See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security. - Ray Bradbury

31 March 2019, Aus to Kuibis, 51,5km
Biltong Plaas / Kuibis Restaurant R400

Today was a near perfect cycle day, the only irritant being flies. Luckily these could keep up with us only on the ups; we lost them on the flats and downs, of which there were many. It takes a special effort to ignore their attempts to access fluids, whether in your sweaty hairline, or corner-of-eye, or nostril, or mouth. You find yourself swatting pointlessly at them, an action that only momentarily relieves you of their presence; they simply perch under the brim of your peak and return to your face immediately after you stop waving your hand about. As your hands are usually needed to steer with, they win. I cannot help thinking about the fact that they sit on shit, then sip saliva from my lip. Pretty gross…
But what a ride. First of all we were well-rested and well-fed, including a full English breakfast this morning. We had asked the Bahnhof Hotel to put water in their fridge for us and left Aus with four litres of frozen water, which kept us refreshed on the road. It was a cooler day and partly cloudy. The road itself was in perfect condition with little Sunday traffic. The terrain included inclines that ensured we got some exercise, but that made the long declines all the sweeter. And the scenery was stunning. Hills in different shapes and colours and textures. Tufty grasses in dry mustard and pale green. A few cattle bringing life to Namibia’s draught-stricken harshness.
The fences lining the road are jackal-proof. We wondered today if this is why we have seen three of four jackal carcasses on the road. Do the fences confine them to a life on the wide verges?
We have managed to break the 200-plus km trip between Aus and Keetmanshoop into four days, with accommodation and food options on each of the three nights between. Tonight we are staying at the Biltong Plaas, begun in the late-1990s as a “padstal” (roadside farmstall). Danie, the fourth generation on this farm, and Launette, now run the padstal, while Danie’s dad still ekes a living from the farm despite the many-year-long drought. The padstal also has a restaurant, the Kuibis, serving breakfast and light meals, a couple of rooms to let, and a relatively new campsite. Charl and I have bought meat to “braai” (barbecue) tonight, and peri peri “biltong” (dried meat / jerky) for the road.
A really good day and just what we needed after our abortive attempt to reach Aus two days ago.

For today's route see below photos
For overview route, click on ROUTE tab above…