Getting There:
I left Honeydew, with AlleyG in tow in her Pink Landy, after the usual last minute irritations & a call from Andreas explaining why he can no longer make it.
The drive there was uneventful, we took the N14, then took the N4, paid a R45 toll, jumped off at Witbank, went through the bottom part of Witbank (sh!thole) past the coal mines & out to the turn-off.
Others went to great lengths to avoid Witbank, but, other than a bit of traffic and the ugliness, it was OK.
From Witbank we could hear the constant radio chatter of Buggersgroup (Bugger, Woolf, DirkS) but they couldn't hear us, initially.
At the turn-Off we met Chas, who, for some reason, had come from the other direction.
A missed turn cost us 8 minutes & the Bugger group caught up.
Then Rechard & Georg joined., so we were an 8 vehicle convoy.
I had a laugh when Mrs Chas, Annie, had to open a gate, took her a good few minutes to unlock it, then she tried to swing the gate uphill, finally realising it must open out, but Chas had parked his barge too close, so he had to reverse,
Funny stuff.
With gate stoppages in took about an hour an a half to get to camp & it was tough going. It would take about 1hr 15 if Chas wasn't in front at that gate!
Arrival:
We finally arrived & a staff member rushed to welcome us & give us the tour, she was busy with showing us around when Kamp Kommandant Bugger decided to grab the best spot.
Textbook Bugger move - we call it the "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" move.
We set up camp, others like PsyPhin Joe (Jadranko), Gustav & finally MartinDJ arrived.
Manny's Report: Night One:
Kamp Kommandant made a big fire, everyone gather round, scooped coals for their braais & made dinner.
Interesting variety of braais, from small kettle cookers to simple grids.
The weather started turning so we made moves to pack up.
There are two ablutions, a stone building & then the open air Boma ablution. I was nearer to the open air Boma & rushed there to shower as the rain started.
It takes long to dry yourself after a shower when you are standing in the rain!
I rushed back to tent, it was coming down so hard Alley had to hide out in my tent until it died down enough for her to dash to her RTT.
Bugger had drama & had a rain shower - bit I'll let him relay the story.
Manny's Report: Saturday:
We decided (by We, I mean me) decided on a late 09:00 start, just as well. It stopped raining after midnight, but it was overcast & everything was wet.
We lit out donkey (we being AlleyG, Jadranko & Zotan & myself,) all close to the open Boma Ablutions.
The guys closer to the stone Ablutions were lazy & would rather have cold showers than learn to make fire - but eventually Woolf lit their Donkey too.
NJ came down, we signed Disclaimers, paid & headed out on the Mountain trail. About 8 vehicles did the trail, others chilled at camp.
It's a nice drive, breath taking views & there are a few areas where a Diff Lock & concentration are required - ( think of the first part of Three Provinces).
We finally arrived at the mountain camp, very nice, stunning setting, very basic & a really interesting shower with fantastic scenery..
We had lunch there while Psyphin got some drone footage.
The route down has a few steep down slopes & the most magical views. You really need to concentrate.
We got back to camp in the early afternoon & slowly gathered for the evening Braai. Kamp Kommandant making the main fire, again.
We all sat around, laughed & chatted. Everyone seemed to really have enjoyed the day, it's not often I get thanked for arranging, but at Booyzynkraal several people thanked me.
Sunday:
Very overcast but it cleared, the stone ablution guys were still not keen on lighting the donkey, some preferring to walk to the open ablution rather than light afire! But again our resident Surgeon eventual lit it.
Everyone slowly packed up & left. Some were unaware that you need to take out your own rubbish, but had no issue when they found out.
We finally left around 10:00, others had left earlier, took us over an hour to do the 11km to the road.
Manny's Report: Conclusion:
It was a fantastic weekend.
Everyone is just so in tune & on the same page.
We know how to wheel, we have radios, we know how to wild camp.
Everyone is respectful, we get on.
It's always awesome to see the guys in person again.
Little things:
Renay's home made Bread - Mmmm...
Rechard interacting with PsyPhins 3 year old - brought a smile to my face.
Sorting out a possible power issue on Alleys car.
Bugger & Georg helping me with a blown blade fuse.
Alley sharing her extensive photography skills with Chas & Annie.
AlleyG coming to me & saying "Have you really known Rechard for over 10 years?! "
Then, two really pleasant surprises;
I met Joe (Jadranko) & his brother Zotan what nice guys.
Also meeting Gustav (Gustavo Adolphus) & his wife.
I hope these guys become regulars at our outings.
Thanks:
Firstly & most importantly, a big THANK YOU to our host NJ Vermaak - thank you for a truley stunning weekend.
We were the 2nd group to go to Booyzynkraal since the re-opening (The G Wagen Club were there in December).
I'll definitely consider it for the YEF in November.
Then Thanks to everyone who attended.
Please add Booyzynkraal to your list for the Cinquenta Desafios Challenge.
Not knowing ~60% of the people, it really does seem we were all on the same page on the whole camping style, 4x4ing etc. was great to meet some new faces.
Sorry about the 3 month old crying one and the energizer bunny 3 year old. They are exhausting but they enjoyed it so much he is already asking when is the next camp.
Thanks Manny for organising and for everyone else with tips, advice, chats and all.
Mad Manny wrote:Manny's Report: Conclusion:
It was a fantastic weekend.
Everyone is just so in tune & on the same page.
We know how to wheel, we have radios, we know how to wild camp.
Everyone is respectful, we get on.
It's always awesome to see the guys in person again.
Little things:
Renay's home made Bread - Mmmm...
Rechard interacting with PsyPhins 3 year old - brought a smile to my face.
Sorting out a possible power issue on Alleys car.
Bugger & Georg helping me with a blown blade fuse.
Alley sharing her extensive photography skills with Chas & Annie.
AlleyG coming to me & saying "Have you really known Rechard for over 10 years?! "
Then, two really pleasant surprises;
I met Joe (Jadranko) & his brother Zotan what nice guys.
Also meeting Gustav (Gustavo Adolphus) & his wife.
I hope these guys become regulars at our outings.
Thanks:
Firstly & most importantly, a big THANK YOU to our host NJ Vermaak - thank you for a truley stunning weekend.
We were the 2nd group to go to Booyzynkraal since the re-opening (The G Wagen Club were there in December).
I'll definitely consider it for the YEF in November.
Then Thanks to everyone who attended.
Please add Booyzynkraal to your list for the Cinquenta Desafios Challenge.
Until next time!!!!
All the above.....it was fantastic.
Venue, company, drive and the organizing.
Thanks again for organizing..
See Manny, I told you. We should never stop.
Sent from my SM-A515F using Tapatalk
Life will take you where ever you want it to take you...as long as you drive a 4x4
RechardT
Hilux 4l V6
... few more shots ...
Owner NJVs house with large verandah surround
sits comfortably against the cliff-line above which the intrepid trailists edged along ( same cliffline as earler post photo w SAX' Moremi trailer in lower left foreground).
House should have good outlooking Southerly? view down the river/valley.
Camp Kommandant Bugger tended the fire well into the late night under the useful guiding direction of other attendees as they quenched their thirst.
Attachments
Last edited by BushWacker on Mon Jan 29, 2024 6:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.
... Famous Fiver VoorLoper ...
... Veni Vidi Vici ...
This was really an awesome weekend, apart from the traffic and the coal trucks on the route to and from the event, the road towards the campsite was very scenic.
We drove the route in the Prado and towed our Invader camper, lovely combo.
This was like a reunion, our first camp with the club in years. Always the friendly faces that greet I one arrival.
The farm and surrounding mountains at a first glance is unbelievable beautiful.
Attachments
PA5_3307.JPG (10.2 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
2011 Toyota Prado 3.0 VX,
2013 Suzuki Jimny, Ratel (larger than life),
2023 Toyota Starlet xr auto,
2019 Invader Duo.
