They say life is a highway and we all travel our own roads, some good, some bad, yet each is a blessing of its own - Jess "Chief" Brynjulson

17 March 2019, Kamieskroon to Springbok, 66km
Arendsnest R450

At 12:45, we had been on the road over seven hours when, on the outskirts of Springbok, we met a couple of cycle tourers headed for Kamieskroon 66km behind us. Janna from Holland and Luke from the US. Both were cycle touring when they met in China. They have been on the road two years, and are nearing the end of their Cairo to Cape Town odyssey. Then off to the US for more cycling… We were shocked to find they were leaving Springbok during the hottest part of the day, anticipating reaching Kamieskroon before dark, but in retrospect, they are young and fit and presumably in touch with their capabilities. They were very impressed with the Springbok supermarkets, saying they had not seen such freshness or variety in ten months of travel through Africa. Something to look forward to, NOT…
We left Kamieskroon in the dark of 05:45, anxious about a long hilly day to Springbok, and began our day with a long incline. It is a strange thing cycling a hill in the dark. Usually one checks for the summit obsessively, wondering if it is reachable or if walking will be required. In the dark, one just puts one’s head down and does the distance with less self-created stress.
It was a misty morning, and we finally knew we were reaching the summit, at least of this first climb of the day, by the lights of approaching vehicles. In the mist, a section of white sky ahead of us would suddenly light up, a broad diffuse arc of light seemingly unrelated to the road. As the car climbed from the other side, the arc would intensify and narrow into the shape of a fan, the old-fashioned kind used by ladies to cool a heated brow, not an electric fan. As the car crested the hill, the fan of light would coagulate in two distinct headlights, and as the car began its descent toward us, the fan of light would drop with it out of the sky and light the road instead.
The first 35km were a pleasure, with lots of downhill runs to the Buffels River; the next 10km were OK; the last 20km too much. But we made it here through a rugged, dry, rocky landscape, dotted infrequently with “kokerbome” (quiver trees). Showered and napped and managed to cycle another couple of kms to the Spur for dinner.
We will spend four nights in Springbok, giving us three days to finalise our preparations for leaving South Africa for an extended period.

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