The party consisted of Greg and Cheryl Devine (Leaders), Dave Collett, Janet Moore, Karin van
Niekerk, Deborah Constant, Johan Olivier, Erica Davies, Maretha Alant, Eugene and Avril
Fichardt, Stuart Neil and Nelia Parma, Sandy Cundill, Clive and Sandy Louw with Tony and Evie
Bowen as well as Charles and Lindsay Smith for part of the way.
We met at the parking area to the south of the swimming pool at the Nelson Mandela University (Saasveld) campus. From there we walked to the start of the Groeneweide trail, which is near the new cricket nets. The path leads down to the Kaaimans River. At the normal crossing we started up the river itself. There is no path and one must find the best route as you go along. The going was mostly quite easy and the river had to be crossed and re-crossed many times. There was a lot of splashing through pools but no forced swimming.
Cheryl and I had recced the route, or at least tried to, on the preceding Wednesday, and found a raging torrent that we definitely weren’t going to enter. We then walked to the finish along the road and found the river about 10 centimetres high over the weir. No rain was predicted and we judged that by the Sunday, the river would have returned to normal, and so it proved to be the case on the day.
By the time we got to the weir the day had turned hot and no one hesitated to get into the magnificent pool, which is usually freezing but on the day it was merely “refreshing”. A few people swam the whole way but most only to the narrow alley section. After lunch at the pool we walked back to the cars along the gravel road, which took about 45 minutes.
The outing was enjoyed by all. This trip is worth doing every few years or so and best probably in February. Thanks to Johan and Clive who pioneered a lot of the way, and apologies to Janet, Stuart and Nelia who got lost and abandoned near the end.
Meet Leaders ~ Greg and Cheryl Devine