August 19, 2019 – Norotshama to Fish Canyon & Gondwanda Roadhouse

Briefing 8:05 a.m.

Location: Norotshama River Lodge, Namibia

Weather: Clear Temp: 18C

Notes: Morning briefing took a little longer than usual because Hugo and Bayne described how to ride in sand and answered questions about it. It will be a short day today. Going to Fish Canyon and then to the Gondwanda Roadhouse where we will spend the night.

Cost: 295zar (meals and drinks for yesterday)

Entry located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-28.3946299,17.4106638,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

On the road to fish canyon

Weather: Clear Temp: 18C

Notes: Desert riding is no fun for the hard-core road riders in our group. The dirt riders are having a ball and leaving us all in the dust – literally! We are contending with hard packed sand and bone-jarring wash board. We’ve been told if we pick up our speed the washboard will get less bumpy, but it is hard to get up the courage to do that when it is entirely possible that the next dip in the road will be full of soft sand! Bill is taking it easy but I can see that he is really struggling with this kind of riding.

There is some sparse vegetation around but pretty much there is nothing but desert on either side of us and as far into the distance as we can see.

Segment 1 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.9086812,17.6784740,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Fish Canyon 11:51 a.m.

Weather: Clear Temp: 20C

Notes: Not quite the grand canyon but impressive never the less. We stopped here for our lunch. The interpretive signs told of the conquest of the local tribes by the Germans in the 1900’s. Eventually the tribes were able to expel the Germans from their territory only to have it sold out from under them by the South Africans. Looking around it is hard to see how anyone could or would want to live here. Yet there are rich minerals to be found and I guess lots of money to be made from them.

Segment 2 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.9086372,17.6785698,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Eats – lunch, 12:34 p.m.

Location: Fish Canyon, Namibia

Notes: Enjoyed a picnic lunch of bread, cold meats, cheese and veggies.

Segment 3 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.5892010,17.6144477,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Segment 4
August 19, 2019, 1:33 p.m.

Title:
Canyon Roadhouse

Notes: We deposited our stuff in our very spiffy room and went out to find some beer. I had a non alcoholic Rock Shandy with lemon that was very refreshing.

Segment 4 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.5246621,17.8150099,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Around the Roadhouse

Location: Fish River, Namibia

Notes: Such an interesting place. Someone with a lot of flair landscaped this desert resort with the rusting hulks of cars and machinery as centerpieces for the gardens. There’s a reason why this place is called a roadhouse!