Rocky's Ride Detailed Travel Log Day 4: 06/08/24 Naukluft Nature Reserve Wild Camping – Wild Camping near Oase The mornings have been pretty chilly, and while I can layer up, Rocky stays warm in his bomber jacket, with a little extra help from my towel until the day heats up. As the sun rises, I shed his layers—and mine. Travelling through Namibia between April and October is ideal. We’ve had a few hot days, but the cooler mornings and evenings are manageable with the right gear. One thing became clear very quickly: crossing the desert without the help of strangers is nearly impossible. My water stores were running dangerously low, but fortunately, it was only a 20km ride to the C14 gravel road. To flag down vehicles, I would stop, wave my water bottle, and every car I waved down was eager to help. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers, and their kindness and words of encouragement left me filled with raw emotion and gratitude. When cars passed by, their occupants couldn’t quite figure out what they were seeing from a distance. But as they got closer, their smiles and laughter erupted as they saw Rocky perched on my handlebars. It was a sight that brought joy to everyone we met. Later that day, I hit some freshly graded gravel roads and found myself in a flow state—one of bikepacking’s greatest treasures. With good music in my ears, a tailwind at my back, and sitting in the sweet spot between Zone 3 and 4, cycling became pure magic. Flow state, where time seems to vanish, and your focus is razor-sharp, can make long rides like #RockysRide feel almost effortless. Achieving it on a challenging road like this, where the task matches your skills, makes the experience deeply rewarding. But as with all things, the flow eventually broke. About 30 km into the Kuiseb Valley—famous from Henno Martin’s “The Sheltering Desert*”—I hit a rolling downhill. The speed caused my trailer to fishtail, and the hitch snapped under the strain, sending my trailer tumbling. As I picked up the pieces, I couldn’t help but think of Martin and his companion, surviving in this very valley under far harsher conditions. Just as they adapted to the desert’s challenges, I had to improvise. Luckily, my uncle Bruce Davis had fabricated a spare hitch for me, and after a quick roadside repair, I was back on track with minimal damage. The Kuiseb Valley had humbled me, though, and from that point on, I approached the next rolling down hills with more caution. The day’s earlier high faded as I found myself pushing my bike out of the Kuiseb Valley. At the top, I was greeted by a convoy of tourists in 4x4s, curious about Rocky and our journey. Their enthusiasm lifted my spirits, and they left me with full water bottles and a stash of sugary snacks—exactly what I needed to keep going. Rocky is an incredibly picky eater. I had even carried a kilogram of premium kibble for fussy dogs, promising 99% satisfaction. Well, Rocky is part of the 1%. Eventually, I ditched the kibble to lighten my load. Instead, I managed to get him to eat Nutty Crust biscuits, but for the rest of the trip, his diet consisted mainly of biltong and droewors. While the high-protein diet kept him fueled, it had one unfortunate side effect: constipation. That was fine—until we were confined to the tent at night, where his farts became absolutely unbearable! As the afternoon wore on, I began to slow down. I’d been nursing a head cold for two days, and my voice was nearly gone. My throat became scratchy, making it difficult to speak. Near the end of the day, two Afrikaans tourists stopped and refilled my bottles, offering me an ice-cold orange from their camper fridge. It was pure magic. With my bottles refilled, I found a quiet spot in a dry riverbed, surrounded by gnarled trees twisted by the desert winds. There, in the vast silence of the Namib, I soaked in another stunning evening, feeling a peace that only this place can offer.