Karee Krans Saturday 4 January 2020

[Bugger]

The number on the website is not available when you try and call
Is that the same number You used

I booked through there website and got confirmation of my mail but now have to wait

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[Triton1RIP26/12/24]

i m in for Saturday trail only

[Bugger]

Ok through Johan Swift I manager to get hold of sombody
Still need to let me know if the cabin is available for me but camping for Renier_c and Martin sorted

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[Martin de Jager]

Thanks, Bugger.

[Renier_c]

Thank you!!


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[Bugger]

Got feedback from Liezel; Cabin is booked for me. Each camping family just pay as you arrive on Friday.

[Mad Manny]

OK, I finished all my little trailer projects.
Just to pack Friday & drive through.

Looking forward to it...

[Hedgehog]

Got feedback from Liezel; Cabin is booked for me. Each camping family just pay as you arrive on Friday.

Just know that the cabins are quite some way from the camping area.

The camping spots are quite nice.

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[Hedgehog]

Could I join you guys Saturday morning.

I'll be doing it in my stock 5cyl bakkie

[Mad Manny]

You are more than welcome Andrew.
Look forward to seeing you there...

[Bugger]

See you guys in the Am

[Hedgehog]

Could I join you guys Saturday morning.

I'll be doing it in my stock 5cyl bakkie

Just got news that my present to me from me has arrived, and I will be going to collect that in Gauteng tomorrow..

So next time then guys

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[Mad Manny]

What a lekker weekend!

Manny's Report:
Friday 3 January 2020

I left home at 13:45. Really nice drive through Maropeng, Hekpoort, Magaliesberg & up to Rustenburg.
It was a lovely drive. I arrived at 15:45. It was 34*C !!!
After paying (Only R420 for two nights camping AND the 3 trails!!! ) I went to set up camp.
They made us all share Campsite 10 - which was lekker.
I wasn't rushing to set up ivo the heat.

Bugger had arrived first & checked into his chalet, Martin was the first to set up camp & he & Esther were escaping the heat in the pool.

I set up camp between 16:00 & 17:00 @ 17:05 is was still 31*C! Luckily 'The Kid' (Bugger's SIL cum Slave) was dispatched to help & it made it easier.

Renier_c & Madeleine arrived in his beautiful V8 Hummer & set up, Martin set up a tent for Victor (SAXJ) & later Victor & his new lady, Maryna arrived & 'checked in'.
Bugger made a fire &we sat down to enjoy a beer.

There was a power outage, but it came back on later.

We called time @ around 23:00 & I hit the shower - hot water - great pressure.
It was still warm at 23:00 in the TTT, but my Zartec fan made a world of difference.
That night around 01:00 there was a major thunderstorm. Lightening hit a transformer & the power was out again!!!

This cooled the place down. I sleep like a sweet little angel - but all the others said they did not sleep well.

BTW: We had these 'Bosvarkies' little black wild bacon seeds crawling around the campsite the entire time, they would come scrounging and get as close as a meter from you. almost all were about the side of a very fat fully grown Jack Russell...

I'll get the others to post a few pics.

[Mad Manny]

Manny's Report:
Saturday 4 January 2020

We were up before 06:00 to assess the Storm damage - luckily the 'canopy' of trees shielded us.
Johannes arrived in his 110, moaned & complained about life, unpacked his camping stuff.

By 08:00 we were all ready to roll. Victor was characteristically sluggish - methinks the new lady doth distract the man.

By 08:30 we'd done the briefing & ready to head out when Georg The German arrived, with the power issues he struggled getting in.
We finally headed out, 7 vehicles, all with VHF comms.
1. Bugger in Tiny the orange SJ with Jacques his Sil.
2. Me in Fearless
3. Renier & Madeleine in his V8 Hummer
4. Johannes in his 110 V*
5. Georg The German with Halen is his 2.5 Triton.
6. Martin is his Champagne Fortuner (Ester stayed at camp with his grand daughter)
7. Victor SAXJ & Maryna in his new Jimny

Karee Krans has 3 routes, the main one, A, then B & C.
They give you a very nice colour map & the obstacles are named & there are signs. Each obstacle is also given a grading.
I've never seen such a well market route with such an easy to follow map.

We had a great time, good comms & a lovely route.
I got stuck (because they wouldn't move rock in the river), but once Fearless had dislodged it everyone got through nicely.

The route was very varied & interesting.
Two obstacles Benoude Boude (steep decline) on Route A & Terminator (incline) on C were so washed out that no vehicle would make them.
Other than that we did pretty much everything.
The 3 routes combined aresupposed to be about 10.3km, we did over 12km & it took us 6 hours.
Some routes loop around so you can't do every bit & sometimesyou have to do a section twice to get to the next obstacle.

We did have a very hectic recovery - the Hummer was 2nd to do a gully crossing (after Tiny) & it churned away the exist bank causing it to slide sideways.
Westopped - there was a very real chjance of the Hummer tipping if it slid any further left.
But we anchored it with a winch diverted via a tree to the right with a pully to prevent any further leftward movement.
Tethered the front with another winch & he drove out.
Textbook stuff.

I was nervously next to do that obstacle & made sure I stayed as far right as possible.

We then played in the mud (well some did, I didn't) & were back by 15:00.

We chilled & had a few cold frosty's until braai time & then had a braai & made a fire.
It was much cooler on Saturday than it was on Friday.
Thunder & lightening started & as the first drops fell everyone scattered.
I went for a shower & had to run through the rain from the shower back to the tent.

It poured down through the night...

[Mad Manny]

Manny's Report:
Sunday 5 & the Conclusion
Sunday morning was clear & cloudy, we packed up, but getting stuff to dry made this a slow progress.

By 11:00 ever one was gone.

What a lovely way to start 2020 off.
The first weekend.
A really nice venue.
Some nice challenging 4x4'ing (But not so hectic that you'd damage your vehicle long as you kep your wits about you).
A great group of people who got on well.
A nice crowd size.

So despite the weather & power issues (exacerbated by some power problems ion my trailer) it was just a very lekker break.

I highly recommend Karee Krans.

My 78th UTM trail...