sandton was rocking and a million miles away from everywhere else we have been on this trip. Late to bed, actually a blow up mattress, and out like a light. 😉

16/03/18

Well what a day. Delightful start followed by 80km wrong turn, difficulty at the border and crashed the truck. Just when you thought you had done the hard yards.

 After a restless night sleep, those damn mosquitos, I went for a leisurely breakfast and to prepare for the days journey. Today was going to be an easy one as not too far to the border with a quick excursion to the worlds second biggest canyon (not sure about that one, but pretty big anyway) and then over to SA for the final leg.

It all started well enough, it was going to be 100km or so off road so to speak but nothing we haven’t done before. Martin wanted to drive so we duly swapped seats and I took over the navigation. So far so good. As we reached a cross roads and I was unclear Martin confirmed a right turn followed by a left 6km further down the road. 60km later we ended up close to where we had started from. Never mind. Still debating who is responsible. I’ll take the blame.

We then went cross country to make up time and made the border with plenty to spare. Or so we thought.

As we left Namibia, customs departure clearance was getting much easier as when the clerk did not know how to deal with a carnet I was able to tell them.

Entry into SA was going to be a breeze. Urr NO. Customs checked the engine number on the computer and it was showing as a stolen red Chrysler. Ummm. Then the police took us to a search area to check the car details. I knew the engine number was not the same as on the documents as I had changed the engine. My friend Paul the mechanic said if he couldn’t find the engine number no one will. Ummm WRONG. Luckily I managed to show them a receipt for the new engine but no engine number shown. Dry mouthed and worried the car was going get impounded the senior officer smiled and told us we be locked outside the gaol tonight.

OK drama over, or so we thought. The officer in charge, Clive, asked us to come back to police headquarters in Upington so we could give him a lift home as his car was not there. Weird. However, without wanting to upset him we agreed and followed him to the internal police car lock up. After his paper work was completed he asked me to move the truck out of the lock up area and I promptly reversed straight into a steel pillar. DOH.

Having broken the rear light and dented the body work we were then taken to a scrap yard to get new parts, which the officer, of course, decided he would fix and then back to his house to see his hunting trophies and target practice results.  Only in Africa.

OK it was all so surreal that he then had to take us to a guest house, obviously, which was actually quite nice over looking the orange river.

Suffice to say it was blessing to get to sleep.

15/03/18

A very good nights rest and relatively relaxing start with breakfast at Diaz, one of the recommended coffee houses. The usual fare eggs bacon and coffee. I also had the house speciality Banana milkshake

I know it shouldn’t but sometimes the silliest things seem to strike a chord. The road signs just did it for me today. These were two we saw as we left town to go into the desert.

It was about 100km straight back to Aus where we planned for morning coffee and the obligatory use of the facilities. When you know they are good you don’t waste the opportunity. Jobs done.

We then headed South leaving the Namib desert behind us and on to Rosh Pinah, a place recommended to us. It was quite a drive and Martin seem to sleep most of the way but the road was good so we averaged about 80mph. I have to say it was a very disappointing place. Never mind change of plan onwards to Aussenkehr. This was about 80km further along an old restricted area road that ran along the orange river the border to SA.

Better not get out of the car then

It was a spectacular drive through the narrow passes and an undulating gravel road running along the side of the orange river and the border to SA. We though are heading East and on to some more wonderful natural wonders. So SA not yet. Not yet.

This is such a fascinating place

The town of Aussenkehr is a small rural place that specialises in wine making. In fact the production here is on an industrial scale and we are reliably informed that this is home to the largest export table grape farms in the Southern Hemisphere. Bet you didn’t know that, and annoyingly I have not got a photo. Too busy driving. The village where all the workers live is quite large in scale but what is more striking is the traditional way they build the houses. Very primitive to what we have seen elsewhere in Namibia.

As we hadn’t booked anywhere, as usual, we managed to find a beautiful little hotel, Norotshama River Resort, with shacks on the rivers edge. A perfect place to

14/03/18

I awoke quite excited that we were off to Luderitz, but before we set off I was keen to get yesterday’s blog posted and out of the way. However, no internet so off to the shops to buy some more. 9.30 job done on our way.

Without being too repetitive it was a long straight road with hardly anyone on it or indeed off it. Suddenly, and to much excitement we could suddenly see the change of scenery as we approached the Namib desert. It was an eerie red and desolate place but just as I had imagined it.

It is also famous for the abandoned horses, now know as the wild horses, left by the Germans at the end of WW1, when apart from losing the war they also lost their African Territories. We thought it was going to be like the wild lions, hear all about them but never see one, but no there they were. Cracking to see if not slightly over played.

We eventually reached Luderitz. A charming little town on the Atlantic coast and famous for being  on the other side of the Namib desert. WOW. It was also where we could get Betsy fixed again, as the steering went as we approached the town. Unlike our experience (getting the wheels aligned) in Zambia the garage here was far more sophisticated and surprisingly cheaper. Only £25. Although cheap, they are staring to add up now. ☹

After a relaxing afternoon sitting by the Ocean we headed to the barrel, for a quite superb meal. I had Lobster and Martin the T bone so no surprises there then. The lobster was cheaper.

PS I know Chelsea lost in the CL, but a good effort from what I saw.