SPRINGBOK TO DE HOOP DAY 4 - 460KM

DAY 4: Springbok to De Hoop: 460km.
Left at 8 a.m. after having a Wimpy breakfast. Tried a farm road but the second gate was lock so went back to Steinkolf and up to Voolsdrift.  Went along the Orange River to Ersteensfontein and bought a map and a Coke. Roads are good and really enjoyable with great views of moor like landscape and the colors are spectacular, orange, red, Browns, yellow true rainbow nation. Then to Sendlingsdrift which was still miles away. Got Short on fuel again but was able to make to Sendlingsdrift which is the border crossing into Namibia.  Was on reserve again for 62 kilometres but made made it luckily. Left there at 3:30 and they said bikes are not allowed,  but I went anyways because there were no signs! Bad Karma. I dropped the bike twice, and went off road into some rocks which took me an hour to get out and all my energy and muscle. Was very lucky there. Was quite a road in, tight, rocky and sandy but real fun road, that bit me in the ass. De Hoop is on the Orange River, sandy with some trees and and a few campers here in 4x4's.  It's hot. Was 36C today, was hot I pitched my tent and then went and laid in the river. Was frigging amazing I almost fell asleep and drowned.  Felt so good after strenuous day riding like an idiot. The scenery all day was stunning to say the least and this is all in the Richtersveld which is a World Heritage Site 160000 Sq hectares. Had the sandwich that Charmain made me on Sunday for supper. Needless to say it was a little old and soggy and rattled to a pulp,  but that's all I had. The Banting diet is going good so far. Haven't had a beer in 2 days! So tomorrow I will head to Fish River Canyon and hopefully get there early.

Day 5: De Hoop to Fish River Canyon 340km
Up at 5:30 a.m. pitch dark. Packed up and left at 7:30 a.m. went to Helskloof Pass, which is unbelievable, made it down fine, coming up could be a challenge. Was 45km a great ride, downed it in some sand but was a tough ride most enjoyable. Crossed on a ferry at Sendlingsdrift and they told me bikes aren't allowed just where I had been for a night, road is not suitable for bikes! That is too bad because it is an amazing route, am lucky I was able to do it! Went to ArArs for lunch where it was 40C. Then 150 kilometres up to Fish River Canyon where I am spending the night, at Canyon Roadhouse which is real nice and camping is great and had a swim in the ice cold pool. Was most refreshing. Once again I am blown away by the beauty of Namibia and I have seen it before! The roads are top notch, amy doing  120 kilometres no problem, except when you hit a little sandy patch, but few and far between. Tomorrow will head to Luderitz and Aus which is 380 km away.