Another successful Spitzkoppe day
Trip Start
Apr 15, 2009
1
11
18
Trip End
May 15, 2009
Usakos,
Namibia
Sunday, May 3, 2009
It is the account of the two years Thoreau spent living in the woods of his native New England where he led a simple life in communion with nature: "...to front only the essential facts of life," he says, "and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
Used as we are to live comfortably in warm and well-lit homes, surrounded by implements and gadgets that cater for any need we might possibly have, and, more often than not, just a brief walk or a quick drive from shops of all sorts, camping really gives us a break from the predicament of city life, setting us back to more simple routines and expectations.
It is also the best opportunity to enjoy sunrise, a daily show that too often we miss favouring the warm embrace of our duvets rather than that of the first sunrays.
"The man who does not believe that each day contains an earlier, more sacred and auroral hour than he has yet profaned, has despaired of life," Thoreau continues. "Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me."
In my previous post I talked about Spitzkoppe's glorious sunsets, which, I've gladly discovered, are equaled by its stunning sunrises. It is a delight to wake up one last time in our tent, realise by the light filtering through that morning is quickly approaching, then beginning to hear countless birds, also finally awaken by the break of a new day. After a few minutes of human indecision, you get up, crawl out of the tent, and are greeted by a freshness in the air that could regenerate the most committed boozer the day after a stag night.
In this particular occasion, we have set camp right underneath the southern side of the main Spitzkoppe massif, nestled among rocks and grassy knolls, so that the timid winter sunrays don't actually reach us for a an hour or so, making for a chilly start of the day. But all around us, the mountain tops are gradually flooded by light soon after sunrise, and the distant plains too, and it's rather enjoyable to wait for the sun to finally hit us - and warm us up - while drinking a cup of coffee.
I must confess, I am usually more of a sunset person myself, treasuring the last moments of sun light for their capacity to bring calm and rest after a busy working day - or a dusty one driving along Namibian roads. But the first hours of the morning, especially if you are lucky/determined enough to witness the sun rising, are a cauldron of expectations, creativity, initiative, purpose, and, generally, life in the making that I wouldn't want to miss too often.
Stay tuned.
