#3: [25-Dec-20]

#2: [01-Jul-09]

15-Sep-2001 -- It's spring time in South Africa and Geodash GD3-1111 was on the west coast of South Africa. This time of the year there are millions of flowers covering the landscape. Very pretty indeed.

I convinced some friends to come along. We drove north up the west coast road. We had about 120 km to go. Along the way we stopped twice to rescue tortoises crossing the road. The Western Cape of South Africa has 19 tortoise species. At the point where the GPS indicated we needed to head east, we had the choice of two roads. We took the first one and after about 20 km had to turn back as the road was flooded with the Great Berg River. Turned around and took the next road heading east.

We managed to get to 200 meter from the dashpoint on a dirt road. We climbed a fence and headed for the bushes. Halfway we discovered what could be described as pseudo quick sand. Ankle deep in this stuff. By this time horseflies and gnats were attacking in large armies. We managed to reach the dashpoint and decided to hide a cache as well. The insects ate us up! So the delay in hiding and logging the cache took it's toll. The number of insects are probably because of all the flowers at this time of the year.

Next we decided to go for Degree Confluence 33S 19E about 20 km to the east. We arrived at a wheat farm. The Confluence was 500 meters east. So we jumped the fence and waded through a sea of green wheat. Well, being from the city, I don't know much about wheat. By the time we reached the Confluence, my eyes were hecticly bloodshot, my eyes were itching and tearing. My nose was a river (and I cut myself jumping the fence). And then I noticed a small dirt road 20 meters from the Confluence. I could have saved myself a lot of itching if I drove around a bit first...

Once again, was great fun being a tourist in my own country!