The last post 2017

I believe the last time I wrote we were at Jay's Lodge near Marracuene in Mozambique. The past week has 'flown' by, clocking up 3 more countries.

We collected Paul from Maputo airport incredibly soon after his flight from Jo'burg had landed and then proceeded slowly through the Saturday afternoon traffic to Boane, where we had already tested the parking at Zeny Lodge in a nearby village where Paul could get a room. With time to spare before sunset we decided to review the area for flying as the forecast for next morning was hopeful. Well worth while doing this as we found a secluded sandpit for inflation allowing for most wind directions.

Early Sunday morning, 26th November, we were out the Lodge gates and at the sandpit preparing the balloon for a rather gusty inflation. The few people who walked past ignored us as if it was an everyday occurrence. Chris and Paul took off at a fairly gentle speed and disappeared from my view over the hill. Higher up they were getting 20 knts so by the time I was on the road in the Enterprise they looked far away. I was reassured over the radio that the direction was perfect, straight along the main road back towards Zeny Lodge and open fields. After 30 minutes, they touched down, having had a very enjoyable flight. Some banana workers were on hand to help pack away.

After breakfast and a gas refilling session in Boane we were on our way to the northernmost border with Swaziland at Namacha. A very easy crossing and  mountain views. A nice touch: we were welcomed by a young man from Swazi tourism with  information and suggestions on where to visit. Paul had researched the best flying area on Google Earth, showing big fields in the lowlands. This turned out to be sugarcane but a lot had been cut and, unlike in Mozambique, the roads between the cane were easily accessible. We rolled up at Simunye Country Club in time to have a large Sunday lunch. The Enterprise was allowed to park for free on their flat grass field, an ideal launchsite.

The planned flight for Monday morning was abandoned due to heavy rain during the night. We had time to spare but were anxious not to miss an opportunity in case the weather was unsuitable for the next few days. Sunday afternoon was dry with the tested wind in the direction for a landing on the edge of the sugarcane. However, once in the air, it appeared that they would have to overfly the adjoining Hlane Royal National Park, a tree filled area with lions, elephant, rhinos and giraffe. It ended up being a 45 minute flight to cross the Park diagonally to reach the cane, across the river. The 2 pilots reported hearing what sounded like a lion kill, loud scrunching and other wild animal noises. I had the excitement while waiting at the bridge for the balloon to catch up of a large kudu springing out in front of me, obviously startled by the aeronauts. There were no fences alongside the roads through the Park and we saw many giraffe, including a young one about to cross beside us. That evening Chris landed the balloon on a muddy track just before a deep culvert through the sugarcane, so the following morning we washed off the basket before packing it away in the box.

Tuesday was a long day's drive to South Africa, entering along a dirt road to Piet Retief. It was beautiful scenery through KwaZulu Natal with high plains and distant mountains. This is the region of battlefields from the Zulu and Boer Wars. We found a B&B in the town of Vryheid with a carpark big enough for us to fit. On Wednesday the scenery became more dramatic as the land rose towards the Drakensberg mountain range. Through Dundee, Ladysmith and Harrismith, the Enterprise then struggled up Van Reenan Pass and onwards as the altitude was nearly 1800m at times. 

We eventually entered Lesotho via the quiet Peka Bridge border. Most of the country is mountainous but there is a stretch along the eastern edge with open terraced fields and craggy outcrops. IOverlander came to our rescue with a place to stay in Teyateyaneng at the Pyramid Garden run by Pete. We had had the occasional short rainstorm plus cracks of thunder over the previous few days at times, but Thursday morning dawned clear blue sky and sunshine with light winds. Launching from beside the river, Paul and Chris flew a box. The scenery was amazing so they landed close to the road for me to change places with Paul. It was easy flying but the valley had some deep gullies, and we didn't quite make it back to the fields which the Enterprise could reach. The result of this was that Chris and Paul had to scramble down and up steep banks to swap places so Chris could take the Enterprise off to find a drive-able way in. 2 hours later we were back on the tar road!

After a late breakfast and clean up we drove north through mountains to return to South Africa at the Caledon Spoort border. This time we didn't even have to leave the vehicle for our passports to be stamped out. Right on the RSA side was a track leading up to the Camel Rock Guest Farm where we spent our final night with Paul in a comfortable chalet and had roast chicken for dinner.

In order to drop Paul off at a hotel in Johannesburg we had the dubious pleasure of driving through the centre of town, an experience we hope never to repeat. We then visited Neels and Hein of Flamboyant Balloons to leave the balloon with them for some minor repairs while we are away.

We have just spent a very enjoyable weekend at Country Park Camping in the hills to the north west of the city in the company of a group of caravans and tents, meeting for their Christmas get-together. We were invited to the party yesterday evening and Chris gave a requested short talk on our travels. Most of the group were our age and many of them were British if not resident in the UK for many years and they made us very welcome.

Tomorrow we take the Enterprise to Bill and Mary Harrop's for storage and we will be on a plane home Tuesday evening. Our plan is to be back here mid-April next year. Hopefully before then I will get round to adding photos and a résumé of the past 2 months.