Day 9 - 23 January 2009

Early on Friday morning, Nikki and Nickey dropped me off at Steenbras river again. From here, it was only 17 kilometres to Rooiels, where I was planning to spend the night, so I decided to take it easy on the tar along Clarence Drive. This is a most scenic pass down the eastern side of False Bay, winding its way along the coast, sometimes almost at sea level, and elsewhere high up, overlooking all of this beautiful bay that has caused ancient seafarers so much trouble. Even in more recent years, this stretch of coastline has seen its share of tragedies. The crosses, plaques and small monuments, erected in memory of fishermen who have been washed off the rocks, others drowned while swimming or diving, or cars that have crashed through the barriers and tumbled down into the sea.

However, on this beautiful morning, I was able to rejoice in the pure beauty of the view around me. On my left, the mountains rose up steeply from the roadside. To my right, it was al sea, I could see the whole of the Cape Peninsula, where I had walked just a few days before.

All of a sudden, I saw movement in the water below me, it was a seal, slamming an octopus on the surface, to tear smaller, chewable chunks off the big meal it has caught. While I was standing, staring at this little, very special spectacle, another, bigger splash caught my eye. It was a humpback whale! One of the last left along the coast for the current season. Most of its fellow migrants have already left for the freezing waters of Antarctica.

It was starting to get hot again and so I decided to increase my speed to avoid spending too much time on boiling tar. I have had more than enough of hot tar surfaces. In fact, I have become quite the expert on tar! If you think I exaggerate, please forgive me, but I believe that I can gauge the temperature of the tar to within two degrees centigrade... Just by the smell!

Just before the road started its descent to Rooiels, I was surprised by Tania, an old friend and ex colleague, almost running me down in an attempt to stop her car next to me! I waited at the next viewpoint while she found a turning spot. We didn't have a lot of time to catch up on news, because she was already almost late for her flight to Johannesburg, but she didn't leave before making sure that I accepted her invitation to stay over with her and her mother in Kleinmond, when I get there. The last kilometre to Rooiels was downhill and I made it in good time.

What do you get when twin brothers from Sea Point become chefs, join a rock band, and then start a restaurant in Rooiels? You get... Something Els! Really, that is the name of their restaurant. Zee and Adrian van Zyl were to be my hosts for the evening and put me up in a very comfortable flatlet above the restaurant and invited me to dinner... ON THE HOUSE! While browsing through their very innovative menu, Zee introduced me to one of their local regulars, an Austrian gentleman by the name of Adolf, who has been living in South Africa for thirty six years. Even though Adolf joked about my brainless scheme, he did it with genuine humor and I could take no offence. He later even insisted on paying for my meal and gave me a "small donation towards the roadfund". Thank you Adolf!
Back to the menu: As I was now on the adventure of a lifetime, it was just fitting to be adventurous in my choice of main course, so I went for CROCODILE AND PRAWNS IN A THAI CURRY! And, Boy, I was not disappointed! I won't try to discribe it, but when next you are near Rooiels, pop in and try it! Zee and Adrian are genuine guys who take their food (and their patrons) seriously. Adrian even gave me a loaf of his home baked bread to take along the next morning!

Day 10 - 24 January 2009

I had hardly started walking on Saturday morning, when I took the wrong turnoff and would have ended up back in front of Something Els, had a lady called Sandra not asked why I was going that way. She had recognised me from the papers and realised that the road I was walking on, would soon make a U-turn, so she suggested that I walk with her, as she was going in the right direction. We started chatting and she told me she was hunting rockjumpers, a special species of bird that is very sought after amongst birdwatchers, and which tend to frequent a certain area just outside the village. Just a few hundred metres on, we met up with some other birders who had just found a rockjumper. But Sandra first wanted to take some photos of me.
So after saying our goodbyes, I was off on my own again, on this very rough gravel track, towards Pringle Bay. It was only eight kilometres from Rooiels to Pringle Bay, but the gravel was killing my tender feet, so that this short distance, that would normally take me no more than two hours, ended up in a five and a half hour crawl-swear-limp-swear-stumble-swear-hop-swear-sitdown-swear epic!
On the beach in Pringle Bay, I received a call from Albert, a reporter from the Sunday Times. I had met him on the beach in Kommetjie a few days earlier and he was interested in my story. Albert told me that he had picked up a photographer and was en route to catch me for an exclusive in the Sunday Times Leisure Section, for the 8th of February edition. I took that as a sign to stop and rest right there on the beach! An hour later he arrived and with a small shock of recognition, I realised that his photographer, Ruwan, was the same guy who photographed me for the Sunday Times in St George's Hospital, Port Elizabeth, in March 2000, just after the Stormsriver accident! He recognized me too and the photo shoot that followed turned into an hour long back-and-forth, this-way-and-that-way, just-one-more-shot, and-another-last-one, oh-no-I-spoiled-that-one, have-to-do-it-again, fun afternoon on the beach with lots of people casting curious glances at us.
By the time the interview was over, it was nearly time for Yzelle to arrive, so I phoned her to say I will be waiting right there at Pringle Bay. Tomorrow is my first rest day since the start of the walk and we were going to spend a short weekend camping at Palmiet near Kleinmond. Soon Yzelle and I would not be able to see each other at all, so we have decided to spend as much of my off time, together, as possible.

Day 12 - 26 January 2009

Yzelle dropped me off at Pringle bay again on Monday morning. She headed back to Cape town and I set off towards Kleinmond, via Bettys Bay. It was cool and after a day of rest, my feet were feeling much better, so the gravelroad past the Hangklip Hotel, was not much of an obstacle. What did stop me in my tracks, however, was a boom gate a few kilometres on. The sign read Seafarm Nature Reserve - Private property - No Entry! Well, what now? I have learnt that the best thing to do in a case like this, is to sit down, have a drink of water and PRAY! I was tempted to trespass. I did not want to tresspass. Actually, I wanted to tresspass, but I didn't want to get caught. As it turned out, I wouldn't need to tresspass. The next moment, a bakkie stopped next to me and a guy in uniform got out to open the gate. I approached him and introduced myself. He was Frank Douglass (with two esses) and Frank was the warden in charge. And Frank liked what I was doing. And so, after a long chat, he left to go and do his conservation work and I had permission to pass without having to trespass!

The gravel soon ended where the well known Hangklip dunes had started claiming back their territory, so I had a short walk through a natural dune field, down to the beach towards Stony Point. Here I had another one of those surprising, very inspiring meetings, with complete strangers. This time, A German couple who had been staying in South Africa for six months and were due to return to their home country at the end of February. Martin was so impressed with our people here in SA, and everyone's hospitality and friendliness, that he wanted to thank everyone by contributing something small towards my effort. All they had with them at the time, were three bananas, a packet of multivitamins and a tube of foot ointment. But that made my day! The bananas were most welcome for I had not eaten breakfast, but as so many times before, it was the gesture of goodwill and generosity that touched me most. I am trying to get photographs of these people who contribute to my daily wellbeing, but every time, I am so overwhelmed, that, by the time I remember, they have gone on their way and were out of sight!

The rest of my day went well, with cool, overcast weather, the beach sand and smooth road surfaces, making the going easy. At just before six in the evening, I was walking down the main street of Kleinmond, when a small bakkie stopped across the road and a gentleman ran towards me with a bottle of juice. With a handshake and a "Keep walking, Son, we are praying for you!", he ran back to his bakkie and went off. I was, once again, humbled and rejuvinated! It was only another two blocks to the Vet's surgery where my friend Tania worked.

Day 13 - 27 January 2009

After a good night's rest, feet treated with Arnica Ice, Tania dropped me off where I finished the day before. Again, like yesterday, the weather was overcast and cool, with the prospect of a very long beach walk, which suited me just perfectly! The best thing was the texture of the sand at Kleinmond, it was firm enough to walk comfortably, but soft enough to cushion the impact of my slowly healing feet. Barefoot hiker's paradise! It was quiet along this stretch of coastline and I progressed well. Tania had told me about the enigmatic wild marsh horses of Kleinmond and I dearly wanted to catch a glimpse of them on the way.

About seven kilometres down the beach, I met a gentleman, Sarel, returning from his morning walk. As usual, he was carrying two large rubbish bags, picking up litter along the way. I was really impressed and thankful for individuals like Sarel, who still cared about our environment. He didn't throw the rubbish on the beach, he didn't need to clean up other people's mess, he wasn't getting paid to do it. No, he just liked a clean beach and took it on himself to get his hands dirty and do what he believed was neccessary. To Sarel, and all those peolple like him, a big HATS OFF! Thank you, Oom Sarel!

But Oom Sarel had more in store for me. He knew where the wild horses were. In fact, he had just passed their grazing area and had spotted nine of them. With his directions, I sped up to still catch them there. As I went through the gap between the dunes he indicated, I saw them! Four, standing knee deep in the water of the marsh. Careful not to frighten them, I slowly moved closer. They seemed completely at ease, looking up every now and again, but not showing any sign of alarm. I started taking photo's as I approached, not wanting risk getting nothing, if they did run off unexpectedly. But to my surprise, I managed to get to within twenty metres from them, counting thirteen horses in total, including a young foal of less than a year old. My day had been made and I was extatic.

One concern remained, however. The lagune at Meer-en-See was an unknown factor. I have been warned that the mouth was open and could be flowing wide, deep and strong. It was then that I remembered Shafieq, my new plumber friend from Strandfontein. And I had his number. So, on the phone to the plumber to solve my water problem. As it turns out, Shafieq had just spent the weekend at his house there and, as it befits any good fisherman, he had been down on the beach most of the weekend. He assured me that the mouth was shallow, narrow and not flowing too strong. It was a relief, because I am a hiker, but not much of a swimmer! Arriving at the edge, I put my pack down and waded through just to make sure. The sand was saturated with water and had the consistancy of quicksand. Returning for my pack, I started the fifty metre crossing with confidence. However, with the added weight of the backpack, I just sank right down into the sand. In places, the water was only ankle deep, but I plunged so deep into the sand, that my shorts got soaked! Fortunately, where the water was deeper, the sand was more sturdy and within fifteen minutes, I was out on the opposite bank, with a dry backpack and only slightly out of breath.

The last stretch of beach to Hawston went quickly. I met only one person there, Tyronne, who was taking out sand clams in the receding tide. He warned me not to take the coastal paths to Onrus, because that is where the Tik-junkies hang out and they had dogs that they set on anyone who passes by. So I followed him through the streets of Hawston to the main road to Hermanus.

It was rush hour in Hermanus and I was happy to, for once, be able to walk faster than the cars were driving. Looking at the frustrated, angry faces of the commutors, I was very glad to be on foot. By 18h15 I reached the Old Harbour in central Hermanus, my objective for the day. As agreed, Tania arrived shortly after that and we got pizza for dinner before driving back to Kleinmond where I spent the second night with her and her mom. Thanks Ladies!

Day 14 - 28 January 2009

By 9h00 Tania had me back at the Old Harbour and I was off on the Cliff Path past the front of Hermanus towards Voelklip beach, where my friend Brummer met me to accompany me all the way to De Kelders. Brummer is also a keen and experienced hiker. Like me, he prefers hiking in wild places in stead of along formal hiking trails. We chatted up a storm and before we realised, it was lunchtime and Brummer showed me the quaint little cave dwelling, in a single, freestanding rock in the middle of the beach at Sopiesklip, that was inhabited by a recluse many years ago.

The rest of the way to De Plaat at De Kelders, flew by and by 16h30, we reached the parking area of Walker Bay Nature Reserve, where Brummer was picked up by our other friend, Nzuzo, and taken back to fetch his car in Hermanus. The last stretch to my son, Duncan's flat, was just two kilometres. Along the way, I met another old friend, Sharlene, and she treated me to two slices of cake ... It was her birthday!

Dinner was at the Buitesteen Pub, with Duncan, and a bunch of friends from Gansbaai (Yzelle and I lived in De Kelders before the move to Cape Town). Present were Duncan, Brummer, Susan (who donated my backpack), Mark, Rudolph, Belinda, Florentina, Stephanie, Bennie, William and Wesley. Thank you for being there, all of you!

Day 15 - 29 January 2009

I had a meeting with Francois and Hardus at the Gansbaai Herald, so I set off into town. But, being seen as a local, I got stopped every few metres by residents who wanted to chat and encourage me. The interview with the newspapermen went very well (Francois was the first to publish an article about my walk, in November 2008 already). But getting through Gansbaai took me almost five hours! And I still had to walk to Danger Point Lighthouse and back to Kleinbaai. On the way I met another ex colleague, Phindile, who had taken clients on a tour to the lighthouse. He was so happy to see me that he stopped his vehicle right in the middle of the road to greet me. Fortunately it was a quiet road.

At 17h15, I had another telephonic interview with Johan Els of Radio Pulpit. It was a very emotional experience and, like the week before, the interview was followed by a flood of phonecalls and text messages from listeners, wishing me well and quoting bible texts in support.

I was in Kleinbaai and did not have to walk any further for the day. Uncle Thomas fetched me there and took me to their place, where I spent a wonderful evening with him and his dear wife, Mary-Ann.

Day16 - 30 January 2009

It was Friday, and I have decided to take the weekend off. The plan, from the start, was to take each Sunday off, but I had walked through my first Sunday, at Cape Point. My feet were getting better by the day and a weekend of rest would do them good. Yzelle was coming through again for the weekend and she was going to meet me in Pearly Beach in the afternoon.

I was psyched up for the day's walk and set off at a fast pace. Today I was going to break through the 300 kilometre mark and I was in a great mood. Two years prior, I had walked from Agulhas to Gansbaai, so I was familiar with this stretch of coastline. It was a sandy beach almost all the way to Pearly Beach, with just a short distance of pebbles and rocks. By 15h00 I was in Pearly Beach and feeling great. I think the prospect of a bonus day off with Yzelle just made it so much more enjoyable!

At the Pearly Beach Resort, a lady from Germany reversed her big 4x4 bakkie into Yzelle's car, leaving a barely noticable scratch on the front bumper. She was in a state of shock, apologising profusely. Despite our protests, she insisted on paying for damages and we eventually we managed to convince her that R1 000 was way too much, but we couldn't get away with accepting less than R500! She just wouldn't let us go without accepting the money. So, that meant that our campsite for the weekend was paid for! Yet another assurance that God gives us what we need when we least expect it, in ways that we could never imagine!

The weekend was great, we spent quality time together and had Sunday lunch with Uncle Thomas and Maryann, who invited us to also spend the night with them. So now I have just spent my whole Sunday afternoon bringing my diary up to date for you guys. At an age where I probably should have taken an afternoon nap!

Thank you for your incredible support! We really do appreciate it more than you could ever imagine.

Jaco Kaalvoet

Day 7
After a great evening with Chris and Jenny Taylor in Muizenberg, I set off at 6h30, for the longest day up to date. Due to the horror stories I have heard of what awaits me at places like Wolfgat, Macassar and Monwabisi Beach, I had made up my mind that the forty-three kilometres to Strand would have to be done in one day. Yzelle had already confiscated my cell phone and camera so that, if I do get robbed, at least these would be saved. As it turned out, all the concernes were unfounded, but OK, rather safe than sorry.
Soon after my departure, I met Gary, an ex recce, walking his dogs on the beach, telling me how he yearned to hit the road again. He had, in years past, hiked through Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique, but as his dog is now thirteen years old, he has to stay with her for her last few years.
Not long after that, I met up with a recreational fisherman who introduced himself as Shafieq the Plumber. When he heard my plans, he invited me to visit him at his beach house in Meer-en-See, near Hermanus, should I pass there over a weekend. He comes back into my story a little later again.
Almost from the moment I left Muizenberg, I had noticed dead seals on the beach, but now I also encountered a number of abandoned baby Cape Fur Seals, at intervals, all along the way as far as Mnandi Beach. In total, I counted eight dead seals of varying sizes and nine live, but exhausted young orphans. The last of these, I believe, was sent by God to lead me to Salie.
Salie had come down to the beach after dropping his kids at school. To contemplate and be with God, trying to find answers and guidance. You see, exactly a year ago, he had been hijacked in his driveway, late at night, taken to Wolfgat where his captors planned to kill him. However, they were disturbed by some local fisherman and they then took him to Zeekoeivlei, where, after pleading for his life, he was hit across the neck with a tyre lever and set free, wearing just his underwear and socks, while the hijackers took off in his new car. After hours by the roadside, he was picked up by an old couple who took him to the police station. A year later, he was still trying to make sense of this. We shared a good hour of talking and mutual confermation of our faith that God will heal us both, in His own time and very special way. Salie, my brother, God hears your prayers and He will never let you down. Go well, my new friend!
In my euphoria about the wonderfull people I have met along the way on my walk, this was a chilling reminder that, after all, we are still living on earth, not in heaven, and that bad things happen to good people too.
The rest of the day was a hot, sweaty and hard slog, and towards the end I had to scale high dunes to the top of cliffs a number of times. At the dynamite factory, just a few kilometres from Strand, I had to take a long detour up to the N2, as this is a resricted area. Thank you, Mossie, for getting me back to the Petroport from where I could call Yzelle. I spent the night with my sister, Marne, and her family in Somerset West. The nephews, Francois and Christian, were quite baffled by their weird uncle's tattered feet and strange mission.

Day 8
Marne dropped me where I finished yesterday and soon I realised that the sand on Strand's beach, is HARD! Very fine sand, very densely packed, with just about no shock absorbtion. And with feet as bruised as mine, it soon turned into quite an ordeal. Not the pain, so much as the futile attempt to simulate a confident smile to the two and a half zillion early morning walkers who shared the beach with me.
After having to retrace my steps for a hundred metres or so, due to the Harbour Island Estate that blocked me off solidly, I got back to the main road between Strand and Gordons Bay.! One good thing about this, is that my detour led me to a fruit seller in Main Road, who sold me three of the sweetest peaches I have ever eaten, for just R5,00! On my way through Gordons Bay, I got an offer from an old friend, Nikki, to stay over with them in Strand that night. As I was planning to walk as far as the Steenbras river mouth, that would mean that they would have to pick me up there and take me back to Strand, to drop me there again tomorrow morning. They saw no problem with that, so I gladly accepted yet another night of luxury accommodation.
By 15h30 I had reached my destination and decided to call it a day. My cell phone reception was poor and I was to do a telephonic interview again, with Radiopulpit at 17h15. Just before the designated time, I scaled some rocks overlooking the river mouth and bridge, to get better signal. The interview with Johan Els went well and within minutes after it, I received the first phonecall from a lady from Soweto, Betjie. Her words of support were so moving that I nearly fell down the rocks, blinded by the tears in my eyes. Another six phonecalls and fourteen text messages came through within the next few hours, from people who had heard the interview. My faith was being strengthened beyond my wildest expectations!
Finally, at Nikki's house, with her daughter, Simone and friend, Nicky (yes, Nikki and Nicky!), we chucked some steaks on the braai and relived some old stories from a time long gone, rekindled an old friendship, and added a new one. Thank you so much, Ladies! And the socks will go with me, For Marius!

45km down, only 6405 to go!

O Hi all!
This won't be a long story, I only have two days to report back on.
Day one: After the interview with Die Burger, I set off at 8h15, yesterday morning. It is amazing how our minds pick up on our thoughts and worries. Within 100 meters, I felt pain in my knee. Half a block further, I thought I had a cramp under my left foot! But both disappeared halfway down Adderley Street and my nerves started settling as I passed the CTICC towards the V&A Waterfront. What a weird feeling to be walking through the city with a backpack while everyone else is hurrying off to work in smart city clothes. I guess I was the odd one out, though... At least, judging by the looks I got.
While it was cool, all went well... maybe too well. I was walking at a speed of more than five kilometres per hour and it felt great, although I soon realised that the pack was heavier than it should be (too much food!).
At the Sea Point Swimmingpools, a 70 year old German lady, Regina, fell in with me and we started chatting as we walked. I shared my plans and motivations with her and she told me about her childhood in Germany and Poland during WWII, when, as a six year old girl, they had to leave their home with no possessions and run, under threat of an air attack. During their first night, her only pair of shoes were stolen, and she had to walk another one hundred kilometres barefoot. By the time she decided to turn back, we had walked together to within a few hundred meters of the Twelve Apostles Hotel! Thank you for the company, Regina!
At that point, it was midday and the temperature was around thirty degrees centegrade. That was still OK. What was NOT OK, was that the tar road was probably another twenty degrees hotter than that. And apart from the prominade and Campsbay beach, I spent the whole day on tar. There was just no other place to walk. By five "o clock, I was almost in Llandudno, but at a snail's pace. There were two big blisters under my left foot and one grandmother of a blister under my right foot. My feet were on fire. Yzelle checked in on me for a progress report and gave me a hand, putting on some plasters, a life saver! I limped on to the Llandudno turn-off, where I camped next to the road... a windy, noisy camp, but I passed out just after 9pm and slept soundly until 5am.
I decided, this morning, to only have breakfast once I get to Hout Bay, to get the maximum distance out of the cool morning and pleasant hiking conditions. It took me just more than an hour to complete the four kilometres to the Baviaanskloof park in Houtbay, where I had a breakfast of muesli and nuts.
By the time I was halfway up Chapmans Peak Drive, my feet were complaining loudly! And then the first real disappointment... I couldn't get through the maintenance control point at the top lookout point. A few weeks earlier, I had gone there, specifically to scout the access (knowing that the pass was closed for maintenance). A passing cyclist told me that the gate there was only to keep cars out but after hours and over weekends when there was no work being done, you could walk, jog or cycle through there freely. Well, that had all changed in the meantime. Apparently, it was NOT OK to pass through there freely. Apparently, the maintenance company had warned locals on numerous occasions to stay out. Apparently, nobody had paid any mind to it. And apparently, the new gate (a very high, sturdy one, manned by a security guard) had been installed just a few days ago. No amount of negotiation could persuade the security guard to let me through and even after hours there would be another guard to relieve him. AND... the CCTV cameras meant that I would be seen going through and the guard would lose his job. Getting arrested on the second day of my adventure was not part of my planning. Anyway, if I had to get arrested at any time in my life, I would at least want it to be for something more original than trespassing!
But that left me with a major problem... Where to now? From my research of maps and books on the Cape's hiking trails, I knew that there was a trail from the Houtbay side, up to the top of Chapmans Peak. But there it ended. Bundu bashing through a sensitive fynbos nature reserve, to me, is like animal abuse, or cheering for Australia in the World Cup final... it is just not done.
So, in the end, after a long mental debate, I called in my admin/media/pr-partner for a shuttle around to the other side of the closed section. That was a mere three kilometres away. The detour turned out to be forty four kilometres. I then had to start walking again just below the Noordhoek control point, towards Kommetjie. What this means, is that I will have to complete those three kilometres when I eventually get back to Cape Town (assuming the pass would be open by then).
Eventually, at about 18h45, I arrived at the parking area at Kommetjie's Long Beach, where my old friend, Mike Bond, met me and took me home to spend the night. Mike and his wife, Sarah, had invited Yzelle over as well, and we spent a lovely evening catching up (I hadn't seen them in eight years!). The worst, however, came when I told Mike that I had to detour the pass. I had to find out from him, that a new hiking trail had recently been opened from Noordhoek to Chapmans Peak! In other words, the trail now actually ran from Hout Bay, all the way to Noordhoek! And I never knew! Not being able to get through the pass, was a huge disappointment, but finding out that after all, there actually was an alternative, was downright
depressing.
However, meeting up with old friends and experiencing their hospitality and enthusiastic support, cheered me up immensely, so we ended off a difficult day two on a high note with renewed optimism and commitment.

We'll chat again soon,

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