About 30 years have gone by since I last walked the sands of Oranjemund. I might have a chance to break away soon and visit my town of birth for 2-3 days... Now there's so much going through my mind - where should I go, what should I remember???
My main aim would be to "just be there", and yes, I know the house I was born in and grew up in wont be the same, my tree house (and tree) I hear is chopped down, etc... but dammit, I'm sure just being there, occupying the same space in the universe as 50 years ago would feed the soul and simple things will rock back some memories?
Simple things I would love to do:
- Walk in the desert North-west of the abbatoir where I spent most afternoons,
- The sea sand... feel it on my feet, and lie flat on my stomach and look at the tiny garnets and millions of gems hidden in the grains,
- Wriggle my feet in the mud on the river bank until you sink in to your ankles,
- Walk through the school yard, where the roses grew in front of my first classroom, and the pond was where the choir photo was taken, also the music rooms where I wrote many Unisa exams,
- Walk "the town" where we went to swim, watch movies, and had milk shakes.
- See if the "gangetjies" are still there where we stole lemons, naartjies, pomegranates, mullberries, quinces and leaves for the silk worms...
- Visit the space where the park used to be if it's not there any more, where the leaking tap always supplied us all year round with mosquito larvae for science projects,
- Hope to hear a jackal at night,
- Hope to see a gemsbok, and pick up some bokdrolletjies to shoot who-ever is close enough with your fingers...
- Oh man, there's so much...
What would you do to jolt back some memories? :ciupa1:
Bertie, I can sense your excitement....
You can also take a walk down to the dumps, well where the dumps use to be, down to the pan and even walk along the land bridge, this is awesome in the morning...... even if the mist is there, plenty of Gemsboks and birdlife...
You can also add climbing the big dunes to the east of the town to your list.....
In the old days you were not allowed into these two areas, but it now falls under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism;'s portfolio.
Walking down to the Orange River mouth like I do most friday morning's with Shadow.....
Here's a taste from my last walk this past Friday....
Wow, nou maak jy my lus, Mike!
I think that will be how I start my Sunday morning... walk down the river to the mouth.
Can't wait. Let's just hope my permit application is successful and not nailed to the lamp posts with a big "WANTED" sign...
Ria called me today to see if we had submitted your permits yet, this was done at the beginning of the week, so I shall let you know in a week's time..... but should'nt be an issue......
Thanks Mike, you're a star! It looks like I might be able to see my cuz Wynand in Luderitz as well. If all works out, it's going to be an amazing few days. I'm however not sure yet from which side I will be approaching the town... Alex / Aus... Hope that's not an issue, I think I mentioned on the permit that I'll be rowing in from the South...
I will be in Oranjemund again next month. Cant wait.
Were'nt you here about a year or two ago?