18/19 January 2003
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Warwick (Leader), Brenda, Campbell, Lorraine, Deneys,
Arlene, Keith and Margaret arrived at
Loteni and erected tents. Warwick then
lead Keith, Campbell, Deneys and Margaret up the valley to find Ash Cave,
leaving Brenda, Arlene and Lorraine to have a rest! By 10:00 it was extremely hot. We reached Mpophomeni Falls where Campbell and Deneys decided
to return to camp.
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The intrepid/foolish three
carried on uphill, the path rapidly petered out into bundu bashing up the
valley, crossing the streams a few times.
There were lovely inviting pools backed by the Tent and Eagle Mountains
in the distance.
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By 13:00 we were all very hot, Margaret feeling her face would burst. We found and sheltered under an overhang to have lunch over-looking a magnificent waterfall.
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With the clouds building up it
was decided not to continue to the cave which could only have been ±30 minutes
away. It looked very black in the
direction of the camp site. On the
return journey a welcome swim was had in a pool we had passed earlier, arriving
back at camp at 17:15. Meanwhile the
others had been watching a juvenile Black Shouldered Kite eat a huge rat, too
full to move when it was finished.
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Thankfully the storm passed
over, only a few drops of rain falling on the camp, so the braai went ahead as
planned. After dark we all lined up
theatre style to watch a spectacular light and sound show courtesy of the storm
going on across the hills towards Mkhomasi.
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Sunday morning dawned very hot
with everyone awake early due to the chirping of the Cape Weavers in their
nests in the tree above. By 08:00 we
were ready to walk. All got in the
bakkies as far as the office (2 km) where we waited while Campbell and Warwick
took the bakkies to the “Cool Pools” car park and left Campbell’s vehicle there
ready for the return journey.
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We then set off for Jacob’s
Ladder, a spectacular series of waterfalls.
The Falls viewed we returned to cross the river (most of us with tender
bare feet having neglected to bring strops) to get to “Cool Pools” where we had
a lovely dip before walking to Campbell’s vehicle where all eight of us piled
in.
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After a convivial lunch it was
time to dismantle the tents and wend our way home which was just as well as
Warwick and Keith were almost attacked by what Warwick thought was a Rinkhals
but on further reflection could have been a skaapsteker. Thank you all for a lovely week-end.
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Margaret Ashton
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