OK, finally, my report:
Introduction:
I have incorporated & amended a report Mike Nel did into mine.
It is blatant plagiarism, but he is aware that I've done so...
Where possible, I've left Mikes words in black ink...
Where I refer to MY trip only (as opposed to the trip we all did, I'll put 'Personal note:' in front of that paragraph.
Trip Report Richtersveld April/May 2019
Personal Preamble note: I had been looking forward to the trip for months, it was going to Tammy (Tanya), her son Tristan (& perhaps a friend) & myself.
I'd tow my trailer, as that has everything we need.
But then Tammy was diagnosed with Cancer & started Chemo & finally pulled out.
This meant Tristan couldn't attend & this, coupled with work issues, left me debating whether I should cancel.
I finally decided to go for it, but as I was going alone, I no longer needed the trailer, but there was too little time to reconfigure for going without the trailer, so I took it.
Good Friday 19 April 2019
More Personal Stuff: I had been trying to convince Grips to come with, but he was undecided, I then noticed Kathu (Where Grips lives) makes a perfect halfway stop.
So I hatched a plan to stay over at his house & then maybe this would get him to come with - it worked.
So on Good Friday I drove to Kathu & had a great evening with Grips, his wife Karen, his mom & his son's Ignus & Christopher.
Mike Nel had driven up from Cape Town & arrived at the meeting place, Klien Pella.
MartinDJ also drove direct in one day on Good Friday. He got lost, did not fill up at Pofadder as ordered & joined Mike at Klien Pella later that night.
Day one, the Namaqua Orange Northern Cape Trip 1, Martin Zero
.
20 April (Mike's words)
Mike relaxed (like you should when on holiday), whilst Martin faffed around his trailer.
Slowly but surely the rest of the group arrived.
We were now:
1. Mike Nel in an FJ with hardshell RTT.
2. MartinDJ & Ester in a Fortuner with Homemade Trailer.
3. Grips & Sons in a 76 with ground tent.
4. John Angelblooms in a Ranger 3.2 Supercab, ground tent.
5. Bugger & Renay in a Syncro with a Golf 8V 2.0 motor. Sleep in.
6. Dirk & Linda in a Synchro 2.1. Sleep in.
7. KurtG & Wife & Daughter's in a Paj SWB with a Metalian in tow.
8. The Great & Glorious Mad Manny in the legendary Fearless with a Conqueror Conquest in tow.
8 vehicles, 14 adults, 2 kids, 3 trailers...
Camp was set up in no time, the fires were lit and the trip was truly on its way.
Many a beer, whiskey, G&T and the obligatory Stroh and Jagermeister were had, where after the mandatory meat got singed and devoured by hungry people.
Klien Pella was quite civilised, shade, decent ablutions.
21 April
We left Klein Pella at 09h00 for Kamgab. Out great and glorious leader (Mad Manny) informed us that we would only drive for about 90min because kilometer wise it wasn’t that far
.
We had met Dirk Shubert for the first time the night before (he is an acquantance of Bugger's) - in trying to gather the troops for the briefing, we noticed that Dirk dances to the beat of his own, slightly distorted, guitar. He was to enthrall us with his quirks many times in the days ahead.
Not long into the day the Northern Cape roads took it first victim. It was a surprise to have it happen to a BF Goodrich tyre and more surprisingly, because the driver being Grips.
(Don't let Neil BFG Hater XJJunkie see this)
We agreed on a “quick” lunch stop just before Goodhouse, Bugger had found a OK spot with some hard to find shade.
Dirk promptly drove under the shade & got stuck - meaning we had no shade.
Martin towing his 1 ton trailer thought it wise to take on soft sand in 2 wheel drive with his Fortuner tires inflated to 1.7 bar
(despite Kurt repeatedly admonishing him for not engaging 4High & despite Kurt stopping for a 'deflation station'.
Clearly, this was not going to be a problem - Gripstried to tug Martin & trailer out a few times, then Martin got out & reluctantly deflated, dropping a bar or two
. Grips then continued whilst the rest of us shook our heads & had lunch.
Dirk spent lunch hour digging, I had no sympathy for this shade stealer & offered no help!
About 60 Mins were lost with the lunch & recoveries.
Namaqua Orange Northern Cape Trip 2, Martin still Zero
.
We were finally ready to leave & I was keen to get the convoy going, shouting into the radio for those who can to form up immediately. Just then Dirk pulled out, drove to the front of the convoy, blocked the road & then went back to get his wife & spade etc...
Onward we drove, well past the 90mins Manny promised us earlier in the day. We finally made camp at Kamgab around 17h00.
The campers were scattered all over the place. Jagermeister and Stoh flowed down the hatch once more.
The 'road' down to Kamgab is like a steep winding section of River Trip, not easy - especially when towing.
Personally, I didn't like the camp area, uneven, little shade, open. We were also scattered out.
I would have preferred camping at a spot a kilometer or 3 further back, itwas cleaner, protected, would have morning shade as it's between the mountains in a valley.
But then, you would not be near the river...
The rest of the group were not as critical of the spot as I was.
Kamgab has no facilities whatsoever, It's wild camping.
22 April:
This is theeeee day of the trio. Today we do the very famous Road to Hell trail. We left nice and early to hopefully be done and dusted by 15h00. The cold Orange River water begged for a swim.
All the men left to do the Road to Hell, the girls (Renay, Esther, Linda & Danae as well as Hannah & Emma) stayed behind with Dirk's Synchro & John's Ranger.
So 6 vehicles went to do Road to Hell.
We arrived, after driving about 42km, at the start of the Road to Hell.
Mike in his FJ volunteered to take down crowd and off we went. This was it. No turning back once you are in.
Bugger took his Syncro down and honestly, I (Mike) thought that that would be the mistake of the day.
Most made it down relatively unscathed in what felt like an eternity. We had a quick lunch at the river and started heading back (the River called for a swim). Did I mention it was hot?
The FJ made it up without any issues (no surprise) and so did Grips also no surprise). Did I mention that both vehicles have Cruiser in their names?
Then (dah, dah, teDahhh)......... all HELL broke loose!
Martin was the last vehicle in convoy. The very first rough section going back up we heard a loud crack and our suspicions and fears were met with the news of the left CV joint looking like a koeksuster.
500m of terror terrain left to go and only 2WD available for Martin
(***I still say it was closer to 2km from the top).
Towing him out wasn’t an option. The terrain didn’t allow for it. A Winching we will go. 500 meters
*** worth. All hands on deck.
3 and a half hours later, 2 tires that looked like slicks, a broken CV and a whole lot of tired bodies, we finally got to the top. High fives were given and a cold beer was the order of the day before we said goodbye to Grips, Christo Jnr and Ignus.
Last little bit about the Road to Hell. John and Bugger did a hell of job getting Martin back up again. Without you the Fortuner would still be down there. Grips and Manny for using their vehicles as ankers. Thanks guys. And to the rest that packed rocks, took photos and those supplying water, thank you so much.
We arrived back at camp just in time to still go for a “bath” in the Orange River.
An early night was the order of the day. Everyone, especially Martin, was exhausted.
Namaqua Orange Northern Cape Trip 3, Martin still Zero
.
A bit more about the recovery: With a snapped CV/Side Shaft, Martin only had RWD. You CANNOT get out there with RWD.
We initially had Martins winch connected to a series of straps (including one that was kinetic).
Bugger co-ordinated affairs with a handheld radio, so both Martin & I could hear what was going on.
At one stage Grips brought his 76 down to anchor me as, at times, Martin pulled me backwards on the loose rock.
To do this Grips had to reverse down the top part of Road to Hell.
This plan worked, but it was slow going.
A rated shackle, attached to Fearless, snapped, but as so many different straps etc were linked together, therewas no kinetic drama.
Later a large wide kinetic strap, attached to Fearless snapped. It broke about 3m from the vehicle. The strap hit Fearless with such force it left a hole in the number plate. The other end, which was longer, just fell to the floor - again, because the long trail of attached ropes absorbed the kinetic force.
Eventually Martin's winch overheated & his battery went flat due to the excessive winch usage.
We needed a new plan.
So Grips & I drove up. Bugger then brought his Synchro down - he drove down forwards. This was so we could use Bugger's winch.
Grips had to reverse down again to anchor Bugger.
The recovery continued.
All in all it took 4& a half hours.
Every single person pitched in. Everyone did his bit. No one gave up. No one complained.
It was about 32 - 34*C but the teamwork & camaraderie never wavered.
Grips original plan was to leave to go back home (Kathu 500km away) but because of the recovery. he & his son's refused to leave until Martin was safely at the top.
They finally left at 16:00 & only got home at 23:00.
The whole recovery & the way everyone responded made me extremely proud of Our Club!