Are you a visitor to South Africa or the Eastern Cape? Are you planning to visit Port Elizabeth? Do you need a tour guide? I specialise in Tours of the Addo Elephant park and other game drives. I also take visitors for hikes and walks in the area according to your request.
Find me and my details on
peter.giddy@gmail.com
See below on this blog for information regarding the names of each Drif (River Crossing)
Entry to this year's event is a huge stress for many of us. I had booked and paid for three chalets at Kleinplaas in Oudtshoorn as early as January 2015. So when the process of entering the event went sour I started to panic. Somehow the gap between entering the event and paying for the entry seemed to become mixed up and many of us were not sure of our entries. Also the system became slow and jammed up as everyone was trying to submit entries at the same time.
Well in the end our entries were complete and paid for. It was Julia; Nicky; Lene and myself. Plus many of our PE friends and running partners who managed to secure entry for this highly popular event.
When it comes to Meiringspoort 10 and 21k; many of us see this as an opportunity to run a good time. But there are often hiccups that prevent us from achieving our goals. This year was no exception. Nicky moved to Riebeek Kasteel and had no training partners and unfamiliar training routes. Julia now has a job at the university (NMMU) and is trying to complete her studies towards a Phd. Lene also moved homes and has to work odd hours and has her three children to see to. I personally have only one excuse for not being 100% fit and ready and that is persistent injury. I seem to alternate between sore knees and sore legs.
But in the end we were able to be at the start. Unfortunately some of our friends did not make it to the start: Pat and Gerald should have been there but circumstances prevented this. Stefany had a heart scare and had her son's valedictory to come between her and running Meiringspoort. Neil too had the opportunity but in the end was unable to get there.
From our MPRG I can think of these runners who took part: Andrea; Erika; Stuart and Maryka; Amanda; Nicky; Liesl; Shannon and her friend Mozree; Chris and Elmarie; Ray and her two girls - Lisa and Jess. Angela Fraser; Claire and Michelle.
And so on Friday 16th October we left for Oudtshoorn at about 9am. Barbara and I were in the Corsa Bakkie. I had loaded 5 bicycles into the back. This was to allow our 6 grandchildren the opportunity to ride around in Kleinplaas. Lene was in her Renault Scenic with Julia; Mia; Joshua and Daniel. Barbara also had her two birds with her; a rescue pigeon and a cockatiel which she was rearing. Ally had stayed at home as she had her Matric Drama finals this weekend. Jessica had also stayed in PE with friends for the weekend.
We broke the ride up with stops at Jeffreys Bay; Joubertina; and a compulsory change of positions with Daniel and Mia joining me for the ride from the R62 to the Uniondale Poort so that I could tell them the story of the Ghost of this poort. They stayed in the Bakkie with me for the rest of the way to De Rust. Once in De Rust we registered and were soon on the final leg to Oudtshoorn. We booked in at Kleinplaas and almost as soon as the bikes were off loaded they were in use.
We paid a quick visit to the supermarket for supplies and then spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing before Nicky arrived at around 4 with Christian; Aaron and Zara. We decided to start the fire early. It was just as well as the wood that I had bought was wet and useless. Chris came to our rescue and got the fire going again. Finally we had our chicken portions grilled and everyone had plenty to eat. Cathy, Saul and Blake arrived later.
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| SHADOWY FACES OF MIKE DEAN; DEBBIE' CLAIRE; MICHELLE; MARIE LOUISE. |
Saturday 17th. We were up and about early and left Kleinplaas at around 5.15am to arrive in De Rust just in time for the last bus to the start. We found a reasonably close parking place and walked to the bus area. We said goodbye to Lene and Julia; Nicky and I climbed onto a bus with just 6 other runners. As we rode to the start it appeared to be cold and windy but the start area was nice and warm. I was in my running vest only but found Debbie Dean at the start and she gave me one of her blankets. Somehow I became separated from Nicky and Julia so we did not see each other in the mob of runners until we passed one another after the first kay of running.
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| THIS IS THE SWARTBERG MOUNTAIN RANGE. |
At the start I see many of our PE running friends including Linda Harwood and Carol Anne Cash (Bissiker). Barbara Foot; Shane and Sharon; Andrea is with her sister in law Melissa who is known as Mo and who was at school with Nicky. Melissa lives in Johannesburg and has come all this way to run her first 21k. She had a good run; finishing in around 1.57 I think.
So I have this thing about Meiringspoort; you need to stand right at the front -- or as close to the front under the start banner as you can. This event is a fast route and you generally try to do a reasonably good time. And there are so many runners that it is easy to become bogged down in the mass if you are too far back at the start. The gun goes off and within seconds we are way behind hundreds of runners. I start off with Melissa and Andrea.
We start with the first two kays -- out and back on the way to Prince Albert before crossing the start line at about 18 to go. I see some of our friends in the loop section including Nicky -- we had become separated in the start area.
Andrea has not been training much due to work and home pressures. I have been concerned about knees and had been "sucking on Probita" to try to repair the damage and to overcome the pain.
It seems to be working as I am able to run reasonably pain free. It is just when I have to walk that I feel the discomfort. We are running comfortably and find Maryka on the road. Melissa seems to find her rhythm and is able to stay with Maryka while Andrea and I remain a bit behind.
We reach 10 to go in just about an hour. I am loving the run this morning. It is a perfect day for a run with most of the route in the cool shadows of the mountains and every now and again we receive a boost of a gust of wind behind us.
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| AT THIS STAGE ANDREA HAS A LONG CONFIDENT STRIDE |
Andrea battles with exhaustion and so with about 3k to go, a girl from PE (Kelly) announces that we have about 11 minutes to go if we want to come in under 2 hours. I determine to give it a go and press on as hard as I can. Across Skans Drif and then Dam Drif and finally the last crossing is Spook Drif. From here there is only about 2k remaining but you must push hard as it is a gradual uphill before we cross the Klein River bridge. Here you have just 800m to the finish and must not falter. I am able to muster a miserable shuffle all the way up the last hill and into the finish.
Here I see Lene who ran and walked the 10k in 90 minutes. So we now wait for the rest of our group to come in. Nicky is only a few minutes behind me followed by Andrea in quick succession. Other PE people run in -- Kelly and Michelle Mortimer; Debbie and Mike Dean; Barbara Foot; Tracey Menzel; Carol Anne Cash (Bissiker);
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| PROUD LENE AND NICKY DISPLAY THE REWARDS OF THEIR EFFORTS |
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| NICKY HAD A STRONG RUN THIS MORNING. STARTING OFF SLOWLY AND BUILDING UP TO WHAT SHE REMEMBERED FROM 2014 -- THE FINAL FIVE KAYS - WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE NOT NEARLY AS TOUGH AS SHE HAD THOUGHT |
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| MIKE IS A BIT OF A DARK HORSE -- THIS MORNING HE RAN A GOOD RACE AND FINISHED WELL |
Back in the chalets some of us pass out with exhaustion. A good sleep and plenty of liquids seems to revive us and we are ready for anything when it is finally time for the World Cup Quarter Finals match: Springboks vs Wales. And it is an amazing game! Very close with the lead changing hands SEVEN times during the match. And with 5 minutes to go the Springbok team is a point behind the Welsh. We have been pushing in their half for almost the entire second half of the game with a couple of near tries (Lood de Jager was so close on two occasions but both times lost the ball forward). Then we are in a scrum when our 8th man takes the ball on the blind side, passes to the captain (Fourie du Preez who is scrumhalf) with a back handed pass. Fourie goes on to score a magnificent try with a dive over the line. And we win the match to go to the Semi Finals where we will have to play New Zealand next weekend.
So the weekend ends on a high note. Saul and Cathy have made a party for Blake (3 years old) and we all participate during half time in the match. Then Saul lights a fire and cooks up a storm of Boerrie rolls. But we are all so tired that there is no party left in us and we find ourselves horizontal for an early night.
Sunday morning we drive back to de Rust and into Meiringspoort for a visit to the Falls and information center. My grandchildren (Zara; Aaron and Christian) join me for a swim in the pools. The Deans; Bissikers and Kings are all there to enjoy the sights before we make our way back home.
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.
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| Drosanthemum ("dewflowers") is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to the winter-rainfall regions of southern Africa. Most species bear colourful flowers. |
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| JULIA WAS SOOOOO HAPPY TO HAVE MADE THE CUT OFF TIME. AT ONE POINT SHE WAS QUITE STRESSED AS SHE TIMED THE FINISH TO A FINE LINE. |
