In Wadi Halfa aangekom

Vrydag / Friday

Saterdag / Saturday

Donderdag tot Saterdag

Ek is in Wadi Halfa. Ek is klaar met die woestyn!

Vandag ses weke terug het ek begin ry. Ses weke later met die Here se genade kan ek ook nou die Nubiese woestyn agter my sit.

Vir die eerste keer voel ek soos ‘n overlander.

My respek en agting vir die Kawasaki KLR het net verder gestyg. Sonder ophou het die fiets in eerste en tweede rat, in bloedige hitte, net een pad geken, en dis vorentoe. In situasies waar ek die fiets nie meer kon vorentoe en agtertoe beweeg het nie, het die fiets in eerste rat met brute krag hom uit die sand gehaal. Nie een keer het die fiets oorverhit nie.

Ek gaan in die volgende dae meer in detail skryf, vanaand is ek ‘n bietjie moeg. Hier is net ‘n klein opsomming.

Donderdag: Drie-uur die oggend uit Khartoem vertrek. Dit was ‘n bevryding. Omtrent 13:00 was ek by Dongola en het die Nyl met die ferry oorgesteek. Die Nubiese dorpies (of klein oases) was pragtig. Ek slaap die aand by ‘n kleinboer onder datelpalms. Hulle dra tot ‘n bed vir my uit om langs my fiets te slaap, as ek sou wou.

Vrydag: Die diep sandgedeeltes laat my vrees in my mond proe. Ek ontmoet die eerste keer in ses weke ander overlanders, ‘n Britse paartjie wat uit die noorde kom. Hulle vertel van ‘n ander motorfietsryer op pad suide toe wat in die woestyn staan, fiets oorverhit. Ek kry die ou nie, daar is baie spore. Slaap die aand weer by ‘n oase, was myself in die Nyl, drink net rou Nylwater. Bitter bitter warm.

Saterdag: Begin vyfuur te ry. Stofstorms die hele dag. Ek sal die dag as die eensaamste dag beskryf. Met my hele dag se ry deur die woestyn slegs een voertuig gesien. ‘n Mens se kop dwing om met allerhande kleingeloof vorendag te kom. Ek ry deur die middaghitte en kom vroegaand in Wadi Halfa aan. Hier kry ek Woensdag die ferry Egipte toe. Daar is geen landtoegang tot Egipte nie, slegs met die ferry.

Met die Here se genade is die woestyn en Afrika se grootste land agter my!

My selfoon werk glad nie hier nie. Ek kan dus geen sms’e stuur of ontvang nie. Kan een van my vriende of susters net my pa laat weet ek is veilig deur?

Groete!

Thurssday to Saturday

I’ve reached Wadi Halfa! The desert is behind me.

Today six weeks ago I started my trip. Now, six weeks later, thanks to God I can put a tick behind the Nubian desert. Mission accomplished.

For the first time I feel really like an overlander.

My respect for the Kawasaki KLR increases by the day. Without missing a beat the KLR just went on and on, first gear, second gear, back to first. It was hot. There is no word to describe the heat when one stopped and took off the helmet. There were situations in the deep sand where I could not move the bike anymore, neither forward or backwards. With sheer power in first gear the KLR got it out of the sand time and again. Not a single time did it overheat.

During the course of the following days I will write more in detail. Tonight I am tired and want only water and more water.

Here is a short summary:

Thursday: I left Khartoum at three AM. I was glad to get away from the city. I reached Dongola at 13:00 and crossed the Nile there, using the ferry. The Nubian villages, real small oasis’s, were beautiful. I spent the night with a local farmer and his family under palm trees. They even carried a bed outside for me and put it next to the motorcycle.

Friday: In the deep sand stretches I could taste fear in my mouth. For the first time I met other overlanders on the road, a British couple coming south. They told me of another motorcyclist standing in the desert with an overheated bike. I tried to find him, without success. There are many tracks going all directions. Slept again at an oasis and washed myself in the Nile. Started drinking raw Nile water. It was very very hot.

Saturday: Started at five AM. Sand storms the whole day. I would describe this day as my most lonely day in the desert. I saw only one other vehicle the whole day. Riding alone under these conditions your head starts playing all different mind games. I didn’t stop over the hottest part of the day, like the previous days. I got to Wadi Halfa early evening. Here I will catch the ferry to Egypt on Wednesday. It is the only way of getting to Egypt from Sudan.

I praise the Lord for keeping me safeduring these last few days. The Nubian desert and Africa’s biggest country are behind me.

My cell phone doesn’t work here so I cannot send or receive any sms messages. I would appreciate if any of my friends or sisters could let know my father that I am ok.

Regards!