MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON
SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2014
As we run this event we cross the poort 21 times. Each crossing has a name and each name has a history. The following information is in the information center next to the waterfall in the Poort.
From De Rust:
1.Spookdrif: A supernatural light in the form of a ball of fire has been seen at this point.
2.Skansdrif: Stone Ramparts were built here to prevent flooding.
3.Damdrif: There was a very large water-hole here that was deceptive particularly to strangers who would often become bogged down in the mud.
4.Boesmansdrif: here there are deep clefts in the rock face where San people used to live.
5.Skelmkloof Drif: here there is a hidden ravine where water trickles into the Groot Rivier.
6.Aalwyndrif: Named after the beautiful aloes that over look this drift. Aloes are sought after for their medicinal uses.
7.Nooiensboomdrif: A Nooiensboom is a Cabbage Tree and two of these trees used to grow on either side of the road.
8.Stewelsdrif: A “stewel” is translated as a Boot. A wagoner of farmer Petrus Meiring lost his boots here and had to return home for a new pair. Here the name Dubbledrif can also be seen. This does not appear to be an official name of a drift as it does not appear on the list of Drifts in the information center.
9.Perskeboomdrif: so named from the peach trees that used to grow close to this Drift.
10.Sanddrif: Sandbanks would cause obstructions here. The first Concrete causeway was built here in 1948
11.Herrie se drif: first known as Nagas drif it later took on the name Herrie. C J Langenhoven (1873 – 1932) poet and afrikaans writer, is best known for composing the South African National Anthem: “Uit die Blou van onse hemel” which was later adapted to our present anthem incorporating Nkosi Siki Lele in 1995 when Nelson Mandela become president. Langenhoven carved out the name Herrie which was the name of his fictional Elephant in his book: “Sonde met die Bure”. This is one of the few cases of Graffiti becoming a National Heritage site. It was proclaimed in 1973 to celebrate the birth date of Langenhoven.
12.Witperdedrif: a Rabbi and his horses were washed away at this site. His remains were never found.
13.Ou Tol drif: named after the Old Toll house which has been gone for many years
14.Wadrif: Legend has it that a number of wagons were washed away here.
15.Witfonteindrif: there is a steam of crystal clear water that flows from kranses to the west of this crossing.
16.Uitspandrif: there is sufficient area for the wagoners to allow the oxen to turn and to graze in this area.
17.Waterfaldrif: so called after a nearby waterfall.
18.Ontploffingsdrif: a wagon loaded with explosives traveling along the Boer Road exploded close by here. The Anglo Boer war / South African war (1899 – 1902) saw the British Soldiers build a fort with wall so stone here.
19.Derdetoldrif: to the West of this crossing two more Toll Houses were built. The ruins of these houses can still be seen here.
20.Rooiuitspanningsdrif: here there was sufficient space for a number of ox wagons to outspan. The red comes from the red soil in the area.
21.Pereboom se drif. As you approach this drift you go through a horse shoe bend. A saffron pear tree grew here making this a popular place for wagons to outspan
22.Bloupunt drif: wagons would frequently become stuck in the loose gravel here. The name is derived from that of a nearby farm.
23.Wasgatdrif: Entering Meiringspoort from the North, travelers could fill their barrels and could wash off the Karoo dust in the first really deep pools in many miles.
24.Opmetingsdrif: in 1912 measurements were taken to decide upon building a dam in this possibly suitable position.
25.Laaste Drif: traveling from the South this would have been the last drift that you would cross.
Petrus Meiring owned the farm where De Rust is now situated. It was he who loved to explore and discovered the route through the Swartberg mountain range, we now refer to as Meirings Poort. He was the son of a Pastor Meiring who arrived in South Africa in 1743.
At this event I come across
From Achilles
Audrey; Gail and Merle
Rodney and Leslie
Shane
Craig Wilson
Allan Taylor
Christine Claassen
Dawn Black
Heidi and …. Jansen
Ian and Pat Thompson
From our running group:
Chris and Elmarie Botha
Gerald and Pat Scheepers
Liesl De Lange
Bev
Helen; Mike and Tania Smith.
Duncan and Natalie Stewart.
Adele vd Venter.
Mike and Debbie Dean.
Others
Dean Gow
Tracey and Rolf
Pauline, Ray and Roz Wilson
Grant Breedske
Guy and Sandy Cooke with their two athletic sons.
Peter and Margie Newton
Nicky and I had entered as soon as Entries were opened on line. I had, at the same time booked two chalets at Kleinplaas in Oudtshoorn. We have stayed here a number of times and find it to be suitable for our needs as the children can run around as they please and feel quite safe.
Barbara, Ally and I left Port Elizabeth at almost exactly the same time as Nicky on Friday Morning 10th. We stopped at Woolworths for some provisions and a Chai Tea each. We found the road leaving PE to be quite busy. We turned off from the N2 to the Langkloof road. This road is normally a lot quieter. We had left just before 10am and drove non stop to DeRust. We arrived around 13.30; Found parking behind the church hall and registered for Nicky and myself. I collected Julia’s Number and her blanket that she had ordered. Julia was in Plett staying with Patrick and his family who were on Holiday there. Ena has become ever stronger after a fall and being in hospital with a broken arm. Ena has been trying to recover for the past three or four months. Julia was trying to catch up with her research project on Eco Tourism in the Tsitsikamma area which she is working on for her PHD.
We drove through to Oudtshoorn and booked into Kleinplaas. Nicky arrived shortly after us. I had to do some work and then bought some provisions for the next two days. I had paid the accommodation off over the past 6 months and so had nothing left to pay when we arrived. This evening I made a Braai of Chicken and Boerewors; Coleslaw; Mushrooms and potato. Everyone ate well and was in bed early.
Saturday morning: Up at 4.30; breakfast of Future Life and a banana and we left just after 5am. Nicky and I drove through to DeRust in her new Kia. We had to put some petrol and still arrived in DeRust in good time to find parking close to the Start Area. We walked to where the trucks were leaving and Nicky spotted a Bus. We quickly jogged to it to find Two Open spaces. What a bonus! I was wearing just my running vest while Nicky had brought her tracksuite top in case it became really cold. This morning the temperature was about 13 Degrees and really not that cold.
The bus took us to the start area where Nicky and I both met up with some of our friends. Running is really a social activity. People love to greet other runners and renew old friendships with this common Interest. We had some tea and made our way to the start. I like to stand as close to the start line as possible as this gives you a time advantage in a crowded event like this one. Even though we were right on the line, a number of real athletes pushed in front of us as trucks and cars had right of passage on this main road.
The gun starts us off at 7am. We run 1;5km out towards Prince Albert and then turn back towards DeRust. It all seems like downhill. We go out fairly fast but there are already a hundred runners in front of us as we turn. I enjoy this as we are able to see who is ahead and who is still to catch us. Nicky has not been able to do any real training over the past month as they have been moving and had no stability. Nicky also has no running partners or people with whom she can train.
We keep a steady pace; averaging around five and a half minutes a kay. Nicky runs with Bev for a while. Liesl goes ahead. I just have fun chatting to people and running at my own pace. I meet up with Dawn Black (Errol Black’s daughter) who is now also an Achillean. I run for a while with Warren Collier who is suffering with an injured calf muscle. We get to the 10k to go in just over one hour. I am aware that if you want to run under two hours for this event you should have completed 11kays in under an hour. Nicky is running well but struggling as we pass the 7kays to go mark. I think that she measures her slowest kay to be 15th or 16th km out. We catch Liesl who is tired and walking through a watering station. I urge her to stay with us. Nicky continues to run with almost no walking.
With about 3km to go Nicky begins to tire noticeably. It is here that she has to force herself to not walk. We see Barbara and Nicky’s children on the side of the road. They are all excited to see their Mom on the run. We hand Nicky’s tracksuit top to them. With just under two kays to go
I chase them off to allow us to focus on the task at hand. It has become uphill and we need to work hard to maintain the pace. We have been running solidly for two hours and this takes its toll on the legs.
The final uphill to the finish has changed from previous years and there is no loop up and down. It is now a straight up to the finish at the back of the hall. We manage to run the whole way up and into the finish where we wait for Barbara, Ally and children to find us. I go to the car where I collect my clean clothes. I have a really good hot shower to clean some of the sweat off.
We all gather in the big tent where we treat ourselves to cold beverages and jaffels. And then we take a drive to the Information area and waterfall in the Poort. I forgot to wear a cossie and so we watch others enjoying a cold swim. They tell us that the water is colder than cold. It is a 60meter waterfall that tumbles down into the three pools below.
After this we make our way back to Kleinplaas where we spend the rest of the afternoon resting and relaxing. I take Ally for a driving lesson on the wide grassy area next to the bungalow. This is only her second lesson that I am giving her. Trying to get the clutch and gears coordination going.
This evening I again make a braai of sausage; boerrie Rolls and chicken with little else bar a coleslaw to add to the menu. But it seems sufficient for everyone and we are again in bed early this evening. It has been a beautiful evening as it often is in Oudtshoorn where we are able to sit outside with a cold beverage and have a supper together under the stars.
Sunday morning;
We clean up and leave around 8am. We take the road back to De Rust; Uniondale and then meet up on the Langkloof. This is, for me, always a real South African Experience as you pass villages and towns with real South African names; Avontuur; Misgund; Louterwater; Krakeel; Harlem; Joubertina and Kareedouw. The road is quiet and we are soon home.
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| OUR HIKING GROUP FROM EARLIER THIS MONTH. TSITSIKAMMA TRAIL FROM KEURBOS TO HEUNINGBOS |
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| MY GRANDSON; BLAKE, IS TRAINING FOR FUTURE MEIRINGSPOORT EVENTS |
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| DEAN GOW AND ACHILLEANS -- RODNEY, LESLEY, AUDREY AND GAIL |
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| AFTER THE RUN THE MPRG GROUP OF FRIENDS |
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| WE START TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE MORNING SUN AS WE EXIT THE POORT. BUT THEN WE IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO WARM UP. WE HAVE HAD THE BREEZE BEHIND US FOR THE WHOLE RUN AND HAVE HAD A HUGE ADVANTAGE WITH THE BREEZE AND THE SLIGHT DOWN HILL. |
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| LATER IN THE EVENING ALLY SITS WITH NICKY'S FOUR CHILDREN AND WATCHES A VIDEO. MIA IS ASLEEP; CHRISTIAN IS TURNING 12 SHORTLY; AARON AND ZARA WATCH INTENTLY |
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| EACH 2015 PREFECT IS CALLED UP ONE BY ONE AND GIVEN THE APPROPRIATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. \ |
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| SUN ON THE ROCKS AS WE EMERGE FROM THE POORT FOR THE LAST 5 KAYS |
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| NICKY IS JUST AHEAD OF ME WITH ABOUT 10K TO GO |
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