And meanwhile......

 We four drove though our first long dirt road and pass from Windhoek, getting to Swakopmund just as the sun dipped down, a phew bit of driving as we did not want to be driving desert roads in the dark. Then next day we headed up the wonderfully titled Skeleton Coast road to get to the even more romantically titled Mile 108 Camp Site.

For Lindsay and I a return after fifteen years absence, and it hadn't changed a bit, the same desolate remoteness, relentless wind off the Atlantic, and long drop toilets. We wished we could say we hadn't changed a bit too.  We set up camp the four of us, and prepared a welcome for the rest of the team heading our way. Re united, a camp fire lit, and warm clothes on, the Atlantic and wind make for cold nights, we celebrated as you do.

Friday saw us all united, four meaty 4x4's cruising up the dirt road, ever deeper into the Namib. The wind  remained strong, gusting sand in clouds across the track, a good impression of sand blasting for all the vehicles. And first blow out to Pru and Keith, a spectacular shredding of a rear tyre, followed by a Team Tyre Change, all accomplished with the aplomb of seasoned desert hands. The drive to where we are now, at Palmwag was quite marvellous, arid red, yellow and ochre rock and the dark stretching of the endless desert. Not a welcoming environment to try and live, but people do.

Now, on Saturday, we are encamped at this lovely little oasis, washing out sand from every crevice of ourselves and the vehicles, and readying the next leg. Game drives have been done.