So…..we were tasked with an incredibly long journey by a client to transport Black Impala and Kudu gals from Vaalwater to the Eastern Cape.
On Wednesday 21 August 2024 Erika and Lindy started the first leg of the trip.
We traveled from Thabazimbi to Stephanies’ farm in Vaalwater. We slept over and at 07h00 on Thursday, 22 August we drove to Mr Jannie Parsons farm to load the Impala and Kudu.
Dr. Louis Greeff was on hand again, darting, checking, and loading them onto our trailer, Matopi for their long journey to their new home.
We set of at 10h50 and arrived in Bloemfontein at around 19h30
We checked that all was well with our precious cargo and slept a few hours.
At 02h00 on Friday morning, we were on the road again.
We arrived in the Port Alfred area at 10h30 after navigating the beautiful but scary Bedford Mountain pass.
We offloaded the Kudu first and then traveled another 13km to offload the Impala.
All paperwork done and clients greeted we turned back to Limpopo.
Turning onto the N10 we were greeted with the most incredible display of blooming Aloe. Mile upon mile of blazing orange lined the road.
But boy-oh-boy….it was hard going.
Almost 7 hours later at an average speed of 60km/h because of the incredibly strong headwind, we called it a day and slept over in Colesberg.
After a lovely meal, an ice-cold drink, and a warm shower we turned in and slept like two babies.
Saturday 06h00 we where on the road again….the wind still trying to keep us in the Northern Cape.
On our way home we encountered the frustrating but necessary Stop and Go’s on the Brits-Thabazimbi road.
At the second stop-and-go, two incredibly rude motorists squeezed past everybody just to be in front of the line.
This enraged everybody…but there was also a good turn to this.
The gentlemen and ladies in the vehicle in front of us where just as annoyed as we where and we started talking.
They where on their way to their Grandmothers’ funeral in Mogwassie.
We told them about our long journey and the gentleman was so amazed that two “older” ladies would do something like this on their own.
He shook our hands in the traditional African way and wished us a safe journey home.
Three and a half days, a stray hungry dog that we fed some Pap and Wors in Middelburg, some Karoo lamb from Colesburg and Biltong from the best butchery in Ventersburg and 2749.1 kilometers later, we arrived home safely on Saturday afternoon at 17h45.
This is such an incredible job to do and as a bonus, we get to see parts of our country that we never would have seen otherwise.
Cheers Erika and Lindy….this one was Epic!
Now for an ice cold beer!
