31st July. Windhoek
Joan is in her element. Shopping to stock the bakkie. Bedding, kitchen things, food, table and chairs. Then there are the essentials we need to go into the isolated north like sand shovels, compressor, tow rope, puncture repair kits, the list seems endless. But we are getting through it slowly. I think scouting the town trying to find the best shops to buy all this was the most tiring. Most of what we need is cheaper to buy then back home.
Yesterday I completed the paperwork for the bakkie which was pretty straight forward with the assistance of Martin from Asco car hire. I now have a grandiose document full of whirls and stamps with my mug shot emblazoned on one corner to say I am now the proud owner of one Nissan bakkie. All for AU$90. Registration is cheap here though 3rd party ins is getting up to what we pay at home.
I will add a bit of a ramble I wrote on the earlier days after we arrived. Please excuse my indulgence.
29th July.
Picked up the van today, after all that time of uncertainty it was good to see it in the flesh. A few signs of wear and we would like to spruce up the inside here and there but overall, very happy. I spent the afternoon at the registry office getting the first part of paperwork completed for the change of ownership and will complete it tomorrow morning. The staff at Asco car rental have been very helpful making the venture quite easy so far. The one hiccup was us having to have an address here in Windhoek for the renewal papers to be sent but the lady here at the pension said to use their address.
28th July.Chamonix Guest House,Jo’burg.
It was a good flight from Melbourne. A long 15 hours, but a new plane with all the bells and whistles made it enjoyable. Plenty of spare seats meaning stretching out to sleep. Food excellent with three choices of main course. Crew attentive without being overly pally, the case with Virgin Blue. Joan had been a bit apprehensive of flying Virgin Australia but was pleasantly surprised.
29th July
Before going back to the airport for the flight to Windhoek we caught up with Len, his wife Ria having to work. They are a great couple; we met first at a lodge outside the Etosha NP in Namibia in 2008. They had been through the area on northern Namibia where we were heading and wanted to go over the route with us. We will see them again before we fly back to Australia and look forward to their visit next March.
