On a scale from one to ten — one being a pessimist and ten being an optimist — I’d probably rate an even five, which makes me a realist. I suppose you could say I typically hope for the best, expect the worst, and often get what’s in between. Happy go-lucky? Definitely not. Total cynic? Eh, not quite. Mixed bag? Now we’re talking.
While driving, we both seemed to think we could get from one location to the next in record time. Pull out the map, discuss the route, and assume we’d make it by sundown. That was never the case, yet our attitude and approach remained the same — don’t ask me why. It was a good thing we never made reservations, because my punctual ways have definitely seen better days.
We had our sights set on Sesriem, situated on the edge of the Namib desert, just a few hundred kilometers away. The distance seemed doable, but who were we kidding? We drove down dusty roads for hours on end, before getting into a rather sticky situation. Our little Spark was no match for the soft, water-soaked sand, and became lodged while passing through a washed out portion. On all fours, we attempted to dig our way out. Yeah… that worked well — real well. So well, that I soon found myself trotting across a game farm in search of assistance. Not smart, I know. Not smart at all. It wasn’t until I lost sight of Rich that I started to get antsy, wondering what kind of “game” might be lurking ahead. I pictured myself getting trampled by a rhino or eaten by a lion. Sometimes my imagination gets the best of me… probably more often than not.
The owners of the farm were happy to help. A little tug-of-war, a snapped rope, and presto — we’re out! We proceeded with care, making sure not to repeat the same mistake twice. They did tell us that if we ran into problems, a relative lived up the road and could come to our rescue. A little peace of mind goes a long way…
With Sesriem out of reach, we considered other options. Our first choice was Tsauchab River Camp located near the Naukluft Mountains, but getting there meant navigating an even sketchier road than we were currently on. We hummed. We hawed. We mulled. We eventually decided to suck it up and give it a shot. Worst case scenario, we’d spend a night on the side of the road. After all, we’ve done worse at this point. Far worse.
All paid off in the end. The setting was as perfect as a postcard and hosts, warm and welcoming. Part of me wished to stay, but Sesriem and Sossusvlei were calling our names. We had sunrises to watch and sand dunes to climb. Oh me, oh my.
