One of the Best Days Yet! Shipwrecks, Flamingoes, Giant Dunes, & more!

Ever have one of those days where everything goes well and it all clicks?

   Well, today was one of those days for us on our round the world trip, one of the best days yet.  It wasn't the most spectacular, although it was certainly very interesting.  But when you have an active day and hit on all cylinders, it's a lot of fun!

   Started out with a good run and a good breakfast here in Swakopmund Namibia, on the Atlantic Coast.  Nothing better than a good hotel breakfast to send you on your travels.

Traveled up the coast for about 50 miles, looking for Shipwrecks!

   We found one after 30 miles.  Let me put this in perspective - this south western coast of Africa has been treacherous for sailing for hundreds of years.  Until the passage was found around the Cape of Good Hope on the very southern tip, there were constant shipwrecks on the coast of what is modern day Namibia.  

   A lot of shipwrecks, like a thousand.  It is so bad that the northern coast of Namibia is known as the Skeleton Coast. The waters are still dangerous even in current times.  We weren't that far north, but there are shipwrecks all over.  

   Nothing enhances travel like a good shipwreck.  You are just driving along the seashore and bingo, there lies the wreckage of the Zweila.

From there we made our way to the town of Henties Bay

   Okay, it's not nice to travel somewhere and make fun of it because it's bad, but sometimes you can't help it ... consider the following example. 

   Henties Bay is a large fishing village, right on the water, frankly not much to see, but we wanted to find out for ourselves.  We did get to see a shipwreck on the way there.  But the funny thing was they had a "golf course" that was rather hilarious.  Fiona and I had a good laugh and we had to take a picture.  

   It was basically a bunch of sand, with a patch of green here and there. The whole thing was a great big sand trap, and your challenge is to hit from one tiny green patch to another.  Pretty much the opposite of a regular golf course.  The whole thing was pathetic, worst excuse for a golf course I have ever seen!  HAHAHA

From Henties Bay south to Walvis Bay, along the shore  

   Walvis Bay is a pretty good sized town, and the journey there along the ocean is really scenic, with huge sand dunes on one side and the beach with crashing breakers on the other.  It was a fairly long drive but again, the sun was out and it was a perfect day.  

   There is a lot to see in Walvis Bay, and we had a good look around.  We had heard about the Waterfront, and the Lagoon.  We were working without maps, which are hard to come by around here, and the maps don't work on our phones.  

   And then came one of the biggest surprise bonus moments of our trip - we came around a corner at the Lagoon and saw an astounding scene - thousands of Flamingoes in the bay!  Spectacular vista, pictures don't do it justice, and they were pink!      They flew around and were feeding at the sea shore. They stretched out as far as the eye could see.  Amazing! What a magnificent time.  

You Think Climbing a Giant Dune is Easy? 

   On our way back we took the road through the sand dunes.  This is a signature element of the Namibia landscape, lots of sand dunes here, and it didn't disappoint.  We were on a back road, almost by ourselves, when we saw a turnout and some people.  Some of them were climbing a giant dune hill.  From where we were, hey looked like ants.

   So we pulled in and I couldn't resist.  I had to climb this thing.  Fiona passed on the wonderful opportunity to climb this big steep sand dune in the afternoon heat.  She decided to stay below and take some pictures. 

   So I started up and found out quickly that climbing fine sand is not easy.  Every step up (and it was steep) resulted in slipping back a bit and sinking in the sand.  My original intent was to go maybe  halfway up, but well, you know, once I started I just kept going.

   I finally made it to the top, rather exhausted to be honest.  It was pretty high up.  Fiona snapped a picture, but I look like an ant too.  That's me on the left with my arms lifted up in triumph!

   Once I got to the top, Wow, the view was incredible, you could see the valley on the other side far below.  It was also really windy and just as steep on the other side of the ridge.  If you slipped you would tumble all the way down to the bottom. 

  I was a little bit nervous.  But it was quicker and easier to get down!

The Perfect end to a successful day ...

   So we made our way back to the town where our hotel is, and decided to have some light dinner and a glass of wine down by the jetty and the beach and watch the sunset. 

Nailed that one too!  Wow!  Fun times!

Absolutely a wonderful day.