Option B - Stay Overs?

[Massimo]

So we had to change the original routing as it seems KZN is a flyers disaster right now.

Option B - tedderfield - bethlehem - ladybrand - follow claedon all the way to gariep - orania - bateluer - prieska - grobler - kuruman - vryheid - spittskop dam - bloemhof - palmiet - parys - tedder.

Planning to overnight at:
1. Gariep dam area
2. Somewhere near Upington (Thuru)
3. Bloemhof Dam

If anybody has accommodation ideas in those areas your assistance would be great.

Fuel stops:
1. Ladybrand
2. Prieska
3. Kuruman

We may be taking extra fuel onboard so its not critical for the fuel at the stops but just in case if anybody can help that would also be great.

And any other advice is always welcomed.

Thanks All

[Dobbs]

Hi Massimo,

I thought that you were being very adventurous flying a tight schedule in our area this time of the year.

The weather for the last three weeks has been very variable, either blowing from the NE, or the SW, with rain thrown in from time to time.

Hope your revised trip materializes and you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[Andrew Conroy]

When are you doing your trip?

[alanmack]

I think that you should take a tent and fly out a day early - rig it, unpack the firewood and other heavy stuff like wine ..... and song - then fly back and fetch the missing .....

alternatively join me in K Z N for 10 days leaving on Wed. I hear the weather is great - must ask the right people not the weatherman.

Fly safe and Merry Christmas
Nemo

[Porra]

Hi Alan, where about in KZN will you be??

[alanmack]

Hi,

I'm flying from Ballito - planning to fly to St Lucia on Wednesday

0823734947

Fly safe
Nemo

[Massimo]

So........what can i say, we never got very far into our trip due to the lovely weather (not) some technical issues and some partying!

We departed on the 17 December and our 15 min fuel stop in Ladybrand ended in a 3 day stay over. It was just such a fanatastic place that we could not leave . No serioulsy it is a great little hidden gem of a town and you should go visit.

After fuelling up and having lunch we departed in 40mph headwind to Gariep, 1,30hrs later we had done only 40 miles and were going nowhere fast. So we returend to LB. The hospitality of the people there is unbeleivable. The guy we met took us to get fuel, found us a guest house and then borrowed us his car . . . just like that! We were shocked.

We also had some technical issues to resolve the following morning so we stayed over ......for 3 days. Eventually we routed back home but the wind again was against us so we headed to bethlehem, another great place. Complete strangers took us to the accommodation and we stayed the night due to huge thunder storms in the area. On day 5 we got home is fantastic calm weather.

So we never got to see everything, but what an experience we had. We flew in all sorts of weather, landed in many different spots and gained HUGE experience and confidence in our planes. We met great people and saw a wonderful part of our country. I guess thats what makes an adventure, now to plan the next one.