TSITSIKAMMA HIKING TRAIL WITH WALMER METHODIST CONFIRMATION GROUP

SWIMMING IN THE LOTTERING RIVER ON DAY ONE

 JUSTIN IN COLD WATER -- FIRST STOP ON THE ROAD TO KEURBOS HUT

 THIS IS THE HIKING GROUP. JUSTIN AND HIS CONFIRMANDS AND A COUPLE OF DADS

 KEURBOS HUT -- BOMA AREA AND FIRE ON THE GO

 BOYS AT KEURBOS HUT

 THE HUT SOON BECOMES QUITE CHILLY AS THE SHADE FALLS OVER THE AREA

 STARTING THE FIRE FOR OUR EVENING BRAAI. RELAX WITH A COUPLE OF BEVERAGES FIRST THOUGH

 MUCH TO THE SHAME OF KEITH'S SON -- KEITH IN UNDERPANTS

KEURBOS HUT

 DAY TWO. ROB; JASON AND I BRING UP THE REAR GUARD. CROSSING THE BRIDGE OVER THE LOTTERING RIVER

 CROSSING THE STREAM ON DAY TWO

 AFTER THE FIRST WATER BREAK ROB; JASON AND PETER FOLLOW THE MAIN GROUP

 ROB CROSSES THE STREAM JUST BEFORE A LONG CLIMB UP THE FIRST VALLEY

 THE HEUNING BOS HUT IS STILL A VERY LONG WAY OFF.

STREAMS WHERE WE CONTINUALLY FILL OUR WATER BOTTLES


TSITSIKAMMA HIKING TRAIL WITH WALMER METHODIST CONFIRMATION GROUP
OCTOBER 2014
KEURBOS AND HEUNINGBOS HUTS

The planning of this hike started when John and I were on the Alexandria trail and we spoke about his hike that he had done with his confirmation group.
We approached Justin Wools who was Bradleys Leader and he agreed to arrange the hike.

We made the booking and obtained commitment from both the boys and the dads who would be coming with us.
On the hike:
Justin
John and Bradley Nelson
Keith and Steven Vosloo
Kevin and Jordan McMaan
Rob and Jason Ermes
Gary, Joshua and Matthew Strydom
Kei Hodgkinson
Malusi
Jonathan Cherrington
and myself
Graham Richards was booked to come on the hike but had to pull out at the last minute due to work pressures.

Friday 3rd October 2014
We had obtained permission from the school for the boys to be off for the morning. It was the last day of term. The dads had arranged a day off from work.

I had been for my morning beach run and John had also run this morning (16k) with his group.

I dropped Ally off at school -- she had one more exam to write -- Maths which I later heard was a really tough test which she was not able to finish.
I then collected John and Brad and we all met at the church and left at about 9.30.
We had a collective stop at the Storms river shops where a last bit of snacks and provisions were bought.
From there we drove to the Forest station near to Coldstream on the old N2 which takes you to the Blaukrans Pass which has been closed for many years.

Rob did the signing in while Keith and I took my car to Standers Transport depot. I had met Riaan Stander earlier in the week and asked him if we could park a car there while hiking and he was quite happy with the arrangement.

Back at the forest station we were able to start our walk at around 12.30. today's walk would be entirely on a forest road. After about an hour we reached the Lottering River where we had our first swim and a bit of a snack. I did not know it but Rob was already suffering with blisters on both feet. From this point it is 7k to the hut. The following 5k was uphill. A long and slow grind to the top with many "false tops" to the walk. I had dropped my cup at one of the stops up the hill.

At the top of the hill Rob took his boots off and put some elastoplast over the blisters which he would leave there for the rest of the hike. We made our way slowly down to the Keurbos Hut where the rest of the group were waiting. We allocated ourselves bunk beds and unpacked the essentials.
Matthew had brought some throwing knives and the boys tried their hand at stabbing trees. One of the knives was lost in the long grass never to be recovered.

Jason and a group of boys pulled out some playing cards while the rest of us started a fire and began to prepare supper.
There were a variety of menus as prepared variously by the men, the boys and the women of the house. For myself I had brought the same menu for the two nights: some Filet steak; Onions; A vegetable pack in tin foil and a precooked potato. This all went onto the fire and made a simply delicious supper. I had two beers for each evening and so by 8pm I could hardly keep my eyes open and fell asleep the instant my head hit the pillow.

Saturday morning 4.10.2014
It was a beautiful morning with the sun coming up over the mountains just in time to warm us up as we prepared a fire and coffee. I had brought two packets of instant oats; some fruit; coffee and a few crunchies for each morning breakfast. After this filling morning meal I was ready to take on the 14k of trail ahead. Rob and I brought up the rear of the group.

Today the First section is down to the stream and then up to the far side of this magnificent valley. We were able to look back and enjoy the splendor of this country. We could see where the Baboons were taking advantage of the Protea. I understand that they strip the flower to find the bugs and beetles which feed on the nectar of the flower and it is this that they enjoy. We also see that they enjoy the Nuts found in the Pine cones.

Once over the first neck and into the second valley there is a long and arduous descent to the river where the rest of the group were waiting for us. Rob was battling with the Blisters and in a lot of pain. After a short break we pressed on along the river bed. Jason joined us for the second half of the day's walk. From the river stop we crossed the bridge and then climbed up and into the forest area. This led to the jeep track where we turned right and then immediately left back into the Heuningbos forest.

From the river stop it had been reasonably easy going but once we started to follow the river bed in the indigenous forest we found the going really difficult. The trail has not been well maintained and there are many short sharp ascents and descents. Later talking to the rest of the group we found that we were not the only ones who had battled over this section. Rob and I were drenched in sweat in the windless jungle like forest.

Finally the trail took us to the neck of the mountains and from here we could see the Heuningbos huts. But it would still be a long pull to the huts. We could see that the rest of the group were already unpacked and enjoying the rest. We still had a steep and long down hill to negotiate before reaching the stream and then still had two more ups and downs to climb before finally reaching the huts at about 4pm that afternoon.

For us it had been a long hike and we were grateful to be able to shower and recover some of our good humour.

After a bit of a rest we put the fire on for afternoon tea. The boys pulled out the cards and played games of Sevens and of "Bull". Sevens is a game where all the cards are dealt. The player with the 7of diamonds starts. One card at a time is played face up and you must play or pass. You may only play the higher or lower of the series or if you have a seven you can play that card which opens the next suite. The idea is to rid yourself of the last card.

Bull is played with the card face down. You announce the card you are playing and the person after you has to play the upper card; the lower card or the same card. For example-- I play a 10 then the next player must play Jack; Nine or 10. He announces the card he has played (Jokers are in the deck and are wild cards). You may also play 2 or more of the same card so if there are two Jokers it is possible for you to play 6 of a number. As the cards are played face down you are not sure if the player is being honest. If you think that he is playing an "illegal" card you can call the word "Bull" at which time you check the validity of his call. If the call was valid then the accuser takes the pack. If the call was invalid then the player takes the pack. The object of this game is to clear your hand.

Our braai was again most successful that evening. The temperature drops as soon as the sun sets so jackets and warm clothing is essential. Kevin dishes out his excess tins of beans and relish. John hands out chocolate to the group of boys. Keith and Steven have a meal of Meat, meat and little else.

It is not that easy to sleep with sore muscles, a makeshift pillow, a narrow bunk bed and a noisy room. But we manage to have sufficient sleep to wake up; make our breakfast and pack up for the walk back to where we have parked the cars. This morning is an easy walk of about 6km and just over an hour along a forest road. I enjoy a chat with Steven who has his career planned out as an Gunsmith. He tells me that he is a "crack shot" with a rifle and a pellet gun. He plans to train as a Gunsmith in the US and in the long term open his own business.

We are all happy to have enjoyed a few days out with good company; magnificent weather; amazing mountain climbs and scrumptious meals. After a short stop at the Storms River Village we all head off home to wash the clothes and bags of the smokey smells and ourselves of the accumulated sweat and grime of the trail.

BOYS PREPARED AND SET FOR THE FINAL STRETCH

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL GROUP OF BOYS WHO BANTERED AND TEASED BUT EACH HAD THEIR OWN DIGNITY AND RESPECT

 JUSTIN' BRADLEY; MATTHEW; JORDAN AND KEVIN AROUND THE FIRE

 JASON READY WITH TONGS WHILE MALUSI WARMS HIS HANDS AS A MATTER OF HABIT

 KEVIN LEADS THE GROUP FROM HEUNINGBOS WITH THE MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE BACKGROUND.

MY GRANDSON; BLAKE SILBERSTEIN, IN CAPE TOWN IS STARTING TO TRAIN FOR HIKING

JOHN IS DEEP IN THOUGHT AS HE DECIDES TO \\\\\\\BULL OR NOT TO BULL

ROB CROSSING THE LOTTERING RIVER ON DAY TWO. ROB HAD SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH BLISTERS AND EACH STEP WAS PAIN

KEURBOS HUT

LOTTERING RIVER STOP NUMBER ONE. EVERYONE WAS, AT THIS STAGE, HAPPY TO SWIM AND RELAX.

JOHN WEARS THE HOGSBACK T-SHIRT. HE AND I WILL TAKE PART IN THIS EVENT AGAIN THIS YEAR EXCEPT THAT \I WILL TAKE THE SHORTER OPTION

A BEAUTIFUL STOPPING AREA AND WAS GIVEN THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE VERY LONG CLIMB OF ABOUT 6KM ON THE FOREST ROAD LEADING TO KEURBOS HUT.

HEUNING BOS HUT BOMA. PETER RELAXING BEFORE THE FINAL SHORT WALK OUT OF THE HIKE

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT HIKE WITH SOME REALLY FUN PEOPLE. WE ARE ABOUT TO START WALKING BACK TO THE N2 WHERE WE WILL COLLECT OUR CARS

EARLY MORNING BEFORE STARTING THE MORNING HIKE

OUR EVENINGS WERE SPENT IN THE BRAAI LAPA

 THE HEUNINGBOS HUT OVERLOOKING THE VALLEY AND A TRIBUTARY OF THE LOTTERING RIVER.  THE HUT CONSISTS OF TWO ROOMS WITH TRIPLE BUNKS. EACH ROOM SLEEPING A POSSIBLE 18 BODIES. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT OVER CROWDED AND HAD PLACE FOR OUR BEDS AND KIT

 HEUNINGBOS HUT

ON THE JEEP TRACK BACK TO THE CARS AT RIAAN STANDERS TRANSPORT COMPANY ON THE N2

 RELAXING IN THE SHADE ON THE WAY UP TO THE KEURBOS HUT

 CARD PLAYING BOYS AT HEUNING BOS HUT.

 ON THE COLDSTREAM ROAD IF YOU SEE THIS SIGN YOU ARE AT THE TURN OFF TO THE FOREST STATION

 THIS IS WHERE YOU TURN OFF TO THE START OF THE DAY'S WALK

FRIDAY MORNING RUNNING GROUP BEFORE WE SET OFF ON OUR HIKING TRAIL.

 TURN OFF FROM THE N2 TO COLDSTREAM AND THE START OF OUR HIKE

 LOVELY COOLING OFF SWIM IN THE LOTTERING RIVER

SEPTEMBER 2014; HOCKEY AT PEARSON; NICKY BUYS A NEW CAR; CAPE TOWN MARATHON; ALLY -- PREFECT WEEKEND;

SUNDAY EVENING.
The music group leads with a song which I find rings true:
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

Lyrics:
Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone here in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

Bridge:
You make all things work together for my good



SEPTEMBER 2014
PEARSON FIRST TEAM HOCKEY VS PARENTS TEAM ON SUNDAY EVENING AND SUPPER AFTERWARDS.
TRAINING FOR CAPE TOWN MARATHON GOING WELL
NEW SHOES -- AISICS CUMULUS FROM BRIAN BANDS.
PEARSON 5K FUN RUN WITH DANIEL. JOSH AND JESSICA.
VISIT TO GARDEN ROUTE AND ENA. MEET JULIA THERE.


 PARENTS SIDE AT THE PEARSON FIRST TEAM VS PARENTS GAME

PEARSON FIRST TEAM ON SUNDAY EVENING PLAY THE PARENTS TEAM. 

 PARENTS AND PEARSON TEAMS MEET FOR A GAME ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST 2014

THREE MATRIC GIRLS IN THE 2014 HOCKEY TEAM; CAPTAIN ALLISON; LUZANNE WHO WAS OFTEN CALLED UP DUE TO HER STRONG HIT AND ANJA THE GOAL KEEPER WHO ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SAY ABOUT ALLY. 

 THE TEAM HAD A SPECIAL GIFT FOR THEIR MATRIC GIRLS AND THE COACHES.

I am at home this week so run Monday and Tuesday morning. Stuart is injured with chin splints so he has to pull out of the Cape Town marathon. In his place we now have Sizinso Kama coming with us to CT.

I give Wednesday running a miss for a day of rest and then run 15k Moffet on Thursday morning with Liesl, Andrea and Janine.
Friday 5th. I start the morning with a solitary morning Parkrun with my headlamp. The mornings are still dark until about 6 or 6.15. Running on the beach is so amazing this morning.
Friday afternoon; Pearson is having a fun run as a fundraiser. Ally enters our family and Lene's family. We collect the boys and Jessica and make it to the school just in time for the start at 5pm.  I jog on to catch the group and find Daniel by my side. He runs the first K with me. There is a bit of uphill and he manages to keep up. We reach the top of the school and there is a One K marker.. Daniel exclaims "Grandad, Only One kay to go" until he reads the rest of the board which says "Well done. You have run your first kay and only four to go".
We run on together.. Mainly passing other boys and girls who charged off and who are now tiring. Daniel has a continuous chatter to keep us on the go. There is a strong west wind and heading into the wind and up hill has not been easy .... But now we are past half way and are mainly with the wind and downhill. Easy and fun at this stage.
We reach the final 500m and Daniel takes off and beats me into the finish. He is so proud of himself that he is first of the family to finish. Ally, Josh and Jessica have dogs with them. Barbara to my surprise completes the full five kay walking and jogging. There is a Luck Draw at the end and Paddy Hodgson wins the R1000 first prize.



 SATURDAY MORNING RUN WITH VIV; ELMARIE AND NEIL.
CORNER OF STRANDFONTEIN AND LA ROCHE.. THERE IS A NEW HOUSING COMPLEX BEING BUILT OPPOSITE THE OLD RUGBY STADIUM

 VIV; ELMARIE AND NEIL ON THE RUN.

TRACEY COCKCOFT MET ME FOR THE LAST FIVE KAY OF THE MORNING RUN.

Saturday 5th morning. I am happy to see that I will have company on the run this morning with Elmarie; Viv and Neil running up Walmer Boulevard and past the airport with me. At second ave I  leave them to continue to Admiralty to make up the full 15k and then on my way home I meet Tracey Cockroft and run the 5k parkrun with her to make a full 20k run. I am happy that I have again managed a week of 60k this week for the third week in a row.
Parkrun is now officially under Werner and Tamryn. I meet up with some of Nicky's friends at the parkrun. Carla; Monique and Christie. We have over 300 runners at today\s run. It is a glorious day with little wind.

FRIENDS OF NICKY -- CARLA; MONIQUE AND CHRISTIE

BEACH FRONT MORNING RUNS

 NEW RUNNING SHOES FROM BRIAN BANDS. AISICS CUMULUS

 AISICS MAKE A COLOURFUL SHOE

 WE CAME ACROSS THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT WHICH WAS CAUSED AS WE UNDERSTAND IT BY A GIRL FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.

 SECOND CAR WHICH WE THINK WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

 STRANDFONTEIN ROAD ON SATURDAY MORNING.

 ELMARIE; NEIL AND VIV CHECK THE DAMAGED CARS OUT.

THE REAR AXEL AND WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED FROM THE POLICE VAN..

WE HEAR THAT THE POLICEMEN WERE INJURED.

Sunday 7th is a relaxed day at home. Ally has a club Hockey Match in the afternoon and I have church duty.
Monday morning I drive to Oudtshoorn where I work for the day and then drive to Plett to see Ena. Julia is there and leaving for Cape Town the following morning. I do the same then following day. This driving up and down is exhausting especially as I have about 100k in the dark with rain.
Wednesday morning I meet up with Margaret at the bank and sort out some banking stuff for Ena.
Wednesday evening we go to see Puss In Boots in support of one of our Wednesday Cell Group members child who is in the show. I can now say that I, not only know who Puss in Boots is, But I also have an inside track on how this cat came to own boots and how the cat has the ability to speak.

Thursday Morning -- I have my first run of the week. Still feeling good for the Marathon next week. Nicky had a fall in the shower, hurt her foot and is now considering doing the 10k. But we are now all looking forward and planning for the Meiringspoort which is in a month;s time.

Friday 12th: An interesting day: Joshua does well at his athletics day for Clarendon at the Westbourne Oval. Jacqui does all kinds of art work for her school. Ally is chosen to be a Prefect at Pearson High in 2015. This is a first for the Giddy Family as none of us has made Prefect before. I start my day with a Parkrun and swim.

This evening Ally is at a party at the Lifesaving club and then goes to the Pearson Dance with Jessica.

Saturday Morning -- Running at the beach front with our group: Pat and Gerald; Neil; Liesl with friend Lucas; Adrienne; Elmarie; Bev; Annie. We run towards Admiralty and up to Kock st and then along Strandfontein to the Airport and back. A good 16k run which will be my last longer run before the marathon next Sunday.
We have another successful parkrun with over 400 runners.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALLY WHO WAS ASKED TO BE A PREFECT FOR HER MATRIC YEAR AT PEARSON 2015

SATURDAY MORNING RUN WITH LIESL; NEIL AND ELMARIE

; UP ADMIRALTY TO THE AIRPORT AND BACK MAKES A SOLID 16K.

ELMARIE IS AT HER BEST WITH NEIL

WITH LONG LEGS LIKE THIS IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT NEIL IS SUCH A GOOD RUNNER. 

A good parkrun with over 400runners on a beautiful morning. Roz will move to Cape Town at the end of \October and has handed Parkrun over to Werner and Tamryn who are already doing an amazing job.  Today Gus Fergusson has volunteered 50 times.

WEDNESDAY EVENING WE ALL GO TO WATCH PUSS IN BOOTS AT THE LITTLE THEATER. 

MICHAEL IN HAPPY DAYS IN HIS STEPPING OUT DUDS. I THINK THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN HIS MATRIC DANCE?

FRIDAY MORNING; WE OFTEN DO OUR PARKRUN ON FRIDAY MORNING FOR THE VOLUNTEERS. THIS MORNING WE ARE MET BY CATHERINE SWEETNAM; LIESL; ADRIENNE. I HAVE A SWIM.  

MAYBE I SHOULD BUY ANOTHER COSSIE. BUT I REALLY CANNOT SEE ANY REASON TO DO SO. 

JACQUI IS IN ISRAEL WITH HER BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WHERE SHE MAKES PLAY AREAS FOR THEM. 

JACQUI IS SO TALENTED. 

RIA AT THE LITTLE THEATER IN BIRD STREET. THIS THEATER IS SO SMART AFTER A MAJOR FACELIFT. 

JOSH WINS HIS EVENT AT THE WESTBOURNE OVAL AND SEEMS TO TAKE A LOT OF PLEASURE AS HE RAISES HIS HANDS IN MODEST VICTORY.

Tuesday 16th. I am trying to rest but decided that a 5k walk and run with Gerald is better for me. This morning there is a huge group of runners and walkers. My legs are feeling tired but I am trusting that what I have done in the form of training is going to be what is required for a marathon..

We leave for Cape Town on Thursday afternoon 18th; Stay over in Plett with Sizinzo.
Friday morning drive to CT and register.
Saturday Morning visit Nicky and spend the day relaxing
Sunday 21st is the Marathon.
I meet up with Sizinzo and Hubert. And Lorna who recognised me from the PE running days (Friend of Malcolm Figg)
We started in the front of the field.
10km in 56 minutes and 21 in 2.02. Much too fast. Suffered later on in the race especially after 24k with the hills.
Please remind me to NOT attempt a 42k again. 21 is much more my bundle.

Monday morning Back to PE; dropped off Sizinzo and fetched Ally who had been on a Matric Prefects weekend in Kirkwood.
Tuesday 23rd: still on some annual leave so spend the day with a list of "to do's". From cleaning up the yard and pool to buying Ally a learners licence book and fixing the tyres on the bakkie. Took my car in for service. Dumped some rubbish, Filled water bottles; bought Gas; Collected my Flash drive from Post Net where I had left it last week.
Wednesday 24th. Heritage day. Also known as Braai Day. Ran the Monday Morning route 10k -- started with Adrienne and Annie but as they were not feeling on top form and it was raining they pulled out. Graham; Bev and I ran the full distance.
Most of Wednesday it was raining solidly and we were indoors. Barbara and I visit Delene and Matthew for tea.

The following weekend it is my turn to organise the Parkrun. There is a fair turn out of around 130 runners while the Grahamstown Parkrun is starting its very first run with Adrienne; Werner; Ros assisting them to a successful start.

Tuesday 30th I have to be in George and Mossel Bay for work and return on Thursday 2nd. I stay over at Ena -- she is recovering strongly and looks like she should be up and about fairly shortly.

Meanwhile Nicky has bought a Kia car

OUDTSHOORN

BLAKE ON THE RUN

JACQUI IS FAST BECOMING AN EXPERT IN THIS ART FORM

NICKY NEW KIA

NICKY IN DAD'D  OLD JACKET

BEACHFRONT RUNNING GROUP