Items tagged with Namibia
2009-11-08 22:00:00
Written By: Billy van Graan
Took Yuki this morning to a bike shop to get him fitted with a new set of tyres and to get his oil changed. I organized with the owner of the shop long before to have the tyres for me when I arrived. The only problem was the size was thinner than the previous tyre I had at the back. The front he had was identical.
He phoned his supplier to see if he can get the same size but the didn't have so we got the thinner tyre fitted. They changed the oil and also cleaned and re-lubed the chain. They were very nice guys and took special care with what they where doing with Yuki.
The owner of the shop confirmed that my bike has no catalyst and leaded petrol should work fine on the bike. Alexi came back to me and told me when they put anything in their Vstrom on their way down through Africa from Russia and had no problems. So that settles that issue. Hopefully.
After the work on Yuki was done we tackled the very straight 300km stretch to Rundu. Once we got in Rundu we stopped at an internet cafe I knew existed from last year when me and Jesse went through Rundu. The internet cafe used prepaid vouchers to top up there internet. The problem was that they never turned off their automatic updates and you only get 8MB for R10 (yup they also get screwed like South Africans by their telecommunications companies). 3x R10 vouchers where quickly finished and the internet stopped working before I could even get a second day's update done. 
I needed to contact our host in Rundu to let him know we were coming, but for some reason I couldn't phone with my cellphone. I walked a across the street to find a pay phone. The coin phone was out of order. I went into the shop to buy a card for the card phone. Then when I tried it the buttons didn't work. WIth the internet included I just spent R50 and got pretty much nothing for it. Obviously I was just a little bit upset.
This made me realize. I need to think differently on this trip. This if Africa. You need to think like this: Expect things NOT to work. That way you won't be disappointed when they - like most of the time - don't, and if they do you will be pleasantly surprised.
2009-11-02 22:00:00 Today was the first really hot day and I guess this is only the start. When we stop for a break or to put in petrol I wet my shirt and it really helps to cool me down once I start driving again.
Written By: Billy van Graan
It is amazing how the landscape changes as soon as you cross the border into Namibia. We rode on a very straight road for a long time after the border and Claudine couldn't stay awake. Her head was bumping against mine as she fell asleep then woke then fell asleep again. I watched her for a long time laughing. I think the heat is to blame because I was also getting a bit sleepy.
We are staying with some people from CouchSurfing.com in Keetmanshoop township. They are Americans with the Peace Corps and have been living and working here in the township for 2 years in a Youth Center.
2009-11-09 22:00:00 The previous night we spent with our couchsurfing hosts in Rundu, Ben and Kerry. They are also part of the Peace Corps from the USA, and know Rashid and Jen from Keetmanshoop. Ben is a man of many talents, the first one is that he is a great chef and he proved this by cooking us a delicious chicken curry. He is also a musician and played us some songs he recorded with only his laptop, a guitar, some cymbals and his voice. It was impressively good music, so if you ever in the future hear a song from Ben Selgrin over the radio - we know him!
Written By: Billy van Graan
We left quite early in the morning, but nevertheless, the 500km ride to Katima took us a long time and we only arrived there at 16:30. It was interesting to see how the landscape keeps changing, from semi desert and dusty, dry roads, to typical savannah and bushveld and now even greener with more trees. We passed through the Kaprivi wild reserve and were very hopeful to see some elephants, because everyone had told us there are plenty in that region. Warning signs along the road also told us this, but we were unlucky and only saw a herd of buffalo.
The road was long, hot and humid and the heat was only broken in the afternoon by a nice rain shower. We were really happy with the campsite at Katima, it was well kept, with green grass everywhere and we could pitch our tent right next to the Zambezi river. 
2009-11-04 22:00:00 Total Distance: 3853
Written By: Billy van Graan
Rode from Keetmanshoop yesterday to Windhoek where we are staying with my cousin. When we left Keetmans I thought we had enough petrol to make it to the next petrol station and we indeed did. The only problem was that it closed down so we continued to the next town. The empty started flickering with 70km to go so I slowed down to 90km/h. We made the petrol station but just. I think it is a good think it happened now so that I know the distance it can go on a single tank.
We passed a sign for The Tropic of Capricorn and pulled off for some photos. While taking them the wind blew my camera of the rock it was balanced on and the camera fell with the lens in the sand and because of this the lens cover didn't want to open or close anymore. I then started up the MP3 player which kept stoning because we had unsupported file types on it. I tried resetting it by pressing the tiny reset button with a piece of straw and it broke of inside the unit. I got on the bike and left as quick as possible before breaking anything else.
When we arrived in Windhoek we went for dinner at my aunt.
My bike says "Unleaded Fuel Only" on the tank but I read on the internet people running on leaded fuel without a problem. I went to Suzuki Windhoek today and asked them about this and they say it is fine I can run leaded fuel without any modifications to the bike like removing the catalyst. Not convinced I phoned around Suzuki shops in South Africa. The first guy said I needed to make a change to the bike but gave me the main technician phone number of Suzuki South Africa. I phoned him and he said nothing needs to be changed. Just to make even more sure I phoned the guys that serviced the bike the last time and they also said no changes is needed. I mailed Alexi who stayed with me last year about this because the guy who rode with him was on the same bike.
Tomorrow we will head to Spitzkoppe for 2 nights and then on to Grootfontein where I will get the tyres and oil changed.
Packing space is becoming a problem so I rearranged everything to see if I can't figure something out and while I was doing this I noticed Claudine has seven shirts packed in. Very soon we will have some happy locals.
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