DAWN AT FUGITIVES' DRIFT

I wanted to share these gorgeous photos of the winter dawn taken last week by my friend Mae.

Aloes

July is a fabulous time of the year to visit KwaZulu Natal and Fugitives' Drift in particular.  Escape the dreary Cape winter for our warm, dry, sunny days. Chilly mornings and evenings  remind us that it is in fact winter!  Most importantly the hills are ablaze with the colour of flowering aloes.  It's amusing to see the monkeys scampering about with bright orange faces!

BIKES AND BATTLEFIELDS

Following on the success of last years mountain biking weekend, at the instigation and with the help of David Evans who recruited his fellow bikers,we decided to hold another one, but this time to do the whole battlefield tour by bike- on Saturday morning at 7.30 49 lycra clad men and women under the able command of Rob Caskie, who had plotted and planned a fantastic route, set off from the Lodge to cycle to Isandlwana and back, predominantly on single track.  It was a chilly winters morning, but the first hill banished all feelings of cold. Crossing the river  at Masondo was an interesting challenge, and very cold for those gallant enough to get into the water to help ferry bikes across (not many volunteers for this job!).  

Everyone made it safely across the ladder bridge.  After the Isandlwana lecture the group headed off again on single track to Rorke's Drift where a picnic lunch awaited them, followed by the Rorke's Drift lecture.  Some chose to ride home along the road while those who still had the energy took the single track around the back of Shiyane Mountain to get home.

It was a very happy and weary group of cyclists who returned in the late afternoon having ridden 45km! 


A great evening followed - many restorative drinks and lots of banter about the ride, and in the morning a few heads were taking more strain than the legs!

The weekend was a great success, best described by comments we received from the guests:

Memories of last weekend are etched into our souls and include the most humbling and thought provoking lectures by Rob, the warm and genuine hospitality at both Kwa George and the lodge, the great riding, and the wonderful bunch of people we got to do it all with.

Thank you again for an incredible weekend, it was a true and unique privilege to have your immense knowledge imparted on us, especially in the manner in which you deliver your lectures. I have yet to enjoy a historical experience quite as much as I enjoy touring the Isandlwana & Rorke’s Drift battlefields with you.

A roaring success and one which will fly your flag in many places. Already this morning I have had calls from people who have heard from others. We already have another trip for 2012 one which will be similarly full.

Thank you all for coming and we look forward to doing this again next year!

London Gala Dinner for The David Rattray Foundation/Memorial Trust

Conceived by Robin Woodhead and executed by an incredible committe under the leadership of Linda Grosse, The David Rattray Memorial Trust last week held a Gala Dinner at Sothebys in London.  The committee together with Sasha Weld Forester worked tirelessly for months putting this event together.  The success of it far exceeded our expectations,  and between the live auction, the silent auction and personal pledges we raised the unbelievable sum of £650 000.00.

We are so appreciative of the generosity of the committee who gave of their time so willingly and of course it goes without saying how grateful we are to the guests who attended the dinner for their incredible support!  This injection of capital into the Foundation is going to make an enormous difference to what we can do for our schools.  Thank you all for your generosity and support of The David Rattray Foundation/Memorial Trust.

The David Rattray Foundation

 The long-awaited release of George Irwin’s The Foundation. The History, the Future, the Legacy has finally taken place and the book is  now available for sale. The proceeds from the sale of the book goes to the Foundation and will be used to enhance education in the local communities. A copy of the book is available from Reception – R375.00

 

From Fugitives' Drift to the Richtersveld

From one extreme to the other other - from the Acacia trees and aloes of  Rorke's Drift to the stark mountains flanking the Orange River just over the border into Namibia.  My first camping expedition and canoeing - all rolled into one!  We drove just under 3500km there and back for our 4 day river trip, it was worth every stop and go, bad Wimpy breakfast in Senekal, ghastly dinner in Upington, 3 hour wait at the Namibian border and potholes to have 4 days paddling on the very full and strong flowing river.  Full river meant the paddling wasn't very hard work, and a couple of rapids kept the adrenaline levels up!  Beautiful scenery and good company, it was a happy bunch of campers that came off the river.  I am now looking at the Buffalo River with renewed interest!

Be careful what you wish for!

As you will have read in previous blogs, we have been waiting for rain, anxiously waiting - well, we got it on Saturday, 40mm in half an hour accompanied by terrific wind and hail!  A tree outside the kitchen blown over, the garden shredded, the newly resurfaced road to the river washed away, a huge mess everywhere - not quite the gentle soaking rain we were hoping for!