Rest Day Or Not?

Fri 17^th May 2024

Yesterday we had a full day tour into the canyon and tomorrow we have an early start for a full day trip to Kolmanskop and Luderitz so I say we deserve a rest day today. I am not sure how that fits with a 6:45am alarm but we wanted to walk along the east rim walk at sunrise. The first part was past the staff quarters and on round until we could look back at the lodge and bungalow rooms. As we walked the colours and shadows caused by the rising sun on the rock faces were constantly changing. At the first promontory we just sat and contemplated the expansive vista in front of us.

Of course Dave just had to go to the next promontory to try to get the dark and light sides looking along the length of the rocks dropping away to the canyon floor. Also of course the walk was further than he thought and as I sat I caught a silhouette of a tiny person against the skyline in the distance.

Breakfast ended at 9am and I was looking forward to my coffee and full cooked English (or is it called a Nambian out here?). With a smart march back we were in good time but I did leave Dave to his own plan as he wanted to change the lens on his camera to capture the yellow flowers on the quiver tree – this was the first quiver tree we’d seen in bloom and the yellow flowers against the blue sky was captivating. I was tucking into my breakfast when he appeared with a big happy grin. A (pale-winged) starling had landed on the flower and posed nicely. Even better, what we think is a rosy love-bird came out to pose on another quiver tree.

All too soon it was time to check out and move on. After the tracks in the canyon yesterday the dirt roads today seemed like motorways. After an hour we swapped drivers and I took over. Talk about being stitched up, almost immediately we saw a “! “ sign and the road went through two posts and then an almost sheer drop of thirty foot or so. Hmm remember Jens’ advice – stop, think and evaluate. The alternative was to go off-piste and shimmy down a very sandy patch which was a much smaller gradient. Deep breath, engage 4WD and slowly down, I don’t know what my panic was about, just take your time like Jens had told us.

After that it was quite straightforward and I was able to concentrate on the Chasing Scratch golf podcast we were listening to and thinking about the swing changes I need to make when we get home. The last stretch to our accommodation for tonight was 100 km on tarmac which soon sailed by. We arrived at reception and booked in. We are staying in a chalet called Desert Vista about 5km down a dusty track. As we are again in the middle of nowhere the place is all solar with gas for the rings in the kitchen and the water heater.

It sure does live up to its name. There are about half a dozen such chalets tucked on the plain at the bottom of a rocky range. I am ahead of the game and am typing this almost in real time, looking out at the amazing sunset tonight over the 180 degree expanse of sandy desert and watching the sky turn all manner of shades of orange. Sadly all too soon we climb back into Mungo and the drive in the dark to reception where the restaurant is for dinner and more Internet. No wine tonight as we need to drive back along the 5km track to our chalet and have a clear head ready for our 5am alarm.