Hilux 4x4 Forum

Donkey wrote:Oom Andy please PM me your contacts, just in case.

PM sent.

Donkey wrote:We're leaving Friday morning @ 08:00, should be there around 18:00 and maybe wet them throats (Sundowners)

Just to confirm ... you will be with family and we will only see you on Saturday (we will only be at Hogsback from Saturday morning). Let us know that you arrived safely (SMS is OK). Travel safely!

Thunder02 wrote:Have a great trip guys,Oom Andy please send them home in one piece

:wth: Err .... no. I'd rather send them back as they arrived in two separate pieces ... (the bumper sticker comes to mind "Net LR's en honde .....") ...................

Thought about detouring on our way to JHB... only 400km extra... but Kim will throttle me!

Mr_B wrote:Thought about detouring on our way to JHB... only 400km extra... but Kim will throttle me!

A bit of throttling can be good at times

Just insert a tracheal tube beforehand!!

Was thinking the same, if it were to go my way we could even leave Thursday night so that we take it easy the Friday, just a thought.

Mud Dog wrote:

Donkey wrote:Oom Andy please PM me your contacts, just in case.

PM sent.

Donkey wrote:We're leaving Friday morning @ 08:00, should be there around 18:00 and maybe wet them throats (Sundowners)

Just to confirm ... you will be with family and we will only see you on Saturday (we will only be at Hogsback from Saturday morning). Let us know that you arrived safely (SMS is OK). Travel safely!

Thunder02 wrote:Have a great trip guys,Oom Andy please send them home in one piece

:wth: Err .... no. I'd rather send them back as they arrived in two separate pieces ... (the bumper sticker comes to mind "Net LR's en honde .....") ...................

Donkey wrote:Was thinking the same, if it were to go my way we could even leave Thursday night so that we take it easy the Friday, just a thought.

hehehe..... now this is starting to sound better ..... look @ me now

Edge I've just picked up your wheels from Donovan.

Hi Guys,weekends getting closer.Geers and friends joining the outing are; Me (firstgeer)with swambo Annemarie(second geer), Wade(fourth geer) with girlfriend Donne(diff lock) and mates Martin and Dianne.For the record:- I am firstgeer married to Annemarie(secondgeer). We have three sons namely Bradley(thirdgeer) ,Wade (fourthgeer) and Mitchell(fifthgeer).The reason we have third,fourth and fifth geers is because I COULD NOT FIND REVERSE GEER !!!!!!!!! ANYWAY Guys, I am really looking forward to the outing. Cheers till then.

Update


Andy, Sheridene & MIL + daughter & friend ...................................................... (5)
Tumelo & Cupcake ............................................................................................. (2)
Sebata .............................................................................................................. (1)
FirstGeer (Tony) & SecondGeer (Annemarie)...................................................... (2)
FourthGeer (Wade) & Donne' (Over-drive) + 2 friends (Martin & Dianne) .... (4)
AntonV6 & Swambo + rugrat/s ......................................................................... (Cancelled)
Haboob (Leo / Edge) & Swambo ....................................................................... (2)
Simon & Michelle (SYRON CONVERSIONS)? ....................................................... (cancelled)
Dylan, Swambo + 'ankle snapper' ..................................................................... (3)[/quote]

Hi Andy, First Geer in St Doms with a suspected heart attack. Second Geer in attendance & will notify me of progress. They are currently busy with tests, so he may be out for the weekend. He was wanting to bring another couple from East London along, but I suspect that that will now all depend on the test results. I presume that Fourth Geer & Wanna-B-Geer may still attend unless they all have to wait on the sick man.

Is Hogsback Pass close to Hogs Back trail?

Donkey wrote:Is Hogsback Pass close to Hogs Back trail?

There are a lot of trails what do you want to do? Drive, walk, mountain bike?

Eish on the news about FIRSTGEER But at least he is alive. Must be all the excitement for the weekend. Think he needs a cooler for that transmission :) What with all those geers...

Haboob wrote:Hi Andy, First Geer in St Doms with a suspected heart attack. Second Geer in attendance & will notify me of progress. They are currently busy with tests, so he may be out for the weekend. He was wanting to bring another couple from East London along, but I suspect that that will now all depend on the test results. I presume that Fourth Geer & Wanna-B-Geer may still attend unless they all have to wait on the sick man.

Geez! Hope he's OK! Edge, please keep us informed on his progress and pass on our best wishes to him and the Geer Box when next you have contact with them.
Eish! I'm shocked!

Got a very busy day tomorrow, but will try make time to pass by and visit if he's till there.

Donkey wrote:Is Hogsback Pass close to Hogs Back trail?

Tumelo, there are many, many trails up there .... mostly hiking and mountain bike trails. There are a number of scenic routes for vehicles, some of which are 4x4 only. If you picked up "Hogsback Trail" on the net, there is one in Klondike Park, Missouri, USA. The Hogsback district here in RSA is in the Amatola mountains / Tyume Forrests.

I suspect as long as we're on R345 we should be fine, then we'll call if we're not winning

Donkey wrote:I suspect as long as we're on R345 we should be fine, then we'll call if we're not winning

Do you not have a GPS?

I do, mine is the Garmin Streetpilot which does not have an option for co-ordinates, will ask Tau to bring his then

That'll make life easier .... if you get lost, call ..... we'll send out the national guard!
Actually, if you ask the locals for directions to "Starways" Arts and Pottery, we are right next door. (See attached images).

the count down has began..........

Edge, any news about Tony?

Just that he's fine but still in St Dom's. I spoke to fourth Geer & he says that First, Second & entourage will probably not make it as First is still in the cardiac section, so I guess that the nurses must be OK if he is still there, otherwise he would have been home a long time ago. Maybe he heard that the trails on Hogs Back were a little tough?

Will make a 'draai' past there tomorrow and check on him. Thanks Edge, good to hear that he's OK!

Ok the Gautengers are on their way with Tau at the wheel

Safe travels, you three! C U 2-morro!

The lion man & the donkey plus cupcake have touched down........

Glad to hear that you arrived at your destination safely! ...... Now get some rest!!

Packed & ready to leave at first light!

We can't wait to join you guys..... Weve been bored the whole day

Thought you guys had a family "do" on tonight and tomorrow morning?

Anyway, Dylan and myself should be there by about 8.00 / 8.30am ....... 9.00 at the latest. ...(Depends on the "faffers"! )

Hi guys,I am back home.Edge fetched me this morning.I am feeling okay now.I would love to join u guys but I think Ill give it a miss this time round.In fact I FEEL GREAT,but I do get tired quickly,so you guys have a great time and thanks for your thoughts and concern.

There's no doubt that we will miss you, Tony, and we were really looking forward to meeting Annemarie as well as some of the other Geerbox members, but as I said to her earlier, this may not be the best opportunity. There will be others! Promise!

Really glad to hear that you're feeling better now but rest up and relax while you can .... we'll be back!

Well we arrived only to find Andy had forgotten the keys so if he went back to EL so we are enjoying the scenery while Andy breaks the speed limit......

Queens town does have night of all.... ....en route to Mthata then we join you guys..... Only had an hour of sleep..... donkey & Lion were on the loose...

AM Racing wrote:Well we arrived only to find Andy had forgotten the keys so if he went back to EL so we are enjoying the scenery while Andy breaks the speed limit......

Looks like its not only us that painted the town in Hilux colors

mthata? From Queenstown?

AM Racing wrote:mthata? From Queenstown?

Yes...... We've turned out to be English Men in Eastern Cape.. believe you me this done under serious duress

Eish! Ja, .... all started out well enough albeit that we got started ½ an hour behind the intended time of departure, but no stress. We took it easy on the way up and still made good time with Dylan towing a caravan. As we neared the cottage I wanted to get out of the cottage keys, only to realize I hadn't included them in packing / preparation. What a sinking feeling!
Sheridene and MIL wouldn't believe me when I voiced my oversight (exact vernacular censored). They still laughed, firmly believing that I was joking (that's to have been expected I suppose .... the price of being a prankster). Anyway, long story short, I had to go back to EL and fetch the keys.

Did the round-trip in just under 3½ hours (didn't speed .... promise! ) and as I was getting close to the cottage again, I encountered Dylan coming in the opposite direction .... he'd forgotten his cooler box with his beers, so was on his way the the village bottle store to make up his stock requirement.

My BIL, (Sheridene's brother) surprised us with a visit ... they had decided to come up for the w/end to relax, and were already there when I arrived back. Got ourselves settled and started mowing the overgrown lawns .... it was already blisteringly hot, and BIL jumped in to help. Thanks Charles!

Next to arrive was Edge & Vivian, Dylan & Delia returned shortly thereafter and we stood about chatting while waiting for Donkey ...... .... apparently they had decided to go through to Umtata for a family member's "right of passage" with the intention of coming back the same day! :wth: .... What's that saying? ... "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" .... Faders!

After phoning Tumelo (who sounded very "out of it" ) to get an update, all hopes of seeing him that day, disappeared, and we decided to go ahead with the scenic trail that was planned for that afternoon. BIL however joined us in his Cruiser bakkie. With all that had transpired up to this point, I neglected to take the camera with, so no picsd from my side. Delia however snapped off a few, so hopefully Dylan can post a couple.

We asked BIL to join us for the braai that evening, but he had already made plans, so it was just Edge, Dylan, myself and our respective entourages (10 of us in all), but made for an intimately enjoyable evening.


(To be con'd later with pics)

Made it to the team only Sun morning and was very lovely to put a name to a face, some good stuff
Thank you guys - it is becoming more evident to me that it takes a certain character to be a Hilux driver, and I'm sure glad to be part of the Hilux4x4 club.

Got home this morning around 01:45, slept for about 3 hrs and now at work I only have a few pics of the "right of passage" which I'll post later today.

All in all a super weekend

Well beside me falling I'll on the way back, managed to keep it together, after dropping off the very fast asleep Donkey & Cupcake managed to stay awake & got home @ 02h30... Still in bed & go see the doc later... .. Nonetheless thanks to everybody for a nice welcome was really nice to meet you.

forgetting the keys, what was on your mind Andy? Me thinks you were partaking in too much wine and had somthing else on your mind, or was it all the baggage u had to take along as well? " mother inlaw"

Simon... you not too old for a hiding from Andy! You've been warned!

Any photographic proof that this event actually happened?

naaah don't think it hapened

I agree, think it was the figment of a number of people's imagination, no photographic evidence

Three reasons why I did not go.
1. Had to look after my forklifts that are on rental around town.
2. Had to take photo's at a Lady friends wedding (her wedding) (for free)
3. Andy told me there was only a 4x4 trail for sissies.

Anyway my wife has now also changed my name to Grumpy.

Simple Simon wrote:Three reasons why I did not go.
1. Had to look after my forklifts that are on rental around town.
2. Had to take photo's at a Lady friends wedding (her wedding) (for free)
3. Andy told me there was only a 4x4 trail for sissies.

Anyway my wife has now also changed my name to Grumpy.

True, but you knew that going in ..... I think it had more to do with the fact that you didn't want to rough it in a tent!

vald wrote:I agree, think it was the figment of a number of people's imagination, no photographic evidence

Ja .... figment of imagination! Never happened! ....

Shame, a quick point to mention here ..... Tony was very, very keen to join us, even after his cardiac episode. Insisted he felt fine, just that he seemed to tire easily. I think Annemarie was equally insistent that it was a bad idea .... too far from help should something go wrong. What sealed it was something of a double whammy .... Tony / Annemarie's son, Wade (AKA 4th Geer) was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him hospitalized and requiring surgery. Hope all is over now and the dust can begin to settle, and that Wade is doing OK.

OK ... back to the event that never happened .....

Delia & Dylan's son, Teagan, (3yrs) was an active little guy, cute as a button and very friendly. I think everyone took an immediate shine to him and he just lapped it up. While the ladies sat and chatted and the guys stood around the fire with the intention of tanning / burning some meat, Teagan effortlessly alternated between the two 'groups' .... up until the time when the sweets came out.

Teagan chatting with 'the guys' ..... had not yet noticed the sweet bowls.
.... but after he saw the sweets, there was no pulling him away from the ladies!

After the braai, everyone slowly peeled off to bed ... untill just Edge & myself sat chatting till somewhere close to pumpkin hour. The man can talk! And he has the audacity to accuse Tony of having verbal diahorrea (which is also true of course)!

The next morning, after being wakened by Teagan (early riser ), we had breakkie and waited for Tumelo et Cie, who eventually arrived somewhere between 9.30 and 10.00am. Introductions, niceties, (a few lighthearted insults) and quips were passed around before Edge took possession of the rims that Tumelo kindly transported down, and we decided to get a move on to doing a trail. Tumelo, Cupcake, Tau and cousin "Long" (he's tall ... before anyone draws their own conclusions ) joined us for the first leg. It was already blisteringly hot again and we stopped at the shops to get ice, but no luck.

Edge's van .....
Dylan's van .....
..... both Vigo's, but I was torn between deciding which was the better looker. Edge's one was beautifully and thoughtfully kitted out with all that opens and shuts .... an overlander's dream, while Dylan's was more rugged in set-up, and the thing that literally put the cherry on top ......


.... and just in case you missed it ......


So on to the trail ..... Really a scenic drive, snaking it's way up through the trees to points of breathtaking outlooks over the Hogsback village and the Tyumme valley.

We stopped at various points to gather in the view (and photo opportunities for those that wanted). I caught a couple of the guys 'unawares' with a few snaps 'from the hip' .......
Donkey's expression is like that of a child that's just been parted with his favourite toy .... or C-Lites in Tumelo's case!

Thanks Andy for making sure we struck our best pose :evil: ......... Ladies, the proof is out now.... so it did materialize after all... ?... It's a pity I can't figure out how to attach pics using IPAD... Damn fancy gadgets anybody that knows how please rescue me.... Thou I'm no LR driver

Here's are a few pictures (taken by cellphone) of the right of passage ceremony we attended in Mthatha in a village called Empunzana. We could not see the young lady as she was to come out only on Tuesday but these are pictures of the celebrations. This is where Tau picked up a stomach bug.

What caught my eye is the clear separation between men and women, the men sat in front of the kraal and drank traditional home brewed beer, women are not allowed anywhere near them, they celebrate on their own.

Some more...

SYRON CONVERSIONS wrote:forgetting the keys, what was on your mind Andy? Me thinks you were partaking in too much wine and had somthing else on your mind, or was it all the baggage u had to take along as well? " mother inlaw"

As a matter of fact, there was an empty bottle of wine when we got there , luckily I'm not one to expose people and their choice of poison

Didn't notice the wine bottle myself .... probably from one of the ladies at the braai ..... otherwise may have rolled out of Tau's bakkie when you guys pulled up.

Me suspects Dylan will put this matter to rest , it was under the nose of his caravan.

Mud Dog wrote:Didn't notice the wine bottle myself .... probably from one of the ladies at the braai ..... otherwise may have rolled out of Tau's bakkie when you guys pulled up.

Well there were no grapes in my truck.....as far I remember only 2 guys chatted until the monkeys started to complain about the noice through out the night can we have truth now....

Some more pics of the forest drive which completed the first leg, after which Tumelo et Cie parted ways since they still had a long trip back to Gauteng ahead of them.

Thanks for joining us guys, it was great to meet you all!



The trail led us close to the ridge of the 'hogs backs' after which it dipped a little to the point where a gravel road led out and where Tumelo left us.
Now only three vehicles, we turned up and crested the ridge into the valley below ... new territory for me and a route which Dylan said should take about 1½ hours. Little did we know! It turned out to be more like 3½ hours!

More on that later.

Thaaaanks.... great photo's... now I believe you...

Now we believe you, looks like you had a good time

Up to this point Swambo and MIL had enjoyed the outing .... nothing hectic, just a lekker scenic drive with great views / lookouts. It was still too early in the day to make a beeline for home ... we had all had a decent breakfast, so no-one was hungry. We decided that it was OK do do a little more time on the trail.

Going over the ridge gave us some more breathtaking views ....



.... and a few more mountain streams.


Parts of the trail were mushy, others a little washed out, but that wasn't an issue. It was when we descended lower into the valley and became surrounded by thick brush that the issues began.

Waiting.... waiting... waiting....!!!!


-F_D

Family_Dog wrote:Waiting.... waiting... waiting....!!!!

-F_D

Trying to get it done between other tasks. ................




We had to stop a good number of times to clear / break off / chop back some of the overhanging or encroaching branches. Dylan was enjoying using his panga (I suspect that he had recently acquired it ). Swambo and MIL were getting restless and I put it down to the fact that there was little scenery in the brush, it was an awfully hot day (reported to be 35°) and my air-con wasn't coping (Probably needs re-gassing) so we had the windows open and every now and then someone got whacked by a bit of overgrowth. Additionally, we had planned to visit one of Swambo's cousins who recently took up employment at one of the hotels up there, and I thought that the women folk were fretting unnecessarily. My daughter and her friend on the other hand were enjoying every moment, so the possibility of female intuition never entered my mind. It should have!

Eventually we bottomed out in our descent and came to a strongly flowing stream where we all got out to stretch our legs and cool off in the icy water.



Dylan decided to strip and take a quick shower under the falls


.... and found it to be more than just refreshing!


Even little Teagan was enjoying the cold water.


The setting was so tranquil that we all took some time to absorb, relax and cool off.


Edge and Vivian enjoying the cold mountain stream .... looks like they're doing the Madiba Shuffle!