perhaps you are tiring of the African trip, but please note, the need to post these stories rather than other more current thoughts and observances, only alludes to the un-exciting-ness of these miserably hot summer days. How can fun and exciting things happen when no one wants to leave the house I ask? Anyway, on to the tale!
In case you need to be refreshed, our last stop was Durban the big port city. We then traveled to the interior of the country - to the Drakensberg mountains. They stretch for 620 miles north to south across the country. They also are home to the country of Lesotho (Le-sue-too) we also visited a village there.
If you recall, I like to take sun pictures. I really like this one. But then I like the second one too, just after the sun went behind the mountain.
Now back to the story. While in the Drakensberg region, we stayed at a hostel that was literally in the middle of no where. The pictures above were taking outside the door of our room. Yep a clear view for miles in all directions. It was the only place to eat for farther than we could walk - luckily they had great food. I became addicted to grilled cheese while I was there by the way - its CHEAP and realatively fillings. For some reason it just tasted better in Africa. Wierd, huh? We luckily had a little time to rest while at this hostel. Every where else was run, hurry, run, but here is was the slow life for sure. We spent an entire afternoon poolside (yep they had a pool too) and just caught up with one another. It was so relaxing. But the next day was not.
Let me tell you what. The next day was some seriously hard work. We literally climbed a mountain. Didn't know I could do that, but we sure did. According to the guide, we reached over 9,000 feet. But we started around 3,000 feet high. So the guide to us this is an easy hike, anyone can do it. No worries.
He lied.
Big time.
So we were hot and sweaty in the blazing sun, suffering from slight alititude sickness (headaches & dizzieness) and basically rock climbing part of the way. Oh yes, I have never been so sore and exhausted in my life. I wish the pictures could do it justice.
Before - ah smiling faces. Going Up - can you see where we are headed?
Where we've been. Where we're going - like I said, rock climbing.
While it may seem like a quick trip, just looking at the pictures, it took about 4 hours to reach this point. The top. Its called the amphitheater. The valley is open on one side and enclosed on the other three creating a theater effect. Unfortunately, I could get it in one shot. They don't make wide angle point and shoots. :) Then we began our journey to the waterfall. Turns out that even those it is one of the world's tallest waterfalls, it is only ranked as that about 6 months of the year. Yep.
IT WAS DRY.
Completely.
Six months of the year the river and falls are completely and utterly dry. That's why is 2nd only 6 months of the year. Bummer, but I must say, the view as seen above was beautiful nonetheless. Looking back now, despite my ridiculous exhaustion at this point, I remember think whoa...God is so cool. He created this. And here I am complaining that I had to climb it to see it. So, now that I can say it with a true heart, thank you for the chance to witness YOUR creation in a whole new way. God you are good.
It took another 2 hours to get down. Yes it was a lot faster - this is why:
We went straight down. There were three sets of ladders to climb down. It was possibly the scariest thing I have ever done. I am not terribly fond of ladders in the first place, so the idea of climbing one that was chain, on the side of a cliff, with 30 mile an hour winds was not my idea of a good time. Nope. But I made it. I even went first.
That pretty much wraps up our trip to the Drakensberg mountains. On our next flash back, we will be taking a horse trail (but not on a horse) into Lesotho. Until then happy travels.