Day 199 - Sat 17th April, 16718km, Namib wilds 

Almost a month after Namibia celebrated 20 years of inderpendence it just so happened that the party arrived in Eenhana today, and returning from a decent run this morning I couldn't believe my luck at finding the youth centre's kitchen being used to cook the free feast! Promising that the Namibian flag would take pride of place at the top of my flag stick, I was soon weighed down with enough cow, rice and ketchup to last for the day. I then got to enjoy some of the celebratory performances in town before finally hitting the long, lonely road across northern Namibia. Cycling on the left (when passing motorists reminded me!), chatting away in English and munching on brown bread I was feeling very at home until the road changed to sandy dirt of variable speed, thankfully conditions aren't a patch on some I've faced in Central Africa. Upsettingly time, cost and vehicle access have ruled out a route via Etosha National Park or Re-cycle's project in Windhoek, so I've opted for the most direct route which means much tougher road conditions and little civilisation.