3 Province informal trip January 2020

Hedgehog · #1

After a nice break in December, getting back to work and the stuff of life in January can get you down.
Everyone then craves a break after the hectic month of January

So..

I will be going to Volksrust, those who feel the same as me and want to get away from life, are free to join me:

What?: 3 Province informal camping trip

Where?: Near Volksrust - yes the one in Mpumalanga - at the 3 Provinces 4x4 trails

Why So Far?: I like driving..

When?: The 23rd (arrival in afternoon) of January 2020- it's a Thursday to the Sunday the 26th

What Time?: Because it are far, whenever you get there, you can also get there the next morning, or even later.. Up to you

Who?: Anyone, you'll need your big girl panties, not only for the trail, but for the camping as well

What Grade?: They say 3 - 5

How much?: See attached info from Ronel @ 3 Provinsies - Please make your own bookings with Ronel and just mention that you are with Andrew

How Long?: They have 4 trails - we'll do one & take it from there. My mission is to chill, and enjoy the camping. I will do one trail maybe, but if you want to rip the mountain up... so be it. We are there to enjoy

What else?: Pack your camping stuff, and when considering the weather, think of Lesotho. - Yes, the weather has the same extremes. Recovery gear is a must & pull in.

What now?: If you are keen - put your name down...

Post Two is reserved for info from Ronel and post 3 for More info

The attendance list is on Post #3

Hedgehog · #2

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Hedgehog · #3

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Hedgehog · #4

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Hedgehog · #5

I remember starting one previously with the same sort of response. Or was it not here...???

Paul#25 · #6

Hedgehog wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:31 am
I remember starting one previously with the same sort of response. Or was it not here...???

The lack of interest at this time may be because everyone is trying to recover from spending too much money of the December holidays.

#7

Even the Forum is quiet.
Less than 6 posts a day this year so far.

On another Forum a GTG Thread is also faring badly...

Also most people only get paid AFTER this event and those that get paid before will be in the malls trying to get through that salary as fast as possible.
It is the way of our people.
It's just a bad time of year to start a GTG Thread and the dates are tough.

But give it time...

Let's see...

Hedgehog · #8

Mad Manny wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 09, 2020 9:16 am
Even the Forum is quiet.
Less than 6 posts a day this year so far.

On another Forum a GTG Thread is also faring badly...

Also most people only get paid AFTER this event and those that get paid before will be in the malls trying to get through that salary as fast as possible.
It is the way of our people.
It's just a bad time of year to start a GTG Thread and the dates are tough.

But give it time...

Let's see...

*Camping at 3 prov is very cheap..... Its cheaper than the power you will use at home...

*You would have eaten in any case... So the food will be no additional costs..

*You would have had a few beers in any case... see second point

*Petrol... even at 7km a litre is R1k there and back..

Put it on the petrol card !!! It is January

Ricof4e · #9

Tough crowd...

Die trip lyk lekker, maar ek moet verby hou. Ek sal my 'n week vat om net heen en weer te ry

Ricof4e · #10

Mad Manny wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 09, 2020 9:16 am

Also most people only get paid AFTER this event and those that get paid before will be in the malls trying to get through that salary as fast as possible.
It is the way of our people.
It's just a bad time of year to start a GTG Thread and the dates are tough.

I don't understand the appeal of the funny season - which is why I try and work over the so-called December holidays. Everything is dearer and the roads are a mess.

The best time to go on holiday is from 15 Jan - 15 March imo.

KurtG · #11

Chickory, some people have children who actually go to school and the schools start on 15 Jan in Gauteng so it’s not an option for some of us.

Hedgehog · #12

KurtG wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:36 am
Chickory, some people have children who actually go to school and the schools start on 15 Jan in Gauteng so it’s not an option for some of us.

I understand Kurt.

There will be those with very high costs this month.
Noted.
I was goading, and so was Mr Instant

But, most of the other trips are taken within 2 weeks by all the greybeards with lots of offtime, no kids, and a high tolerance to boredom..

Us, that work and have stuff to do, cannot book a trip 4 or 6 months in advance, so we sit in the same boat when those kind of trips are posted..

Rabbiddog RIP 7/6/21 · #13

Some of us are still in the bush. When we get back I will check

Sent from my ELE-L09 using Tapatalk

Hedgehog · #14

We were eventually 5 vehicles that went to 3 Province, and 4 did the trail.

We had two of us who pulled off road caravans up to the campsite in the rain... That was "fun"

It rained HARD on the Thursday and kept raining all the way to Friday late morning, Friday afternoon and night was clear.
Saturday morning we got another shower, and then it cleared up, and we had nice weather the rest of the time

My son took his girlfriend up Hells Hoogte, in an open diffed Wrangler, and she made it on her first outing. The conditions were very muddy.
I speak under correction, but I think she is the first woman to do it..??? Can anyone confirm?

The trail...:
We only did the main trail, we were 4 vehicles, and took 8 and a half hours.
The trail has evolved into something else, there are portions that most people will not attempt now, and it took a lot of work, and resolve to finish the trail. And also as you go along you realise that turning around will only mean having to do some obstacles again, and that motivates you to carry on... and there are no escape routes.

The scariest obstacles now are the run down to the waterfall, there where the Jimny rolled, and the Tunnel.
The Tunnel has no more "ledge that you can drive on, as it is washed away, so you drive at the most extreme side angle ... aaaaalll the way down. But only after trying to get past that big rock just after the entrance.. Even the entrance with its cockeye ledge was, sphincter chomp inducing.

I have garnered some respect for all the vehicles roll over angles.

The trail needs more driving, as it is falling into disrepair.
When there are many users on a trail, it sort of maintains itself with all the packing, building and just tyre work that "smooth's out" a trail...

This trail kept us busy all the way, right to the end.

When we all sat down after =wards with cold ones in the hands, we all had one thing in agreement;

It was one of the most difficult, yet, most rewarding 4x4 days of our lives.... Sometimes we forget that we do this, to be challenged, and to overcome.

Yes I know this sound a kinda, Buzz Lightyear, but it was a fantastic day, and will stay in our minds for a long time, the same way a river trip does.

I really hope we don't loose this trail in the future, it remains one of my best off-road, and camping experiences/venues, and the fact that the woman, hate it, makes it all the better..