At the Sesriem garage I met a man building garages around Namibia. He was a grown up jock, but we had a cool chat. Knowing everything and everyone he asked the fuel truck drivers to take me to Walvis Bay.
The drivers are not allowed to pick up hitchhikers as they transport fuel and are one of the biggest logistical companies in Namibia. They said they would give me a lift to Solitare from where I would hitch further north. I was not allowed to take a photo of the truck as the driver was paranoid I would do something with it. So respecting his wishes I climbed into the truck and listened to the repetitive Owambo music all the way.
Solitare is a very small place with a garage and some tourist attractions. There is a nice bakery where I bought a big cinnamon bun. Solitare is similar to Ronnie’s Sex Shop as it is a place where everyone stops on route to their next destination.
I don’t like asking people for lifts while they refuel. I’ll rather wait outside or next to the road for a lift. Maybe if I was desperate I’d have a different strategy, but standing next to the road worked through out Namibia. This may sound arrogant, but playing the White-card also helps.
Manfred picked me up just outside the Solitare garage. I waited for about 40min. He drove a Corsa bakkie with a Speed and Sound sticker in the back window. With a sticker like that I knew I was in for a ride. We passed all the people that did not pick me up as we were cruising on the gravel roads between 120 – 140km/h in an air conditioned car while listening to loud Nama music.
He was on his way to Swakopmund and at the Kuiseb Pass we made a brief stop. A truck had rolled over the week before and the driver died. The truck was transporting flat rocks and Manfred stopped so that we could pick up the rock for him to build his braai area. While sweating in the sun helping Manfred load rocks the hot French girl and her family drove past. She waved at me smiling as if she could see that today I did not have a hangover though I was twice as dirty.
Manfred dropped me in Swakopmund’s town centre from where I walked to the backpackers and booked in for the weekend
