LAST TWO SOCIAL EVENINGS

Over the past two social evenings we were undoubtably privileged to have had two excellent presentations both by ladies who have demonstrated determination in their respective remarkable achievements. The first (September) was by our own Chantel Beatie who gave a thematic rather than chronological presentation of this years Grand Traverse. Chantel spoke openly and from the heart about what the trip had entailed and presented a well put together show of slides which captured so many aspects of this major hike.
Pic shows Chantel on the right together with, from left, Irene, Teresa and Alison at the start of the Grand Traverse. Well done Chantel on your presentation those of us who have not yet aspired to do the Grand Traverse were suitably impressed.

October October's social evening featured Bridget Ringdahl the "Blonde on a Bike" (that's her and her bike above) giving a presentation on and talking of her 6 month, 5500km, cycling trip through Asia, central India, along the coast of Vietnam, Laos, South West China, across Tibet and finishing in Nepal where she taught for several months as a volunteer at a Nepalese school. In Laos Bridget's equally blonde cycling companion had to leave and Bridget carried on the trip solo. Encouraging and awe inspiring as the trip was Bridget herself is very approachable and her presentation was challenging - not so much to take up an extreme mode of touring but to look around and see and sense what is in the world, advise that she left us with was "find your road and ride it well". You can read more about the "Blonde on a Bike" on her website, click on following link or image of her bookcover to go to her site www.blondeonbike.co.za If you missed this social evening there is promise of a return to present her South American trip - we look forward to that. Details of her book "Blonde on a Bike" can also be accessed from the website.


Flowers & Pics
Chairman Dave assures us that now is the time to see flowers in the Berg, so get to the Fixture List or Event Calendar and schedule your hike, you can also be assured of being in the capable hands of the Club leaders who do their best to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip. Pack a camera and mail your pics to me at rodhart@webstorm.co.za for example Noel sent this stunning pic from Castleburn in the Southern Berg Other of Noel's pics from their Botswana trip and be seen in the October Reports section of the Newsletters Index page. There are also some pics submitted by Keith of the Kozi Bay Trail. Next month's (November's) social evening is a slide presentation by Keith of the 22 day trip to Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Has anyone noticed yet that I am now using thumbnail pics to introduce some of the Newsletter reports? I am able to do this because members have submitted the pics so well done to those who have - it gives me more to play with.

See you at the next Social Evening on 20 November - usual venue, Church of Ascension in Hilton (in the mist...) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~