Another round of thanks (and a sigh of relief) since the target was passed today. Targets of course, are there not to be met, but to be exceeded, so if anyone new would care to join the happy throng helping me to help others, it's not too late to donate; there's a link in George's message at the head of the thread.

All that's required now is for me to drag my tired old frame across the Cedarbergs and return in one piece...

Many thanks again to my noble supporters,

Ron

OK, GG,

After checking in at 03:00 hours on Saturday morning, we depart Heathrow at 05:00, (though since I'm starting from Scotland, I'll actually be leaving here Thurs and overnighting in Leamington Spa before proceeding to the Airport on Fri eve).

We fly first to Amsterdam, then transfer onto the 11hr flight to Cape Town before being jeeped into the Wilderness - a further 3.5 hours. The thought of this alone is enough to make me feel exhausted before I even start!

I'll continue the route tomorrow, but could I just thank everyone who has sponsored me so far for their help again? Several new names have appeared on the list on the page you've quoted in your first post over the past couple of days, and it will remain open until the end of the trek at least.

I'll check our route in the morning, but we are definitely scheduled to visit the arch, top right, and the formation known as the Maltese Cross, bottom right, at some point, and I have a rather nasty suspicion that this combination entails traversing that steep high ravine visible behind the latter.

( So I have the distinct feeling it may not be just the model Ron who'll require pushing around with things on the end of sticks... )

Indeed it will, t-p.

If you have a debit or credit card you can donate online at

http://justgiving.com/SimonTaylorCPW

(Where you'll get to see an awful picture of the real "Ron" at the end of his last trek, in Peru, about eighteen months ago. Other people have with the euro as currency have already managed; I think if you put amount in in pounds, it will take the equivalent amount in whatever currency you're using. If you don't want people to see your real name, you can use your board name for the page; if you look at it, you'll see that there are quite a few you'll recognise from here! (They'll need to know your real name for payment, though.) It takes a little while to do, but it's not difficult. Thank you.)

Ron

That's everything packed, unpacked and repacked again: some last minute decisions over what to take and leave behind, double-checking whether I'd remembered certain items, and making sure that stuff-sacks which have the various things in were in the right order, and that the small plastic boxes for medicines and lotions were all snapped shut. I've forgotten vitamin C tablets: but I can get those en route (the chances are we'll be drinking iodised water during the day, and the tablets are the best way of making it taste a wee bit better).
Determined to vote before I leave: apart from that and a bit of button sewing everything's been done.

Once again, grateful thanks to those who are supporting me,

Ron

Go Ron!

Have a great trip. See you soon.

Certainly with you there - when I'm out for a reasonably serious walk (not in your league of course) I very much want to have my ears open! Did lots of jet-lag walks around Melbourne when I last arrived there - would have been a crime to block out that sound, especially the birds waking up...


As long as it's not the knees you cross I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm not so young I haven't had the experience of seeing youngsters who underestimated a task fall by the wayside while wiser heads were able to press on regardless.

Ron,

It's very exciting! I hope you have a wonderful trip/trek.

Whatever happens, I have already metaphorically placed red underpants on the outside of your trousers and you certainly deserve a good outcome from it.

We will look after your beautiful trees for you while you are away.

Best wishes,

Daniel