As the time drew closer to our departure date we became aware of the need to increase our training. Gym alone was just not enough. We spent a weekend with Eugene and Marlene, walking on their farm in the Magaliesberg with our backpacks. But where do you go in Johannesburg without a major effort to get to the mountains?
Then, one fine day in May, I bumped into Liz Hilton-Gray at Woolies. She told me about the Westcliff steps, just around the corner from where we live. Aha! We went there the next Sunday and dubbed it the Johannesburg version of Platteklip Gorge. We trained there once a week until our departure date for the hike.
Roger also decided that Ufudu was not an option as mode of transport. There was no way we were going across border with such a vehicle. Red tape and the high cost involved was just not worth it. We had both been keen on a rooftop tent for a long time. It just seemed so effortless and had the added benefit of not being on the ground in wilderness areas. So that was our next quest; find a suitable rooftop tent.
After careful consideration of weight, ease of use, being able to fit onto Suzi, and cost, we eventually decided on the locally designed FrontRunner tent. With much excitement we took it for a trial run to Marloth Park. A bit silly, but we slept in it for a night outside our own house. It was so exciting.
Then there was the issue of food. We had to carry for 8 days and I have this problem with preservatives and refined carbs. Everything you buy is preserved. We just had to prepare our own. So we bought a dehydrator. That is probably the best thing we have bought in years. So we dried apples, rusks, mince dishes for evening meals, etc., etc. It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun experimenting. I even dehydrated my biltong to the consistency of crisps. Roger decided he wanted take his as is and slice it on the go.
After dehydrating everything was carefully weighed and packed. Without water my pack weighed 10kg and Roger’s 12kg. That is without water of course. Not bad.
In the mean time we had to get our medical certificates and some emergency medical supplies. We would be totally isolated from civilization for 8 straight days, with no communication whatsoever. Best be prepared.
Then the day of departure arrived. Were we ready? Only time would tell…
We spent our first night with Eugene & Marlene at their plot outside Rustenburg. As we got there Roger opened up his biltong in order to ‘air’ and left it in the back of the Hilux. We went inside and settled in. After dinner and lots of animated chatting, Roger went outside again to close up the bakkie for the evening. To his horror his biltong had disappeared. The wirehaired terrier Stekels was sitting just out of reach, licking his lips and looking very pleased with himself, a limp paper packet at his feet. Well, who could blame him, besides Roger, of course.
The next day our route took us along the Trans-Kalahari Highway through Botswana via the Pioneer Border post at Lobatsi. No problems at the border and were happily on our way. Eugene and Marlene would join us a few days later. They had less leave time available due to month-end pressures. One of the downsides of being business owners, I suppose.
During the afternoon we were travelling at a comfortable speed when suddenly the car ahead of us slowed down. No problem, Roger simply overtook him. Big mistake. The next minute we were pulled over by the traffic police. Speeding! Roger never noticed that it was an 80kph zone. He was fined P320 for doing 91kph. The officials were very professional, friendly and efficient. In no time at all the fine was paid by credit card and an official receipt issued. Very impressive!
As always we never make any reservations so when the time of day came that we felt ‘enough’ we spotted the Kalahari Rest Lodge. And that is where we spent the night.
