10 January – Aussenkehr

Greetings from our campsite on the Orange River, near Aussenkehr in Namibia where we have just arrived. Since Monday, we have driven a lot and seen a lot. Tuesday morning we left Luderitz and drove the B4 back in the direction of Keetmanshoop. We passed Kolmanshoop, an abandoned mine town. On the way we saw the sand dunes along the road and this time I just made pictures! In about 120 km we climbed 1500 m after which the country became more or less flat, occasionally intersected by some gorges. At the village of Seeheim we drove off and ate a sandwich and drank coffee at the hotel of the same name. That hotel looks like the castle of Dracula and yes Rob, they still know you there.

From Seeheim we drove about 50 km to the south where we found a campsite, in the middle of the desert called Farm Yard at the Canyon. Here we were the only guests and so we could enjoy the Milkyway that is really fantastic here.

From this campsite we drove south to the Fish River Canyon, see the pictures. My father was here for the first time in 1974 and the picture has been hanging on the wall in Koudekerk for years. For us it was the third time we saw this canyon but it remains imposing for sure when you consider that the Fish River only flows in the summer and it took 2 billion years to cut the gap, almost 600 m deep. The comparison with the Grand Canyon is of course made but that one is much deeper, longer and wider.

Lisa definitely wanted to go to Karasburg, about 150 km eastward, because a certain type of shoes were made there. Despite the fact that after an hour of searching we found the ‘ factory ‘, her size and type were just no longer available. Luckily there was a campsite where we could ‘braai’ in the evening. We also met two French people who combined their passion (travel) with works (they were draughtsmen). I’ve given them tips about Namibia and my business card for any work.

From Karasburg we drove west to Noordoewer and from there along the Orange River to the campsite in Aussenkehr where we stay two nights. From here we go via Rosh Pinah to Oranjemund and then across the border to South Africa. My dad must have made this ride also 45 years ago but then the roads and all kinds of facilities were a little less good I think so

Meanwhile Tom has also booked a ticket. He arrives February 12th and flies back on April 2.

Lisa and I realised that we were half of our journey and that we would fly back to the Netherlands in 3 months. My sister asked me a few days ago how we felt now after so many months of being away from the Netherlands. The same question I got from friend Hein yesterday.

We are both really completely ‘detached’ from the Netherlands and can laugh at the news stories that we occasionally reach as, lately, the ‘Nashville statement’. On the other hand, we are extremely proud of our children how they manage and help each other with all sorts of things that come on their path. We don’t miss them and do miss them. Except Luna, our granddaughter, who we miss tremendously of course!

Lisa is completely in touch with the Earth and behaves like a nomad. She walks a lot in nature here and we talk a lot about the countries we visit but also about our friends and our families.

When we started the journey, I had a lot of stress caused by some tropical years where personal sadness coincided with large, business related, disappointments in people. The personal sadness has become less in recent years and now I am also no longer angry with people who

• Abandoned me when it their present was really needed
• Made incredibly stupid, costly and short-sighted decisions which almost got the company bankrupt
• Allowed greed to prevail

I forgive you all!