So it turns out that getting from Wits to the other side of Benoni, whilst not requiring a passport, does take the better part of 2 hours on Friday evenings. Inevitably we got to the Blyde Canyon Adventure Centre around midnight with only a few drunk kayakers from Benoni (strangely) around to greet us. The plan had initially been for Dexter, Crabs and I to waste away Saturday while Neil competed in the kayak race on the Upper Blyde. A haphazard last minute rearrangement saw Dexter and I tagging along in a croc with the kayak race and Crabs getting the short straw - which I still feel bad about - and staying in camp.
The 4am start was over-rated and the 2 hour drive was pretty hectic, but the view and the crystal clear water was well worth the lack of sleep - anyone who's been to that part of the country knows what I'm talking about. One of the highlights for me was drinking straight from the river with no gippo-strings attached, very refreashing after the sludge in the Vaal and most Natal rivers.
The kayak race was a timed sprint (on two occasions a head-to-head race) down three of the larger rapids on the stretch and the rest of the river was just tripped. Neil represented Explorers well, even though he brought a medium red knife (read: flirt) to a gun fight. Although it could've been worse... he could've been Luke in the large flirt. Mark and I thought we'd embarrass ourselves rather and took a few swims, Mark felt it neccessary to increase his number of swims. I particularly enjoyed the swim above the waterfall... thanks Mark. But the kayakers seemed to enjoy the relatively informal format of racing and good times seem to be had by all... although, the guy who worked in the hole below curtain falls seems to have a strange sense of good times because he went back for more.
That night descended into a boozed haze and much abuse was hurled in Explorers direction as the video of the day was watched and the full extent of the carnage revealed. Next morning we nursed our heads and bumbled down the lower blyde, which couldn't really compare with the spectacular canyon of the day before... at least this time we had Crabs with us.
Amazing weekend, hopefully have a bigger contingent at next year's event...
Snoo
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This is a blog for Wits Exploration and Expedition Society (WEES) to report back on trips which have taken place and advertise future trips and ideas.
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6 comments:
which waterfall?
... and who got worked in the hole at Curtain Falls?
Sounds like good times, a very cool stretch of river that.
waterfall=terminator
I suppose it's not that big a waterfall, but big enough for me not to be keen to swim over it. I don't know the guy's name who got worked... Neil?
Oh god it was funny. Don't know the guys name but it was some guy a riot glide. We went through the hole (Not Curtain falls a pour over below it) his the water caught his stern, pulled him back and thumped him once or twice. He then went back for a "play" got sideways and thumped solidly a second time.
I must also give a good account of the carnage that was the flip above terminator. It was funny a hell, well funny on the video.
The croc flipped in the hole in the lead in. Laura swam to river left with the boat, left the boat the got out the river. Mark perched himself on a rock in the middle of the river. Meanwhile the croc has run the drop in style, sans people.
Adrian T roped Mark from the bank and all was good. Marks paddle also somehow managed to bet trapped in a small wave just off the bank, it was a bit of a mission to get.
I enjoyed Luke's comment to them after they got trashed again in the hole below curtain falls... "You guys are a couple of classics"
I also enjoyed Adrian's 1981 hot at hell port which we had to finished because the cork was pushed in. It was damn good and made be wankered. Bit of a snooze and some food sorted me out, felt great in the morning, unlike those who drank OBS.
Ja, I didn't really enjoy the hole below curtain either... especially since Mark asked if we could play after seeing the kayaker get his ass worked, and I said no and Mark took us in backwards without warning me and thought he'd exit off the back and leave me to it. Hmmph.
But ja, I don't recommend the obs headache either. Should have had the port.
Blyde Fest photos
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