RI7ER JOURNAL POSTS

The Pure Orange Expedition Journal - Hmmmmmmmm!

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Upington has been walks down to the bridge to see if the level painted on the bridge pillar is at 3 and a quarter yet; on the telephone sourcing river info; coffee shop; laps in the pool; giving my website  much needed attention; massage sessions for the shoulder blades; chacos getting remodelled to African specifications; and daily drifting into a haze at about 3 pm when the heat of the day turns everybody into zombies (except the ‘larnies’ with the aircon in homes/cars and offices).

... not exactly like spooning with your climbing partner up at Camp 5 at -40 degrees with a blizzard threatening to blast you off a 2000 m high wall as you wait out a 6 day storm, for the final push to the summit of a Himalayan giant ...

 My current location may not be as hard core - the body is happy with the slow down in pace, but the mind still has to stay strong as the river conditions ahead stay the same. There will be my fair share of lugging gear, rappels and getting grilled by the sun; entering an area of exposure to high temperatures; committing decisions; and vistas that few have seen. For me, it will be a unique and challenging experience. There is also a further quarter of my journey that still needs my attention .

The water level as at 10 am on the 9th March is 980 cumecs. The river is now shunting and holding steady. Am well glad I am here in Upington and not inside or at the entrance of the gorge.  Nothing like a ‘tight thundering curry klap’ at possibly the toughest section of river. This means my original descent plans must change. Wakey! Wakey!

   When water levels are appropriate:

 Task 1 - To arrive at the gorge. Which is a tricky section in itself - 120 kms of reed channels through cultivated islands. The man-made canals, low level bridges and weirs that inter-connect the islands are currently collecting tons of river debris resulting in some nasty features being created .

Task 2  - Set up a camp at the entrance to the gorge with 2 days to recce a new route in.  

Task 3 - Collect my rope and spend 2 days moving gear into the gorge.

Task 4 - 3 days to paddle/portage/photo/video/live it!

 Plan X if river is in flood - am just gonna have to suck it up ... do the BiG portage around the whole gorge (that sound like fun?).

 F ----- n, bring it on.