where's the tar?

The N7 is the only tarred road in the Namaqua region. If a town isn't situated on the N7 then it's only accessible by dirt road. A mountainous, sandy, lonely dirt road. Where is the infrastructure? Anyway, on Sunday we decided to make the long journey to the bright lights of Sprinbok to buy groceries. On our way back, we decided to check out the coast. So, off we set to Hondeklipbaai, map in hand but...80km of dirt road had the upper hand. 

The landscape

An old prison in the middle of nowhere. Poor bastards.

We drove through difficult mountain passes and with every decent, hoped to see the sea. the hills just seemed to carry on forever.We even saw a "historical" prison (according to the sign) which was very far from any kind of civilization. Who would be that cruel. Robben Island has nothing on this place! Eventually we reached flat plains that too seamed to stretch unrelentingly. We passed diamond mine after diamond mine. At last we saw a sliver of azure blue that separated the the arid landscape from the sky. Water! 

Hondeklipbaai used to be a flourishing fishing village once upon a time but now has no industry. Yet, people live there! It is virtually inaccessible unless you drive an off road vehicle. Those who live there were born there and will most likely die there without ever leaving or seeing a tarred road.

Hondeklipbaai

We weren't the only tourists!

It's a very cute place, I must admit. I'll be going there quiet often because its one of the sites that i have to consult in. it's going to be me, my thoughts and my government Nissan Hardbody. Yeah baby!

So we're in Garies after all

After a long 1700km drive, sheena and I arrived in Garries. As we came over a hill we were greeted by the sight of scatterd houses and dry orange earth. The Groenrevier that we had seen on a map that flowed passed the town was a tortuous wrinkle in the ground that hadn't known water in years. "happy thoughts. happy thoughts".

below: the car we bought for our new adventure. Note the lush greenery of our previous habitat.

 Above: Garies from the N7. It looks bigger than it is. Less than 2000 inhabitants.
Below: celebrating the end of our journey, new beginnings and of course, the new year. We were passes out by 10pm!

 Below: Sheena braaing us some food for supper.

We drove through the main road which was quiet, despite it being new years eve and then saw the hospital ahead. my heart skipped a beat as I saw the pretty little hospital with grey walls. We were pleasantly surprised. we we're soon shown to our flat which too was comfortable and pretty (an oasis.) I have never experienced heat like this! Baking, dry, soaring heat. I even saw a vulture circling while unpacking the car. Our flat fortunately has an aircon in each room.

We then met the sister-in-charge who was awesome and didn't even pull her face when she found out that Sheena and i are a couple. The people we have met so far are absolutely lovely and speak Afrikaans with a beautiful accent. I think it's going to be an awesome year!