Hobas to Ai Ai’s

There we 3 zebras nibbling on the grass behind our camp site this morning - they were not so happy to see us seeing them and buggered off before I could grab my phone.

Last night we took a short ride, most of us in the truck, some on bikes, to a sunset lookout over Fish River canyon. 

Interesting formation - there was a tectonic plate shift then volcanic activity, then finally the water over time eroded away hard rock. The result is a winding double level canyon. Fairly monochrome yet dramatic.

Probably better viewed at sunrise to see more detail at the bottom. 

The most amusing thing is the lock on the restrooms at the lookout. They are gated and padlocked with big posters in about 8 languages posted outside saying the combo is 1234 and to please lock the gate behind you so the baboons don’t get in.

Today we rode 70 km beside the canyon down to bottom to the Ai Ai’s (literally “hot hot”) where there are hot springs at the camp site. Can’t imagine soaking in hot water in the sun at 40C! …but maybe tonight when it cools off.

The start of the ride was a bit shakey as me+hills+headwinds first thing in the morning is not a good mix. I persevered and was rewarded with fabulous scenery and a nice long descent to camp. 

I upgraded  to a room in the hotel at the campsite in the hopes of getting a better nights sleep. My room had a vestigial bathroom in the middle. It was a 7x9 room with plumbing stubs, a shower pan, and a window into the bed area (window had a curtain,) a window into the hall, a light switch and one operating tap about 4’ off the floor. Right beside it was a standard 5x8 functioning bathroom. Must have built an addition and didn’t know what to do with the original one. Also, they only have hot water here - made showering a bit challenging!

In the end I was stiff in the morning - more so than in the tent.

More baboon warnings: (Sue and Duncan had their tents broken into by the little buggers!)