WARREN 2021 December holiday adventure planning

Neef, Looking at my reservation form here on my desk, R225 per day Deposit R1125 full price R2250

The website looks blooming nice - just my cup-o-tea as it where... Can't wait to go <for those who have read the book by Stephen King Christine> MOTORVATING ! 

GETTING READY: - On Sunday I was back at the auction... Someone was selling their fishing dips N hele klomp van hulle---- R10 a bottle ! Got me a small selection, one of which was "pink sweets"

Well, I opened "pink sweets" and had a smell BIG MISTAKE ---- Yip I got pink sweets all over my hands & nose --- And it's still there despite showering & washing -----

I just can't wait for the comments at work today ----

I've got 2 or 3 things left to do, then my whole thing is complete. After that I'm sending him in for a service --- I always do the service looong before I go on an adventure so that if the mechanic ---- You never know ---- It will manifest before I leave on a long trip ---

I learnt my lesson when I had my Defender I had just got the thing, Purchased it from Forster's Toyota, and instriucted them to rotate the wheels ----- That was on Thursday -- On the Friday I left for Umtentweni on the South Coast ------ At Klipspruit just past Alberton -- The bloody L front wheel came off ---------

I did post about that -- Or perhaps that was on the "other" .... camping spot - Anyhow that was a heart-stopping-misadventure of note !

Driving skill and driving skill only saved me from rolling ---- but it was hellish close --- i CAN RE-POST THAt post if anyone want's --

So Ja, Learn't a lesson ---- Now I also test the torque on the wheelnuts myself ----

Somme vreeslik !

Wonder of enige van daai "klippies" oppi bodem is van die "blink tiepe"  ----

SO I'm at this point with planning my trip to Vioolsdrif

My adventure holiday starts "when I leave my gate" --- not "when I get there"--------- Makes things much more relaxed

I have to say, the days of studying huge wall maps, with a vergroot - glas are long gone --- Now it's google earth / destinations & get directions & spreadsheets ---- have to admit, it's much easier

All the years my travelling parameters have been

Distance between 300 - 400Km on a day -- I don't want to drive all day I like to take breaks and I think it's easier on the vehicle - usually I get on the road quite early in the morning here around 04:00 or 05:00

Speed around 4H per 300Km --- Dont like to drive for more than that in one go, I like to be fresh when I drive, also I like to see what's there and stop and verken somme baai

given that, and with aunty Google this part of the trip planning is moerse fun...

Only 3 things outstanding on the Landy ----

Rear winch assist 

Elevated air intake

service - oil changes - filters - new fanbelt

Well there's a thing or three; Up to this morning the best they could offer was a split booking 4 days then later 6 days

Just had a cancllation and I got 17 nights in one block --- Jumped at it, & EFT done

Full price R3825 for the 17 nights. reasonable's not the word

Campsite 07 - right next to the beach - see layout

There is only one lelike tamelekie ---- For a total of 17 nights,  I am definately going to take my class 5 inflatable Ark canoe with ------- <see picture above> Just I don't know where I'm going to pack it.

And the motor. ..

And the paddles.......

And the life jacket ..........

But I'm not going to use my 65L roof top water tank, so that's 65Kg of weight reduced

Got some ideas though .....

I don't drink ! Never ever have, van kleins af -------------That's probibly why I'm as nuts as two monkeys --

It sank in on Friday night ------- Now my blooming problem is, I have to bring in all my supplies for 19 days!

En nou?

Lyk vir my ek't oor die spruit gespring voor ek geweet hoe breed die spruit was .... Deposito ge - EFT en al

Orange River river rafting Lodge to me: -  

You are adivesd to get all your supplies at Springbok, or at a push Steinhof ----- bring as much fishing tackle with you ------- NE!...

This will be the longest stretch that I have to be self sufficient --- That's one thing

And just where exactly am I to pack 17 days worth of 2L cokes / long life milk / fishing tackle / bait bom / dippies & mooties / ietsie vir skadu vir die son terwyl ek vis - hoor daar's baai son daar / opblaas Kanoe / paddles / life jacket /and on and on ? ...

NE!

My kop's geskommel ....

Popped a mail off this morning, also asked what connection for electricity cable (ISO or 15A). My whole cable is 30m in 10m lengths so also asked if 10m is sufficient

I'd love to visit PN and sit down for fresh Crayfish again --- The last time I was there I went there on a Vespa ----

NOW THAT WAS AN ADVENTURE !

Paid deposit last week & FRIDAY

Sent POP & advisory e-mail - got confirmation of that - thatnk you we will send you a booking confirmation as soon as the money shows on our account --------- NE!

Since then, have sent 3 e-mails requesting deposit and booking confirmation ---------- Nothing....

Loadshedding @ 06:00 today 'till who-the-heck-knows-when Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Packing up my pitch: -  Chuck a few things inside, close doors, turn key ----

Don't think "dry rations" ----- I've got a 50L 12v compressor freezer so I can pack a fair amount of perishables in there (meat / frozen veg / etc / very small fridge compartment manage a L of milk & a loaf of bread, not much else ---

Then I have a polystyerene cooler box in a ripstop cover --- There I use gel packs that I freeze in my freezer and put into the cooler box, & just keep on swopping them out with the ones in my freezer ----

It's a pain because if <loadshedding s due so this may be cut short>

OK got a generator, chucked the mains switch, plugged into the wall socket --- got power --- Clever me --

So, it's a pain because if I pack the gel packs on top (logical) then I have to dig for food... If I pack at the bottom I have to dig for them --- On the side only works the first time ----

But as for provisions, I am quite well sorted ...

Since this photo, I've turned the grocery cooler on it's side facing the bed so that I can get into it much easier, the lid I've made into a kind of "drop-down-shelf" so when Im digging in there I can put stuff on it...

The freezer, I get access to through the passanger rear door, so in this photo, it faces the other way

For perishables ---- Works well

<Oooo gats the genny pulled krag>  going to save quickly

I actually don't think there is a problem, I have removed all the rear seats and they are pretty weighty.

add to that, 2 adults @ +- 100kg <which are not there of course> I really doubt I have added much to the original weight + 2 adults

I OPENED MY E-MAILS AFTER THE LOADSHEDDING & I'M BOOKED !

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

They sent the booking confirmation to the wrong address 

It has always been my goal to have  a vehicle that I can just climb into & go----

Sadly, this seems to be as elusive as the preverbial dodo..

SIX WEEKS TO GO

So this weekend I got quite a lot done: -

1) My assist winch is mounted - I'll post pictures when I find out how to download off my new-to-me cell phone.

This was quite a fabrication and a lot of thought went into this as it had to be compatable with my luggage box, my vice post & be removable so that I can use it if I tow my camper trailer ---- Anyhow, it's done.

2) My boat (see picture above) fits into the one storage bin on my roofrack. Although "by my eye" I was shure it would fit actually knowing it does is a big relief - There is sufficient space for the life jacket & a few other small odds and sods

The other two storage bins on the roof rack, one is empty and the other has my Grip-n-go trackmats, and I'm going to put a bit more recovery stuff in there --- soft shackles and the like.

The empty one I'm going to use for fishing tackle

NEXT UP: -

Air intake <due in 2 weeks>

Landy lube; filter; fan-belt service

With 6 weeks left to go, I effectively only have 6 days <Saturday's> to allocate to getting everything done --- TIME IS MOER TIGHT !!!

MY CLASS 5 RIVER RAPID INFLATABLE CANOE

Make no mistake, this is a serious piece of euipment and has been built with extra features such as bigger diameter pontoons, attacment points for a transom & a trawling motor and so on -- This is not a Hypermarket "Intec" use-it-one-time-and-only-in your-swimming-pool - duckkie-thing

I'm going river rafting, so it makes sense to take my rated class 5 river rapid inflatable canoe with ---- I've had this boat for many years --- (This pick was taken in 2006) --- but I've had it from way before then

That being a given --- makes sense to have it looked over and if anything needs attending to -- have it done.

PLANNING WOBBLY

So there is nobody that services inflatable boats (not the motor's the actual boat) in Johannesburg anymore... All gone ---

Thank you c-ANC-er ----

Nearest is in Pretoria ---- Might as well be in Rotterdam as far as I'm concerned - Hate the place, never go there -

Ran around the telephone lines like a mad thing & got a reccomendation --- Googled and it seems they are a very reputable organisation ---- don't know sweet about them --- have to take a chance

So I called them yesterday, they currently have a one week turn-around AT THE MOMENT --- But with the amount of work comming in, by next week it could well be as much as 15 days ---- Gotta move my butt then ---

So --- late last night Off I was to my friend in Kempton park, who is a retiree, dropped the boat off there, he will take it to the boat people in Gaarsfontein tomorrow <then he is off to go and house / dog sit> and get it in the que for me ---

I did checked it on Sunday, didn't find anything wrong with it except 2 small holes in the floor -- it's ot an inflating floor just a sheet of material --- Nothing a bit of duct-tape won't sort out, but still don't want to go alllllll  the way to Vioolsdrift then something goes wrong --- goes wrong --- goes wrong----

You should see my project planning schematic for this adventure ----- BOOM ! It's exploded into a moerse thing ---

Om N "Camel-man" te wees ---- kyk die electric engintjie agterop

Ooooo nee-a-a --------- Not my style ---

Hulle bied mos river-rafting toere aan --- fancy eete ingsluit --- klink meer na my "style"

Myne is vir lui-lekker-lui "dryf-saam-die-stroom avontuure" met n hoed, n lekker koue Coke en n' gooie boek of twee (Voster die man en Hendrik Vervoed) - lyk vreeslik interesant ----

Moet ieverste begin leer vir Oranjia -- of hoe ? hierdie plek ------ Ok wil nie daaaar gaan