In My African Dream: 3.1.2007 Au RuSH, blisters, and more chicken

Gold Rush was fun. When we first got there the staff took us into a tent and passed around bottles of Jack Daniels. Actually, they were JD bottles filled some more rooibos, but we polished it off just the same. While we waited we played poker & darts on an over-sized dart board. Later in the day we saddled up the donkeys and went to the stream to pan for gold. At first it wasn't that exciting b/c I had done it before. Then, I moved to a new spot & actually found some gold, about 3/4 of an ounce worth... hardly any at all really.

Afterwards, Christine rode one of the donkeys and we had fun taking care of and grooming them. We pretty much relaxed for the rest of the day and chatted with the staff or played games. That night we did another campfire. I had to do encores of "Tarzan" and "Rig-a-bamboo." I also introduced them to another camp favourite, "Rare Bog." They all really seemed to enjoy it and the Gold Rush setting was perfect for its introduction. The staff even got up and did some songs for us. All in all, it was a good time.

The Giant Dart Board.

Chillin', chattin' with the staff.

Tying up my ass. Don't forget to brush your ass before you use it.

I'm pretty sure I'm getting out sunscreen here. I don't recall needing to use my TP on this trail. Either way, I'm sure it merits a picture.

Which is the bigger ass?

When we awoke the next morning (at 4) we had some cereal and headed off on what was to be the longest hike of Cederberg. We spent the day hiking up to Crystal Pools. It was a long hike up the mountains. There was nothing to do there base-wise but sleep. And sleep we did. Lots of it.

Up to the pools.

The infamous proton. These things are pretty much kept us alive between our cans of picnic ham and nightly chickens. Spread some honey or condensed milk on them and you're good to go. Don't ask me what they are though... probably just a mess of two up quarks for every down quark held together with a bunch of gluons.

Daybreak in the mountains.

And sleep we did.

This morning we got up for our hike back to base camp. It was supposed to be a four-hour hike downhill. It took us a lot longer than that. I'm not sure how much longer it was but at times it felt like days. The heat really slowed me down. That and the blisters I acquired. Even in well broken in boots and doubled up socks I managed to get terrible blisters on both feet between the ball of my feet and the smaller toes. Going downhill was far worse in that respect because you have to stop your momentum and that wears on your feet and can cause blisters.

We thought we were going to miss our transport from the base of the mountains to camp so we sent Lew and Aiden ahead to catch it and have it wait for the rest of us. Well, the rest of us ended up taking a wrong turn and were somewhere around 10km from where we were supposed to be. Luckily, another hiker in a bakkie stopped and picked us up. They weren't scouts but had been hiking when a troop of baboons stopped them and they decided to call it a day. They gave us a lift back to camp and said they had seen Lew and Aiden but we didn't find them as we drove. We went to the transport site but they had left already so we just headed back. Fortunately, as we arrived so did the transport with both of them.

We went to the electronics base and made our own digital clocks/thermometers. We had some proper food (prepared by 'professionals') and showers with running water. I went to get my blisters taken care of and ran into Euginio again. They had an interesting way of draining the blisters. The nurse threaded the needle and pulled it through a few times. The thread actually helped to drain the liquid.

For dinner we were given more chicken (surprise there...) and we ended up talking with other patrols for the remainder of the night. Fielding questions about America and being referred to as Yankee Doodle was a hoot.