Boland Hike 19 to 20 March 2011

FINALLY! The day arrived when I would test myself both physically and mentally, my only constraints being the setting sun and my own willpower! (I havn’t hiked in almost 10 years!!!!)

The day started off hot! Who the heck wants or is crazy enough to hike in 39C heat! Apparently the 9 of us were. The Group of Six, one of whom I knew was nursing a serious hangover,  left at the crack of dawn, eager and ready to tackle the hike and finish before the hot sun turned them into uitgedroegde pruime. 

They completed the hike in 5 ½ hours including 2 hours of stops. Thank goodness I was getting a running commentary of their progress, while I was waiting to leave. It took away most of the apprehension and replaced it with excitement and the resolve that if they could do it, so could I!

Laden with all the maps and information which I got off the internet and could carry, our little party of 3 finally arrived at the start of the trail and set off at 15h10, which in hindsight, was an ideal time to hike in summer, if you’re reasonably fit. The first 4km of the hike was in the forest so we did not have to suffer, amongst other things, the harsh late summer sun.

Before we set off we decided to set targets for ourselves, as we had limited time in which to complete the 12km hike to Shamrock Hut.

1^st target: to be out of the forest within an hour. Thanks to Keith’s easy pace (die man het laaaannngbene) and Tania, who decided to rather watch my behind than Keith’s, we made it out of the forest in 50 minutes.

2^nd target: to hike for another hour, then rest for 5 minutes. We stopped just shy of the top of Nuweberg for our 5 minute break which became 7 minutes…Tania, still complaining about the pace and Keith, calmly selecting more music to play on his headphones (which he wore the entire time, probably to mask the sounds of Tania’s scoldings and my heavy breathing)…lol.

3^rd target: to pick up the pace once we cleared the top of the mountain, cover as much ground as possible before our next break in an hour. We were so energized that when it was time to take our next break, we unanimously decided not to, as the sun was setting behind the mountain range and soon we would be walking in darkness. We were escorted by the 3 musketeers, Justin, Wally and Stephen the last km to Shamrock Hut. The hike took us 3 ½ hours to complete, which included our short breaks. Whoooohoooooo!!!!

Introductions were made as Keith and Desiree were the new faces and we all settled in, finding an open bunk bed, watching the sunset, washing and preparing supper. 

At the end of the long first day, after watching the Super Moon, slowly but surely make its way across the night sky , we all drifted off to our beds for the night. But alas! None of us could sleep, least of all me. Lucky me had the pleasure of ‘sleeping’ on the middle bunk. Below me was Justin, softly snoring his way to dawn. Above me was Keith, kicking up a racket, that could only be described as a catatonic episode at times…LOL! Like Carol said the next morning, “jy het gesnork soes jy betaal word”. To cut a long story short, I slept outside in the lapa and I am glad I did. What a beautiful night, under the glow of the Super Moon. Tranquility and peace knew no bounds. The near perfect silence barely disturbed by the little nocturnal animals. Oh yes! Then Keith came outside…en toe begin die stront van ooraf…hahahaaaa!!

Far too soon the sun rose over Theewaterskloof Dam and we were preparing for the short hike down. 2 hours and we were at the cars, taking a break before the long drive home.

We had farewell drinks in Gordons Bay...a perfect ending to a perfect overnight hiking experience.

Arangieskop is the next overnight hike. It’s happening in June and I hope to be fit enough to tackle the trail in my hiking boots and not on the back of the “Tractor”. See you guys there!!!

FOOTNOTE: JA! JA! EK IS AMPER KLAAR:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people:

Carol and Nikki: for trusting and believing that I could do this hike without having to call emergency services.

Justin, Wally and Stephen: for showing us what great people you are by coming to look for us.

Desiree: For being such a lovely lady and such a sport.

Tania: for the new swear words you taught me on the way up the mountain and for the extra laugh lines I now have.

Keith:  for being so patient with us on that 1^st day, for encouraging me, for looking out for me and making sure I was OK, from start to end.  

Posted on behalf of Melanie Le Grange