Jack and Jill Hiking Club goes ‘4×4’ in Utrecht

THE JACK and Jill Hiking Club visited the Utrecht area on the weekend of March 13-15. Esther arranged a wonderful hiking weekend at rather late notice as the other hike arrangements were just not coming together. Luxurious accommodation was arranged at UmKhamba, approximately 6km outside of Utrecht.

UmKhamba has accommodation for 12 people, a cottage that sleeps eight people and two lovely wooden chalets that sleep two people. UmKhamba has such a lovely tranquil setting and on arrival one immediately can feel one’s mind and body relaxing.

The hikers took a late evening stroll and witnessed a beautiful sunset. One only realizes the extent of our water crisis when one goes out of one’s own comfortable environment and sees the bone dry dams and river beds. We are really facing a critical water situation.

On returning to our lodge, we were surprised as Esther had kindly arranged steak rolls and chips to be prepared by the Utrecht Club, which was such a wonderful surprise. A lovely entertaining and social evening was had, filled with laughter.

We set off at seven to begin our hike that Esther had arranged on Boshof Davel’s farm. The hike was on a 4X4 route that is a 17,5km round route. They are developing this route to be used in the very near future, to offer training to people who purchase 4X4 vehicles and require training on how to best use their newly acquired vehicle.

From our hiking experience on this route, it will be an excellent 4×4 challenge route as many times the hikers had to use their diff locks and going up Polly Shorts the hikers had to dig deep for that extra power and engage low range! Sanet set a very fine example on how to take on these difficult encounters.

Our route lead us to an outlook point where one had a wonderful view of the surrounding area, and another point of interest was two amazing weathered rocks and also a very large cabbage tree.

To indicate the size of the weathered out rocks, Sanet and Esther found a comfortable spot in the rock for a lovely photo opportunity. Esther was determined to measure the size of the cabbage tree and had to call in the assistance of Karen and Debbie to form a human chain around the tree’s base.

The hikers then enjoyed lunch and the hike continued around many more bends in the route and up hills and a couple of down hills.

Due to the heat, the hikers started to run out of water and it was getting late in the day and the further we hiked, it felt like we were getting further away from our end point, back at the vehicles. Extremely hot and tired hikers decided to call in help, in the form of Boshof, who very kindly came to collect us but had an excellent laugh at the weary hikers. At this point the hikers really didn’t mind as our exhaustion and thirst over ruled all else.

Back at UmKhamba it was a race to get rid of heavy hiking boots and just to get something cold and refreshing to drink. As the evening progressed and the hikers had refreshed with a lovely shower, the braai fire were started.

Sunday morning the hikers were all refreshed, coffee and rusks were enjoyed and the packing up process started slowly, no one quite ready to leave the tranquility of UmKhamba.

‘n Baie groot dankie aan Boshof en Rika Davel vir al hulle moeite om die roete vir ons te merk, die gras te sny, en die bly plek so mooi te versorg. Ons het dit alles baie waardeer. Ook baie dankie Boshof en Christo dat julle die groep uit ge putte stappers kom haal het. Julle is baie besonder se mense.

There won’t be a hike in April but the next hike will be in May to Queen Rose backpack trail near Badplaas. For further details please contact Cathy.