It was a rather overcast grey morning. The Voetsac members were keen to walk up Witte River and left early but we wanted to do a bit more exploring around Bergplaas. Dave told us about a cave that he had found nearby that had very good paintings in it. So we set off to find them. The overhang was just about below the water pipe and we got to it quite easily. The paintings were indeed excellent. Exploring the rest of the rock outcrop proved fruitless and we found nothing. But we did see and outcrop with promising overhangs towards Witte that looked promising. So we headed back to the hut to say goodbye to Dave and Marilynn and set off down a gentle ridge to the west. Dropping down to the stream we disturbed a zebra that galloped away along a game path. We followed the same track and got to a point overlooking a deep kloof that connected to the Witte. From here it looked as if we might be able to get to our overhangs without too much scrambling. It was easy and there were paintings. They were faded but very finely painted. Marianne noticed some car wrecks in another kloof so we went to them. They must have been wrecks that were pushed into the kloof when the farm was taken over by parks. A Ford Transit van and a Chev stepside bakkie, both dating from the early 1960's. There was also a much older vehicle under them. The Chev body and chassis were still solid, but I was too scared of snakes hiding under the many steel plates - flattened 44 gallon drums - lying about to do much climbing around. Walking up the kloof we came across another dam with a collapsed wall and then picked up another animal path that went straight back to the hut. It was time for a quick lunch and then it was time to head back home. Combrinks pass was as dramatic as ever and we even had to wait for a cyclist and his backup vehicle battling up the steep hill. There was no sign of anyone at Witte and we went straight to the gate. As we had the hut keys there were no questions and we enjoyed the drive through Cambria and the Groot Rivier pass. A big yellow cobra provided a bit of excitement. As it was Sunday and past the orange season there was very little traffic and we could stop in the conglomerate cuttings for afternoon coffee. Then it was on to Patensie where we stopped for diesel. There was what looked like a nasty accident just before Hankey but from there it was an uneventful drive home.

Geschreven door Leartravels