A Day on the Road: From Waweel to Ventersdorp and Beyond

As I embarked on my journey for the day, the daunting task of covering a distance of 30 kilometers loomed before me. Slowly, I roused myself from the comfort of my tent, determined to face the challenges that lay ahead. The morning air was crisp with a touch of dew, setting the stage for what promised to be an adventurous day.

With my belongings safely stowed away, I began my expedition, only to be confronted by narrow roads lined with tall grass on one side or treacherous gravel patches adorned with round stones. Negotiating these obstacles became quite the feat, especially when other vehicles came into play. However, the road, though deceivingly busy, allowed me to maintain a steady pace as I navigated the smooth asphalt.

On my way to town, a young couple flagged me down, asking me the usual questions. Just as I was finishing up with them, another car pulled up across the road. Flip, the driver of the second car, was specifically interested in finding accommodation. He kindly offered to call ahead and secure a spot for me to camp. How awesome is that? It was especially appreciated because there’s often trouble finding a place to stay 15km on the other side of Ventersdorp. With everything sorted out, we said our goodbyes, and I continued pushing through the final stretch into town. Along the way, I encountered a roadblock.

As I made my way through town, I garnered quite a few strange looks from the locals. It seemed like most of them just stared without reacting, even when I waved and greeted them with a friendly “Hi.”

When I pulled into the Spar to grab some essentials, I was a little worried about Tootsie’s safety. So, I had a conversation with the owner about it, and he asked one of his staff members to keep an eye on her while I quickly went through the store. Surprisingly, his daughter was also engrossed in my journey and couldn’t believe that I was traveling alone.

As I left town, I spotted a small entrance in a building with beautiful stained glass windows on the door. Inside, there were some incredible and vibrant artworks hanging up. Although I’m not an art expert, I thought I’d give it a look… and it turned out to be a brand-new restaurant and coffee shop. I decided to sit down, grab a coke, and check my emails. However, I ended up giving in to temptation and ordering a burger and fries. I ended up having a lovely conversation with the owner, who was eager to see some pictures from my travels…

I left town and started driving along a narrow highway. The road was so narrow that there was long grass on both sides, which made me have to stop whenever there were cars coming from both directions. It was a bit frustrating, and I started to worry if the whole road would be like this.

After a while, the road opened up a bit, but that didn’t make things easier! One truck driver even swerved off the road and onto the gravel, seeming like he wanted to drive over me. Thankfully, my trusty vehicle Tootsie, a 2×2, managed to handle the rough terrain. But I wasn’t happy at all – I started shouting and throwing rocks at the truck and its driver.

Feeling tired in my legs, I took a short break to rest. I prepared my water bottles and made sure everything was secure in my pockets for the next part of the journey. As I started moving again, the road became a little wider, which was a relief because there were cows freely wandering around, causing some traffic issues.

As I was passing by the ‘location’, I couldn’t help but notice numerous burnt tire marks on the road. It was a clear indication that something unpleasant had happened in the area. Just when I thought I had safely made it through, I saw a group of about 10 people walking towards me. They appeared to be farm workers heading home, but their presence still made me feel uneasy. They quickly surrounded me, bombarding me with questions and comments. I have to admit, it was an uncomfortable situation to be in, especially since I was clearly outnumbered.

Fortunately, I finally reached my destination and could see myself settling in for the night. It was a relief. I quickly set up my tent and anxiously awaited for the call from Chai FM for a radio interview. After having dinner, I climbed into bed just as it started to pour. And let me tell you, it rained heavily!