Let's mix it up and fill in some experience gaps: RTW 2015

[TheRealTMA]

Gaah! Now I'm being harassed by some NB (or is it the dizzy heights of PS :shock:) with a totally unimaginative handle :mrgreen:.

Can't cope with the popularity and fame eh, JohnM?

 

[RooFlyer]

Great TR, maybe on next yrs OTW your brother could go too,I'll drive you navigate.
Oh,& pretty good photos, particularly for someone who hasn't seemed to have shown much pastinterest in photography.

Welcome to AFF RossM. This could prove interesting .

 

[JohnM]

OK, today I hit the road to drive from Windhoek to Swakopmund on the coast, pretty much due W. Headed out on the bitumen to start but then took a dirt-road deviation to go through the famed Welwitschia plains and the 'moon landscape'.

Welwitschias are very ancient, long-lived plants that 'harvest' water from fog on bizarre dishevilled leaves in a very hostile environment. The moon landscape is as the name suggests.

Swakopmund maintains a strong German heritage from when Namibia was originally a German colony. It's very touristy, with lots of Germans still coming here.

It's Friday night, so hard to get a reservation in a restaurant. My hotel folk are very helpful, but all they can get tonight is 6pm shock in what turns out to be a sort of pub restaurant. Digging deeper, it seems that this place, true to its Teutonic heritage, takes 'sets' of reservations at 6pm and 8pm - ie. they are working on two covers/table for the night. I suspect they refused to take a single booking at 8pm - but they are not to know that my spend is actually greater than the average tourist couple who have dinner and a couple of beers... C'est la vie.

Anyway, it turns out to be OK. Nice bottle os S African SB with excellent, extremely plump, Atlantic oysters and a monster fillet of grilled (or was it really pan-fried) fish, good chips, and with a Germanic take on a Greek salad (lots of mayonnaise and cheese).

Right, that's the preamble. Now I'm going to bomb you with a heap of pics via the app from my phone.

 

[TheRealTMA]

It's Friday night, so hard to get a reservation in a restaurant. My hotel folk are very helpful, but all they can get tonight is 6pm shock in what turns out to be a sort of pub restaurant. Digging deeper, it seems that this place, true to its Teutonic heritage, takes 'sets' of reservations at 6pm and 8pm - ie. they are working on two covers/table for the night. I suspect they refused to take a single booking at 8pm - but they are not to know that my spend is actually greater than the average tourist couple who have dinner and a couple of beers... C'est la vie.

When travelling not a bad idea to book for two then say partner couldn't make it. Also means you don't get the table near the toilets!

 

[JohnM]

Interesting conical-shaped termite mounds and the ubiquitous weaver-bird nests.







Interesting fence construction.

 

[JohnM]

Neat and tidy little rest stops at frequent intervals.



Road ahead.



But what am I doing on this 120kph speed limit bitumen?



Periodic gates to open - and close of course.



Stop for lunch under a shady tree.

 

[JohnM]

Some splashes of colour in the plants.



And the typical thorny acacias of Africa (and S America).



And the termites are into anything containing cellulose. (The biomass of termites/ha will easily exceed the above-ground animal biomass/ha.)





Interesting palm-like plant.

 

[JohnM]

Some geology for RF to interpret (I'll handle the biology .)



They were mining marble in this little range.

 

[JohnM]

Now what's this?



My first Welwitschia sighting!

 

[JohnM]

Dang! My internet access or AFF has come to a virtual standstill. The app won't load, despite a re-boot of my phone. Early Saturday morning in Aus - maybe maintenance is going on?

I'll have to continue today's pics later.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Gaah! Now I'm being harassed by some NB (or is it the dizzy heights of PS :shock:) with a totally unimaginative handle :mrgreen:.

Oh no.. Not another one!! Might have to be more specific with my MrM references...

 

[amaroo]

Up to Cerro de Monserrate (3200m) this morning on the funicular for the classic view of Bogota. There is also a cable car but that was not operating today.

Found this in my in-box this morning Things to Do in Bogota

Nearly as comprehensive as your excellent TR

 

[JohnM]

App back in action. To continue from where I was so rudely interrupted last night.

The mother of all Welwitschias.







They are quite abundant in patches.



Some ostriches strolling about.

 

[JohnM]

Some very healthy looking acacias in the (dry) Swakop river bed.





Interesting geological patterns.



Moon landscape. Note to self: don't miss reverse...

 

[JohnM]

Getting close to the coast with a fog bank W coast US-style.



A few random pics of Swakopmund.

 

[JohnM]

Excellent oysters, a very good SB and a large piece of fish - with a very large pot of 'lemon butter' sauce. Plain lemon juice worked just fine...

 

[JohnM]

A few more random pics of Swakopmund early Saturday. About to head along the Skeleton Coast for the day.

 

[love_the_life]

Not looking an overly busy place, though maybe you were taking the photos very very early.

Don't like SB much but the food looks delish.

 

[TomVexille]

Yum

 

[TraceyK90]

aw I know this place. Loved hanging out at the Mole on a weekend afternoon drinking G&Ts and muscle pots at The Lighthouse.