And so to my last start on this wonderful journey. There have been very many highs and yet so few lows over the past number of weeks, but now it is time for one last surge to make it safely down to Capetown.
I felt a bit nostalgic/sentimental as I got ready to start out. Apart from me and Simba, this journey has also been about those back home who have been supportive from the outset. Ruth has known me for the best part of forty years and has always, from day one, supported my often different endeavours. She has lived with and gotten used to the worry/concern about that phone call – whether from Africa, The Himalayas, the Red Sea or even the Highlands of Scotland. I can’t put into words how much that this support has meant to me at every level. I couldn’t have done it otherwise.
My wonderful, beautiful daughter (now wonderful, beautiful mother of my wonderful, beautiful granddaughter, Kaylee) Kerrie, on the other hand has in some ways had it a bit more difficult. In the depths of my soul I know that she has concern for my safety, and, even though she has shared many trips with me, her view is now probably, and naturally, persuaded by the arrival of her aforementioned wonderful, beautiful daughter, Kaylee. There have been times on this trip when I have felt Kerrie touch my shoulder and point at the speedometer as she would have done in the past, and, believe it or not, I have slowed down.
Ruth and Kerrie, you are both integral and loving parts of this life I lead, but before long it might be Kaylee’s turn to ride pillion to whatever exotic destination she casts her eye at. Eoin, please support me on this one 😉
I have already bought these for her.
Anyway, back to today’s ride, and I said goodbyes to my lovely hosts at The Olive Tree Guesthouse in Springbok before hitting the road. They had been to Ireland recently to watch their son represent South Africa in the World Karate Championships in Limerick but they never left the place for three wet days. What a shame that this was their view of Ireland.
So off on the road and I was feeling a bit excited about getting to Capetown. They told me that there would be no speed traps for the first half of the day but that was belied by the patrol car hiding under a tree outside the town.
As I was by now almost used to, this part of Northern Cape was stunning. The further south I got, the greener it became but gradually the traffic started to build up. The landscape turned to wine farms before evolving into fields of grain.
I stopped at my last refuel and hadn’t got a clue what was happening when the attendant put a splash bib on Simba to protect the tank.
This stretch of road is known as the Cape Namibia Route and, not having been here before, it is quite spectacular.
The weather was cool but I wasn’t bothered as I was only focused on getting to the comfort of The Vineyard Hotel.
The last couple of hundred kilometres slipped by until I thought I could see Table Mountain. What a bummer after traveling all this distance that it was covered in cloud.
I made my way the last few kilometres until I arrived at The Vineyard, the same hotel I started out from two years previously.
You can tell from that smile on my face that I was happy. A great feeling of accomplishment, achievement and satisfaction.
…. and just to round off the day, wine, champagne, and nice notes from the hotel and my good friend, Dave Cornick……
p.s. my mother had a thing about bird feathers and when I parked Simba in the car park, lo and behold a bird feather on the ground – perhaps she has been watching over me all this time.
hmmmm….
ZIGZAGGING AFRICA BY MOTORBIKE 