Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Skeleton Coast

Jim and I drove north to see some of the Skeleton Coast of Namibia.  Piles of salt and salt flats went on for miles north of Swakopmund.




Occasionally groupings of highly colored houses for vacation? for fishing? appeared.  We rarely saw cars...because it was their fall season?












Shipwreck of the Zelia India


Hentiesbaai is virtually the only city north of Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast.


A bride was on her way to her wedding.


The Henties Bay Golf Course lies in the Omaruru River Bed.


More salt flats


Cape Cross Seal Preserve is ahead.


The entry fee is taken in this small building well away from the sea lions.


These folks were leaving as we were entering.


Sea lion life is good.








Many sea lions were feeding in the ocean.




These babies were born around December 10, so that made them about 4 1/2 months old.








We were close to the sea lions, and, yes, it was a whiffy place.




100,000 sea lions was the estimated guess at the preserve.






The Skeleton Coast in Namibia is long, and we stopped to camp at Mile 108.




This was our very rustic ablution building.  In order to get any water, we had to turn on a valve that released water from the tank.  That meant we had to turn it on to flush or wash hands then turn it off.


A little plover was the only wildlife we saw.


It was a night for gin rummy then dressing to be warm in our thin sleeping bags because the wind was howling from the south.


We could have paid extra to take a shower in the morning on our way out to the road.




There were many vehicles with fishing rods attached in unusual ways.






Popular fishing spots were often sign-posted.


We saw these pink salt crystals on our way north and stopped to buy some on our way south.  You paid according to size as indicated on the stick into the tin provided.  Most pieces were $2-$5.


At Roy's Camp Jim and Steve were told about the Dead Sea of Namibia.  We were close, so we ventured another 25+ miles to see it.  It took some time.  

Only my fingers got in, but I would have floated if I had gone all the way because of the high concentration of salt and other minerals.






The rock was sharp and brittle.


Sunday, September 23, 2018

Swakopmund

Today we are off to Swakopmund (swa-cop-moond).  Along the route we stopped at a resort/oasis for drinks and naps.  The staff was gracious and helpful.

These tiny reptiles were common, especially near the pools.

Namibian Rock Agama


Female Rock Agama...Agama planiceps


Striped Skink


Trees are gone.  A straight road through sand to the sea leads to Swakopmund.


Swakopmund faces the Atlantic Ocean, so it can be a lot like Santa Cruz...cool, foggy, breezy.  We stayed four nights and walked the beaches every day, ate pizza at the Secret Garden Bistro, and drank Hansa beer and watched cricket at Kucki's Pub.






Jellyfish




Hubbly Bubbly???




Fork 'n Alice...I am not sure if they served food or what?


Unique beach houses




Lots of mussel leavings


Mussels making mussels


Rows and rows of breaking waves


Hautlaub's Gull? and a sea lion


Great lunch spots


This young boy must have jumped off this structure more than a dozen times trying to perfect his flip.


Street Art




The fishermen showed us their catch.


$50 for a tow if you get stuck




Watch Out!


The Swakopmund Lighthouse