Rocky's Ride Detailed Travel Log Day 12: 14/08/24 Game Ranger Station - Wereld end farm stay 31.25km Rocky started the day strong with a warm-up run through the thick red sand before hopping into his basket, snug in his bright blue bomber jacket—a vibrant contrast to the desert backdrop. 18 km and two hours into the ride, we took a break under a camel thorn tree, its massive weaver nest hanging overhead. While I snacked, Rocky skipped his usual biltong buffet and instead licked the peanut butter clean off my rice cake. Watching him try to get it off his palate with repeated licks had me in stitches. But soon enough, he was rolling in the desert sand, covering himself entirely. His inflamed eye watered continuously, leaving a tear-streaked trail on his dusty face. A relentless headwind slowed us down again, with Rocky’s ears acting as my wind gauge—flapping straight back whenever the gusts hit hard. The wind became a full-blown sandstorm, turning the horizon into a thick cloud of dust. The road morphed into an obstacle course of corrugations and deep gravel, forcing me to hike my bike the last few kilometres into Werelds End, utterly exhausted. My hostess, Isette, offered me a lift to my target 15 km away, and I nearly took her up on it. But instead, I checked into her rustic hunting cabin—a perfect little escape after the tough ride. Later that day, a young French cyclist showed up, Lay 18 years old, after battling several kilometres in the wind had opted to hitchhike . He and his father, Stephan, 53, were cycling from Luanda to Cape Town. His father, far more stubborn and like myself, had insisted on trying to cover the distance on his own steam. However, I knew what distance and terrain lay ahead of him. He tried covering in one day what had taken me three days to complete. As the evening rolled in and he hadn’t made camp yet, Ivette and the son set off to find him in her bakkie. That night, I shared the hunting cabin with my new friends. We swapped bikepacking tips, gear recommendations, and road stories. It was a real treat connecting with fellow adventurers amidst the harsh desert terrain. Rocky also found himself a new friend—a female Ridgeback owned by our host’s, who just so happened to be in heat. Now, despite being neutered, Rocky thought, “Why not give it a shot?” What followed was pure comedy gold. He’d stand behind her, and even on his tiptoes, his little front paws barely reached her hindquarters! You’ve got to admire his determination, though— one should always dream big!