BF Exhale

Sometimes life can get so incredibly tuff and rushed that one figuratively stop breathing, holding your breath while just pushing forward to get through each day . . . each week . . . each month.

It's sort of a "survival mode" that can unfortunately also only last for SO long before you have to breath again. The first step is to exhale deeply . . . . .

BF is the farm near Victoria West where we go for our yearly hunt. Instead of staying in the farm house, we opted for camping . . . . sleeping under Karoo Stars and between "Klip Koppies".

Ruhan had to take all the camping gear, because my first leg of the trip is as always, on motorcycle. No problem, he got everything sorted to the letter! What a pleasure!

Meeting up in Uniondale:

First stop and a new addition to the trip: "Wors braai" on the side of the road.

The road-trip going there, is always the first highlight and almost like an "event" on it's own.

Ruhan quote: "Dis my paaie hierdie Dewie" (Doing 120 km/h on the dirt road outside Rietbron with the music pumping on the JBL speaker😀)  Thanks Abe - Jy is oukei 🎵

Different camping spot options were discussed on the way, but our host exceeded all our expectations when he suggested this spot:

   

It was already late afternoon (because the road trip was stretched to the max) and things needed to start happening now. Ruhan and our host went to fetch us two mattresses from the house, a bit of  luxury we allowed ourselves. I immediately started with the most important thing: the Fireplace.

After an hour or so, the basics were set up

Lighting the first fire . . . pouring the first "fyne"

With this view and the sound of burning twigs, a huge pile of troubles were exhaled . . . . 

Next morning up early, collecting some firewood.

One of the most special pictures I ever took: The Burning Bush

Time to get ready for hunting

New gaiters - thanks Luc !

Over the next three days hunting conditions were unfortunately not great, wind pumping from early morning made the springbucks restless and on the move the whole time. Honestly, I think subconsciously, hunting took a backseat on this trip 😃  

It became all about the camping, the relaxing and ultimately the breathing . . . . while also trying to soak up everything from this amazing place called the Karoo.

It was after one of these chilling sessions, waiting for the wind to calm down, that we actually got something for our continues effort. Clean headshot from Ruhan.

One of the big spoils of the trip, was a fire baked bread each night. There were other spoils, but this one need special mention and photo evidence, because it was just magnificent in that space!

Eating like kings all the time, even salads 

I definitely gained a couple of kilos 😊

Kitchen area

Spending lots of time around the fire (recharging)

There was also some fun had, plinking with the .22 and pellet gun

Horizontal, listening to the sound of silence ringing in your ears

You know it was a good trip when you don't mind driving home on the last day.

You also know you were out of town when the road signs are painted by hand

  

Murasie 2 Easy

 The Murasie trip is one of those that needed to be repeated and will probably be done a couple of times more in the future. (Deo Volente)

Because of the 18 kilometer hike, in and out in total, the gear had to be ajusted for weight. Some gear purchases and swops were made to get the pack weight down. For the first time ever, each and every piece of equipment, clothing and ration were weighed and recorded into an Excel spreadsheet (Thx Ruhan). Both our backpacks came in at just under 20 kg.

The forecasted sea conditions were terrible with 4.5 meter swells and general rough seas predicted for the whole weekend. So it was decided to leave all diving gear at home, with just fishing gear for my friend Ruhan who knows how to fish in every condition.

Excitement was high when we finally reached the Murasie. We were looking forward to this for a couple of months.

"First things first" as they say. Shelter and kitchen.

The shelter was constructed with a 3m x 3m lightweight tarp.

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Then it was time to go fish:

That night we had more than enough fish, succulently prepared in garlic butter, roasted to perfection . . . .  almost too easy 

Nothing beats a nice campfire, some good music and stars in the sky.

Early morning "koffie en beskuit" on the "stoep". Good vibes . . . 

 Then we headed west along the coast, in search of new fishing spots.

And success again!

Back at camp, it was time for lunch. Special surprize from Ruhan ! 

" Potbrood" and bacon & eggs !

The afternoon was spend playing cards and listening to good music

For starters the evening, I cooked a pea soup from split peas, de-hydrated salami pieces and instant pea soup.

Beautiful sunset

And so the trip came to an end the next morning when we hiked back. Recharged and ready to face life again (for a while)

Murasie 2 - Too easy 😀