Day 1 - Northern Cape, South Africa

Point of departure :Cape Town

Point of arrival : Springbok

Accommodation:Springbok Lodge ([email protected])

Km travelled today: 653kmCum:653 km (excluding trip down from Jhb)

Countries so far: 1/16

Where to next? Luderitz, Namibia

Total number of photos taken: 108 (cum 108)

A fairly gentle 08H00 start as Patrick and Brigitte headed for the airport and John and Marina started their epic journey.A couple of false starts as Madam GPS told us one thing but road works and temporary road signs told us something else!We were finally on our way along the N7, stopping over in Darling to visit Evita Bezuidenhout's restaurant, the Boerassic Park and Nauseum (her version of Museum).

For those that don't know of Evita, she is the alto ego of Pieter Dirk Uys, the South African satirist and general thorn in the side of the former South African government (rapidly becoming a thorn in the side of the new one too).As he says, the government continues to write all his scripts.A fun stop.

Then on to Clanwilliam where stopped for gas and lunch at a cute little nursery come coffee shop and then the final 355km to Springbok, our first official night on the trail.

A varied drive with very boring coastal dunes for large parts but also the beauty of the Cederberg, the vineyards and the citrus estates including an extensive irrigation project in the middle of an otherwise barren landscape. Hot today, with temperatures up to 36 degrees celsius and without the benefit of the Cape Doctor (the south easter in Cape Town).