2019/07/27 - Windhoek to Hentiesbaai, Skeleton Coast and Windpomp 14
Distance: 680km
Moving Time: 7 hours, 24 minutes.
Stopped Time: 3 hours, 3 minutes.

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My five days of work were chaos. Apart from having to get a lot done in a relatively short space of time, my laptop had also died on me on the Wednesday (I think), requiring me to buy a new one and spend a whole sleepless night getting it up to spec so that my project went on.
I'd originally planned on heading up to the Skeleton Coast, but I'd not been able to get away on leaving earlier on the Friday and it is a hell of a long drive... I was weighing the pros and cons of skipping this, but decided on the Friday evening I'd do it in any case. Early Saturday morning, I filled up the truck in Windhoek, and hit the road.
Headed North up the B1, and then turned West on the B2 at Okahandja, through Karibib until Usakos. At Usakos I refuelled again. Not that it was necessary - I guess I would have made Henties - but I just like to refuel when I can. From Usakos, I continued on the B2 for about 20km before I turned off on to the dirt D1918 road towards Henties. The first 20-odd kilometres of this road (ie: up until the D1925 turns off) are very badly corrugated. The only reasons I could potentially think for this is the particularly heavy tourist traffic heading towards Spitskuppe with softroaders and overly inflated tyres. After the D1925 turns off, the road is remarkably better. However, it still has it's moments. And there are several random bends in the road which could possible be problematic if one takes it too fast.
Shortly after reaching crossing into the Dorob National Park, I was stopped by a lone adventure biker who just wanted to enquire what the road conditions were on the way back to Usakos. I sort of felt a little better after that. I was heading out into the great f-all on my own, but there was somebody on the planet at least that was madder than me...
Anyways, eyes are "bedrieglik" - at some point I thought I could see the see ahead, only to realise shortly thereafter that it was the sea fog.... Entered a foggy Hentiesbaai, found a service station and refuelled. I then located the local Spar, found it to be well-stocked, and stocked up on several items I needed for the evening and the next day. Including more beer...
After that, I turned North on the salt road (the C34 and headed towards the Ugab gate of the Skeleton Coast National park.
Salt road driving is different. I had not deflated tyres, and I was running in 2H. The mist meant that the road was a little slippery, but it was a pleasure to drive. I was going slowly in any case. Headed up North, and turned into at Cape Cross to see the seal colony there... Very nice - lots of seals - but the place has a bit of a smell to it...
After seeing the seals, I continued my journey up North. Passed several lichen fields in the dunes next to the road. A bit disappointing actually. Although several areas of lichens have been fenced off to prevent people from driving over them, large expanses of unfenced fields have random tyre tracks running through them. Damage which, from what I've read, will take several hundred years to fix itself.
Passed St Nowhere and eventually got to the Ugab Gate. Paid entry, drove a few kilometres into the park. Ultimately, I wanted to get a little further in to the SCNP, but I was running out of time. So I exited again at the Ugab gate, and started making my way South.
Stopped to look at a hill next to the road some place shortly North of St Nowhere, and spotted what I guess was Brown Hyena spoor. No idea, I did not see the animal that made it. But it was biggish and dog-like. So I guess it could be.
I stopped to have a beer at the iconic Skubbe Bar in Henties on the way. They have a bay to wash the salt off your car and I was strongly contemplating doing so. However, to my regret I decided against it as I still had quite a lot of salt roads to do. Woe is me. The salt road mud that builds up in your wheel arches sets like concrete after it has dried. So for those folk wanting to head up there one day, wash it off often...
Drove South towards Swakop and eventually checked in at Windpomp 14.
Windpomp 14 is the old Mile 14. Apparently it used to be very run down and similar, but it is now under private ownership and it is fantastic. There is a pub / restaurant, and a fairly large number of camp sites - each with their own private ablutions. Camp sites cost R230 for a sea view or R200 for one further back. The camp was empty, apart from one other group quite a way away, so I opted for a sea view camp site. Built camp, made a fire. Had several beers. Braaied and went to bed.

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