New Year Rafting

 Hi all fellow-rafters!  Here is just a short briefing on our Dec rafting trip:-

The stretch we're going to do is Hopetown to Douglas (near Kimberley). It's a truly mellow section of the Orange, with mostly lazy meandering flats & lovely sandy dune-beaches.  There are a few current accelerations & 'wave-trains' further down, & the river narrows into a shallow, ebony rock-sculptured gorge. There are two more serious rapids we have to negotiate, but we will decide once we are there, whether to raft them or not.  This is a perfect river for beginners and good for a relax.  To quote Paul on his blurb - "The river flows through semi desert and boasts wonderful night skies, early morning wildlife and great birding".

 
From Jhb, it's about an 8hr trip by car to get to the start point.  I thought 28 Dec to 2nd Jan, gives us 2 days for driving & 4 days on river.  We meet Saturday morning, 27th Dec at the storeroom at 6am.  Sort out equipment; pack cars; leave. Have rustige drive up, stop for brekkie/ lunch, maybe look at Kimberley Hole if we have time?  At river, drop off equipment.  Then drivers take cars around to take-out point (a farm, where we have the farmers' permission & a safe place to leave our vehicles); the rest will pump boats/ sort out equipment/meals/ prepare supper for the evening.  The drivers will then return in one car & leave it at a secure place at the Ou Brug where we start. We'll only get on the river on morning of 28th, then raft till 31st. Pack morning of 1st; drive back to jhb.