Week 36: To Noordoewer: Riding a big rig while listening to Don Williams...

December 2, 2015

"Get me a ride" Patrick says. A transport moving truck is coming our way and Rachel waves her hand up and down with the palm down. This motion took us awhile to learn rather than a thumb sticking out. The truck pulls over and we have a ride to the Noordoewer on the border to South Africa. Sweet, the truck is practically empty and we push the bikes on fully loaded.

Then, we are in the cab of a Namibian big rig truck listening to country western singer, Don Williams. What an experience! Halfway, we stop for about an hour and half while the truck driver delivers the load. Patrick jumps in to help them and he is told he is "too old"....he continues to help anyway.

On the road again, we are dropped off in Noordoewer close to the border. Tomorrow, it becomes a bike trip again.

Listening to Don Williams sing "You're my best friend" brings to mind to us that we would love to hear from people following this blog, please drop us a word and sign our guestbook. Patrick and Rachel

Impressions of Namibia: (2 days cycling, 12 day driving tour)

1. Money is a dollar....a Namibian dollar

14ND = 1 USD; South African Rands accepted

2. People wear hats as protection from the sun

3. Seems like the national vehicle is a white pickup truck with or without a shell

4. Safari Lodges are a great deal to camp--cheaper but can still use all the facilities

5. Biltong (dried meat like jerky)

6. Very little evidence of a public transportation system

7. Alcohol by law not sold after 5pm and between saturday afternoon and Monday morning unless in a restaurant, bars or staying at a campground with a store

8. Narrow tar roads with no shoulder or unsealed with soft sand

9. Tourist Protection Unit: men with official vests patrol the parking lot for a tip

10. Recycling bins in the National Park

11. Sesriem and Sossusvlei Sand Dunes

12. Quiver trees, and Welwitschia (only in Namibia and live to 2000years old)

13. License plates with N (Namibia) a number and then initial of the town from i.e. W for Windhoek

14. Voting is a public holiday

15. Gas station attentions wave the cars in like an airplane

16. Arid climate and Dry heat and high temperatures in summer

17. Gemsbok (oryx) in Etosha

18. Skeleton Coast and salt roads

19. Fish River Canyon