Vaal Run

The Vaal was up and quite frankly I didn't had anything better to do, well most other people has something better to do, as a large amount of teeth pulling was involved to get people to come. In the end Laura, Richard , Richard's bint (hmmm going to take slack for that) and myself drove of to the 50cumec flow of the Vaal. Astute readers would figure out that four people equals one car, which equals no drive round. I chose the Run/Hitch option, with the hope that there would be many cars to pick me up, which there weren't. Eventually I was picked up after a little jog and we were off down the river. At 50, running the Vaal is a rather pleasant experience, with far fewer rocks crocs can make it down unhindered. Richard had a swim at Big-daddy, and a almost-rap-into-flip later on, good times. When running down Theater a sneaky rock jumped up and broached me, after a painful dislodgement and hand slog roll we arrived at Gatsien it relatively one piece. The hole was sweet , and I had one of my best plays every, Snoo threw down her bag of tricks including a nice crogan-so-hard-you-get-water-in-your-nose-through-your-eyes.

- Nortis

Onseepkans Gorge - Orange River - 2-9 December

So.... back from the Orange and already the post-trip depression has set in.
A pile of email and an even bigger, scarier pile of work-that-should-be-done stares you in the face. How much would I rather be on the Orange? A whole bunch. Anyway, nothing for it but to contemplate the next trip, and reminisce about the last one... What an awesome trip! Personally my longest river trip ever (consecutive days on the same stretch at least, but let's not get technical) - which I think had a lot to do with it, and also an awesome group of people - which I think had even more to do with it. Enduring memories are of absolutely breathtaking (sometimes literally) scenery, laughing a lot (mainly at Chris, but sometimes at Nick's Kukoi/sarong/skirt/anus), 38 degree heat, lunchtime naps, fish eagles, 20:30 Sunsets, OBS, early mornings, tarpalising, untarpalising, Richie Falls, building a raft-yacht and the occasional gale-force headwind... not not good times (Nick Tye/Nortis, 2005). Water level could have been higher, but a low level meant a more relaxed trip which was also pretty cool. Sorting out a proper river-file folder for the Onseepkans stretch sometime (probably next year) but in brief, for those of you who couldn't make it:

Take-in: Onseepkans Border Post
Put-Out: Klein-Pella (largest Date Palm plantation in the S. Hemisphere)
Distance: 60km... about 4 full river days at 50 cumecs
Rapids: A couple, most were not quite so big with the low level. Watch out for Richie Falls (~15km) which should be portaged on the right bank. Little Falls, just above Richie Falls, was very bony and consisited of a semi-drag into a pool and a small drop on the extreme right.We lowered most of our kit into the gorge below Richie Falls from some fixed anchor points, and found most of the Gorge rapids to "not-be". "Big Bunny" required a scout, but has an easy line down the left - lots of heavily-loaded croc-wrapping-potential though. "Dolly Parton" had a sneaky siphon on the left, fairly easily avoided though. Couple of I/II's followed on the last days - mostly a lot of flat, channely stuff. Hats were awesome for the flat stretches.
General: Heat could have been quite an issue, we were careful though - lots of suncream and 2-3 hour breaks in the shade at lunch time. Hats were awesome for the flat stretches. Crocs were the ideal boat - rafts would not have got through some of the channels, especially near onseepkans and also would probably not have got through Dolly Parton.

- Daav

Formal Dinner - Swaziland 26 - 28 November

Formal dinner this year went to Shewula Mountain Camp in the north eastern corner of Swaziland. We left at 5am on Sat 26th November full to the brim with everything to make our two nights there super comfy and luxurious.
The actual formal dinner was delicious (thanks to Lisa and Mark Shaerer) but of course the weather had to play a part and it blew the entire time we ate. Floor length dresses were quickly abandoned for tracksuit tops and pants and the candles were mere decoration. But it was a fantastic dinner nevertheless (with many a toast given to 'the Animal') as only an Explorer's Formal dinner can be. The traditional game of cricket was played on the local community's soccer field. Lots of alcohol was consumed and many a 'bat bat bat' and 'viking' and 'bunny bunny bunny' was played.
Here's to next year's Formal dinner being just as awesome!

- Brigitta Annegarn

Team Dufli goes for a play

Wendy Eleanor and Stacey had a play with James, Daav and myself repectivly, at Gatsien. The bottom hole was working nicely and gave us all time to work on our spins, some clean, and ends. I am happy to report that our crogan (window shade) to trick ratio is improving. At the end of the day James and I concluded that we may just be crappy kayakers (opposed to not quite crappy yet)
Daav played so much he could hardly stay awake on the drive home, he looked like a kid with a new toy.

Eleanor's first day at playschool

So Bryden Soekie and I went to the Vaal; with Eleanor a croc and a stubby with a leaky splashdeck. Soekie was a little intimidated by the run in to the hole, which resulted in a complicated run/paddle around. The hole was awesome, I did a loop (well according to bryden i did a loop) and a couple of phonics-tortis's. Bryden had one swim but a lot more succesful rolls (roll to swim ratio was pretty good...) We forgot the camera, so only some crogan photo's from the camera-phone.

-The Daav

Eleanor Arrives

Dave Rice or as we affectionately know him ou-Daav or Dawie, purchased himself a brand spanking new Large Fluid Flirt in yellow. He bought the boat from ex-explorers member Hugh du Preez owner of Whitewatertraining in Parys. After which Dave, Bryden and James went for a paddle at Gatsien which was the lowest it has been for a while now, flowing 10 cumecs.