Gratitude

Africaland-Phaladingwe

It feels fabtastic to have a chance to be able to connect with nature through hiking. The places I get to see and the ones I am yet to see; exciting. I am grateful that I can hike and discovered it as a hobby, it is fulfilling.

Africaland is situated in the North- West Province, Hartbeespoort, the hike is just short of 8km, it’s moderately intense and offers spectacular views of the beautiful river, awesome camping sites and surrounding mountains. They offer outdoor activities such as river rafting, camping, abseiling to name a few. It only takes 40 minutes from North of Johannesburg to get to this gorgeous wilderness escape. As you drive into the property, you immediately see beautiful NECSA building (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation). I’ve been to this place before, if you follow my blog, you will remember this is the place, I “survived” the jackal😆. I didn’t get to see my friend(jackal) this time, so I was safe.

Before I talk about the best experience gained from this hike, I need to tell you about this place me and Pumza discovered that sells awesome fat cakes. It is at a garage along the route we use to get to Hartbeespoort. It is now our favorite place to get fat cakes from. Let me tell you, those fat cakes are the real deal. We ‘starve’ ourselves a day before so that we can eat them for breakfast while on our way to our hike. Listen, I speak about these fat cakes to Pumza a night before and I salivate, Pumza says I am corrupting her 😂. She has given up on fighting the craving, she is officially corrupt. This experience (the fat cakes experience) made me realize how even smallest of small things can just bring joy to one’s day. I love the fact that when I go hike, it’s never about the actual hike only, the whole experience just bring joy to me. Who knew looking forward to eating fat cakes can be such fun?

What a treat this hike was, a longtime friend of mine and Pumza was in town. She now lives in KwaZulu Natal, we decided it will be nice to take her for a hike to catch up. She loves nature and outdoors, this was a perfect treat for her. She was very impressed with the location as she’s never been before. While we were walking and catching up, Pumza was trying to convince me to think about climbing Kilimanjaro. I laughed at her and told her that my other friend has been trying to convince me and it’s not going to work. Some things are torture, for me climbing Kilimanjaro is one of those things. Different strokes for different folks. I gave her the same answer I gave my other friend; imagine that someone(potter) must carry portable toilet for me, Eeewww that’s not fair, it’s a NO. So, she said to me, out of all things I could think of, I am thinking about the portable toilet? She continued to say, you do know it’s their job, if they don’t do that, they won’t have the job right? I said I don’t care I am not doing it. She said she is not done convincing me, we shall see. The gratitude I had after this hike was overwhelming. I appreciated the quality time spent with my friends and the love, it made me realize that truly best things in life are free.

I am thankful for my feet, my legs, my lungs and my body for that they able to carry me to climb mountains.

Until next time Fabtastic people

Moira