The Story!

We managed to get a booking at Rod’s Cottage over the New Year although it was only for two nights, the 30th and 31st of December 2007.

Rod’s Cottage is situated in the Little Berg, very remote and overlooking the majestic Champagne Castle. Being able to wake up early morning to such an overwhelming view of the sun colouring the mountains a bright red, must be experienced to understand true beauty…

Marius, Alida and kids from Piet Retief, Jaco and Estelle from Paulpiet and George and Cordula from Vryheid met up early morning with Billie and Debbie at Ladysmith Wimpy. We were driving in procession to Rod’s Cottage passing wonderful sights of the Drakensberg just wanting to break through the low clouds.

We all met up with Morne from Vryheid at Thokozisa and enjoyed a breakfast and some shopping before heading off to Rod’s.

We turned off the main road into what looks like an unused path.  Rod’s is only 6km in, but the “footpath” you have to travel takes about 50 minutes.  No car would make it through here, especially when wet.  Luckily it was dry and, after zig-zagging over the same river three times, steep uphills and the most magnificent sights, we arrived at Rod’s.

Looking up at the take-off site right there on your doorstep, everyone quickly unpacked the cars and the men set off to the task of climbing up the 160m to take-off to experience the beautiful view to be seen from up there.  It took some of them a good hours’ climb and then another half an hours’ rest before they had enough energy to unpack a glider to fly.  This is no easy climb:  very steep, grabbing on grass to haul yourself up, on your hands and knees a couple of times and concentrating on not rolling yourself and your glider downhill again… but every drop of sweat worth it! Your glider will only accompany you on the path up…there’s no way of carrying it down – it must be flown down of left up there for the next day if today turns out unflyable.

Morne and Marius took off, got up to the second cliff face and flew for over two hours, taking in the breathtaking view.  Take off is so low, only 160m, that you have very little room for mistakes.  If you get below take off, your chances of getting up is very slim.  While the men were flying, the kids were rowing, fishing and swimming in the little dam a few feet from the cottage.  The women enjoyed themselves on the foofie slide and also doing some rowing and swimming.

After the men returned from their flights, Billie suggested the “Waterfall walk”. George and Morne decided not to go in order to save their energy for the next days’ climb, so the rest set off for the 4.5km walk.  The walk was very relaxing downhill with lots of stops to take in the view, taking photos and, for some, swimming in the ice cold water.  Only Billie, little Marius and Jacques braved the water while the others just rested on the rocks in the sun. After visiting the waterfall, the steep walk back awaited.  At least there was a decent path to follow and everyone got to the top exhausted, but satisfied about the sightseeing and the fresh air only nature can provide.

Later that night, after the braai, all of us fell into our beds tired, but excited about what the next day would bring.  Billie and Debbie slept on the veranda, George and Cordula inside in front of the fireplace, Morne was camping and the rest were sleeping upstairs on the bunk beds.

Morning came and everyone decided to take on the mountain again.  Debbie also managed to get safely to the top, with lots of help from little Marius and Alida.  Billie carried Debbies’ glider through the hardest part – a small gap in the cliff face with just over a meter vertical climb.  We all rested on the top for about an hour and then all the gliders were in the air.  Again Marius and Morne managed to get to the second cliff face and then it was easy sailing. Billie, George, Debbie and Jaco bottom landed right next to the cottage.  Envying the two gliders in the air, Billie, George and, later, Jaco decided to take the climb on again. Billie and George also got up to the second cliff face and flew for almost two hours.  Morne was in the air for about four hours and Marius for three.  They then all landed next to the cottage where Morne said goodbye and left for other commitments in Vryheid.

Another magnificent braai with friends and family and everyone turned in at about half past ten.  No one had the energy to wait for twelve o’clock and the New Year.  It was amazing how the fresh mountain air and exercise can take it out of you, but no one was complaining.  What better rest can you get than this?  How often do we get to go to sleep satisfied about our achievements for that day? Here it felt like that feeling was going to last forever…

The next day, New Years Day, we headed out of Rod’s Cottage, saying a sad farewell.  No electricity, city noise and crackers to disturb the tranquility of the Berg. Just you and nature. What an experience and peace this place has given us! 

We decided to head for Little Switzerland to see if we can squeeze one last flight out of the Berg before we had to go home. Unfortunately the wind was over the back, so we went to the viewpoint of Sterkfontein Dam.  We were looking over the great dam and seeing the vultures feeding on dead animals on the other side.  Then we left for home. 

Our paths parted again in Ladysmith after lunch at the Wimpy, with sadness about a weekend over and work responsibilities lurking on the horizon…but we’ll meet again at one of the greatest sites in Natal – Dumbe.