The night before Kaalvoetsolo - What has happened up to now.

Hi and welcome to everyone!

Well, I have nine hours left before I start walking. You probably think that I should be sleeping by now and you would be right, I know this is no time to sit up and play on a laptop. But do you remember the night before your first day of school? Or the night before you left home to:
Start university...
Join the Army...
Start your first job...
Get married...

That is how I feel now. The butterflies are not fluttering, they are doing aerobatics in dodgem carts!

But no fear, I am in God's hands. And His hands do not fail. On a stormy night, almost nine years ago, I learnt to understand that for the first time, when I was alone... really alone... Cut off from everything out there, no hope to survive, a raging flood two meters below me, the water level still rising, hanging onto a log that could get washed away at any moment, no chance of climbing the vertical cliffs, rising a hundred and eighty meters above me, with a shattered knee, no possibility of anyone coming to look for me in the storm. I had one chance... PRAYER. So I prayed almost continuously for twenty seven agonizing hours. And He heard me. And He saved me. I need no proof of His existence, or His power, or His mercy or His love. I am alive because of that.

And that is why I am leaving tomorrow morning to walk further than I have ever done before. Despite being human and fallible, I do not consider failure. I look to God and He will lead me. What awaits me, I do not know. It does not matter.

I want to thank every single person who has given me any form of support, even if it just meant saying "Good luck!" And even those people who looked at me with that dazed, unfocussed expression, while looking around for a safe place to run to in case this crazyguy exhibits any more threatening behaviour. That just motivated me more!

In particular, I want to thank my family first. Ma, for never once questioning my ideas (she didn't bother asking me whether I'm crazy... I reckon after 42 years she has made her peace with that. Dankie Ma!

Then, Fritz and Herman (sorry, Philip!) for knowing how it feels and sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm. Marne & Danie, for your support (Sisi, you might have to come and rub some muscles) Danie, I really hope I don't ever, ever need your professional services!

My sons, Duncan and Philip III, for being excited for me and never asking why.

My in-laws-to-be: Oom Jurie, Tannie Yvonne, thank you, thank you! Jaco, for all the all-nighters, building this absolute winner of a website... Respect, Swaer! Marie for the dinners and coffee and beds when we had to stay over. Gerhard, Juanita and Jur, for the "soft" welcome into the family (I was warned to expect the worst!) and your support.

And then, Yzelle, my love, my pillar of strength, my soulmate, my driver, my conscience, my best friend. Only you will know exactly what it meant over the past eight months.

To everyone who has visited our website, or may visit in future, thank you. Even that small gesture of clicking on this site, is appreciated.

Finally, please visit The Cause, on this website, and if your heart leads you to donate, even a small amount, there is a very special young man and his family out there, who will appreciate it more than words can ever say.

I am walking because God allowed me to walk again. To Him, all the glory.

Now, please join me on this journey over the next few months.

I leave you with my own piece of hiking wisdom:

"A feeture of walking, is that it helps you toe heel your sole! :-)



Thank you all!

Jaco