L: Soooooo. I slept like a log.
S: I was kept awake by the rain, as it was so loud.
We were anxiously waiting for it to get light, so that we could drive out. It didn’t seem like the rain was going to “let up” any time soon.
One of the campers went up the trail to have a “reccie” (look see) and said that he nearly got stuck in the mud, needed low range 4-by-4 to get out and said that things did not look too good. He was also going to leave as soon as possible, so we packed in 15 minutes and, left!! Once again, no time for breakfast……(memories of our time in Moremi – Third Bridge, Botswana, where we hit the trail first thing in the morning after a terrible thunder storm!!)
We saw where our neighbour nearly got stuck as we headed out, but as we knew about it, we hit it with a bit of speed and managed to get through. Fortunately, this was the only bit of mud on the way out as the rest was wet river bed, but not sticky mud, yet!! So, it was back to clambering up wet rocks and along very sandy tracks with water flowing through and down the river bed. L: Some sections were up to a meter high rock to negotiate.
S: It is a bit disconcerting, travelling up a river bed, when the water is coming down it. It was continuing to rain at this point, so the 12 kms up the gorge was quite nerve-wracking.
L: I was very concerned, and still am, about the people that chose to take their time in getting ready to travel away from the flooding river. But Steve said, not to worry as their vehicles have the ability to overcome most obstacles and higher clearance. I still sent up a few prayers for them and prayers of thanks for us making it easily.
S: Once we got out of the gorge, we headed westward back towards the N7. L: We passed an area which was like a water-well with slate around it and when we got out to explore and photograph, the sand around it was like sinking sand. We did not stick around.
We also stopped to take a photo of a large bird of prey.
The last hill of the trail was a very steep gradient and really a fitting end to the trail with all sorts of terrain. At the top of the hill, I managed to get out of my rain clothes, and plastic emergency poncho and dry off, Steve was so hot, that he kept his shorts on and the air-con on. We called the girls to wish them Happy Easter and tell them that their strange parents were fine.
Once we reached the N7, we drove back to Vioolsdrif and stopped off to get a few provisions – not an Easter egg in sight or even a hot cross bun. And really exorbitant prices. My cell said welcome to Namibia although not yet over the border, with international roaming.
We arrived at the camp site, Fiddlers Creek – Orange River Bush camp and were so happy to find that each campsite has an under-cover kitchen and dining area, which is really spacious and we were able to hang all our wet bedding and clothes, ready for the next part of our adventure. (Our site could take up to a dozen 2-man tents as this campsite caters mainly for overlanders).
We made a really late brunch of sweet-corn fritters, eggs and toast, which we wolfed down and coffee, at last.
S: We can see blue skies now and our tent has dried out and I have caught up on my sleep, while Lesley, washes, dries and does the woman’s work….LOL.
As the weather still looks bad we have decided to spend a couple of nights here and then go over the border to Ai-Ais for two nights. The other reason for this is that we have been a little heavy on fuel and the closest fuel station is over the border in Namibia. (also much cheaper). Our trail notes said there was a place near here but it has not been selling fuel for the last three years.
We had a nice swim in the river, which had risen about 1,5 meters overnight. The kids here had managed to walk across the river yesterday. No chance of that today. We spent the evening walking around, chilling in the pub, which has the most odd things hanging from the rafters, and having a braai in the rain. Yes the rain had started again. But we felt more relaxed again being a little further away from the river.
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