GCT Day 2, 7 August, 2022
Day 2. Sunday 7 August. Swiman to Winterhoek. 15 kms
The Contrasts of the Berg
We were up early, ready to leave at 7.20 a.m. A chilly start, most in beanies and gloves, some having enjoyed Hettie’s boiled eggs. This time, Deon led from the front, keeping the thorough bred race horses in check, being young Robert, Sharon and Tessa. He planned for us to hike in one group, having assessed the different speeds. Hettie took the role of sweeper.
We hiked through swathes of long grass – the most beautiful colours in the early morning light –blonde, yellow, golden, ochre, tan, tawny, russet, even burgundy. Interspersed with a grey groundcover and a few little pink flowers.
It was a misty cool morning. We stopped to take photos of chatty Lulu and Robert on the mushroom rock, overlooking Fairways timeshare.
Then on, uphill through burnt grass. Crunch, crunch. There must have been a runaway fire as the whole mountain was burnt above Castleburn and L.Navarone resorts. During a wee break, the “Agterossies”, sat down, decided it was a tea break, took out flasks…. then Deon started moving! Definitely a “wee break”, as in small (double the pun)! This happened several times.
Much laughter.
It wasn’t easy walking along the narrow paths between the burn. Deon found a skink, a long lizard with tiny feet, caught by the fire. On the descent down, the path was steep, narrow and jagged. Tricky! Concentration needed. Sticks helpful.
Winterhoek huts were in the distance – a picturesque cluster of rondavels and bare trees. Once there we realised how basic it was – one toilet and one lapa rondavel. Whew! We had a lucky break there, not overnighting, as it was fully booked.
We fell upon the packed lunch Jess had provided – thick wedges of sour dough bread with avo, bacon and pesto plus snacks. Revived, we lept up when a band of hikers and scouts arrived. From the road, Matthew, our mountain man driver, took us in 2 trips back to Swiman. It was another bone shuddering trip in his Landy.
Potholes were ignored and boundary markers just missed … the squashed up passengers gasped and laughed … all part of the adventure of this GCT.
Swiman hut was a palace after observing the bare necessities of Winterhoek. Our hearty supper arrived early again – beef potjie with couscous and corn bread. Delicious fare. We clustered around the fire and listened to Deon’s encouraging briefing for the long haul the next day as some were anxious about the distance. We fell into our sleeping bags. The heavens opened in the night with thunder, lightning and rain.
A day of contrasts: beautiful golden grass and black burn, Swiman and Winterhoek huts, smooth paced hiking and bone rattling transport, uphills and downhills, mist and sunshine. The Drakensberg of contrasts.
