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