Michelle, Mark and Lindsey arrived in Johannesburg today after the first leg of the African adventure. We arrived by train, the shosholoza meyl premier classe, from Ca
pe Town. VLL 471 GP is now 'Very Lazy Landy' after riding in a chooka train.
This was a very novel way of travelling through the karoo.
pe Town. VLL 471 GP is now 'Very Lazy Landy' after riding in a chooka train.This was a very novel way of travelling through the karoo.
Mark and Lindsey succesfully completed the Fish River Canyon Hike of 90 odd kms on the 5th of August. It was exhausting but AWESOME! The following poem by fellow hiker Bernard Koch describes the experience:
The Legend of the Dolerite Dykes
I’ve heard of tales of daring and courage
But none as chilling as this
So gather round and fill your cups
As this you shouldn’t miss
Thirteen men and women true
All ex Joburg yuppies
They came by plane, they came by car
And gathered, they did, in “Uppies”
They hatched their plan in dead of night
At secret rendezvous
“Le Must” its name if you must know
The locals swear it’s true
The quest lay yonder in lands afar
Deep in dragons lairs
The Nathans forgot the magic words
And must return to Home Affairs
That night the group, now less
Gathered to distribute supplies
Anything that didn’t fit
Was left for Anthony……”Surprise!!”
At break of dawn, the following morn
Or perhaps a little later
The group set off, in spirits high
To gaze into the crater
With heart in mouth and rod in hand
They plunged into the abyss
Down and down and down they drove
Stopping only to ……have a wee
With river in view and beachy sand
Taylor, naked, had a goof
Sarah smiled as others gaped
He was only showing off
As evening fell, the group camped down
Staring expectantly to whence they’d come
From over the rocks, a voice piped up
“Raisins anyone?”
With much rejoicing, and “papsak” too,
The group was re-united
The smash was good, the steak was better
To find the Dykes they were excited.
Day 2 dawned, the quest continues
Onwards in search of the Dykes
Boulder hopping the order of day
This no-one likes
They camped that night, well short of their goal,
Really under the whip
Hats off to Lee though, gutsy lass
With her bionic hip
Italian was the special that eve
Judy was the barmaid
Everyone received their share
And asked to use the pink spade
Later then at dead of night
A distant sound rings through their pores
Could those be the Dykes they cry
No, its only Jonty’s snores
Breakfast on Day 3 is spent
Languishing at Palm Springs
Then on we go to pastures new
Past ancient rock formations and things
Dr Bill is in the lead
A pathfinder of note
A desert man of Gobi fame,
The question is, “Can he float?”
Toni finds a shortcut, up and over
A path most used by buck
The group begins the slow ascent
Lindsay says…..”Oh….. What luck”
Judy is a mine of info
Intrusions, mesas, buttes and gneiss
Through gazillion year old valleys we traverse
The search for the Dykes will never cease
Elliots’s cooking Moroccan that night
Blankenberg is the sous
If Bernard tips the pan again
He’s seriously in the poo
To find the elusive Dolorite Dykes
The friends must make an early start
No need to set alarm clocks though
Mark will oblige with his 5am fart
The pace is fast and furious
Through Mordor they progress
To find the elusive Dolorite Dykes
Or Ais-Ais at best
To the German soldier they doff their caps
But push on to the Drift
Lee hasn’t been drinking enough
And Bill is seriously miffed
The final night is time to bid
Their fond farewell to mates
Like Johnny and Jack and their last “papsak”
Thai cuisine fills their plates
They rise to bid the moon farewell
Behind the mountain it does duck
Before they lift their lightened packs
Its time for the last “Boskak”
They tarry for a final breakfast
The quest for the Dykes appears lost
Three lasses wander cheerily through
“There they are, get a shot!!”
With quest complete they stagger in
to Ais-Ais for a beer
A burger too that hits the spot,
Several times I fear
Well my tale is told as friends depart
And say their fond farewells
Till next time they all swear
“Make sure we bring more Bells”
I’ve heard of tales of daring and courage
But none as chilling as this
So gather round and fill your cups
As this you shouldn’t miss
Thirteen men and women true
All ex Joburg yuppies
They came by plane, they came by car
And gathered, they did, in “Uppies”
They hatched their plan in dead of night
At secret rendezvous
“Le Must” its name if you must know
The locals swear it’s true
The quest lay yonder in lands afar
Deep in dragons lairs
The Nathans forgot the magic words
And must return to Home Affairs
That night the group, now less
Gathered to distribute supplies
Anything that didn’t fit
Was left for Anthony……”Surprise!!”
At break of dawn, the following morn
Or perhaps a little later
The group set off, in spirits high
To gaze into the crater
With heart in mouth and rod in hand
They plunged into the abyss
Down and down and down they drove
Stopping only to ……have a wee
With river in view and beachy sand
Taylor, naked, had a goof
Sarah smiled as others gaped
He was only showing off
As evening fell, the group camped down
Staring expectantly to whence they’d come
From over the rocks, a voice piped up
“Raisins anyone?”
With much rejoicing, and “papsak” too,
The group was re-united
The smash was good, the steak was better
To find the Dykes they were excited.
Day 2 dawned, the quest continues
Onwards in search of the Dykes
Boulder hopping the order of day
This no-one likes
They camped that night, well short of their goal,
Really under the whip
Hats off to Lee though, gutsy lass
With her bionic hip
Italian was the special that eve
Judy was the barmaid
Everyone received their share
And asked to use the pink spade
Later then at dead of night
A distant sound rings through their pores
Could those be the Dykes they cry
No, its only Jonty’s snores
Breakfast on Day 3 is spent
Languishing at Palm Springs
Then on we go to pastures new
Past ancient rock formations and things
Dr Bill is in the lead
A pathfinder of note
A desert man of Gobi fame,
The question is, “Can he float?”
Toni finds a shortcut, up and over
A path most used by buck
The group begins the slow ascent
Lindsay says…..”Oh….. What luck”
Judy is a mine of info
Intrusions, mesas, buttes and gneiss
Through gazillion year old valleys we traverse
The search for the Dykes will never cease
Elliots’s cooking Moroccan that night
Blankenberg is the sous
If Bernard tips the pan again
He’s seriously in the poo
To find the elusive Dolorite Dykes
The friends must make an early start
No need to set alarm clocks though
Mark will oblige with his 5am fart
The pace is fast and furious
Through Mordor they progress
To find the elusive Dolorite Dykes
Or Ais-Ais at best
To the German soldier they doff their caps
But push on to the Drift
Lee hasn’t been drinking enough
And Bill is seriously miffed
The final night is time to bid
Their fond farewell to mates
Like Johnny and Jack and their last “papsak”
Thai cuisine fills their plates
They rise to bid the moon farewell
Behind the mountain it does duck
Before they lift their lightened packs
Its time for the last “Boskak”
They tarry for a final breakfast
The quest for the Dykes appears lost
Three lasses wander cheerily through
“There they are, get a shot!!”
With quest complete they stagger in
to Ais-Ais for a beer
A burger too that hits the spot,
Several times I fear
Well my tale is told as friends depart
And say their fond farewells
Till next time they all swear
“Make sure we bring more Bells”
We had fantastic hiking companions and a memorable time. Thanks to all for the experience!
Mark and Lindsey then went with Rob and Sarah Taylor to see the flowers along South Africa's west coast.
Mark, Lindsey, Leigh and Michelle are currently preparing the 'Very lovely landy' for the great expedition into the great unkown. The plan is to leave for Mozambique in a couple of days.
Watch this spot.
enjoy,enjoy,enjoy. Wise people
ReplyDeleteOh to be retired!
ReplyDeletePlease post your itinerary on the blog.
Wake up, it's been a week since your last entry.
ReplyDelete