The pictures below are large thumbnails and if you click on them they should enlarge. To return to this page you will need to go to the previous screen (back arrow on the browser).
On Thursday 1 April 2010 we set off for Moolmanshoek which is a farm in the Free State where there are interesting 4x4 routes that have wonderful sandstone scenery.
The routes were guided by Willie and Wiesman Nel. Riders on horseback opened the gates and guided the vehicles in the more difficult terrain.
On this occasion I missed a number of individual pictures - laziness on my part really.
However fortunately most of the people are in the group scenes.
This was the group before the main party arrived . These are the privileged who could take an extra day off.
The main group posing obediently.
Close up of the obedient posers (1)
Close up of the obedient posers (2)
Close up of the obedient posers (3)
Close up of the obedient posers (4)
Waving obedient posers - showing joy. (Or was there a wild animal behind me?)
Wavers to the left (enlarged)
Wavers to the right (enlarged)
It is fitting that CM's picture should appear first as he did the organising of this get together (Saamkuier).
CM Kotze
Adolf Huster & Jaun Herholdt who won second prize for his vehicle setup.
Adolf Huster & Peter Zietsman who won first prize for his vehicle setup.
Ben Marais
Bernadene & Jacques Marais
Luke & Celeste Bowman
Chelsea, Terry, Duncan & Neil Bosman
CM & Susan Kotze
Dave Raulstone
Derek Maree
Ellen, Adolf Huster & Anne Marie
Elsa & Guy Boardman
Helen, Calvin & Jan Reijmer
Jacques & Bernadene Marais
Jakes & Colette Oosthuizen
Jane & Peter Zietsman
Jaun Herholdt
JT le Roux
Kay & James Collett
Ken & Tina Schmidt
Kobus Fourie
Lynn & Shaun Cullen
Magda Herholdt
Margot & Dave Raulstone
Martiens Booysen
Paul & Lin Fisher
Paul & Lin Fisher
Paul Fisher
Peter & Jane Zietsman & Sylvia Bishop
Peter & Jane Zietsman
Susan & CM Kotze
Terry & Neil Bosman
Tina & Ken Schmidt
Johan Heyman & Francois Muller
Tanya le Roux
Illani & Ben Marais
Miems & Johan Heyman
Tresia, Francois & Rene Muller
Johan Heyman & Rinus van den Ende
U7
Wade & Celeste Bowman
From here on the pictures just record the weekend as we saw it.
Some people moved home after settling in.
Wiesman looking at me in the mud. I said go for it and did not go for it fast enough.
Me deflating tyres in the mud. (And I do not even like to get dirty fingernails!)
Even if it looks good I was pulled out by Peter Zietsman - thank you Peter.
Eventually I was out of the mud.
Good grief!
Slopes always leave me a bit queasy.
A sheep dip carved out of the sandstone.
The weather was lovely and depending where you were in the queue you could get out and sight see.
Sometimes a winch is useful. And if so it is nice to have an anchor vehicle.
Attaching pulling bits.
A slippery rise over the sandstone rock.
If the driver is lucky he can see Wiesman's hands.
No hands for me I note!
Up the gullies - good fun.
Now this looks interesting.
Photo to the right.
Photo to the left.
They have horses on the farm.
After going up you have to come down again.
Some of the tents.
Guy and Elsa setting up home. It is not quite clear from the implements and stance exactly what is going on. (They are married - very happily it appears too.)
The tyre deflation the previous day resulted in a slightly flat tyre which was changed with help which was gratefully received.
Many helpers. Many thanks.
Sylvia pumping.
Getting ready to go on the trail.
A scene on the trail. There are a few scenes and I will not mention that every time.
In places the trail was wet.
Recovery in action with many observers.
The "V" on the right of the mountain is known as "Visierskerf" which is Afrikaans for the "V" in a rifle sight.
Nice scene showing Wiesman observing from the back of the horse.
Assessing the coming ascent.
Up we come.
Left front wheel raised.
Left front wheel in the air.
A steep rise.
Top of the roost.
This was scary!
Guy giving directions.
Wade doing road building.
Wade looking at the results.
Onlookers - their turn is coming.
Mud line up.
The rock above the hill descent.
Evening activities.
Mymie Viljoen doing the paw-paw.
Meat on the fire.
Even the elderly like marsh mallows - two at a time. Children have only one at a time.
Three slices of toast on the fire and lots of people around.
Warm dog in the middle.
Do you think he is trying to get a bus repaired?
Posing.
Vehicles in the distance.
Wiesman.
Diggers.
Lookers.
Ascender. (Yippee at least I got that right.)
The horse and rider giving scale to the rock formations.
Lunch at the cave.
What goes up must be taken down again.
This part had more to do with slipping down - almost falling - than driving.
I liked this rock formation - I can see a face with a long pointed nose. That useless information is for the benefit of those who can not see the face.
It was sometimes slippery in the mud.
Guy in front of a laptop.
Packed - and all this still has to go in somewhere!
The weather was lovely during all the days. On the last night there was rain. The rain came down in tent inside wetting amounts.