The Wife, the Ex and the kid do Namibia

metaljockey · 10-19-2009, 03:16 AM

To clarify

The Wife

The X

The Kid

The wife I’ve had for years, getting a bit long in the tooth already.
The kid, not so long.
The X, two weeks, this was going to be our introductory ride, 9000km through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.

And yes, I know it should be pronounced ‘cross’ and not ‘ex’, but ‘The Wife, the Cross and the Kid’ would make no sense, now would it?

Let’s get started.

Some orienteering, we’re over here.

This is where I meet my family, I’ve been on the X for a week already and have done 3000km following this route around South Africa.

metaljockey · 10-19-2009, 03:19 AM

Day one - Vioolsdrif to Canõn Roadhouse

The happy family, ready to go.

Vioolsdrif is on the Orange river, the Orange river is the border between South Africa and Namibia. It looks like this.

Embarrassingly the wife’s DRZ runs out of fuel as we enter the Namibian border control, and we have to lie it on the ground to get the last dregs from the non petcock side, so we can make the fuel station 2km further.

We refuel the bikes and we refuel ourselves.

My plan is a short run down the river and then an off-road ride through the Kamgab Canyon just to get the joints nice and loose. Just 187km for the day, giving some leeway for the inevitable getting away late and other first day niggles.

Next to the river on the Namibian side there are some vineyards and this is how some of the labourers live.

The road next to the river is nice fast gravel.

This is the first time I ride with Peanut (the Kid) and the luggage all together and my first impression is that it is hellova cramped. I’m having to resort to the pannier position, one testicle each side of tank.

We turn off into the canyon and it looks like it was a good choice.

Harsh country but good riding.

Namibia has a knack of making one feel small.

Tharina is styling it, looking like she knows what she is doing.

And another pic just because I like the look of the X.

Coming out of the canyon, we stop for a rest and some water.

A closer look at the stick above reveals this.

And even closer.

From here it is good gravel to Canõn Roadhouse where we get a nice campsite, and eat well in the restaurant. The first day went off well, there’s a long way to go still and starting off on the right foot is heartening.

Gadget Boy · 10-19-2009, 04:38 AM

What's better than a Metaljockey ride report? A Metaljockey family ride report

Your reports always convey the spirit of ADV riding. Thanks for taking us along. Stickied for a while

rockjohn · 10-19-2009, 05:40 AM

Hey, where's the dog. This is going to be one for the books.

Three Dawg · 10-19-2009, 06:07 AM

AARGH!!! Don't do that thing with the grasshopper again, I've just had lunch

Three Dawg

quicktoys2 · 10-19-2009, 06:28 AM

This is going to be good ...............

WaywardSon · 10-19-2009, 06:33 AM

Always enjoy your reports! Thanks for taking the time.

NB_CRF'er · 10-19-2009, 06:36 AM

Great, another classic RR from Africa!

zeroland · 10-19-2009, 07:00 AM

Nice trip... good to see the family riding along...

STOP · 10-19-2009, 08:58 AM

(little confuzed with that Ex

)

Horton · 10-19-2009, 11:10 AM

I'm in!

How is Peanuts thinking about the ride?!?

lakota · 10-19-2009, 11:37 AM

luv metaljockey ride reports

StinkyCheese · 10-19-2009, 12:22 PM

Love Africa RR's.

Dickyb · 10-19-2009, 01:13 PM

Hi Metaljockey,

Long time, no read. Glad to see you are back on the road/track/rocks, whatever. What's the story with Patch the pooch? Yours or befriended? Good looking mutt!

Cheers,

Dickyb

prometheus rising · 10-19-2009, 02:20 PM

10-19-2009, 03:16 AM	#1
metaljockey Dodgy SOB Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa Oddometer: 205	The Wife, the Ex and the Kid do Namibia To clarify The Wife The X The Kid The wife I’ve had for years, getting a bit long in the tooth already. The kid, not so long. The X, two weeks, this was going to be our introductory ride, 9000km through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. And yes, I know it should be pronounced ‘cross’ and not ‘ex’, but ‘The Wife, the Cross and the Kid’ would make no sense, now would it? Let’s get started. Some orienteering, we’re over here. This is where I meet my family, I’ve been on the X for a week already and have done 3000km following this route around South Africa. __________________ If it makes you happy, how can it be that bad? Trip reports: Transkei dual sport tripAm I the Camel Man?Goat meat, good friends & riverbedsMozmalzambots, a Southern African loopAngola, it's not like they saidNiassa, Chucky Norris and John The BaptistNamaqualand and three girls (by Michnus)*The Wife, the Ex and the Kid Last edited by metaljockey : 10-30-2009 at 11:31 AM.*

10-19-2009, 03:19 AM	#2
metaljockey Dodgy SOB Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa Oddometer: 205	Day one - Vioolsdrif to Canõn Roadhouse The happy family, ready to go. Vioolsdrif is on the Orange river, the Orange river is the border between South Africa and Namibia. It looks like this. Embarrassingly the wife’s DRZ runs out of fuel as we enter the Namibian border control, and we have to lie it on the ground to get the last dregs from the non petcock side, so we can make the fuel station 2km further. We refuel the bikes and we refuel ourselves. My plan is a short run down the river and then an off-road ride through the Kamgab Canyon just to get the joints nice and loose. Just 187km for the day, giving some leeway for the inevitable getting away late and other first day niggles. Next to the river on the Namibian side there are some vineyards and this is how some of the labourers live. The road next to the river is nice fast gravel. This is the first time I ride with Peanut (the Kid) and the luggage all together and my first impression is that it is hellova cramped. I’m having to resort to the pannier position, one testicle each side of tank. We turn off into the canyon and it looks like it was a good choice. Harsh country but good riding. Namibia has a knack of making one feel small. Tharina is styling it, looking like she knows what she is doing. And another pic just because I like the look of the X. Coming out of the canyon, we stop for a rest and some water. A closer look at the stick above reveals this. And even closer. From here it is good gravel to Canõn Roadhouse where we get a nice campsite, and eat well in the restaurant. The first day went off well, there’s a long way to go still and starting off on the right foot is heartening. __________________ If it makes you happy, how can it be that bad? Trip reports: Transkei dual sport tripAm I the Camel Man?Goat meat, good friends & riverbedsMozmalzambots, a Southern African loopAngola, it's not like they saidNiassa, Chucky Norris and John The BaptistNamaqualand and three girls (by Michnus)*The Wife, the Ex and the Kid Last edited by metaljockey : 10-30-2009 at 11:32 AM.*

10-19-2009, 04:38 AM	#3
Gadget Boy ADV Plenipotentiary Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada Oddometer: 40,790	What's better than a Metaljockey ride report? A Metaljockey family ride report Your reports always convey the spirit of ADV riding. Thanks for taking us along. Stickied for a while __________________ ADV flag, decals & patches? Here

10-19-2009, 06:28 AM	#6
quicktoys2 I want an ADV sticker Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Patras, Greece Oddometer: 169	This is going to be good ............... __________________ ------------------------------------------------ '03 Aprilia ETV1000 Caponord

10-19-2009, 06:33 AM	#7
WaywardSon Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Kentucky Oddometer: 673	Always enjoy your reports! Thanks for taking the time. __________________ R1100 RT

10-19-2009, 05:40 AM	#4
rockjohn Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: VA Oddometer: 361	Hey, where's the dog. This is going to be one for the books.

10-19-2009, 06:07 AM	#5
Three Dawg Adventurer Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Inverness, Scotland Oddometer: 92	AARGH!!! Don't do that thing with the grasshopper again, I've just had lunch Three Dawg

10-19-2009, 06:36 AM	#8
NB_CRF'er I got a job, I explore! Joined: Jan 2007 Location: NB, Canada Oddometer: 39	Great, another classic RR from Africa!

10-19-2009, 07:00 AM	#9
zeroland Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: UK Oddometer: 20	Excellent Nice trip... good to see the family riding along...

10-19-2009, 08:58 AM	#10
STOP Adventurer Joined: Sep 2009 Location: ST Croatia Oddometer: 21	(little confuzed with that Ex )

10-19-2009, 11:10 AM	#11
Horton Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Niederrhein Oddometer: 78	I'm in! How is Peanuts thinking about the ride?!? __________________ Horton dä rumtreibär

10-19-2009, 11:37 AM	#12
lakota Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 429	luv metaljockey ride reports __________________ ride reports Alaska 2009 Trail of an Assassin 11 states and 1700 miles

10-19-2009, 12:22 PM	#13
StinkyCheese Red or Green? Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Southern New Mexico Oddometer: 473	Love Africa RR's. __________________ Fide Non Timet '09 KLR650

10-19-2009, 01:13 PM	#14
Dickyb Bewildered Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Kas,Turkey Oddometer: 381	Hi Metaljockey, Long time, no read. Glad to see you are back on the road/track/rocks, whatever. What's the story with Patch the pooch? Yours or befriended? Good looking mutt! Cheers, Dickyb Last edited by Dickyb : 10-19-2009 at 01:18 PM.

10-19-2009, 02:20 PM	#15
prometheus rising Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Upstate NY Oddometer: 113

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