Wind country

Good morning Namibia! The riders enjoyed an extra half hour sleep in (due to the time difference between here and Botswana), two birthday boys (Adrie and Chris…race leaders), some overcast skies and a cranking headwind…yes, it’s official that due to Global Warming tailwinds in Africa have ceased to exist. Andy Cameron managed a sneaky breakaway with about 8km to go to surprise both Chris and Adrie and the rest of racing pack and went on to another stage win. Eva, ever so strong, came home to win the women’s stage and remains extremely competitive against the men. While it was slow going till lunch, there was a reprieve about 30km afterwards with the race going through the town of Gobabis, a lively, loud and busy little place that provided tired riders with the essentials (grocery shops and a bureau de change and somewhere to hide from the headwind). While others sheltered from the wind and tried to forget what lay ahead, some of the braver ones headed off on their own and battled a fierce headwind that was well and truly “ripping” over flat terrain (the bushes are quite low to the ground here). They limped into camp in the wee hours of the afternoon, tired and windblown. For once, everyone has had to peg down their tents tonight. Freshly washed clothes have been seen flying off into the distance. Everyone is looking forward to cheap drinks in tonight’s bar. We are staying in the grounds of a B&B in the little town of Witvlie and enjoying a good nights sleep in lieu of the wind at present. Tomorrow, we ride into Windhoek and are looking forward to 2 days of rest and play.