RI7ER JOURNAL POSTS

I hear men and women singing in the distance - makes me think that I will be hearing and seeing more people now as I go along.

The river was busy today with several ferry points and weirs. The A3 road ran close to the river on the second half of the day’s trip.

Gone are the blanketed people of the Lesotho Highlands, the western culture is more evident: in the clothes; brick houses with tin roofs; and a different lifestyle. Upriver, cultivation and herding are priorities. Other kinds of business flourish here. At Thabana Tsoana, shiny cars that run on the tarred A3 are parked outside the shop.

A delivery truck reverses up to the ferry boat delivering medical supplies - to be ferried across to a waiting Landcruiser with Tebellong Hospital emblazoned on its side.

The ferries are government boats leased to individual owners - a great system.

The wind howled this afternoon; a storm in the north sucking fresh air into itself. Got the edge of the storm, and had rain for about 45 minutes.

First rapid for the day - got out and scouted around - got the ticker going for sure - it was siphon city, but a pretty clear run on the right. Bit later, also ran a super cool weir down the fish chute in the middle - had two guests in my boat today!

Moved out of the awesome canyon I was in last night to rolling green hills flanked by peaks in the background.

Am thinking may make it to the confluence of the Senqunyane tomorrow, Paddled from 08h00 to six thirty pm today.