A MORE DETAILED UPDATE

Day one. We started the trek with our 65 litre bags high on our backs as we set off in the sun into the Drakensberg mountains. The 12.8km was quite challenging as we made our way through mini waterfalls, under caves and up very nearly vertical paths! However, we all kept smiling through the achey backs and hips and made it to our first hut. We had to cook in the dark and hide our food from the Jackles but all in all we woke for the next day happily.

Day two was was the shortest of all days with a total of 9km to complete. The walk started with a steep climb and as a result altitude tired us out quite quickly! As the route flattened we enjoyed the South African views and scenery. We saw a family of baboons ontop the mountains not far from where we were.. we were then assured we were definitely in South Africa! Our hut for this night was slightly more like a house but still, no electricity or comfy beds like at home! We began to apreciate the good we get at home with clean water and heating but the adventure was still unmissable!

Day three was another 12k, we completed this in about six hours as we began to ignor the aches and enjoy the walking we were getting faster. We bumped into some antelopes on the same path as we were on. They soon decided the big muscely walkers were too scary so ran far away! We collected more food today so our bags were slightly heavier but we kept fighting as we knew a meal was awaiting us only 6km later. We pushed ourself on a road that streatched 2km and completed it in only 17 minutes! We were treated by the teachers at the rondavels with bananas and custard! yummm

Day four was 13km. We were tired and blister plastered with the odd knee taped up but everyone pulled together to finish at the last hut where we had electricity and only one day left! We came across a family who were walking where we were who assured us snow was on its way! We were all worried as we only had one day left and we really wanted to complete the Giants Cup Trail but feared the snow could stop us! We ploughed on that day to get to the hut in enough time for a visit to the shop and an early night.

On day five we were welcomed by a little frost and a little rain-no snow. It was safe to begin walking at about 6.30am but about an hour into the walk the snow began. We pushed forward with only one break in wet boots, wet clothes and wet bags-now we know what waterproofs NOT to buy! We arrived at our collection point feeling accomplished but had to sit in an emergency shelter before running to a shop to make hot drinks and waterbottles in the snow on the trangias! We treated our selves to plenty of chocolate!

The next two days were slightly delayed as the snow was too much for us to get to Lesotho on horse back. We stayed at the horse farm until it was thought safe to ride to Lesotho.

We began our horseriding to Lesotho on the wednesday, the snowy surroudings were incredible to look at. However, after about five hours on the horses, the snow became too much for us to carry on into Lesotho. We were forced to spend the night in the PM of Lesothos renovated lodge where we sat and dried around the fire.

The next day an attempted evacuation back to the horse farm lasted all of about 45 minutes when we lost sight of the track and had to turn back for another night in the cold mountains.

That night, two other groups arrived in the house designed to take 16 people to 60+. We awoke with people sharing beds, laying on the floors and sofas where we shared kitchens and bathrooms. We set off for the boarder with a deadline for four oclock with a total of 18km to cover. A few had to walk and some had to lead horses through the passes.
WE DID IT!
However, we were unable to make it to our project in Lesotho.

We were settled once again in rondavels at the horse farm where we enjoyed cottage pie and extra breakfast the next day! The sunny weather came as a definite surprise so we made the most of helping collect fire wood before moving to the project!!

Day one of the new project began with a bit of R&R with the children in the orphanage, Cluods Of Hope in Underberg. The children here are all orphaned from parents who have died of AID's.

We played games with the children and became attatched very quickly and didn't want to go in for bed when we had too :(

Yesterday we awoke early and visited church with the orphanage before returning to start work! We split ourself into groups of gardeners and decorators.

The gardeners were assigned the job of clearing out the old vegatable garden that the snow had
destroyed. We started out thinking it would be easy but soon descovered the weeds were a little deeper than we thought. We managed to get rid of most of the dead corn and clear the soil in about 6 hours work.
The decorators had to fill in the cracks and holes and paint the huts. Yesterday three huts ended free from holes and drats!

Today we are on our last day to complete clearing the garden and painting the walls in the bedrooms.

We will leave tonight for the horse ranch leaving our new friends behind which we think could cause a few tears!


We will most likely be able to give another update once our R&R is in progress! But for now it is safe to say that everyone is enjoying everything even if it isnt going to plan!