Tankwa Karoo Camino 256 km 2 Provinces 10 days desert trek: cause; Red Cross Children's Hospital Day 5: 10 May 2016
Day 5 Tankwa Camino
I was up at 05h40 and I had had a fantstic nights sleep up until 04h30 thanks to the Myprodal!. I went back to sleep waking up when my alarm went off. I had my instant porriage and coffee and filled up my small flask with boiling water and packed the last things into my backpack.
My tent had dried a bit so was easier to break down and pack away.The great thing about camping near the truck was that I did not have to drag the bags that far and left them right at my camp site. Soon I was on my way and hit the road.
I was amazed at how many butterflies were out and again the birds were very busy. The sun was up and creating warm rays on my back and producing some really incredible lighting for some great photos.
There were many pools of water and some now had incredible shadows and reflections and I got my camera out to play. The first 10kms were a breeze, gone were the swolleen feet, gone was the inflammation and pain. The new inner soles where working wanders. I felt really good and the pain and nightmare of yesterday a distant memory.
We crossed the Tankwa River. This river flows once every 2 or 3 years and at a trickle at that. Now it was a raging river, wide and flooded. It was so surreal, many of us stopped for a little while longer just to watch the water and feel the power of the water moving under the trembling bridge. The 5km mark was on the other side of the bridge. I needed the loo but someone had already jumped in ahead of me and looked like they might take a while. I was still feeling so good so decided to make hay while the sun shone and carried on.
We soon came to the signboards noting that we had now left the Northern Cape and were entering the Western Cape Province - the Winelands of the Western Cape. For a long time though the landscape stayed the same then if became very much like Namibia. It looked as though they were growing crops of rocks. They were littered everywhere, orange rock, red rocks, rocks that looked like mini San art paintings. Rocks embeded into rocks. It was mind blowing.
I passed a few cairns along the way and the last 5 km became a little painful, I took another painkiller and carried on. I arrived at 16h15 and hung out my cloths on the fence. The ground was really uneven and my sore feet did not take kindly to that. But I sat down and soaked my feet in epson salts, had a cup of coffee and Karoo cake. Kelvin and Clive helped me with my tent so it was up in no time leaving me more time to soak my feet.
My calves had started to swell now and bending my knees was now a problem. I did not have any ankles and would certainly need to use my sandals going forward. Many people were washing clothes (remember to bring pegs with) and their hair.
I washed my hair with my bucket and a cup. It was so good to feel clean hair after 5 days. All over the camp people were washing their hair, it was likea remake of the famous scene from "Out of Africa" and I was Meryl Streep. I was very disappointed though I had really expected Robert Redford to come and wash my hair, but this was the Karoo and maybe the Karoo's take on Robert Redford might have been scary. It must be the myprodol!
We all got to bed a little late. Most nights from 19h30 to 20h00 everyone was in bed. Tonight I only got to bed at 21h00 and fell asleep listening to the chatter and laughter around the campfire. I found myself chuckling at some of the Karoo jokes.
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| The flooded Tankwa River - a once in a life-time sighting!! |
I was up at 05h40 and I had had a fantstic nights sleep up until 04h30 thanks to the Myprodal!. I went back to sleep waking up when my alarm went off. I had my instant porriage and coffee and filled up my small flask with boiling water and packed the last things into my backpack.
My tent had dried a bit so was easier to break down and pack away.The great thing about camping near the truck was that I did not have to drag the bags that far and left them right at my camp site. Soon I was on my way and hit the road.
I was amazed at how many butterflies were out and again the birds were very busy. The sun was up and creating warm rays on my back and producing some really incredible lighting for some great photos.
Rocks of all types, colours and sizes littered the landscape and looked like we had stepped into Namibia. Breathtaking and strange all in one.
 |
| One of the white "tablet" signboards indicating the kilometres left I spoke about earlier. Along this stretch of road the boards were up against the fence. Once we hit Karoopoort and on the home streetch to Ceres they were concret slabs posted on concrete pillars. |
where the water raged
There were many pools of water and some now had incredible shadows and reflections and I got my camera out to play. The first 10kms were a breeze, gone were the swolleen feet, gone was the inflammation and pain. The new inner soles where working wanders. I felt really good and the pain and nightmare of yesterday a distant memory.
We crossed the Tankwa River. This river flows once every 2 or 3 years and at a trickle at that. Now it was a raging river, wide and flooded. It was so surreal, many of us stopped for a little while longer just to watch the water and feel the power of the water moving under the trembling bridge. The 5km mark was on the other side of the bridge. I needed the loo but someone had already jumped in ahead of me and looked like they might take a while. I was still feeling so good so decided to make hay while the sun shone and carried on.
We soon came to the signboards noting that we had now left the Northern Cape and were entering the Western Cape Province - the Winelands of the Western Cape. For a long time though the landscape stayed the same then if became very much like Namibia. It looked as though they were growing crops of rocks. They were littered everywhere, orange rock, red rocks, rocks that looked like mini San art paintings. Rocks embeded into rocks. It was mind blowing.
 |
| This pile of broken rock resembles a fish with a rather big eye!! |
 |
| Charles reaching the Western Cape - he was such an interesting guy had a wealth of knowledge regarding fauna and flora. |
 |
| as I left the Northerncape with the Western Cape behine me in this photo. |
I passed a few cairns along the way and the last 5 km became a little painful, I took another painkiller and carried on. I arrived at 16h15 and hung out my cloths on the fence. The ground was really uneven and my sore feet did not take kindly to that. But I sat down and soaked my feet in epson salts, had a cup of coffee and Karoo cake. Kelvin and Clive helped me with my tent so it was up in no time leaving me more time to soak my feet.
 |
| love this epic photo and the very Occasion Flooding sign - more proof that we had experience 2 very extraordinary days |
 |
| A reminder that we were in the winelands and the damage we as humans cause. |
 |
| incredible lines are this disintergrating rock |
 |
| so many rocks just like this one - multi earth coloured with natural artwork |
 |
| the first cow sighting on the Tankwa Camino! |
My calves had started to swell now and bending my knees was now a problem. I did not have any ankles and would certainly need to use my sandals going forward. Many people were washing clothes (remember to bring pegs with) and their hair.
 |
| the view from my tent - once again beautiful night skies |
I washed my hair with my bucket and a cup. It was so good to feel clean hair after 5 days. All over the camp people were washing their hair, it was likea remake of the famous scene from "Out of Africa" and I was Meryl Streep. I was very disappointed though I had really expected Robert Redford to come and wash my hair, but this was the Karoo and maybe the Karoo's take on Robert Redford might have been scary. It must be the myprodol!
 |
| temperatures had droppped tonight but that did not stop us from our nightly get togethers talking about the day, life and sharing sherry while watching the sunset. |
Blog Links
should you wish to donate to the new ICU wing for the Children s Red Cross Hospital please follow the following link on Back-a-Buddy:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/adventure-with-a-purpose
The Team Zodwa Project ™
Member: FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa)
Member: Vincent de Paul Victory Park (St Charles Catholic Church)
Member: Vincent de Paul Victory Park (St Charles Catholic Church)
Photo Credits: Kim Williams Copyright
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Kim Williams | Adventurer | Founder The Team Zodwa Project & Adventure with a purpose | Finalist Johnny Walker/Sunday Times Nation’s Greatest Hero Award | #Reachoutbeahero & #Adventurewithapurpose & #Trek4Hunger Ambassador |Brand Ambassador Eatfresh SA| Public Speaker|Facilitator| Outstanding Founders list @MagnificHQ |Outstanding People List @GirlsRunThings | Blogger| Fizzical National Everyday Hero Winner
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