Just got the booking reservation & "you must pay" form 
from Orange River rafting Lodge in Vioolsdrif !
So I'm off there in December Yaaaaaaaaaaaay
Blooming reasonable R2250 for 10 days --- not too shabby
Plan to base there & go and see Richter's
Oh----- and Scuffy is welcome - I'll need to give her a haircut ----------
Now I sort of plan to sort of go from JHB along the border-------- IE JHB / Vryburg / Van Zylerus / Rietfontein Upington/ Pofadder / Springbok /Vioolsdrif <or something like that-----------
But who knows with me anything's possable ------------- Anyhow planning to give myself 4 days to get there and 4 days back just for fun
Sleeping along the road -----------
Showering next to the bus in my shorts -----------
Lots of roadside stops for snacks ETC <like that>
En somme baai kyk-n-bietjie-hier en kyk-n-bietjie-daar
Some thoughts that are running around in my head--- Thinking about taking my river rafting canoe with ---it's class 5 river rapid rated --- quite a serious piece of gear actually
And beef up the fishing tackle NE!
Anhow you can google the place, looks heel rustig & nice
Expensive piesang
At 10% price increase a year the price would be R20 886 now if it was R5 000 in 2006. Like you, I would opt for repair over replacement too though. Those materials are relatively indestructible. Isn’t it amazing how humans can make synthetic materials that will outlast us, but we can’t make appliances or vehicles that last a lifetime. That’s probably by design though. We have a fridge we got from Salomien’s dad which is older than I am and still works perfectly.
Morning wildehond
ARK, the masnufacturer of the orifinal CROCK range f inflatables, on their website, make claim to a boat of some 17 years age that needed some patching but is still sound - so yes hope the darn thing outlasts me !
Time is getting in-extorably tighter only 5 weeks to go.
This weekend, in preperation got a lot of fiddly bits done but no major advancement to getting everything done.
So on the cards for this up-comming weekend is: -
Getting the boat back & packing it / Manufacturing a 400mm x 400mm extention for the shelf on the luggage box / Fetching my Shimano reels & spools from re-spooling & handing in my 2 medium reels for re-spooling /
Next week is lube / filter / fan belt service ....
Boat done & dusted
Finished, fixed, repaired, paid for, collected ---- One more thing off the ToDo list
Begin ek nou somme panic --- 4 weeks DWS only 4 days left
waar vat n mens raak --- Ek het net saterdae en 1/2 Sondae om dinge te doen---
Ironies ek wou altyd in n situasie wees waar ek kan net kossies en water by-sit en ry....
nog nooit daar uigekom ---- jaa vir kort naaweek uitstappies goed en wel, maar lank avontuure ?
Oooo-nee-a-a
ek is so blooming naaby --- maar ek swaai van n' kamper - trailer tot net n' voertuig sonder sleepwa....
Na hierdie avontuur ek dink ek't my objectieve bereik ---
Maar shoe ! nog baai ietsies en daaitjies om deur te werk
GESONDHEID - NE!
It’s complicated --- well not really --- but you have to understand how to “read” results.
The last thing I want to do is go to the end of the earth and become sick. Being type II diabetic (on chronic pills) and prone to blood pressure issues, I monitor these --- well regularly --- sort of ---
The last time I actually measured by Blood sugar was 3 years ago ! EEK, and my blood pressure a year ago ! EEK!
It’s complicated
But you can’t just take one reading ----- With sugar diabetes there’s a little thing called histories (your system’s daily cycle of high & low) and it’s the weekly average that’s actually the telling result.
With blood pressure --- well you got to average at least 3 consecutive readings to get a reasonably accurate result.
I keep a copy of the graphs & empirical results with my ID book in case I need medical attention far -------far--- far ----from home....
Long story short, both Blood sugar & Blood pressure are OK – so health wise, I’m good-to-go
BUT
I broke my toe on Sunday --- how or when I haven’t a cooking clue ---- But it’s blue, sore and broke --- And I’m wearing sandals --- Which is in violation of factory safety rules (but bugger that, I’m not wearing closed shoes, so all those dudes I issued citations to for inappropriate footwear (I’m the company medic & safety officer) ---- well guess how fast those pidgins are flocking back to roost on me) -----
Back to health
Now with diabetes, injuries on your feet are a big deal – depending on your status you can easily loose feet or limbs – so you have to be more than just a bit concerned --- Not paranoid, just aware & concerned-------------
So I’m ever so glad to say my Blood sugar is 5.5 and my Blood pressure is fine Systolic / Diastolic & pulse so the toe thing’s really not likely to cause any issues ---- Other than it’s sore – and I’m getting roasted for sandals ----
So holiday planning for me includes ME ----
Do any of you check yourselves out before you go away ? especially us older fellas ? just a thought
All projects completed !
Almost ready to go,
Winch fitted / swing-out luggage box with drop down table fitted / vice & vice-post / & all three are integrated
Boat fixed and packed / fishing gear reels re-spooled / bait bought and all packed / kite packed (3m double wingspan power kite - really lekker fun) Scruffy kit complete / me kit (including basic health checked) complete all done
And so the project to shed stuff & move from a camper to a single vehicle is also now finally completed
All that's left
LANDY Air-inake fitment (booked for 27Th)
LANDY SERVICE (part A) oil / filter & fan belt service
LANDY SERVICE (part B) gearbox & T/fer box oil checks
then I'm ready ---
Was a ladder involved
Hi Warren
Sorry to hear from your toe. I hope it heal in good time before you have to hop on holiday
A ladder? Naaa--- Get up there in true Landy style
One foot onto the step at the back
Both feet onto the bumper
A moerse lift onto the spare wheel on the back door Yip at 60 + I can still stretch that far Gerekte poepstring en al ---- That's my story an I'm sticking to it ----
Klou vas waar-ook-al and climb across onto the roofrack ----
Si-daar ! Gn sissy leer noodig
Strange how you manage to bump ONLY the toe that's broken time and time again -----
but broken or konkled maak nie saak - ek's weg
Kuruman, Vryburg
Môre Warren
If your trip take you through Kuruman and Vryburg, just keep in mind the skollies that try to rob people at traffic lights and stop streets. They zoom in on vehicles without NC number plates. Keep your doors locked and everything attached to Landy, under lock. Don't consider to stop at Kuruman's oog, it is a hot spot.
Thanks Wessels for the tip
Route there
JHB Bloemhof dam 300
Bloemhof dam Spitskop dam 152
Spitskop dam Postmasburg 164
Postmasburg Olifhantshoek 67
Olifhantshoek Upington 169
Upington Springbok 382
Springbok Steinkopf 51
Steinkopf Vioolsdrif 69
Vioolsdrif O/ River raft lodge 10
Trip back --- and the problem that you mention, I plan to overnight at the caravan park behind "die oog" -----
Vioolsdrift Springbok Springbok Aggenys Aggenys Poffadder Poffadder Kakamas Kakamas Upington Upington Upington Upington Oliphantshoek Oliphantshoek Kathu Kathu Petersburg Petersburg Kuruman Kuruman Vryburg Vryburg Delerayville Delerayville Ottosdal Ottosdal Klerksdorp
Dankie Willem
Nou net Willem se “lugversorger” inset ge-lees
Ek gaan ook “warm wereld” toe
Gou gaan koekaloer wat se tempratuur daar is --- loop algemeen 20 dag 15 nag humidity 65 % WOW !!
Oooo-nee-a-a -------------- Dink ek moet die opset ook by-gooi --- vir buite slaap en almal wat daar is jaloors maak
NE!
Buite slaap
Dis een van my lekkerste lekkertes. Toe ek toere gedoen het, het ek sommer op die trok se dak geslaap. So kon die hiënas nie my gesig vreet nie en die seekoeie nie op my trap nie. As ons kanoe toere op die Lower Zambezi gedoen het, het ek vier kanoes in ‘n vierkant om my gepak om die seekoeie en krokodille weg te hou.
Pasop net vir skerpioene in die Kalahari sand. Hulle kom agter lig aan en hardloop natuurlik op die grond rond. As een onder jou muskietnet inloop en jy vee dit weg in jou slaap en raak aan sy rug gaan jy baie eina hê. ‘n Parabuthus granulates (die mees algemene soort op Kalahari sand) het my in Botswana gesteek toe per ongeluk daarop getrap het met sandale. Dra maar liewers toe skoene na sononder en druk jou muskietnet onder jou slaapsak in. En kyk in jou slaapsak en skoene voor jy daarin klim…
Go look at the place --- Google orange river rafting lodge
Ek's soos n kat op n warm sink dak ---- 19 dae daar --- kannie wag nie R200 / persoon per dag krag & braaiplek ingedonner
Cant seem to upload the pictures --- But go have a look -----
FLIPINAMAZING !
Dankie vir die tip Wildehond
Ja --- ken daai skerpion story baai goed --- Oppi grens, AS --- AS jy jou boots afhaal, hang in n boom op die kleinste takkie wat die gewig sal dra.
daai opset van my, die net word onder die "bivy bag" mooi in gedruk, en jy klim in van onder af --- dus is dit maklik om dit onder die "bivy bag" te kry --- Dis N Rhodisia <reg gespel?> ding daai
man ek kanni wag nie --- vat so 3 dae soontoe lekker rustig en drie dae terug ---- lekker opgewonne
The bus get's delivered for service tonight
Getting down the last things to do before I bumble off
Oils: G-box; T/fer box; engine & diffs / filters : - air & diesiel / fan belt replace and a good poking round.... NE!
Now I understand why you fixed your boat
When I look at the potential rowing companion in the first picture your efforts to get your boat patched up makes a lot of sense 
On a more serious note; Wow! I can fully understand your excitement. That place looks great!
Hi Wildehond ---Thought the first pic would "tickle"
Yes, indeed certainly would give a red-blooded-Free-State farmer every incentive to go paddling 
-----
Indeed --- If I think how it all fell into place --- I think I fell nicely with my bum in the butter
First I had no booking --- then I had a few days ---- then I had enough days but split ---- Then I got more days than I actually asked for !!!!
How lucky can a fella be ---
So the landy's in for service ----
facts --- facts --- facts
It has been 3 years since the gearbox oil was done ---- The gearbox and the transfer box are connected - there are also 2 --- yes 2 intercoolers in series (specially fitted)
After 3 years it required ------------------ wait for it -------------- +- 120ml topping ----
SO THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alll you "oil leakers" it's a blooming myth
My 20 year old Landy beats the lot !
(Only Neef's 1400 delux comes close) ---- But I bet he don't miss a single service by a single day
BOAT UPDATE - Found out how much it will cost to replace
Blooming hell these fellas are quick !
Not only that, but they have kept me updated throughout the whole saga --- confirmed reciept of the boat.
Confirmed reciept of my instructions & that they have no queries
Updated me when they started the process of assesing the boat
And last night gave me the results & cost ----
Considering that it was only delivered on Wednesday ---- I'm astounded ! service at it's best !
So here is the nitty-gritty: -
Yes there is a problem, there is a leak where the port pontoon is attached to the floor roughly central bow to stern (where the internal baffle is) ---
I'm glad a problem has been found, now it can be sorted --- Bit of "reverse psycology"there
I understand & have pretty good knowledge of the why-fores & where-fores of all of that technical jargon & the cost is R2500.00 ----- If however they start to drill down into the construction & discover something that they notice they will let me know before continuing ... Only to be expected...
Just to backtrack a tad at this point ------ I contacted the manufacturer ARK South Africa and the nearest comparable craft is an ARK (The manufacturer) --- CROCK (The design) CR2 (model, denoting 2 person)
AND IT COST ----------- R 20 000.00 !!!! EEEK!
YIP! that stupid yellow bathtub I own, will cost me R20 000.00 to replace!
Years back, (before 2006 when the picture was taken) I paid under R5000.00 !!!
And it's not that the materials ETC are of a lower grade --- That was built by a reptuable boat builder ! - Can't remember the material that's used, but it's the same material that they use on seaworthy ridged & semi-ridged inflatables -- This is not youor El-chepo Outdoor warehouse "inteck" product --- it's the real mc-coy
And that without the bigger pontoons I had made. (normally around 400mm diameter, mine are 600mm) and the transom attachments ---when it was built.
Blooming hell ! I never realised that !
BACK TO THE FIX-UP
@ R20.000.00 to replace, I could spend a small fortune & still come out ahead of replacment value