Venue: Die Waenhuis, Near Fochville

Cost:  R30 for members and R40 for non-members (pay on day – please try and have the correct money)

Start time: 07:45 to start hiking at 08:00 sharp.

Tuesday 28 February

7 for 7.30

 Please join us (all welcome – members as well as non-members) for our AGM, after which cheese and wine will be served:

16th Annual General Meeting

to be held on

Tuesday 28 February 2012

at the Golden Reef Road Runners Club, Andrew Street, Horison.

 7:00 pm for 7:30 pm

 We are looking for new blood on the Committee - please consider joining us.  If you can’t come to the AGM and wish to send a proxy vote, please contact Carol for the necessary form - cmolenaar@foremostfinance.net

It is situated near van Gaalen Cheese Farm at Skeerpoort, but off the beaten track and at the foot of the large koppies to the east of the R560.  The cost was very reasonable and we received a warm welcome from the owners.  Small thatched rondawels surround the pool and lapa, with braai area and there is an enormous kitchen with stoves, fridges, etc.  For the school children that go there, they have a number of challenging activities and we were told that at night one is entertained by the roars of the lions at the nearby Predator Sanctuary.

We had been told that the hike was an unmarked, but easy ramble up the koppies to the top, where a 360 deg. panoramic view awaited us.  Yes, it was unmarked, but “easy ramble”?  Definitely not so for some of us!  Not really difficult, but quite challenging in that one had to watch one’s footing every step of the way up and down.

Because we were such a large group (31 hikers), we split into two groups and set off in different directions, planning to meet at the top, cross over and descend down different routes.  The plan worked and we all had a refreshment break together at the beacon on top of the highest koppie.  To one side of us, a green, fertile valley backed by yet another koppie.  To the other side the stark cliffs of the Magaliesberg and a little to the north, a view of the entire Hartebeespoort Dam.  The satellite tracking station can be seen from there, and also the Voortrekker Monument.   Well worth the climb.

It was a little bit cloudy, but very hot and humid, so a number of us took advantage of the swimming pool after the hike and a few stayed to braai and socialize.  Will definitely go there again.

Venue: Either 1. Willibar Guest Farm or  2. Stonehouse Mountain Lodge – Skeerpoort

Cost:  R35.00 for members and R40.00 for non-members

Start time: To be advised

Golden Reef Road Runners Club
Andrew Street, Horizon, Roodepoort
Social Bring & Braai

7 for 7.30 pm

As usual for our first meeting of the year we will have a social evening and bring and braai. Do join us when we will give feedback on hikes recently undertaken and give news of what we have planned for the coming year.

TYPE:              PORTAGE / CATERED

AREA:      MATATIELE

We all always look so forward to our yearly New Years hike, and this year I think we were so very lucky that we choose this one. Mehloding was probably one of the nicer hikes we have done, purely from the fun aspect. Also deciding to go for the portage and catering is a must, one can then relax a lot more and just enjoy. As always the company obviously also plays a major role, and I think we were just the best.

5 ladies, Flo, Theresa, Doréth, Barbara and Jenny, travelling in 2 vehicles, left Gauteng on 27 December and drove to Nottingham Road where we over nighted at Bellwood Cottages, a truly lovely place to stay, quiet, beautifully clean, with everything and more that one would need. We decided from the outset not to do any catering ourselves, we were after all on holiday, and so with much hilarity set out to find a place for our supper (yeah, I know when do we not end up laughing and giggling!)

28 December saw us doing the last stretch to Matatiele, and all went well (sort of, a bit of getting lost by one of our party before we entered Pietermaritzburg) up until the very last bit of gravel road. Here we met up with Peter and Carol coming from Umhlanga. The Lavina, Hyundai i20 all negotiated the morass of mud, water and huge potholes supposed to be a road reasonably well; including a few slips and slides. The BMW however didn’t fair so well and Jenny and Barbara found themselves totally stuck. We had to send our guide Dan and driver Shadrack in a 4×4, and only after having to go and find a chain did they managed to pull them out. Oh did Queenie earn her name here!

This obviously resulted in us getting to our first nights accommodation Malekgalonyane in the dark. You park your cars at Masakala traditional lodge and are transported in the very same 4×4 that did the rescue. Fitting 7 hikers, our guide and driver into the vehicle as well as all our luggage stacked on top, was another cause for lots of laughs and many photos. Our hostess Nontlantla took excellent care of us, making a feast fit for a king.

Day 1, 29 December, with Dan in the lead, saw us walking to Makhulong a distance of 12kms in very wet and muddy conditions with clouds giving us some respite from the baking sun most of the day. We had some take off our boots river crossings to complete as well. We passed numerous villages and were pleasantly surprised to see the very good condition all the cattle were in. Our hostess Kholu spoilt us with yummy little vetkoek and made sure we had ample and very tasty food.

Day 2, 30 December, Dan warned us was the long day, 20kms had to be walked to Maboloka. A sunny day greeted us and we saw the awesome sight of 2 spans of oxen coming down the mountain side over very rocky terrain each with huge bundles of fire wood being dragged behind. Quite a sight to behold. The lunch spot afforded some of us a chance to cool off in a stream, and later we passed the rock paintings as well. Our hostess Nomsa made the most divine bean soup and once again took more than good care of us. We never get things right – and this was the night we ended up partying a bit.

Day 3, 31 December, saw us leave to do the 15kms to Madlangala with some very ominous clouds keeping us company. We had some more river crossings to get behind us before we ended up walking most of the day in thundershowers accompanied by hail. Drowned rats had nothing on us all.  The sodden and soaked hikers that we were, managed to get most of our clothing relatively dry before the next morning, and our hostess Cindy kept us well fed, and I think most of us crawled into bed shortly after the sun set.

Day 4, 1 January (happy New Year!) was the last days walk out to the 4 x 4 waiting at Qachas Nek. Theresa opted out due to a nasty blister / sore toe and caught a ride with the 4×4 as well. We mainly had contour walking this last day, and when we saw the 4×4 in the distance we were all a little bit saddened that this really beautiful hike with some majestic scenery was almost over.

Once back at our vehicles we made our way to a farm Elandskuil just outside Kokstad for our overnight stay, stopping in Kokstad for a light meal first. We once again made a good call re the accommodation – another gem – well worth keeping in mind for further trips.

In conclusion this is a must do hike and although a certain amount of fitness is needed, Dan sets a very reasonable pace with a few short rest in between, getting you to your camps with ample time to read, relax, do crosswords and chat.

Golden Reef Road Runners Club
Andrew Street, Horizon, Roodepoort
Social Bring & Braai

7 for 7.30 pm

As usual for our first meeting of the year we will have a social evening and bring and braai. Do join us when we will give feedback on hikes recently undertaken and give news of what we have planned for the coming year.

BACK PACKING – Queen Rose, Badplaas/Baberton. Price to be advised.

MARCH 23 – 25:

BASECAMP - Wathaba, Machadodorp.

R290 for members and R320 for non-members

This is a lovely venue and a very nice hike with rivers and waterfalls etc.

APRIL 26 – 29

BACK PACKING - Kaapsehoop, Ngodwana – 3 day back packing hike over the public holiday.

R350 for members and R380 for non-members

If you are interested in the above, please contact

Flo – Cell : 082 785 8165; e-mail : cdc@lantic.net; fax : 086 502 4673
 

DATE:      2 – 4 DECEMBER 2011

TYPE:              BASE CAMP

AREA:      MIDDELBURG

Guess what?? Another gem of a hike. Well have we been lucky this year in finding some truly lovely venues and trails to explore. This is a “must do again” one, and we feel one could arrange a lovely year end hike here as well. The owners are very friendly and make you feel right at home, as do all the dogs around!

The lodge is lovely and there are chalets there that could also be booked, there is a game trail that can be done from here with a guide as there are white rhino around. There are two camps with 6 lion in, 3 in each camp, two females and one male, and we were so lucky to see two of the lionesses relaxing (until they saw the dogs!) right by the fence.

You leave your vehicles at the lodge and are transported on a game vehicle to Korongo camp itself. There is absolutely no cell phone reception at the camp, so if you want to let anyone know you have arrived safely its best to do so at the lodge. We were very lucky to see a lot of game on our way to the camp and Frans the driver was very accommodating in stopping to let us have a look and take pictures.

We oohed and aahed upon our arrival at Korongo – a sprawling lawn, swimming pool with a water slide, and lovely accommodation with everything one would need, even towels. The kitchen is also very well equipped. We opted not to have the generator running which would have given us lights etc, as there were more than enough lanterns around. Gladys and Elias took very good care of us the whole weekend, cleaning, washing the dishes, making the fire and cleaning this afterwards as well – total luxury for us!!

The two trails, blue and yellow, are very well marked and give you a very wide variety, the only small change we would like to see would be making the blue trail a fair bit longer. We walked slowly and dawdled a lot along the way but still got back to camp just before lunch time. We did however have a lovely afternoon around the pool and down the water slide!!

In conclusion we could actually not fault this venue and the trails at all and highly recommend this for any hikers or even for someone wanting a relaxing weekend away.