Kameel Rust en Vrede

Today was a quiet day as we had both slept poorly. That was partly due to the noise of traffic but mainly to the cold (4 degrees) in combination with a thin duvet and no pillows. In addition, we just went to bed way too early (because of the cold but also the fatigue). I also had concerns about something that was going on at work.

We started packing the car nicely. Yesterday we had just thrown the suitcases in the back but that’s not a nice way to have a holiday. Now it’s all, somewhat, organized and we can find our stuff.

The ride went on the N14 in the direction of Vrijburg  and it ran through a rather dull and flat landscape (1200 m altitude by the way) where arable farming prevailed. Corn and grain everywhere, as far as you could see. Occasionally a farm followed by a small town. The border with Botswana is not far away and these are actually the foothills of the Kalahari desert. That means that it is quite dry and the days are warm (until hot in summer) and the nights cool (very cool in winter).

On the way we bought an extra duvet and pillows

In South Africa, alcohol can be sold from Monday to Thursday (Covid). South Africans drink a lot on weekends and then start a fight, pull knives or get involved in traffic accidents. Yesterday we saw a terrible accident, caused by speeding and not paying attention.

By selling less booze now, the pressure on hospitals is much lower and they can treat Covid  patients. We’ve bought a lot of wine today of course.

Now we are on a campsite called Camel Peace and Tranquility. Really. Camel refers to the camel harvest tree (kameeldoringboom) according to my  South African  partner. That’s a tree that can hurt you ugly with rock-hard thorns 7-10 cm long. The campsite is wonderfully primitive but clean and a terribly friendly manager named Patrick

Tonight we eat couscous salad and bread from Patrick that he prepares for us. Tomorrow we continue towards Kuruman  and  Uppington.