Monday, February 20, 2017

The Silent Woman

Last Tuesday the Champagne Valley Walking Club met to go hiking in the Northern Drakensberg. We were off to The Cavern where we'd start the hike, a round trip of 7.8km  in search of artwork called "The Silent Woman" and we'd return. 

 Once we'd arrived at The Cavern car park, everyone alighted from their respective lifts. I took a photo of various people making their preparations while some (the organized ones, LOL) waited patiently. When I downloaded the photos, this tableaux really tickled me...

 (I marked each person with a colored arrow to help with my explanations)
Red arrow: Meridith: our guide,  still bootless and caught in the middle of watching the hand (just visible on left edge of photo) wielding a walking stick. BTW her niece wearing black ski pants/white shirt, a mischievous grin and also wielding a walking stick, looks like she's about to spank her aunt!

 Yellow arrow: Betty: on her way back to see what the hold-up is.

 Pink arrow: Trish: waiting patiently.

 Blue arrow: Anthony, bending down to don his hiking boots.  

 Green arrow: Grant, leaning on his walking stick,  also waiting patiently.  

 Finally everyone was ready and we headed up to The Cavern where the hike would start. 
The beautiful Cavern - a popular holiday resort int the Northern Drakensberg
There were several dogs belonging to the owners of The Cavern. Here Trish pets a Springer Spaniel pup
Meridith, who breeds dogs, has a barking ringtone on her phone. Here a Ridgeback, a Boerboel and the spaniel pup mill around her as her phone barks  rings! 
Starting out 
Looking down on The Cavern 
Hiking down Cavern Valley:  Alan (86), Anthony (76), Grant (66) Not sure the ages of Trish behind Anthony and Price behind Grant!
 Boulder-hopping across a stream
Anthony gingerly steps across the boulders; Meridith walks straight through the water! 
Betty striding along ahead

We crossed another stream but the boulders were so big and - to me - treacherously slippery, that I didn't take photos; I was too busy trying to cross without falling into the water!
Stopping in the clearing for breakfast
Jo and hiking companion, Di

Although we were in search of The Silent Woman, no-one actually knew exactly where it was. Betty - who was determined to see it - walked around the boulder behind me a Di (see photo above) and voila! 
 * The Silent Woman *

The men were dumbstruck: they'd never come across a "silent woman" before! 

Another enjoyable hike with The Champagne Valley Walking Club.

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL! 
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4 comments:

  1. Joyful20 February, 2017 05:32

    Enjoyed this post, Jo!

    Ha, ha, I love how you stumbled on the silent woman and how the men were dumbstruck *smile.

    It's very beautiful scenery and just the thing to motivate one for a nice hike. I love the fact that Anthony and his brother are still hiking and walking at their ages.

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  2. MadSnapper20 February, 2017 15:39

    ha ha on never seeing a silent woman,, and I am BETTING BIG that they were not ADMIRING the silent Part. LOL LOL.... must have been a male who carved her there, Just Sayin. I love all the photos of all your walking companions. and especially the rock climbing wand water wading. favorite today is The roof on the cavern, I have never seen a roof like this. love it

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  3. Stewart M20 February, 2017 23:16

    Hi there - nice post - and I like the joke at the end.

    I run tow blogs - my wordy blog (where you found the post about the NT) and my photoblog (where WBW lives) - if you look at the top of either blog you will find a link to the other one! WBW will appear on the photoblog Wednesday morning my time!

    Cheers - SM

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  4. Gattina22 February, 2017 10:33

    Amazing ! I wonder who carved this women in the rock ? You look great !

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