The morning had started rather strangely. Woken up by the sound of horses hooves and nostril blowing. This place provides horse trails and the horses had been let out onto the camp site. All ten of them. That was fine, but while drinking our coffee all we heard was “Oupa”, “Ouma” over and over again from a youngster. Calling is not a problem, but I wish the grand parents would answer the grandchild, for Pete's sake.
We decided, after coffee, to head for the hills for some peace and quiet. Tracks for Africa's GPS map shows a 41km 4x4 trail on the mountain, but the office here says it is not open yet and they are still fixing it, whatever that means. So we decided to head for the other marked trail to a place called Tapfontein. As we headed out, I glanced at the clock and it was only 07H30. It felt like we had been up for hours. L: We had, the horses came out at 05h30.....!!
S: The going was fairly slow, but we were in no hurry. Along the way we caught glimpses of Red Hartebeest and Gemsbok. We stopped at a sign indicating rock art and went in search of it. It took a lot of looking and all we found were 3 small figures.
A bit further was Tapfontein. There is a ruin of a farmhouse and the place now has a few 'wendy house' like cabins for two people. There is also a shower and loo with a view. The place is used for overnight horse trails and anyone else who wants a bit of peace and quiet. We decided this was a good place for brunch and cooked up some eggs and sweetcorn fritters.
After brunch we headed back along the circular route trail. There were Gemsbok along this way as well and this herd had a few young with them.
Near the end of the trail and close to the camp site there are 4 large dams where you can hire kayaks to use. We turned off to go and have a look. We got to a parking area and there was a chain across with a sign that said you could not enter without a permit. Our camp site form is considered a permit so we decided to carry on.
The road looked alright, it always does, albeit a bit wet so I carried on. Then the rear started to slide and after that it was all downhill. I stopped, put it in four wheel drive and tried to reverse. And that is how we came to be stuck.
So, I got out and started packing stones behind the wheels, fortunately I had not dug myself in too much. I then got back in and managed to move the vehicle back a meter. I packed some more stones and got back in the bakkie, then by rocking the bakkie backwards and forwards in reverse gear, using the clutch, I was able to bump myself slowly out of trouble. Once I got momentum, I just kept going, until I was clear of the mud field. Lesley walked back to the vehicle. L: I had got out as soon as we got stuck, less weight and also I did not want to be in the vehicle when it was going backwards, as fast as possible and slipping and sliding. Also, with camera in hand. (I felt a bit guilty as I had agreed that we should go through the mud – I hadn't yet been blamed....!)
S: We went back to the car park, where we should have parked and went up to go and look at the dams. They are beautiful and so much water, supplying all the animals and birds.
L: By this time, it was noon and the temperature in the car was reading in the high 30's up to 40 now and then so we decided to go back to camp and swim in the dam at the camp site. It was super and now not nearly as cold as when we arrived as the weather had turned really HOT.
We met a couple from Pretoria, Pieter and Carol and chatted for a couple of hours in the shade at the dam. Later we followed a trail that they had suggested, but turned around at the hiking part as it was just ridiculous to walk in this heat. I managed to take photos of yet another bird of prey, not sure what it is yet, very black with a white head, much like a Fish Eagle.
Tonight, we are making a lamb potjie, but once again these horse-flies are killing us. Ugh. I could make a stew of all the killed ones, they are piling up. It is the one negative about the camp site – having one toilet to share is nothing. We have the camp site to ourselves tonight as our neighbours have left. Not sure about the horses though …......
No comments:
Post a Comment