Day 64 - Springbok/Namaqualand

Hectic wind throughout last night Nakkie told us was apparently very welcome, as it brings big rain! Overnight the wind pumped up the tents on both sides of the caravan, like a miniature 'Blimp'! Strong enough to move the caravan off the wooden blocks under the jockey wheel and dislodge Ted's reinforcing pegs!

So hot and dry, you can feel that in just a few days those 10cm high little Wheat leaves will shrivel and the parched soil/sand will start to crack and blow away! As Merwe says "Whatever happens here is not in his hands, they can only hope and pray everyday and night, and do whatever he needs to do, every day to ensure their prayers are answered".

On our way back from the Eagles yesterday, we came across a Marino that had succumbed, probably not this week or even last month. The smell of skin, bones and wool still lingered, way after the event. A gentle reminder that 'shit happens and the struggle is real' out here in the Badland's!!!

After farewells, we left Gannabos and headed toward Nieuwoudville=> Vanrhynsdorp=> Garies=> Kamieskroon to Springbok via two more passes, Vanrhyns and Burke's Pass.

How the hell do people survive out here, small little homesteads every 10km or so? Not an animal to be seen, dead or alive? Rusted, crippled windmills, motionless, long ago stopped filling crumbling reservoirs.

Surely a conducive political empathy, serving helpless people should be more important than squabbling imbesiles, promoting their own pathetic little agendas. In comparison to the population density in other provinces, this Northern Cape has more, incapacity and neglect and only promoting the ANC criminals and rapists, masquerading in their BMW's, Porches and Merc's, than any other? These cars in the semi-desert 'Namaqua'... Huh? Posh suits, when all the time there are 'all people' battling in ‘Overalls’ against severe odds, their own elected leaders, weather conditions and the Rand/Dollar Exchange. The escalating Food and Seed Prices, Fuel, Wages and Fodder. Not to mention decreasing Wool prices, internationally!

The sad reality of living in this harsh world, is real and so wonderful to feel the spirit of optimism as apposed to the resignation of fate! Men and women working, hard under tough conditions and overcoming!

Arriving in Springbok at last, all the way against the wind, took the whole morning. We checked into the Springbok Caravan Park (empty), not surprisingly though, the frontman resembled a cross-fertilization of Frankenfurter and Riff Raff! Having pitched a 'one-night-stand' campsite, off to town for replenishment. Whilst there, we took in a local restaurant and ate well. Not to mention that it is situated over the road from the mortuary 😱 True story!!!

Taking the liberty of 220v and speedy WiFi for the first time in 5 days, we spent good time catching up on 'Find Penguins', now several days behind. A Dom Pedro took the edge off this world's problems!

The wind continued to batter, long after our trip between Gannabos and Springbok ended, around 14:00ish. My little 'Franken-Riff-Raff’ advised that this Westerly wind, would bring much needed rain to the 'Badlands' of Namaqualand…. and so it did!

Good night and...
Love, Peace and Light,
M&K
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