As the Atlantic breeze faded into the distance, the riders knew they were leaving behind the ocean and entering the final, toughest stretch of their journey.
Though the end of the GS Trophy was still a day away, the ride ahead marked a turning point - an intense test of endurance, with the finish line finally in sight.
The vast, open landscapes of Namibia had become familiar, but today, the riders would push deeper, leaving behind the cool air of the coast for the harsh heat of the interior.
With every mile eastward, they edged closer to the culmination of an epic adventure that had tested their limits and brought them together as a team.
The day began in the soft light of dawn, with the sky overcast from the lingering humidity of the Atlantic.
Riders gathered for a 7:45 a.m.
Start, after a hearty breakfast by the ocean.
Some wandered down to the shoreline, eager to feel the cool, wet embrace of the sea one last time.
A few brave - or perhaps crazy - souls even ventured in for a morning swim, relishing the moment.
For some, this was their first encounter with the Atlantic, or any ocean at all.
The beach sand clung to them like a final farewell, a souvenir for their journey back to the desert.
The dust that had followed them throughout the adventure now mingled with the sand, a reminder of both the places they had been and the road still ahead.
Engines roared to life, cutting through the morning mist as the convoy prepared to leave Swakopmund.
