Capetown to Namibia and return
Things are going really well, but the weather has been really bad. Garden route, my planned trip, has been flooded with roads cut and towns evacuated. Snow in J'burg. Rob had seen the forecast and suggested going north to escape the rain. A very good move. So have been to Namaqua NP in Northern Cape, twas still raining the first time there but Rob was determined to show me flowers, some where out.
Found sunshine by going further north and went to Fish River Canyon in Namibia. Hows that another country already. This is largest Canyon in Sthn hemisphere. Totally amazing, awesome. And such ancient land you can almost hear it talking to you, much like outback Aus. Stayed at camp ground in Ai Ais, in a "luxury flat", it may have been luxury when built 30 years ago, but now.... well it did have a pool at the back door fed by the hot springs and that was lovely.
On the way back south the sun was out and we tried Namaqua again, the flowers are out and it is very beautiful. Just the vistas from the main road are fantasic, great swaths of orange, yellow and purple. Going into Namaqua meant getting up close to the flowers and of course that was of interest to the horti in me. Stayed in some neat B&Bs and a very ordinary pub.
Have seen zebras, springboks, some other sort of deer, ostrichs, jackal, mongoose, a little turtle, (skilpad in Afrikaan) and whales.
Back in Capetown now, the weather is fine but another cold front is on its way.
Off to a winery for lunch.
Am doing great, it has been a luxury being driven round and having a travel buddy, we have both managed to keep and sense of humour, despite some long driving hours. Probably about 12 hours yesterday Springbok to Capetown, 550km, with a few hours driving dirt roads looking at flowers.
Robs house overlooks False Bay and at the back of Table Mountain which is in Capetown. Great views.
Sometimes its hard to forget I am on a different continent, some of the landscape reminds me of Aus, probably like WA and NT. Very ancient.
But I am and its great.
Doing really well
