BERGFREE ADVENTURES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 225 19 May 2015 Amber Walkers Fort Nottingham Common Fort Nottingham KZN Midlands 5 May 2015 How time flies, it is just 3 years ago in May 2012 that we did this same walk at Fort Nottingham Common. May is a good time of the year to get a good view of the Drakensberg before the winter sets in , and farmers start to burn their winter fire breaks. Then the haze in the sky obscures the view of the Drakensberg from early morning onwards. Our meeting place at Fort Nottingham was at Els Amics Restaurant, where Roy met us again, but as he was busy, he had organized for Warwick, a friend of his to accompany us for the day, thanks very much to Warwick for being with us for the day. Warwick guided us up a steep, very rugged road to near the top of the Fort Nottingham Common hill, where we left the cars, and set out on foot for the rest of the day. The hill has a long flattish crest, and by wandering this way and that, we were able to see great vista of the hills and valleys, going up to the Drakensberg to our West, including the famous Kamberg Hill. Then looking East and everywhere else, great views of the Natal Midlands farming area were to be had. Blue patches of water for irrigation dams, Green patches of irrigated winter fodder for the numerous dairies in the area, and the browning of the winter veld gave an ever changing colour splash. Beef cows on the veld over which we walked added more colour to the scenery. The new Spring Grove Dam was a new addition to the scenery about us. This is a new dam that will add more water to the Midmar Dam near Howick , which servers the area down to Durban with water. Tea was taken on a pretty rocky hill. Walking slowly on , till we came to a high cliff face, where like Dassie’s on a rock , we had lunch. After lunch, it was a slow wending of our way back to the cars. The path seemed to wind and bend this way and that, the many valleys that cut the hillside, forced a very tortuous path back to get “just over there” to our cars. On the way we walked through a great field of densely growing, vibrant yellow flowers Euryops tysoni , which added a brilliant vibe to the area. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Back at the cars, a herd of cows were waiting for us to see if we had had any problems at all. A few minutes later, the “last of the first” walkers came in , and soon we were on our way home. A great day out in the open. Thanks to Roy and Warwick for their effort and trouble. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For walkers in mountains or farmlands this next short while, be aware of veld fires as farmers start to burn their firebreaks. The fire may be under control, but a high wind change can suddenly change the scene from one of organized burning, to one of hectic counter burning. So be vigilant at all times. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For info on berg or other mountain hiking/walking, feel free to contact me at dave@bergfree.co.za Bergfree Adventures www.bergfree.co.za ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~