Saturday, January 8, 2011

Helmeringhausen - The Horse Has Left Town

Sometimes, on my way between north and south Namibia, I take a shortcut along a 230km gravel road. The road is rough in places and, about half-way, I often stop at a small settlement called Helmeringhausen:


This is it - Helmeringhausen ... a 500m stretch of recently-tarred road in the middle of nowhere, with a couple of buildings on either side - I estimate that there are probably not more than 40 permanent residents living here.


Not many photo-ops here so I took a pic of the window at the gas station (we call them 'petrol stations') - I love that sign 'Never mind the Dog, Beware of the Owner' ... I'm not sure why they're so concerned about security; it would be very difficult for any would-be robber to make a getaway - where would he run to?


There's a small open-air museum with some farming implements and other odds 'n ends - this appears to be an old drill-rig used for searching for water in this arid land.

I'm assuming, from a small memorial on the site, that Helmeringhausen was established by the farming community many years ago, probably as a central meeting place and a source of basic supplies.



At the end of the road, a Metal Man directs the thirsty traveler to the hotel and Coffee shop - not that anyone could miss it. Dig those sandals - and one of my favorite trees behind the figurine.


The Coffee Shop, an oasis in the wilderness. It seems that quite a few tourists and tour buses pass through here on their way to more famous attractions like Sossusvlei and Duwiseb Castle.


A colorful straw-bale family greets visitors to the Hotel.


A lone dead car and tree keep each other company in the sun. Any idea what make of car this was?


Another pic of my favorite tree at sunset - I love the symmetry of the crossing branches.

Well, I guess it just goes to show that there's always something to photograph, even in the middle of nowhere. Too bad about the horse though - but, I can't say I blame him for leaving ...

You can see where Helmeringhausen is by clicking on the 'location' link below this post.


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28 comments:

  1. Sounds German, but the car appears American.

    What a beautiful place and your eyes caught each of its unique attraction. The tree was awesome.

    It reminded me of Rawlins, Wyoming. Way-the-hell-and-gone but glad I was there.

    We are English and call them petrol stations too!

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  2. Hi Fazlisa - yes, it is a German name, at one time in it's history Namibia was a German colony.

    Aha! ... I thought 'petrol station' was a uniquely southern African term - like 'bioscope' for cinema ...

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  3. What a charming little town. Though it is small it looks like they have an eye for beauty. Or at least you have found the beauty in the place. I think I'd like to stop there just so I could have a cuppa at the beautiful coffee shop. That tree is really something too. Oh by the way, do you know what the make of the car is? I think maybe the old car is a Nash Lafayette or at least a car made by Nash company. See here for some photos http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/AmericanMotors/Nash.html (At first I thought it might be an old Rolls Royce but when I did a search for that car, I found these Nash cars, made in USA).

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  4. Thanks for the comment and link Penny - I still can't be sure it's an old Nash though - I've always been bad at identifying cars ... my Mom tells me that, as a young kid, I could recite any nursery rhyme and my brother could tell the name of any car on the road ... but they sure don't make them like they used to hey?

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  5. Love the wide deserted streets and the sign to the coffee shop. You sure captured the beauty of the settlement. Greetings from Jo, South Africa.

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  6. I'm on the nursery rhyme side of things too I'm afraid. Rusty old cars in dry places make such stunning pictures - Argentina has a lot of this in Patagonia which I'd love to photograph one day.
    I love maps and followed that link, and I was trying to imagine this place as on a shortcut to somewhere, but couldn't! You've mentioned Etosha before, and now I know where that is. The road north from Walvis Bay looks as though it's a beautiful route. Have you been on that road??
    Caroline

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  7. Re the car possibly 1940's and maybe a German model of some sort. The grill is not like the Nash grill, totally different shape. I have to admit that that I can't find anything similar :(

    This is great post lacking the horse LOL. That tree is fantastic and I love the sign directing you to a coffee. As for I can make it to the gate in 5 seconds, Can you? It must be a very speedy animal as there is not a gate in sight:)Diane

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  8. That tree's amazing and so's that metal man! Namibia has so many of these odd little places. You really caught the spirit of this one.

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  9. Greetings Jo - yeah, there's enough space to swing a lot of cats here ... I've actually met people who are afraid of such open spaces ...

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  10. Hi Caroline - I've been north of Walvis Bay a long time ago, before digital cameras ... it is beautiful but I'm not that familiar with the territory ... I hope to get there sometime soon.

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  11. Hehe Diane - I doubt whether I could even out-run a guard tortoise these days ... :)

    Yeah, the wreck could be a German make, given the history of the area.

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  12. Thanks Laurie - one of the things I enjoy about photography is that it helps me to see things I may not normally notice ...

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  13. I don't know why,because I couldn't ever live in place like this,but this very small and old settlements have a great appeal on me.
    Maybe for the landscapes.
    Maybe for the people:in places like this the people is usually good people.

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  14. A German make sounds like a possibility but I think a Nash is still an option. At first I didn't think so either but looking at photos (more than the ones I sent you, lol) I see there were different shapes to the car over time. Interestingly these Nash cars ended up in New Zealand and in eastern Europe so I guess they could've ended up in Nam. Logically though as you say, the possibility that the car is German is a pretty good one. Maybe a car buff can help us all, lol. I'd like to know now.

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  15. Your photos are great (as usual), what an interesting little town...particularly like the tree...missed many opportunities over the years to photograph unusual trees. I was going to suggest that the car was a Daimler, looked it up and found no real evidence that it could be. The sloping grill is somewhat distinctive!

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  16. Hi Andrea - yes, these types of small outposts also interest me ... perhaps because they appeal to my 'inner hermit' - you're one usually finds open and welcoming people here ...

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  17. Thanks for the follow-up comment Penny - I must admit I'm still in the dark and clueless - yes, I wish some car buff would visit and solve the mystery ...

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  18. Thanks Theanne - yes, I wish that the digital camera had been invented 40 years ago ... I've also missed many photo-ops through being in too much of a hurry ...

    ... a Daimler you say? ... the plot thickens ... :)

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  19. I enjoyed all the pictures - keep them coming! Your favourite tree is exquisite!

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  20. Thank you Keats - yes, it is a lovely tree ...

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  21. Hehe yeah Jane - he is appealing ...

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  22. the coffee shop sign is great - thanks for sharing.
    Except for the arid landscape it reminds me of small towns in middle nowhere midwest (IL MO IA have plenty of little towns that are just an intersection).

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  23. Thanks lisleman - yeah, I imagine that Texas and Arizona have some spots like this too ... with the desolation ...

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  24. For a nowhere place, it is very neat and clean and has a certain charm. The hardy folks there have made it special with their hay bale family, tin man and beautifully maintained lawns (coffee shop). Not a bad place to stop and visit but give me a week and I'll be following the horse out into the desert.

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  25. Hehehe lgsquirrel ... indeed - it's ok as a pit-stop but I wouldn't want to live there ...

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  26. Nice Photo ! The car is from the Chrysler Airflow range and is approximately 1937/38 . Could be Chrysler Airflow or De Soto Airflow, manufactured in the USA and at the time of manufacture were virtually indestructible.

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  27. Thanks for the comment Daisyinc - I'll try to find out more on the net - yes, the bodies of these cars are real metal ...

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