The pier we tied to was without any facilities. Walvis Bay is a deep water commercial port.

We headed out for a tour in a 4X4.

Pelicans abound on the beach.

The middle class housing for the local professionals and business owners is quite nice.

The highways are asphalt paved and smooth.

Salt manufacture is a large export industry. We made a quick stop at the main factory.

My gal. She made a point of telling anyone who would listen that she doesn't use salt.

Once you left the main highway the roads were unpaved and in places rutted with sporadic sand drifts creating enormous speed bumps.

The local church was in a word "modest".

About 11 AM it starts to warm.

Our transport for the dune excursion.

Yep... Us again!!!

Our caravan drove to a remote area and we were given the opportunity to climb the dunes.

Here we are at the top. It's a good thing you can't see how hard we are breathing after the climb.

The view back gives some idea of the size of the dunes.

Now that view is right out of Lawrence of Arabia. That's the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

Donna and our guide start up another dune.

My little nomad.

The road to and from the dunes was partly along a dry riverbed with some tough vegetation.

Our tour brochure stated that we will proceed south towards the Kuiseb River were a small community of Topnaar people live on the banks of this dry river-bed. We expected a small village. what we did find was one elderly lady living in what can only be described as a modest dwelling making a living out of harvesting the seeds of the only foodstuff that grew in the area, some form of cactus.

On our way to what we thought was a small village.

After cooking the fruits the seeds are laid out in the sun to dry.

The residential section of the village.

This was the smallest village we had ever seen. Here Here ou can see both the residential and commercial sections.

She was a pretty tough old lady with a weathered dignified look.

The fruit from which she obtained the seeds.

The area along which we road was a dry river bed. You could see the dried clay deposits from time to time. When it rained it was probably not a good idea to take this road.

The local commercial traffic was light and traditional.

On the way to the dinner. We were taken within a few hundred yards of the dinner by bus and then shuttled to the dinner by 4X4's over large dunes.

The desert in the late afternoon light was very beautiful.

The sun set behind the high dunes.

Some of our fellow guests who did not have an earlier chance at the climb took this opportunity to do their thing.

The welcome wagon.

Here comes the caterer. Just kidding. All guests were welcome to a camel-ride experience. We jumped at the chance.

Mark, Donna and Harry.

I didn't get this guy's name. I think he's a local.

Loren has a last minute question for the mechanic about the details given in the instruction manual.

Judy awaiting liftoff.

Yahooo !!!!

Judy taking Loren for a look at some local real estate.

The David and Donna show!!

A beautiful sunset.

There was a wonderful singing group that sang for 3 hours just outside the tents set up for the dinner without a break.

The lobby was heated.

As the sun set there was a chill in the air and the fire was welcomed by all.

Joan, Judy, Donna and Alesia enjoy the fire's warmth.

Judy and Donna.

The music rocked.

Guess who?

Lloyd, one of the more conservative passengers, donned his best African tribal hat for the dinner. He obviously likes to blend in with group.

The food was the best we had been served off the ship.

For the health conscious there were many choices of various liquids available which could help ward off the scourge of the area ...dehydration (or was it sobriety). We were advised, after all, that we were in a dangerous dessert environment. Many of the guests became quite pro-active.

David and Lee our table mates for the evening.

Some of the real locals.

The singing group was terrific.

Loren, Judy and Donna on their way back to the ship. It was my camera again.