There was a mine indicated on Paul’s GPS a short distance from our campsite. There was a clear road leading up the hillside, but the connection to Sun Valley had washed away in the distant past. It was easy to walk up the old track, though and we soon got to a deep trench cut into the mountainside following what looked like a quartz vein. Despite looking long and hard I failed to find any traces of gold, although we later read that it was fluorspar that was being mined. We walked back to the cars and were able to appreciate the splendour of the region that we were exploring. While incredibly harsh and inhospitable, it had a beauty and serenity that is difficult to describe. I checked the usual car things and Paul did the same, getting his tool roll out to do some tightening. Then we left a bit before them, only to miss our way at the sharp left turn before the pass. We waited for Paul and Petra, more to make sure that we were on the right road than to help them. Over the steep pass we dropped down to Fluorspar Valley where we had morning coffee and then went to look at Marianne’s finds from the day before. There were an amazing number of cores, all neatly set out on pre-prepared concrete trays. We had a good look around and found an old jeep bonnet in one of the rooms. Driving on we took a wrong turn and found a bit more of the jeep. Our GPS told us to make a U-turn so we never got to see if there was more of the jeep further along the track! Taking a right turn onto a very minor track first lead us along a fence line and then low range was required to negotiate some tricky turns as the track climbed steeply over a rocky ridge. Then it was a case of following a sandy river bed with stops at an old windpump and an amazing red bush. After getting back to the graded road and turning north we found a shady tree where we stopped for lunch. There were still lots of flowers about, mostly yellow with not too much variety, but certainly not much affected by farming or grazing in this unpopulated region. A bit further on we got to a veepos (cattle post) and the road became a rough track again as we got closer and closer to the Rosyntjieberge that were now looking incredibly rugged and inhospitable and almost impossible to climb. We wondered if anyone had ever been to the top of them! Getting to a “T junction” we turned left and got to the Rosyntjie spring. It was amazing to find so much water in such a dry area. Ssyril’s water tank pump had stopped working so Paul and I transferred their water to our tanks. A bucket and syphon pipe made the transfer easy. Then Paul discovered that his tool roll was missing. It had been left behind or had fallen out at one of the stops. We decided that it would probably be found if we drove back to Sun Valley the way we had come tomorrow. Then it was time to find a campsite. There were lots of animal droppings at the spring and the ridge overlooking it was very exposed so we decided to drive down the river bed (Bak Rivier) and find a sheltered spot. Just down from the T -junction there was a good place so we stopped there and set up camp. Leopard spoor in the still damp sand (after the recent rain) made it more interesting. We explored down the river bed on foot and then prepared a fireplace and got a fire going. Paul and Petra walked further down the river bed. There were vehicle tracks going much further and Paul thought it would be possible to get to the Orange River. Later research indicated that it is probably possible. But that's for next time. Marianne was going to bake bread so lots of charcoal was used and a hole dug next to the fire for the pot. The bread was almost perfect and the braai was excellent. We were at the foot of the Rosyntjieberg, in an incredibly remote corner of the Richtersveld, in deep silence and under an amazing roof of stars.

Geschreven door Leartravels