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Published: January 6th 2007
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Saturday 30 December came and it was time for my much awaited weekend away. It was approxamately 150km to the farm just outside De Doorns, not far from Worcester (no, not the one in England). When we got to there farm, were were met by the farm manager, Jaco, who helped us load up the 4X4 bukkie that would take us to the Groothoek hut. It was a bit of a squash -6 adults and 2 children, plus bags and watermelons (yes, watermelons!). But, the ride itself was quite an experience...someone said some people would pay good money just for the ride -it would be on a par with Disneyworld! It was a bad dirt road and we went through the river twice, the second time the water came well above the bukkie's wheels and near the end we came to a very steep hill which at first sight I thought we wouldn't get up, evn if we all got out. However, four wheel drive is an extraordinary thing! After about half an hour, we came to the little A-frame hut, surrounded by mountains -forming an ampitheatre effect on ther one side and the river on the other. The hut was
quite luxurious by camping standards (and so it should be for R80 a night, per person!). There was no electricity, but a gas stove and little gas lamp, a fire-place and plenty of chairs. The bathroom (the newest addition) had a flushing toilet(!), basin and shower, heated by the donkey (a.k.a. woodfire heated geyser). A ladder took you up to the sleeping area where the matresses were. Only problem we had with the hut was it was extreamly dark -there were few windows. Anyway, were weren't planing to spend many daylight hours indoors, so that was okay.
The next day, after a slow start (try to get 8 people ready quickly!), 5 of us went up the kloof (for none South Africans, a kloof is a deep valley with a river that goes up a mountain). The first hour we had to spend walking along a "path" next to the river. I say "path" because it was VERY overgrown. We lost it several times as the bushes came up to our shoulders most of the time....and there weren't friendly bushes either...lots of bracken, thorny plants, "wag'nbiejie" and blister bushes. At last we got to the part where we could
Kloof
James in the kloof actually walk/hop along the rocks on the river. Soon we found it was better to walk through the water in places rather than risk slipping on the wet rocks...however you still needed grip and protection on your feet so into the water went the socks and shoes. Anyway, the cold water was very soothing on our scratched legs. We got to a point when the water got deeper, so we changed into our wetsuits, leaving our clothes and backpacks on the river bank (completely safe -we were the only people in the entire kloof!). There were places we had to swim accross a pool to get to the next rock -the water was really cold, but refreshing! We got to a beautiful mossy waterfall. The tree branches were covered in moss and the water was running down them. This made a sparkling green effect -beautiful! Up and up we went as the kloof got deeper with amost an overhang of rock on one side. We were all keen to go on, but it was getting late and we had at least 3 hours of walking to get back, so reluctantly we turned around, all wishing we had started earlier and
wondering how far it was to the top of the kloof.
Although it was a beautiful walk, it required a lot of consentration and as I was getting tired towards the end I slipped a few times on the wet rocks, resulting in several bruises:-(
The next day some of our group decided to go up the kloof again and try to get up further. My friend, Janet and I, however, decided to leave that for another time in the future and we had our eyes set on the mountain on the other side of the river (opposite the hut). It looked like a nice view from the top...however, if there was a way up, as it was very unlikely to have a path. We decided we would give it a try. So, the two of us set off, a first for both of us -to climb a mountain without there being a path.
What was comforting was the fact that was could see the hut all the way up. It just helped to have some sort of marker so we wouldn't be totally lost. There ground was quite thick with shrubs and bushes making our assent
quite slow. Nearing the butress, we had to do quite a bit of rock climbing -in the back of my mind there was a nagging question asking "how are you going to get down?" -up is easier than down when it comes to rock climbing. We stopped for a water break and to admire the view. It was amazing. We could see all the farmlands and the top of the mounain that made up the ampitheatre behind the hut. There were some beautiful little pink flowers that caught my eye. I was fasinated to see that in whole patch of them most had 5 petals, then I saw one with 6 petals. It didn't occur to me that like 4 leafed clovers instead of 3 leafed one, you can get 6 petalled flowered that should have 5 petals.
On the other side of the butress we had to plan our route forward. From here we could see a cave that we hadn't seem before. I was eager to get to get to it. Suddenly the pinnacle that was were aim form seemed to be further away than in had previously looked. Closer up, the terain did not look very
Me in the kloof
Negotiating the rocks invited, but we decided to see how it went. It was a bit of a challange to get to the cave, a few tough climbs (well, to the inexperienced climber, I suppose). Finally we got there. It was just big enough for 1 person so squeeze into...okay, so maybe it doesn't deaserve to be elivated to the standard of being called a cave -it was a...eh...crevice.
From there we had to pick our way to contintue on to the "top"....however from this perspective, it didn't like quite the same. Anyway, I goal was just to get as high as possible where we could sit and enjoy the view.
The we had to go down. Going down was not much fun... There was a lot of putting your feet where you didn't know where exactly you were putting them. The tought of snakes was in the back of my mind, but fortunately we didn't see any! Also lots of dead branches that would either stick into you if you didn't stand on them, and if you did, they would break. It was very steep -we dicided to go back a slightly different route to going up -I don't know
if it was better or worse. At one point, Janet put her foot on a loose rock which unsettled another one and sent it rolling. It was a big rock...about the size of a....eh....a bicycle! We watched in horror -the first thing I thought was I'm so glad we were, without a doubt, the only ones on the mountain ans were both above the falling rock. It was steep so was picking up speed until in hit another big rock, which was thankful stable, and it split into two pieces with a tremendous crack. Well, that was something I've never seen before and I hope not to see again.
Finally we got back to the road (for the 4X4). I think by the end of the hike I had as many sticks and follage inside much shoes as there was outside them.
When we got back, top of our list of things to do was go get into the water to cool off. The swim was euphoric, although short lived as the water quickly got to cold to tolerate.
Sitting in confort, on the deck of the hut, we tried to trace where we had been -it
looked a whole lot higher than I had imagined. A great accomplishment:-)
That night being New Years Eve, we all intended to stay up till midnight but by 10pm, we were all fading so fast we couldn't be bothered to force ourselves to stay awake any longer!
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