My last post was about zoning out...
I decided that in order to live by this maxim I would leave Gauteng behind and head for the mountains.
Where I am now. In the spectacular Drakensberg. Sitting under the splendor of the Amphitheatre, Baboon Head Rock and the Central Berg.
On our second day here, after suffering from a bout of Cystitis and suffering the pains of my body. I decided the family needed to go for a hike across the mountains above our chalets to the Wishing Well and beyond.
Note, it was me (not too well) David, the fittest of us all, Gabriella 9 years and Susanna only 5 years old. Off we went. We did ensure that the hotel knew we were going out and that if they did not hear from us by 6pm that they need to send a rescue party out to find us.
The Horns headed off for their “Grand Explore”!
I really enjoyed being above the world looking down for the height, seeing and discovering new flowers and bugs. Just being free….
It was going so well…
Then we had to find a way down from the mountain. The paths all ended and there were sheer rock faces below. We could see the jeep track below, way below!
No problem, David and Susanna went ahead to scout for a path. Gabriella and waiting, waiting, waiting. Then we both decided to follow the buck spoor. Surely buck would be sensible and find a route up and down the mountain?
I decided that in order to live by this maxim I would leave Gauteng behind and head for the mountains.
Where I am now. In the spectacular Drakensberg. Sitting under the splendor of the Amphitheatre, Baboon Head Rock and the Central Berg.
On our second day here, after suffering from a bout of Cystitis and suffering the pains of my body. I decided the family needed to go for a hike across the mountains above our chalets to the Wishing Well and beyond.
Note, it was me (not too well) David, the fittest of us all, Gabriella 9 years and Susanna only 5 years old. Off we went. We did ensure that the hotel knew we were going out and that if they did not hear from us by 6pm that they need to send a rescue party out to find us.
The Horns headed off for their “Grand Explore”!
I really enjoyed being above the world looking down for the height, seeing and discovering new flowers and bugs. Just being free….
It was going so well…
Then we had to find a way down from the mountain. The paths all ended and there were sheer rock faces below. We could see the jeep track below, way below!
No problem, David and Susanna went ahead to scout for a path. Gabriella and waiting, waiting, waiting. Then we both decided to follow the buck spoor. Surely buck would be sensible and find a route up and down the mountain?
Off we went. My shoe broke...yup a R800 pair of hiking boots! The sole broke clean off!!!
Try walking down a sheer gradient with a slippery shoe! Without the rubber sole all that was left between my foot and the ground was a piece of felt and leather.
I had a big backpack on …you need water on a hike and the energy bars and a jacket, just in case.
Gabriella was behind and I would take a foot into the unknown and she would place her foot down where mine was. I would save her from falling, as my back pack would cushion her fall.
It began quite well, but all of a sudden the grass grew taller, above my shoulders, way above Gabriella’s head! We could no longer see the buck spoor! Stinging nettles everywhere and still no sight or sound from David and Susanna.
Holding back my fear and frustration and not to mention my growing discomfort from the heat and broken shoe, I pressed on. One foot at a time, then oh boy! I slipped, slid on my ass and tumbled down. Stopped after a time by a boulder, which landed on top off stomach! Please don’t ask how. Gabriella looking down on me trying not to laugh, asked if I was OK. I was, thankfully. We then burst into uncontrollable laughter, made worse by our fear and frustration.
I then picked myself up and pressed on. However, I fell three more times after that, and each time worse than the first. My ankle twisted, my ass hurt and I had burs and grass spikes in all sorts places I never knew existed!
The last fall I just sat down and cried, I had my tantrum there in the mountains. I felt helpless and totally out of control. The mountain was bigger than me. I was not as fit as I imagined myself. I am not as young as I imagine myself to be. It was humiliating that I could not do this!!
Thinking back on the hike, I am proud of my girls, two little girls who managed such a long and strenuous hike. Witnesses to their mother’s swearing…more vile language came out of my mouth in that hike than I have ever uttered before. They were witnesses to my childlike tantrums and grumbles.
I am proud of my body, carrying me all the way. I am also proud of myself, because despite my final tirade, I did it. I hiked up the mountain and down again.
I am proud of David putting up with the females in the family.
All the things we think we can’t do are just our mind’s limitations. We CAN do whatever we set our mind on. The mountain cliff’s boundaries were just an illusion. I needed to look past this, my fear, my physical limitations and take just one step at a time. I made it to the jeep track, all in one piece.
Try walking down a sheer gradient with a slippery shoe! Without the rubber sole all that was left between my foot and the ground was a piece of felt and leather.
I had a big backpack on …you need water on a hike and the energy bars and a jacket, just in case.
Gabriella was behind and I would take a foot into the unknown and she would place her foot down where mine was. I would save her from falling, as my back pack would cushion her fall.
It began quite well, but all of a sudden the grass grew taller, above my shoulders, way above Gabriella’s head! We could no longer see the buck spoor! Stinging nettles everywhere and still no sight or sound from David and Susanna.
Holding back my fear and frustration and not to mention my growing discomfort from the heat and broken shoe, I pressed on. One foot at a time, then oh boy! I slipped, slid on my ass and tumbled down. Stopped after a time by a boulder, which landed on top off stomach! Please don’t ask how. Gabriella looking down on me trying not to laugh, asked if I was OK. I was, thankfully. We then burst into uncontrollable laughter, made worse by our fear and frustration.
I then picked myself up and pressed on. However, I fell three more times after that, and each time worse than the first. My ankle twisted, my ass hurt and I had burs and grass spikes in all sorts places I never knew existed!
The last fall I just sat down and cried, I had my tantrum there in the mountains. I felt helpless and totally out of control. The mountain was bigger than me. I was not as fit as I imagined myself. I am not as young as I imagine myself to be. It was humiliating that I could not do this!!
Thinking back on the hike, I am proud of my girls, two little girls who managed such a long and strenuous hike. Witnesses to their mother’s swearing…more vile language came out of my mouth in that hike than I have ever uttered before. They were witnesses to my childlike tantrums and grumbles.
I am proud of my body, carrying me all the way. I am also proud of myself, because despite my final tirade, I did it. I hiked up the mountain and down again.
I am proud of David putting up with the females in the family.
All the things we think we can’t do are just our mind’s limitations. We CAN do whatever we set our mind on. The mountain cliff’s boundaries were just an illusion. I needed to look past this, my fear, my physical limitations and take just one step at a time. I made it to the jeep track, all in one piece.
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