Stories

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Walk about Karoo

Sunday

March 9, 2025

On Sunday afternoon 16h00 we meet at Engen, just outside Grey, in Bloemfontein.  Everyone is excited and greets with joy. The luggage looks like women on their way to "Boer soek ñ vrou". The two white vehicles depart for the unknown.... Little do we know what awaits us there. N1 traffic only makes us remember for the last time about unexpected hurdles that cross our paths every day. The great Gariep Dam, that's our sign of exciting off, or turning around. Norvalspont, Vensterstad and then the koppie that gave us the GPS sign. Now we are almost there. Murrays’kop, Karoo Provence awaits. Cellphone signal running low.... paradise here we come... chatter gets scarce.... . the farm gate jolts us back to past tense. The people are waiting for us. Just like people who know nice people come here.... We must announce with hooters that we have arrived. They're so excited, I'm not guessing it, I see it in their faces. We are greeted as if we have known each other for years. Welcome gifts "galore". Dinner odours come from the kitchen. Farm boys carry our bags.... nice buttocks and strong legs... I feel like I've finally found my place.

My place of hiding and just being me.... I feel at home. Just right here in the Eastern Cape. Just 250 km south of Bloemfontein. 

My heart is full, my cup is overflowing.

 

Monday

March 10, 2025

The sheep's bleating is my ears, is my alarmclock. Where am I, I am in the Karoo. Coffee and rusks with the sun showing us its beauty there far over the mountain. We learn a little bit of natural history . We ride on the back of the pickup truck and feel all our worries blow away.

We’re dropped off. Steps get us up and down from the bakkie(its not a bakkie, it’s a HILUX)... pure spoilage. All kinds of stories are told.  Jan Harm ensures us that everything is calm and serene. He is in control. First sunglasses are lost... and found. We start with our first hike activity. Through plains we move, everyone talks and is free as birds. The limbs are soon loosened.

Breaths rushed; blood bursting through our veins. Fresh air, ... Sheep are watched dosed and counted, horses wait calmly tied to a bush. A normal Karoo farmers day.  Workers proudly share their knowledge. 11h15 on the clock we pull in to check tires, throw diesel. (beakfast on the stoep)

 Fresh fruit and yogurt, and croissants with juice.

Lunch for later, self service, awaiting in the kitchen. Snooze and relax until we see you again at 16h00. Everyone kick off their shoes and enjoys their silence. Some of us have a nice nap, some start reading for the day. That romantic, nice-feeling booklet that you will only dare to read if you're walking with women.

16h00 we are loaded again, by one of those stiff butts’ men, nicely mannered young man.  We're going uphill. On foot! That mountain that was in front of us, just yep him. Road nicely laid out, but this time with loose rocks and some steep slopes. The refs run high, some of us gear back, others keep pace. With encouragement, searching for breath, reaches the top.

Most beautiful view awaits us there. Benches to sit on and miles and miles of open spaces. You can see almost 2 years ahead. Biscuits, cheeses and your favourite drink.

It was pretty, it was good.

Dinner back at the house. We are treated to lamb shank, guaranteed all day slow roasting, rice with pumpkin pie and green beans. Milk tart rounds it all off.... bathing, showering, reading books, dreamland awaits.

11.83 km

 

Tuesday

March 11, 2025

Breakfast box is packed. Bethulie your nice thing. Sonja with her pink windmill history joins us. We meet Aunt Trudie Venter a legent. Admired for her broad general knowledge of the Boer War.  We are taken to the peasant war days, women's concentration camps' pain, hardship and suffering are felt. Stories are shared. Hardship is understood, because we are women, we are moms. Graveyard makes us humble, silent, hurt. We are dumb... maybe a little angry, but more unfortunate. Wish everything could be different.

Snotkop's restaurant lifts our spirits. Where do you want to eat, there is were you want to eat.  Chichen schnitzel with the tastiest crisps, with no guilt about crisps, especially after all the kilos we've already chugged off. Making jolly,

sore hearts a little lighter. 

Longest bridge in the southern hemisphere is being walked down step by step, at least we should be able to do ✔️ it .

Hearts affected differently today, the vw kombi is quieter, we are taken to the guest house richer.

Butter chicken with rice and pecan nut pie makes us quiet for the night.

11.66 km on our feet done and dusted...

 

Wednesday

March 12, 2025

Wake up wake up girls..., the sun is shining, pack your bags. We are on our way to our second guest house, just around the corner.

Steyn and Marissa's lovely oasis...Elberfeld, Karoo Lekkerte.

Once there, we can’t believe our eyes. The sheer beauty of everything, here is a hidden gem.

Hiking clothes on, we go up the hill.

And up and on, and then down and then on again.

White arrows keep us on the right track. Steyn took care of that. Nature and picturesque mountains greet us. The Lord spoils us with clouds of majestical beauty.

Hot breakfast in their nature restaurant. Steyn and Marisa's hospitality is unforgettable. All other worries forgotten... We relax so that everything hangs....

Tummies full, on we go. Ospreys spoil us with their own concert.... the Lord feels nearby.

Bowls of cold water for our feet is the golden prize when we get to the house.... We are spoiled...

Lunch left in the kitchen... who has any hole for eating at all.

At noon we sleep, meditate and read romance books. Some of us watch a chick flick. Benches on the porches are sought out for afternoon coffee and chats.

Dinner is "cuisine" at its best.

Lamb rib with baked potatoes ......... finger licking.

Silent night, holy night.... Mother's hearts come to rest contentedly. Km walked is 9.86

 

Thursday

March 13, 2025

Excited for another day we pack lunchboxes. Oviston here we come. Driven by vehicle. Cute Aunt Penny and Uncle Conrad are residents who clearly love walking, running, rowing and also go sailing quite often. Uncle Conrad's face speaks volumes.... wonder what he's thinking...

Susan, joins us.  Already hard scoured through life but radiating joy from the eyes.

We walk through the streets and along the coast of one of our most beautiful dams in the country, the Gariep. We meet fishermen and a very large monitor lizard. We eat our muffin and eggs at the Oviston inlet tunnel. We admire incredible human engineering skills and knowledge form years back... Must have taken a long time to build.... The clouds rumble and lightning strike... We have to seek shelter. Women are strutting out full of laughter.

Now we're going to hide in Willem se  Kampie. Farmstall  just outside Oviston.... The rain is pouring around us. The people of the karoo is celebrating.

Lunch at farmstall with spinach makes us not only feel smart, but also strong. Lots of handmade products are offered for sale.... This people don't sit still. Back at farm we relax and watch Netflix.

 Another option for a afternoon hike is given. On the farm road’side or a  4x4 route. ... Why, because we may only discover Walk about Karoo, once.

We climb wires, we push and pull each other over ditches...huffing and puffing.

Thursday evening will conclude with Karoo chops on a Karoo braai... done by Karoo men.... Jan Harm and his pretty butt’s son, we are spoiled.

Our words are meant sincerely. Oudedoos.....what happens in Walk about Karoo, stays in Walk about Karoo. We have grown to love everyone around the table. We feel loved. We feel WOMAN.

We go to bed knowing that the week will never be forgotten.

8.12 km on our clock. 16,12km  for a few of us.

 

Friday

March 14, 2025

Friday morning. Our last morning here. The morning hour has gold in the mouth.  Coffee and rusks on the porch as nature begins to awaken. We say goodbye, drive away knowing....."done but not dusted"..... for we see you again soon. 7 women with bigger, fuller hearts.... tears visible in the corners of our eyes .Dankie Walk about Karoo!

Thank you Corlia and Marisa and your amazing families.

Thank you to every woman who was able to walk along!

Thank you to our Almighty Creator!!

Thank you 2025!!

Blessed beyond measure.

 

 

Walk about Karoo

Sondag

9 Maart 2025

Sondag middag 16h00 ontmoet ons mekaar by Engen, net buite Grey, in Bloemfontein.  Almal is opgewonde en groet met vreugde. Die pakkasie lyk soos vrouens wat oppad is na "Boer soek ñ vrou" kuiers op die plaas. Die twee wit voertuie vertrek na die onbekende....min weet ons wat vir ons daar wag. N1 verkeer laat ons net vir oulaas onthou van onverwagse hekkies wat elkedag ons paaie kruis. Die groot Gariep dam, dit is ons teken van afdraai of omdraai. Norvalspont, Vensterstad en toe die koppie wat vir ons die GPS teken is van nou is ons amper daar. Sein raak min....paradys hier kom ons...gesels raak min.... Murrayskop se bord is ons eerste stop. Plaashek ruk ons terug na verlede tyd. Ons is amper daar. Die mense staan en wag ons in. Net soos mense wat weet hier kom lekker mense....ons moet met hoeters aankondig ons het arriveer. Hulle is so opgewonde , ek raai dit nie, ek sien dit in hulle gesigte. Ons word gegroet of ons mekaar al jare ken. Welkom geskenkies "galore". Aandete se reuk kom uit die kombuis. Plaasseuns dra ons tasse aan....mooi boudjies en sterk bene...Ek voel of ek my plekkie uiteindelik gevind het. 

My plekkie van wegkruip en net ek wees....ek voel tuis. Net sommer hier in die Oos Kaap. Net 250 km suid van Bloemfontein. 

My hart is vol, my beker loop oor.

 

Maandag

10 Maart 2025

Die skape se geblêr is my alarm. Waar is ek, ek is in die Karoo. Koffie en beskuit met die son wat vir ons sy mooi wys daar ver oor die berg. Natuurgeskiedenis word met ons gedeel. Ons ry agterop die bakkie en voel hoe al ons kommer wegwaai.

Ons word afgelaai waar skerp klippies hulle blink vir ons wys. Trappies kry ons op en af van die

 

bakkie...pure bederf. Allerhande verhale word vertel.  Jan Harm verseker rustig en kalm. In beheer.. Eerste sonbril word gesooek...en gevind Ons begin met ons eerste stap aktiwiteit. Deur vlaktes beweeg ons, almal gesels en is vry soos voëls. Die litte word gou losgemaak.

Asems jaag, polse klop in nek.

Vars lug, ...skape word vir wurms deurgekyk, perde wag kalm aan bos vasgemaak. n Normale Karoo boere dag.  Werkers deel trots hulle kennis. 11h15 op horlosie trek ons in om bande te check, diesel te gooi.

Ontbyt met vars vrugte en yoghurt, en croissants met sappie. Rustyd, middagete tot ons julle 16h00 sien.

 

Almal val neer en geniet hulle stilte. Herkou aan wat hulle ingeneem en bewonder het. Party val in lekker middagslapie, party begin met hulle romanza vir die dag. Daai lekker wees, lekker voel boekie wat jy net sal waag om te lees as jy saam met vrouens  stap.

16h00 word ons weer gelaai, deur  een van daai stywe boudjies manne, mooi gemanierde  jongman.  Ons gaan bergop. Te voet! Daai berg daarvoor, jip net hom. Pad mooi uitgelê, maar die keer met los klippe en bietjie steiltes. Die refs hardloop hoog, party rat terug, ander hou pas. Met aanmoediging, soekende na rennies word die top bereik. 

Mooiste uitsig wag vir ons daar. Bankies om op te sit en jou toekoms

amper 2 jaar vooruit te sien. Soutkoekies, kase en jou gunsteling drankie. Dit was mooi, dit was goed.

Aandete word ons bederf met skaapskenkel, verseker heeldag stadig gebak, rys met papoentert en groenboontjies. Melktertjie rond alles af....bad, stort, boeklees, slaap

11.83 km

 

Dinsdag

11 Maart 2025

Kosblik word gepak. Bethulie jou lekker ding. Sonja met haar pienk windpomp geskiedenis sluit by ons aan. Tannie Trudie Venter word bewonder met haar breë algemene kennis oor die boereoorlog.  Ons word geneem na die boereoorlog dae, vrouekonsentrasie kampe se pyn, swaarkry en lyding word gevoel. Stories word gedeel. Swaarkry word verstaan, want ons is vroue,ons is mammas. Begrafplaas maak ons nederig,  stil, seer. Ons is stom...dalk bietjie kwaad, maar meer jammer. Wens alles kon anders wees.

Snotkop se restaurant lig ons gemoed. Waar wil jy eet, daar wil jy eet.  Chichen snitchel met lekkerste chips, met geen skuldgvoel oor chips , veral na al die kilos wat ons al kafgedraf het nie. Joligheid maak seer harte bietjie ligter. 

Langste brug in suidelike halfrond word tree vir tree afgestap, ons moet dit darem kan ✔️

Harte is anders geraak vandag, die bussie is stiller, ons word ryker gastehuis toe gevat.

Butterchicken met rys en soettertjie maak ons stil vir die nag. 11.66 km op ons voete done and dusted...

 

Woensdag

12 Maart 2025

Op meisies..., die son skyn lekker, pak julle tasse,  oppad na ons tweede gastehuis ,net om die draai, Steyn en Marissa se lieflike oase...

Daar gekom kan ons net oe en aa oor alles, nes in Sub A...

Stapklere aan, ons gaan koppie op..

En op en op, en dan af en dan weer op.

Wit pyltjies hou ons op die regte pad. Daarvoor het Steyn gesorg. Natuur en skilderagtige berge begroet ons. Die Here bederf ons met wolke konsert. Warm ontbyt in hulle natuur restaurant. Steyn en Marisa se gasvryheid is onvergeetlik. Alle ander kommers vergete...ons ontspan so dat alles hang....

Magies vol, huistoe mammie. Visarende bederf ons met hulle eie konsert....die Here voel naby.

yskoue voetbad is ons goue prys....ons word bederf...

Middagete weer gelos op tafel in kombuis...wie het nog enigsins ñ gaatjie vir eet?

Middag word geslaap, mediteer en romanza boekies gelees dat dit klap. Banke op die stoepe word deurgesit...geselsies word gesmee, moeder raad word uitgedeel.

Aandete "cuisine" op sy beste.

Skaapribbetjie met gebakte aartappels .........vingerlek kekkerte.

Stille nag, heilige nag....moederharte kom tevrede tot rus.

Km gestap is 9.86

 

Donderdag

13 Maart 2025

 

Opgewonde vir nog ñ dag pak ons kosblikke. Oviston hier kom ons.

Per voertuig aangery. Oulike tannie Penny en oom Conrad is inwoners wat duidelik lief is vir stap, hardloop,  roei en ook nogal nou gaan seil. Oom Conrad se gesig spreek boekdele....wonder wat hy dink...

Nog ñ vroutjie, Susan sluit by ons aan.  Al hard deur die lewe geskuur maar straal vreugde uit die ogies uit.

Ons stap deur die strate en langs die kus van een van ons mooiste damme, die Gariep. Ons ontmoet vissermanne en die grootste likkewaan...ons eet ons muffin en eiers by die watertonnel. Ons bewonder ongelooflike mensekennis en tyd ...moes lank gevat het....die wolke dreun en blitse slaan...ons moet bultuit voertuie toe. Vroue beur die bult uit, vol lag en nuwe kennis...

Nou gaan ons wegkruip in Willem se Kampie.. padkafee net buite Oviston....die weer dreig om ons.

Middagete met spinasie maak ons nie net slim voel nie maar ook sterk.

Baie vroulike talente word te koop aangebied....hierdie kontrei se vroue sit nie stil nie.

Middag lafenis....party fliek "upside down"....ander "upside down" fisies en psigies.

Nog ñ opsie vir stap word gegee. 

Padlangs of sommer 4x4 hier regoor alles...hoekom, want ons mag hier by Walk about Karoo net ontdek.

Ons klim drade, ons stoot en trek mekaar oor slote...ons 4x4...ons sien natuurwonders....ons beleef wonders...ons leef.

Donderdag aand word afgesluit met Karoo tjoppies op Karoo kole...deur Karoo manne ....Jan Harm en sy stywe boudjies seun kan maar braai , ons word bederf.

Ons woorde word opreg bedoel. Oudedoos....."what happens in Walk about Karoo, stays in Walk about Karoo. Ons het lief geword vir almal om die tafel. Ons voel geliefd. Ons voel VROU.

 

Ons gaan slaap en weet dat die week nooit vergeet sal word nie.

8.12 km op ons klok

Sommige van ons het ekstra 8 km in oggend ook geklok.

 

Vrydag

14 Maart 2025

Vrydag oggend vinnige laaste môrestond het goud in die mond.  Koffie en beskuit op die stoep terwyl natuur begin ontwaak. Ons groet, ry weg met die wete....."done but not dusted".....vir ons sien julle gou weer. 7 vroue met groter ,voller harte waai koebaai....trane sigbaar in ons ooghoeke.

 

Dankie Walk about Karoo!

Dankie Corlia en Marisa en julle ongelooflike families

Dankie aan elke vrou wat kon saamstap!

Dankie aan ons groot Almagtige Skepper!!

Dankie 2025!!!

Alles Groot GENADE!!!