Dag 5: Uitspan op die Hollandse werf

(English translation below)
 
Dag vyf. Eenduisend vyfhonderd kilometer van die huis af. Tyd om af te saal en uit te span sodat ons siele ons lywe kan inhaal voordat ons verder Noord beweeg. Vriende van De Witt, en hulle honde, het ons met ope arms ontvang - en die honde het ons gewys hoe om behóórlik te ontspan.
 
Die dag het begin met media-onderhoude. Eers regstreeks met RSG en daarna met die Namibiese koerant, Die Republikein. Dit voel vreemd om mens se naam oor die radio te hoor en in die koerante te sien. Waarom die ophef? Is dit die water-projek? Die mid-life avontuur? Of is die grootsheid van 'n motorfiets-tog deur Afrika werklik van só 'n aard dat dit hierdie tipe media-aandag regverdig?
 
Dié gedagte maak ons effens benoud en ons gebruik ons rus-dag om ons motorfietse te versorg. Ons maak kettings skoon en wend smeermiddel aan en maak seker alle boute en skroefies is mooi vas. Ons blaas die bande bietjie af. Ek verstel my motorfiets se rat-hefboom se hoogte met twee millimeter af, dan weer op, dan weer af. Die onbekende wink en ons harte begin vinniger klop.
 
Gelukkig kon ons toe modderpad-bande opspoor in Luanda! De Witt se neef het 'n oud-kollega in Luanda wie se man die hoof van die plaaslike motorfietsklub in Luanda is.
 
Môre ry ons Noord. Al nader aan die Angolese grens.
 
Namibië is 'n skoon, veilige, Afrikaanse plek. Maar dis hard. En dit kan eensaam raak.


​Day 5: Taking a breather
 
Day five. One thousand five hundred kilometers from home. Time to de-saddle and stretch out so our souls can catch up with our bodies before we move further North. Friends of De Witt, and their dogs, welcomed us with open arms. The dogs showed us how to properly relax.
 
The day started with media interviews. First directly with RSG and then with the Namibian newspaper, Die Republikein. It feels strange to hear one's name on the radio and see it in the newspapers. Why the fuss? Is it the water project? The mid-life adventure? Or is the immensity of a motorcycle tour through Africa really of such a nature that it justifies this type of media attention?
 
This thought made us a little anxious and we used our rest day to take care of our motorcycles. We cleaned and lubricated the chains and made sure all bolts and screws were tight. We deflated the tires a bit. I adjusted my motorcycle's gear lever height by two millimeters down, then up again, then down again. The unknown beckoned and our hearts began to beat faster.
 
Fortunately, we were able to locate off-road tires in Luanda! De Witt's cousin has an ex-colleague in Luanda whose husband is the head of the local motorcycle club!
 
Tomorrow we will drive North. Getting closer to the Angolan border.
 
Namibia is a clean, safe, Afrikaans place. But it is hard. And can get lonely.

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/expedition-h2o-back-to-basics