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Date Time Start: 2018/05/09 06:35
Date Time End: 2018/05/09 17:18
Travel Time: 10h43
Odometer Start: 85411
Odometer End: 85843
Total Distance (km): 432
Weather:
Windhoek: Clear skies at 6.5C
Swakopmund: Clear skies at 23C
Tyres - Old versus New
Photo Shoot for BMW Facebook Page with the BMW invoice in hand
Trip Summary:
Got up at 05h45 this morning to pack the tent and get to BMW Motorrad by 07h00. As usual, I arrived 20min early. The guys already had the shop open so I was the first bike in the queue. Dieter, the chief mechanic, was very helpful and allowed me to store all my panniers and tent bag in the workshop while I sat in the main sales room drinking coffee and working. He allowed me to watch and inspect as the work progressed. He had managed to get me a set of Mitas EO7. As Lynne would say, my bike was getting a full body massage, pedicure and manicure. The 2018 model of these tyres look great. A bit like a women with the finger nails "before and after".
Dinner at Tiger Reef Beach Bar
Dieter did a bike inspection and showed some items that needed attention:
1) One of two brackets that hold the crash bar was broken. It was stainless steel so he could not repair it. I decided to fix it in Swakopmund.
2) The bolt securing the rear wheel speed sensor had broken off, possibly due to a rock being kicked up by the front wheel. He put in a new bolt.
WARNING: The Namibia gravel roads will test the quality of your motor bike and all it's accessories or any other vehicle.
Broken Bracket on Crash Bar
While I was reading e-mails, etc, Adri, a BMW sales person, dropped in and chatted to me to ask where I was from and where I was going to. She asked for a photo to add to their BMW Facebook page.
She recommended that I visit the following venues for lunch/dinner. I am documenting this for my next visit "hopefully":
1) Old Wheelers
2) Joe's Beer House
A BMW customer, Merci, came in and sat down to coffee while waiting for a lift to work. I saw her looking at my boots. She smiled so I explained that they are not fashion wear. I explained what they are for and why they are build so rigid.
While drinking coffee at BMW, I noticed that one of the Proudly Meercat members, Tienie Enslin, was visiting Swakopmund. I sent him a message and he agreed to have a beer at the Tiger Reef Beach Bar this evening.
I left BMW at 12h35 and headed North to Okahandja. After about 20km the tyre pressure warning light started flashing and the front tyre pressure had dropped from 2.5 to 2.1. I turned around and headed to BMW. Dieter cut his lunch break short and detected a leak along the beading. He removed the tyre, cleaned the rim and tyre. We tested the tyre for leaks, none were found and the wheel was fitted and by 14h00 I was on the road again. I had travelled about 60km and the front tyre pressure warning appeared again. I decided that I would pump the tyre at each town I went through and dash on to the next town before the pressure dropped too much.
I got to the camp site by 17h18 which gave me enough time to pitch the tent before going to Tiger Reef for drinks with Tienie. We discussed biking matters and enjoyed a couple of beers before heading back to our respective accommodation (me camping and Tienie at Backpackers).
When I got back to camp the manager said that the municipal water mains had been cut off to this section of town so there was no water = no showering tonight.
Evening Drinks at Tiger Beach Bar
Accommodation: Camping
Alte Brucke Holiday Resort is a 5 star place to stay.
They are close to the beach and town centre to walk to.
They provide chalets or caravan sites with private ablusions, electricity, lights, water and grass.
There is good security and they also offer dinner and breakfast at premium rates.
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