We wish all our members many happy hiking hours in 2008

MIDLANDS HIKING CLUB

FROM THE CHAIR                                                                                                Dave Sclanders

From your Committee and Leaders, we hope and trust that you all have had a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year period.   That good times were shared with family and friends. Hopefully in the reminiscing, some good times with your Hiking Club were chatted about.

 

Well, the year 2008 is well on its way.   For some its has been a “weller  time” than I could imagine.   My son arrived from London with an entourage of “SA Londoners from Durban”. On 26 of December, 35 high spirited younger generation bodies SA Londoners and local school friends, set off for northern Mozambique coast for a diving / snorkeling /shouting/ snorkeling/drinking / sun burning 10 days.   On their arrival back he came and stayed with me for a few days.   On trying to “interrogate him” on the trip, all he could say was, had a  great time, booze was cheap (all booze is cheap compared to British booze), ate too much meat, did some snorkeling and had a good dive – one should not drink and dive- don’t tell them that  . Partied for 10 days, slept as little as possible, except when he got to me, then he tried to make up on 10 days of little sleep, by sleeping all day here.   So while he was here I did not really get much out of him.   Well, this could be a lesson for us, DO things while you can, and catch up with rest later.   So with that in mind, let’s hope to se a lot more of our members at our hiking meetings. The last few outdoor meetings, day trips and week end trips have been rather poorly attended.   If any members have any ideas on places that they think could be good places to visit, or some one who could be an interesting speaker at one of our socials, please let us know, we are always looking for new ideas, venues, and speakers.   Unfortunately due to “weather”, our Xmas party was cancelled.   However we will organize a day in July for a mid winter Xmas party.

 

A few of us spent the New Years Eve and next 2 days at Aasvoelskranz Cave.   The weather was, to put it mildly –B-VERY  HOT.   The traditional walk to Mount Lebanon was done, - no mist today thank you.   However due to the heat, the 4 beers that I had carried to the cave as part of the supper drinks, were soon consumed on arrival back at the cave – rather a dry supper later.   However, a good supper of steak, fried potato, mushrooms, and onions made up somewhat for the shortage of beer.   The cave was well lit with a large number of small candles, giving it a fairy grotto like appearance.   After supper, some good whiskey, drambuie, champagne, old brown sherry etc, we turned in for a good night’s sleep.

My New Years resolution, made in the evening of 2007, was kept, and done.   That was to see the sunrise on the Drakensberg between Giants Castle and Monk’s Cowl, it was a fine sunrise indeed.

On the 8th and 9th  March Theresa is leading a hike to Whytes Cave in the S. Berg.   A very nice cave indeed.   As she was not quite sure of the way, she organized a party of us to go out there this past week to walk to the cave and do a path recce, so that she would be able to get her Club trip safely to this cave on her week end hike.   We walked in very poor rainy, misty wet conditions to the cave, including doing a few 360’s to find the path in the mist in one place, and came out very well on the next day.   To my fellow club members, I would ask you to support your club leaders, and the club’s events.   Our leaders are prepared to do a “hell of a lot” for you, PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LEADERS!!!!!!!!

 

Future Events on our hike diary are to warn people of the future happening, and hopefully to get some early response from our members.   This is especially so for the harder events as the leader needs to know what training is being done by the group who may be doing the trip.   By all accounts the 550 km cycle ride has a number of cyclist who have already clocked up nearly a thousand kilometers of preparation.   Good luck and well done to the se people.

 

The half Mini Traverse dates for April/May have now been set.   I would like people who may be interested to contact me as soon as possible.   If there is a poor response from the club, I will open the hike to members of Mountain Backpackers.

 

New Members

Club Membership now stands at 151 paid up members.   Welcome to Peter Comrie;  Neville Lee & family;  Michael & Jennifer McCombie;  Sandra Naidoo & Riaz Mahomed;  Mike Phillips;  Barry Puttock;  Tony & Janet Sherrard.

 

Again we would ask you to actively recruit friends and family to join the club

 

We have a very full and varied calendar for the next few months, so watch the fixture list, and let’s see you all at an event.   All information is available on our website at  www.gohiking.co.za, and from time to time new snippets of information are added.   Make time to visit the site at regular intervals to see what is going on.

 

We have a number of Club members whose health is not great at the moment, we wish Campbell and Chantel to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.   We extend our deepest sympathy to Rose Dix and family on the recent death of Dan, R I P.

 

May I wish you all a Happy, Healthy New Year, and may we see you at a club event sooner than later.

 

ITEMS FOR SALE

For those of our members who have hiking gear which they may no longer require or which is surplus to their needs, we have a table at the Social Evenings where you may display your goods for sale.  Bring them along with your price tag attached.

 

Secure parking

Members please remember to bring your contribution to be deposited in the box to pay the Security Guard who watches our vehicles while we relax and enjoy the evening’s entertainment at the Social.

Many thanks.

 

 

Wonder valley Cave                                                                                           Howard Townshend

17/18 November 2007

 

Wonder Valley Cave, Injasuti, KZN (advertised as “A Novice” route).   6 kms each way, 3 hours each way.   A “Novice” route means that you will simply suffer less than on a regular route with the backpack waist band trying it's best to push your guts up into your chest cavity while the shoulder straps try to shove your shoulders down to meet the rising guts.   A chapter can be written on the feet, the calves and the “hammies.”

TARGET POPULATION:   “Novices.”   This does not mean that you walk the poodle around the block a few times the week before the hike, throw a couple of sarmies into a Checkers packet and then set off for a stroll.   It means that you train to carry a beastly canvas bag weighing 16 kgs and containing clothing to cater from blistering hot weather to torrential rain, jarmies, food for the two days plus a day's emergency rations, energy snacks, drinking water, toiletries, stove, cutlery, crockery, cooking pot and utensils, bedding and mattress and don't forget the Red Wine/Ol' Brown/Dram Buie.

FLORA AND FAUNA:   A large variety of wild flowers was in bloom.  (Pink Watsonia, Ericas, Bottlebrush, Tree Ferns, Cycads and purple, yellow, mauve and red jobs with unpronounceable names.   Proteas were just starting to open).   Malachite sunbird and baboons.   Thank you Lord for this magnificent “Blue Planet!”

WEATHER CONDITIONS: 

Saturday – Cloudy, cool and humid.

Saturday night. The temperature varied according to whose thermometer was consulted.   Between 12 and 15 degrees.

Sunday – Light drizzle and mist with zip visibility.

This after our leader assured us on the Thursday night that there was a mere 30% chance of poor weather. On Saturday night as we were drifting off to sleep, this same leader (who is a professional man to boot) assured us that Sunday would be good weather. And we think that the TV weather forecasts should be taken with a pinch of salt!!

ACCOMODATION: Comfy level straw sites in the overhang. (Why it is called a “cave” beats me! My Concise Oxford Dictionary defines “cave” as, underground hollow usu, with horizontal opening.)   The partitioning between the sites is not sound proof and snoring is interchanged between the sites for the full 12 hours the hikers are submerged in their sleeping bags.

The communal bath is magnificent but is a stiff climb up and down a slope as steep as a Gauteng gold mine slime dam.   After bathing and hiking back to the rooms, one needs another bath.   The geyser did not work during our stay and the water was cold enough for Scotch on the rocks.

Toilet facilities are primitive and require another stiff walk with spade (or matches to burn the paper without setting the 'Berg on fire) and toilet paper in hand. Rather unpleasant when it is drizzling.   Have you ever tried doing your thing while holding an umbrella in one hand?   Relieving yourself is quite easily achieved under these conditions if you are ambidextrous, have good balance (remember you have a brolly in one hand) and if you don't skrik and scream each time a wet blade of grass tickles your under carriage!

CELL COMMS IN THE CAVE:   Good.

SATURDAY EVENING ENTERTAINMENT:

Poems recited by Margaret.   You will be glad to hear that in the sequel to “Albert and The Lion,” the Lion does a “Jonah” on Albert and spews Albert out of his stomach.   The Ramsbottoms and Albert also cross the Mersey in a unique apparatus which was explained by Keith before the poem was recited.

We snuck glances at each others' gear to see what interesting and useful items are available.   Keith had a Swiss army knife which shows the temperature and the altitude. He also had a small LED “lantern” which was stored in a Panado plastic container.   He is not one to miss a bargain and bought a few at a sale price.   A foil 5l bladder used in wine and fruit drink boxes is most essential for a steady easy water supply without having to go to the river each time water is needed.   Down jackets squashed into smallish pillow cases make marvellous pillows for a comfortable nights sleep.   Dave had a very fancy lighter which is powered by standard lighter fuel and which operates under extreme conditions.   No hassles with lighting stoves under windy conditions with this beauty.

He was sporting and experimenting with a new Fuji camera by kind courtesy of his Insurer.   His blow up mattress with 5 separate compartments makes for a comfy sleep. This mattress also allows one to inflate compartments at different pressures to cater for sloping ground.   About R150 and 800 grams in weight.   A good buy.   The air was thick with the smell of Dram Buie, Scotch and red wine.

Much discussion on the merits of various boots.   Seeing that we had inclement weather, waterproof boots were very much under discussion.   Interesting to hear how boot manufacturers shudder when they hear the names “Dave Sclanders” and “Keith Ashton.”   For example, Hi Tec have openly told them not to buy their boots because they are not intended to cover the distances these two cover in the short space of time that they do.   Salomon have replaced two pairs for Dave but told him not to come back.   Jim Green have had boots returned to them because they have not lived up to their waterproof claims.   Keith wore his Jim Greens on this hike and although he wore gaiters and over trousers, his feet still were wet at the end of three hours of hiking in wet grass on Sunday.

THE HIKERS:

Brian Henwood – “The Gourmet Chef.” Circa 1953 model.

The Pasta and Sauce packet called for marg and milk.   Our Gourmet added a twist to the milk ingredient, Super M Vanilla!   Not satisfied with that, he added diced dried apricots and fresh onions provided by Mike.   They claim that it was delicious.

Dave Sclanders. - “ The Best 4x4 By Far.” Circa 1944 model.

According to his log on his computer, he is approaching 10 000 kms of hiking in the 'Berg!! Kan jy dit glo?   The shocks are starting to wear out and anti inflammatories have to be gobbled before and during a hike.   Still not a bad performance for a 1944 model!

Keith Ashton – “The Centurion Tank.” Circa 1939 model.

This edition can go any where any time without showing any strain or fatigue.   Because of the weirdest lump of gristle and bone on the top of one of the big toes, it takes time to wear in a pair of new boots.   Hence a steady stream of new boots into the house.

Margaret Ashton – “The Entertainer.” Circa 1940 model.

Well known for “Albert and The Lion” poems.   Two fresh ones were added to her repertoire.   What a beautiful lilt and accent from Lancashire.   Keith says that his short term insurance premiums are exorbitant mainly because he has Margaret as a specified all risk item in the policy.

Mike Phillips – “The Mouse Man of Wonder Cave.” Circa 1943 model.

A striped mouse took a fancy to Mike and paid regular visits to his site and pantry.   Mike was completely unphased.   Each time the mouse visited one of the other pantries, it was shouted at and it immediately scurried back to Mike's Kitchen.   Mike hails from Estcourt where he has lived and worked for Masonite for 34 years.   (Shame!) Don't get that kind of loyalty in the newer models, do we?   His cheque is in the post to join the club.

Howard Townshend – “The Observer.” Circa 1946 model.

Just observed, asked questions and listened.

Thank you Veronica for the hot drinks and biscuits at the end of the hike on Sunday.

NOVICES:   There are far far worse and duller ways of spending a weekend.   Make a New Year's resolution to suffer the pain and the pleasure on the next hike advertised as “Ideal for Novices.”   You will meet some beautiful people and experience the matchless beauty of God's Creation.   What a privilege to be well enough to do so!

 

 

CHOBE RIVER CRUISE                                                                                                                           Noël

 

The Caprivi Strip is long, straight as far as the eye can see and not always that interesting, but it does head in the direction of Kasane, a stone’s throw down the road from the Chobe River and Game park.

 

Thebe Camp site, a few kilometers further along is noisy with sandy camp sites but good ablutions, always a recommendation against whatever disadvantages there may be.

 

At 15h15 on one of the afternoons we were fetched from the camp site and clambered on to safari vehicles to be taken to board a 50 pax houseboat for a cruise on the Chobe River.   Despite the river being over crowded like Grand Central Station with the number of vessels of all shapes and sizes plying the waters it was peaceful chugging upstream viewing all manner of wild life.   A fresh water crocodile had the cameras clicking while an African Darter dried its wings close to a Monitor lizard.

 

 

Further up a Lion kill had everyone crowded to one side of the boat.   Across the water echoed the cry of the Fish Eagle taking a bird’s eye view of proceedings.   On the banks roamed Water Buck, one with a baby, Impala, Sable, Baboons picking through neighbour’s fur, Puku, Lechwe, Striped Mongoose and Buffalo.  In the shallows close to the banks lazed hippos.   The cherry on top were the hundreds of Elephants swimming across the river with young clinging to mother’s tail while following below the surface.   Every now and again a little trunk popped up to catch a breath of air before sinking out of sight once more.   The banks were crowded with mammoth grey bodies.  

 

With the coming of twilight the birds noisily argued about the selection of perches for the dark

hours.  The beautiful Bee Eaters, Giant and Pied Kingfishers, the circling Grey Headed Gulls, the Fish Eagles and many others which didn’t sit still long enough to be identified.

 

Quietly gliding back towards the dock a magical sunset cast a glittering golden path across the water, some of the craft being silhouetted against the red/gold sky.   Peace, perfect peace, as the animals and birds slowly settled down for the night and we disembarked to motor back to camp for a tasty supper prepared by Trevor and Jeltje.