Frosty Peaks Day 1 hike
Day 1. 28 February. Balloch Farm Valley +- 12 kms
After a hearty Bella breakfast, Kim, our lovely young leader for the day, led us on a truly awesome hike on the sandy tracks around the Balloch Farm valley. We often stopped in awesome wonder to appreciate the beauty of the mountains encircling us, the huge golden sandstone formations, the gentle green slopes down the valleys. Tandiets was a small range with teeth like pinnacles, like the Dragon’s back. It was a sunny day but rather windy too.
Some of us enjoyed 2 refreshing swims in river pools. The first pool was filled by a short rushing waterfall and had little places to sit, one we called “the loo”. Kate bravely swam in her birthday suit, Ali in half a birthday suit and 3 rather discreet ladies (Rhona, Sylvia and myself) in cozzies. It was a divine swim!
Kim told us about the old farming practices in the old sheep shearing shed we came across and the current practices. She has an environmental degree and does sustainable farm audits, runs a guest house and leads these trails alongside being a mother and farmer’s wife. What a girl! We hiked on farm tracks, which was easy. Once we came upon a poor porcupine caught in a trap. Christa, the Gladioli Queen, was constantly on the lookout for these spectacular deep red indigenous flowers.
Our second swim was near Balloch Cave in a huge deep pool. Sheer bliss after the hot day’s hiking. Back at the cave there was hot tea, fresh muffins and chats. More bliss.
Refreshed, Kim then led those who wanted to do a further small hike, up the steep rocks behind Balloch Cave. There were stunning all round views and huge balancing rocks, which we all tried valiantly to push over, and Bushman paintings. Kate was like a Swiss goat on the rocks, with no stick support!
Then shower time. The wind dropped and we enjoyed Bella’s cuisine of a hearty beef stew with our wine. Again early to bed for our second night under the Balloch cave overhang. This was a change from the original programme but we welcomed 2 nights with good ablutions and not having to pitch our tents again. What an awesome first day!
