Autumn 2013: Shumba Valley Farm?

[Asterix]

It seems like the 2013 X country season will not see me flying to the West Coast via the Vaal and Orange.

(INTERLUDE: The TRO has been planned to the finest detail by its author, but in the absence of him - I would rather shelve it with him, rather than fly it without him. )

I told myself that I still need to go somewhere this year... (I fly trikes for the x country part of it - .)

So - in the light of the Fact that the TRO could be shelved, I pulled out an old one - (I also spend hours planning trips - and I also shelve them! This does not mean that they die, rather - they become available in future.)

Thus - I once flew a glorious morning from an airfield, Eagle Flight Academy near Jan Kempdorp NC - via Welkom to Betlehem, and I marveled at the beauty of the eastern Free State next to the Lesotho border, of my starboard wing. Unfortunately I could not deviate from my route - since me and my Wingman Bugwar were enroute for the Natal midlands @ Amphiteatre Backpackers - routing over Sterkfonteindam to be exact - and we could only gaze at the beauty due to time and fuel constraints.

I promised myself at that time and place - 2 years ago at 9000 ft amsl, with no time to spare: I would return one day and spend time exploring this magical countryside. Without time or altitude constraints.

So - I am pulling an old one from the shelf, and implementing it this year. (even though I have to fly 200 miles from the north to reach my starting point, Beginsel.)

I propose the following, for the weekend over Communist Day :

1. Fly to Shumba Valley. Prepare your own route. (Demon knows the route very well, I assume - so he'll have tips from the West Rand;)
2. Treat it as your destination - and spend time flying leisurely from there - exploring the beautiful terrain of the border - without a further destination;
3. Fly back to wherever you have to, whenever you have to.

Ek gaan hierdie jaar die Oos Vrystaat bietjie uitkyk, met Shumba as 'n basis.

As jy wil saam - beplan jou roete / tyd, en doen dit!

http://www.shumbavalleyfarm.co.za/index.htm

[Tumbleweed]

Had an awesome stay at Shumba Valley. Owner stands waiting with ice cold beers on landing and the festivities carry on till late.

Next morning flew over the Drakensburg to Dragon Peaks for breakfast, on to Shell Ultra City for juice and the most extreme bumpy ride back via Clarens at midday.

[John.com]

Looks AWESOME!!

1st May, right? This is a Wednesday!

Only 200miles as the crow flies from Aeroden, so maybe one stopover!

Count me in!

John.com

[MariusD]

Looks AWESOME Gents
I'm planning for some time already a trip to that area and maybe we must combine ideas and plan a trip together. Some of the places I want to visit; Sterkfontein Dam, Golden Gate / Clarens, Dragons Peak ........... up to Katse Dam in Lesotho

[Tribal Croc]

Guys check out the following link viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19385

We will be at Dragons peak from the 1 - 5 May

[Asterix]

TC - ja no - but - due to a serious lack of balls and without getting histerical again: I will not cross Lesotho, ever! I is scared of the Dragon... I want to fly down to the Western side of the Berg - and then check it out from a distance, over those formations that Demon highlighted - which I often travelled through by car down to my family in East London / PE.

Towards the West - lovely sandstone koppies and ridges and beautiful Vrystaat in between. Lekker low level - dat jy die sonneblomme kan ruik!

(OF course, from where I sit tonight, I have not flown since October. I feel guilty, pressured for time / distance / lapsed licence / ATF will lapse in two weeks or so ? / can't get the Polokwane hangarage sorted / etc etc. ( I am SERIOUSLY contemplating taken my wing back to Jenya - and convert to topless - JUST SO THAT I CAN HANGAR!!!!!!) Still afraid though - I trust those lufflines in turbulence...... )

My career move is impacting negatively on my flying, at this stage.. (At least it meant that I could buy a Ford Ranger 3,2 litre 6 speed Supercab on 18 December last year!!)

(And of course - Geel Kerneels is hangaring in Heaven, and getting his wings stretched often, from what TC reports..)

[Bundy]

Hold thumbs....there may be at least two "yellow" wings rocking Shumba Valley....

[Asterix]

This is now my bail-out X country for Autumn / Winter 2013, if the Kalahari BB does not realise due to lack of entries. (99 to go - I am booked ) So this one is shelved for me, pending developments on the KBB