Grrrrr about the 'old' comment Zeldie!!!!! lol

I'll volunteer for the potato salad and I do a mean curry bean salad that can be cooked on the fire. (If I don't burn it that is  lol)

Vera has been retrenched so is no longer on the net but she is still available on phone.
I'll get hold of her and find out. 

I spoke to her already, Sue.  She'll do the potato salad on Friday evening.  Why don't you do the curry bean thing on Friday evening as well?  Then at least we have one hot dish with the meat?  What do you think?

Oom Piet said the Tannie will phone me tomorrow during the day.  I'll ask her to make us a salad for Saturday evening and I think then we're set to go?

Good morning,

Sorry, I had a problem with the server yesterday and didn't see the post before this one...

Will do the bean salad - it can be eaten either hot or cold but is nice and spicy. I will bring some garlic bread if anyone wants as well?

I thought I was going to have to pull out as my folks are moving here to Margate to be closer to me at the end of September. But my mom says not to worry, they can move down the weekend before that.

So I still get to go!

Yippee! The time is near!!!

Okay - my plan - get there, make potatoe salad, cycle, eat, drink, censored, sleep, wake up, hike, eat, drink, drink, drink, shoot, eat, sleep, wake, censored, shoot, drive home...

No comment about the censored part seeing as I'm sharing a house with three other RR mates, there will be no censored stuff that weekend. 

Ok guys, everyone knows what their responsibilities are for the weekend right?  You geared up yet?  I've started to make lists of what to take with already, can you believe it?  Yeah, looking forward to the weekend!

Hi SA Rosity embers, I mean members! I am just organising to get a trailer for the mampoer, bakkie is not big enough. :ohmy:

Will somebody be so kind to post us a link to the site where we are going to please. :unsure: I got lost going through all these forum pages to look for it. Or better still: n online map to our destination?

Does anybody know if vdmpj will join us for the weekend?

I've got some really bad news. I may not be able to make it.
I am so disappointed!

Something really bad has happened to one of my children and I really have to put my priorities right. So it depends on how the situation is going before I can let you all know for definite.

@ Sir Piet  http://www.dragonpeaks.com/

Oh no!!!

Sorry Sue!!!

Well it's still two weeks - hope you can still make it...

@ Zelda (snigger) all I gotta remember is camera, charger, monopod, tripod and underwear!!!

I think soap would be good too... Don't wanna smell like a worker...

@ Sue: I am really sorry to hear that. Good luck, your child is more important but we will miss you though.

Thanks for the link, I hope other people can use it too.

@ Vera: Is the cam mandatory now?

@ PeeWee - and your toothbrush.  Toothbrush and undies.

Oom Piet, your cam, undies, a toothbrush and your cam.  Four things - put it in the box Uncle Piet giggle Remember me to tell you about the box story

General question: Is anybody taking a personal computer or laptop which may just be available to some of us to upload on accasion? In other words it must be geared to access the internet. Alternatively have a CD writer installed.

@ Zeldie: What on earth is the undies for?

LOL @ Oom Piet.  The Uncle is funny ne? Have a laptop, but it's not geared to access the net.  Lemme check with Spooky-wan, maybe he can assist us.

Sorry boys and girls - Spooky-Wan's laptop is not geared to access the net either.  Anyone else?  Vera?

So I have a PC But She is not the vacation type. She will not like the trip.  But she dose have a Blueteeth Dongle I can take with. So we take someone’s cell and make a gprs connection from one of your notebooks.

Dat so brein eendag moet vrot, hê?  giggle  Who's bringing the notebook?

Sheesh!  I just went through the last 3 pages of our thread.  My English is really, really bad!  LOL  Ok ok, so considering the 5 braincells that I do have (cause I'm a redhead - brunettes and blondes only have 2) it's not really that bad is it?  innocent face

Still waiting to hear who's bringing their notebook with? 

I not from there but I like to see a photo of a treem with a lot of trucks I like that tree. Try to get a bird in it or something close to it

I know I not from there ; but I thought I put in that request. I was going to ask for a close up of a animil with his mouth open wide and the pov is down his windpipe. but that may be hard to get. or unsafe

Hello all SA guys and girls!

I just want to wish a fantastic time out there, with tons of fun a laugh. My request would be a cheetah ( ha ha  it was a joke, but never know ) My real request , just everybody get back safe with a lot of picture to share with us!

seeyus Tunde

Tunde, you're a bit quick for us hey.  Our weekend is only next weekend - the last weekend of September

Ja Oom Piet, smaak my harry het sy hande vol.

Ok MOT, en waar val jy nou skielik uit?  Hoekom lyk dit nou asof die helfte van SA se outjies die bus gemis het hier?  Kom jy saam volgende naweek?  Laat maar weet.

To Zeldie! ha ha sorry I pushing am I? ...better early wish then not at all!

seeya  Tunde

Tunde, not a problem sweets! :0))  Thanx for the kind wishes.  We will make sure to upload a few specially for you ;0)

Nee zeldie, ek moet die fort hou, want sonder oom Piet en Harry sal ek maar moet werk.

Ahhh  Jy's die ander Leeudoringstad mater, ne?  Harry nogal  giggel  I will remember to call Herman "Harry" next weekend. They're discriminating against your it seems M.O.T.  What makes them so special that they can go and you must stay? 

Ja dis ma kak n.

LOLOLOLOL @ M.O.T.  Shamepies, poor you!  I'll make them buy you something there and Uncle Piet, I think this counts for giving M.O.T. a bottle of that Mampoer of yours?  innocent face

Ooh Lekker, can't wait for that bottle.

ROFL

Me?

Own a Laptop or notebook?!

laughs again

Sorry I don't have one...

And I doubt that there would be wireless access in that place...

Anyway... I'm so heppy that we are's getting a 3 day week!!! Yippee 2 more days to go!!!

mot maak seker jy vat piet se nommer as jy vashak.

Good morning maties!  I just got off the phone with Dragon Peaks, confirming our reservation.  So, see you all there!!! 

I'll be leaving Pta early on Friday morning, so we'll be there at approximate 12h00 I hope.  I still have to bake a bread for Friday eve, so I want to be there and get on with it asap!

Oom Piet, Herman, what time will you guys be leaving?  Or arriving for that matter?  And you Vera?  Oh!  Vera, we're in Cottage 8.  So you'll find us there!

How to get here from Durban/Pietermaritzburg, day time:
Follow the N3 north, passing Pietermaritzburg and Mooi River.
Take the 2nd Estcourt turn off which is the Estcourt North/179 glide off.
Turn left onto the Loskop road and travel 30kms to the R600.
Turn left and continue for 15kms.
Turn right through the green walled entrance and follow the road down past the Drakensberg Boys Choir for 1km, through the security gate to Reception.

How to get here from Durban/Pietermaritzburg, after dark:
Follow the N3 north, passing Pietermaritzburg and Mooi River and Estcourt.
After passing the Estcourt UltraCity Petrol Station, turn left onto the R74 to Winterton.
Once in Winterton, turn left onto the R600 and travel for 28kms.
Turn right through the green walled entrance and follow the road down past the Drakensberg Boys Choir for 1km, through the security gate to Reception.
We recommend that you take due caution if stopping at the petrol station after dark as highjackings have occured in the area.

How to get here from Johannesburg/Pretoria:
Follow the N3 south to Harrismith.
Turn left on the Bethlehem/Phutatatjhaba road, which will turn back under the highway, for about 5kms.
Take the R712 left to Bergville/Phutatajhaba.
Left again on the R74 to Bergville.
Continue past Bergville, to Winterton.
Turn right, once over the bridge, onto the R600.
Travel for 28kms, turn right through the green walled entrance and follow the road down past the Drakensberg Boys Choir for 1km, through the security gate to Reception.

How to get here from Bloemfontein/Bethlehem:
Travel towards Harrismith and about 5kms before the town, turn right onto the R712 to Bergville/Phutatajhaba.
Left onto the R74 to Bergville.
Continue past Bergville, to Winterton.
Turn right, once over the bridge, onto the R600.
Travel for 28kms, turn right through the green walled entrance and follow the road down past the Drakensberg Boys Choir for 1km, through the security gate to Reception.

How to get here from Newcastle/Ladysmith:
Travel on the N11 to Ladysmith.
Travel through Ladysmith and get onto the R103, old Durban highway, for about 2kms.
Take the Bergville road right and travel for 8kms.
Turn left onto the R600 to Winterton.
At the T Junction turn left into Winterton.
Once in the town, take the first turn right onto the R600 for 28kms.
Turn right through the green walled entrance and follow the road down past the Drakensberg Boys Choir for 1km, through the security gate to Reception.

Some facts about getting here:
Nearest International Airport: *Durban 250Kms away

• Nearest Airfield: *On Site
• Nearest Baz Bus Terminal: *Winterton 28Kms away
• Nearest Greyhound Bus Terminal: *Estcourt 50kms away
• Nearest Small Town: *Winteron 28Kms away
• Nearest Large Town: *Estcourt 50kms away
• Freeway to take: *N3
• Mainroad to take: *R600
• Road Condition: *Tar all the way

*Directions for all of those who haven't got yet - WARNING: when you've gotten onto the last road on the way to the place - it's a drive so don't think you're lost - the road ends in the mountains at Monk's Cowl so you'll know if you've gone too far. But you can always follow the signs to the Drak Boys Choir. The entrance for the Drak Boys Ampitheatre is the same as Dragon Peaks...

@ Zel - I think we'll get there at about 1 or 2pm. We are in cottage 5 by the little duck pond...

@ everyone - just a thought are we all gonna do group activities or go on a personal mission on Saturday? I know that reception has brochures and stuff. But just to give you an idea there is quad biking - white water rafting - nature reserves - hiking at Monk's Cowl on Cathedral Peak (I really really wanna do that) - fishing - not sure if the helicopter airschool will be running (they do that 4 times a year). We all know there is drinking and braais!

We can even drive toward Ladysmith and go to the Anglo Boer Battlefields...

Thanx Vera!!!  Now maties, I was thinking that an early morning hike on Saturday and Sunday morning is a splendid idea.  So, I'm going to ask that you all set your alarms for 05h00 each morning, and we'll catch each other at 05h30 outside Cottage 8 and we go hiking until we're tired, in need of coffee and b'fast. 

Vera tells me there's game reserves all around Dragon's Peak.  You guys up for a game drive Saturday afternoon?

I think we can fit absolutely everything in Vera.  And no!  If we wanted to do the individual thing, we shouldn't have gone as a group.  We stick as a group - that's how I feel anyway. 

We'll be leaving Pta only at 10h00 tomorrow morning, so we'll probably arrive there at 12h00 - 13h00 tomorrow afternoon.  Vera, I'll give you a shout as soon as we've packed out and settled in, then we can go to the reception together, check out the brochures and dig up a quick plan for the weekend.  Is that ok with you?

@ Zel - that's cool with me! I've sent you a few web links...

What type of hike do you want in the morning? catching the sunrise? Coz then I'd say we've gotta leave at 5:15am coz the sun breaks at 5:45am and the closest mountian view hke is 20 mins drive away...But I'm not sure what time they open...

@ zel - maybe you can copy and paste and email the directions?

We (+ Herman) leave on Friday between 8 and 10am, we must first feed the lions. :woot: Traveling time is more or less the same as for you Zeldie.

May the Irish blessings be with you all this weekend. :thumbupboth:

We can't wait to leave...

Just one thing: If there is snow, I don't go out in the cold and no getting up at 5am for me, I am no Minnesotan :unsure:

I think we should plan a hike for Saturday morning very early.  Since it seems as if you know the area better than I do Vera, the closest hike to Dragon's Peak would be where exactly?

Ag Oom Piet, you ever heard of that thing they call a sweater?  We'll feed you coffee all the way, how's that?

http://drakensberg.kzn.org.za/drakensberg/about/30.html

Go check it out guys!  I just had a chat with them over the phone and they confirmed that they open at 06h00.  So, I think we've got that covered for Saturday morning?  And I think the 1h20 hike will do just fine?  Or are you interested in killing me already on Saturday morning, me being so unfit and all?  :woot:

All this hiking sounds waaaay too physically intensive for me. Maybe its not such a bad thing that I can't make it.

I like to follow the wise words of Garfield who said that exercise is 50% mental and 50% physical, and the 50% physical can always be postponed till tomorrow! :lol:

Naah, just kidding. I envy you guys! Have a great time and I expect to be flooded with images for at least a month after you guys get back. :lol:

Wayne

Ja, jou dropper!  Sies!  Trust me if I say you will be with us in our thoughts

Forecast: Friday, 29 September 2006   Min:   6°C Max:   25°C Weather:   Fine. **Wind:  ** light W but light E in the afternoon. Sunrise:      05:43 Sunset:   18:01   Moonrise:     09:45 Moonset:   xxxx   Moonphase:   First Quarter               Forecast: Saturday, 30 September 2006   Min:   5°C Max:   25°C Weather:   Fine with morning mist patches. **Wind:  ** gentle NE Sunrise:      05:41 Sunset:   18:02   Moonrise:     10:42 Moonset:   00:40   Moonphase:   First Quarter               Forecast: Sunday, 1 October 2006   Min:   5°C Max:   21°C Weather:   Fine becoming cloudy. late pm. and evening showers and storms (30%) **Wind:  ** moderate W Sunrise:      05:40 Sunset:   18:02   Moonrise:     11:46 Moonset:   01:35   Moonphase:   Waxing    

Ladies and gents I present you with the weather!!! averaging out Ladysmith and Gaint's Castle It's gonna be 28 most of the time with mist in the morning for awesome shots... I'm gonna drive up the road in the morning and catch the sun touching the mountain...

@ Zel the guy you phoned is the closest hike - 20mins drive. And the 1h20 hike to Crystal Falls is lovely the falls are tiny thou so don't be depressed.

I would say do that on early morning and walk back to go to Fern Falls - much bigger and it's only 30 mins so it's only add a little to our hiking time. Besides I really wanna go there...

@ Oom - we can rent a strecher to carry you - no seriously I hate getting up in the morning too but it'll be worth it!

Ok boys and girls, I think we're set?  I've got all the documentation I think we'll need.  Vera, if you think we need anything more, print out whatever you have and tag it along.

Now everyone, please drive safe.  We'll see you all there!!!

What??  Did someone say NO SNOW!??  Isn't this a mountain trip??  Well... next time I won't send that beautiful, white fluffy stuff! 

Y'all have a GREAT time!  We expect photos and great tall tales.

Jodie  :0)  (snowy minnesotan and proud of it!)