Letseng 4 X 4 - Lesotho - 9 - 11 Nov 2018

Hair Raising Hairpin Bends

The long awaited 4 X 4 trip is here.

Richard is like really excited about this.

We Crossed This River Many Times

Firstly the running boards had to come off the Toyota and guess what? With a workshop full of tools and gadgets, there is no 12 mm socket in any of the sets. Not that they are missing. They just don't come with a 12 mm socket. It was then off to the hardware but at last the running boards were off.

Road Block

Looking Back At Our Track

Friday morning we left at about 8 am and reached the border at Caledonspoort border post. Quick and easy. Nothing required even though we had everything in order. Triangles, Fire extinguisher, NATIS documents. Bet if we did not have them, we would be asked for them.

The drive to the Oxbow Lodge is only about 75 km but we traveled through these tiny villages and had to be very careful of their cattle and sheep next to the road. The hairpin bends are plenty so it was a slow process into the mountains.

Basotho Herdsman

The Oxbow Lodge has no electricity so a generator is used from 5 - 10 in the morning and then in the evening again. The water is warmed by an enormous donkey boiler but we were never without hot water. It was amazing to see so many people accommodated with no electricity - they were not even aware of it. Also no MTN and only Lesotho

Afriski - 3225m Above Sea Level

Vodacom. It was heaven with no phone the entire weekend.

Saturday morning we set off on the A1 and just past the Letseng
Diamond Mine we turned into the mountains. A quick recap on when to use H4 and L4 and we were set.

A Village Deep In The Mountains

Oxbow Lodge

An exciting day of driving on the edge of the mountain to traversing the river time and again. Something we will always remember as part of the bucket list.

Bring on the next trip.

August to November 2018 - Clay Target Shooting Season

Ruresta Guesthouse

This has been a whorl wind three months of shooting and even though we have a super time it makes me very grateful for my bed and I really appreciate our home.

25th & 26th August - Free State Standards - We stayed at the Ruresta Guest house which was very

Stablewood Lodge

comfy but Bloemfontein is cold so at night we had to snuggle up indoors. Richard shot well the first day but the wind is a big factor here and the next day the scores went out the window.

15 & 16 September - Northern Cape Standards - I always enjoy Errol and everyone at De Beers Gun Club. We stayed very close to the Shooting range this time - about 6km - at the Stablewood Lodge. Quaint, Comfortable. Richard shot really well both days.

Villa de Vie

6 & 7 October - Western Cape Standards - We left a few days early so that we could get some training from Coenie. On the way down we stayed at the Grand Hotel in Laingsburg where we also had breakfast. We had an apartment all to ourselves at Villa de Vie. Lovely. That evening we felt the
consequences of a "green" breakfast. We spent the rest of our week on the loo and over the basin. Richard did not even shoot on the Sunday and by then I was a bit better and could drive as far as Beaufort West. We did have one good evening when we went to an Indian Restaurant in Durbanville with Frank Crane. It is one hell of a trip by car and we are seriously not going to drive down again.

Al Thandiwe

27 & 28 October - Limpopo Standards - Our accommodation this weekend was the Loanely Oaks Hotel which I don't really like but it is convenient with the guns. We both had brilliant shooting
scores, lovely weather, good company at dinner time with James, Brendon and Alberico in the evenings. On our way back on the Monday we stopped in Nylstroom which is now Modimolle and visited with Loggie and Ada. Ada of course did loads of cake and we were sorry that we did not have more time with them.

3 &  4 November - Maccauw Compak - Our hosts at Cape Tuscan could not do enough for us from

Cape Tuscan Guest House

the moment that we arrived. Beautiful linen that was changed each day and a scrumptious breakfast each morning. The shooting on the other habd was another kettle of fish. We arrived to beautiful weather on the Friday. On Saturday morning the wind gathered up and by Sunday afternoon it was gale force. Some shooters did not finish the shoot which must have been the most difficult Compak we have ever seen. Maccauw shooting has never been good for us

Hungary - 22 July - 4 August 2018

Grand Jules Hotel

Budapest was everything we wanted to experience.

We stayed on the Grand Jules Hotel on the Danube River and would sit on the deck in the evening and watch all the lights along the river light up and the boats go by.

The City Market

We visited the local market and bought the genuine paprika and just wandered round the streets enjoying a coffee or a meal.

The Hungarians do not really want to trade in euros so we would sometimes have to change out a Euro for a Hungarian Forint from locals just to buy an ice cream.

The Chain Bridge

The food is great - even at the street cafes where we would enjoy a salmon steak with salad each -
beer and wine, for under R200

The last evening we fine dined at the Trofea Restaurant and had so many courses of their traditional dishes we could hardly walk home. Even this meal with all our drinks included was less than R400.

Parliament Building

It is beautiful and simple and also very cheap in comparison to the other European countries such as Italy and France.

I again loved every minute of the trip - but then again I love Europe.

Hungary - 22 July - 4 August 2018

No 142

Four days of Wold Cup shooting are done and dusted.

This is so tough on shooters to sit and wait all day to shoot fifty clays. It takes it's toll. I have loved

On The Range

watching Richard shoot even though he is not satisfied with his performance. Back home we will have his eyes sorted so that he can shoot his old scores again.

Today (Monday) we pack up and will be off to Budapest to take in some sights, wind down and enjoy the Hungarian food and wine. I am really looking forward to that.

It's now time to relax. Forget about shooting - not that we ever really do - and wind down.

Hungary - 22 July - 4 August 2018

The Bokke At The Opening

A good evening and a Good day Shooting.

Old Friends- Orazio & Richard

We had to drive the 45 minute trip back to Sarlospuszta Club Hotel for the opening ceremony after practice yesterday.

The teams march up to the podiums and the opening ceremony was very short this year. 

A buffet supper was served in a room that could have been a sauna and it was back home again for a good nights rest - ready for the competition.

Ready To Start

Richard was quiet restful and calm on the outside this morning but I know he is burning inside.

Range four at 11.55 produced a 22 (dropped two in the last five)

Range 1 at 15.22 was another 22 (dropped two in the last five again)

He is chuffed with his shooting and his scores. Well done Richard

                                            *******************************************

Richard & Jared

The Oldest and the Youngest South Africans shooting at the World Cup in Hungary.

To Richard - Break loads of clays over the next four days - I love to watch you shoot.

To Jared - Good luck, break clays and enjoy the next four days - and 50 years down the line when you are attending a World Shoot and a junior stands next to you, remember this moment, it is very special.

And by the way - Jared shot a 25 straight at his very first World Cup on his very first stage

Hungary - 22 July - 4 August 2018

Us on Emirates

Our trip started off with a hiccup - It was my understanding that the usual requirements were all that were needed on Emirates Airlines and on Friday it was brought to my attention that the firearm had to be registered on line. It was weekend and so we sat on hot coals all weekend waiting for the authorization to come through. I had another ticket booked on Qatar Airlines just in case. What a nightmare it was. At last six hours before we flew we received the email.

Emirates was not my best friend at that moment but that soon all changed as our journey commenced.

We flew in a new Airbus 380 - brand new - with loads of leg space - lovely flight crew - real knives and forks!!!!

Our Home In Kiskun Vendeghaz

We went straight to our accommodation where we had to try and communicate with a gent that does not know one word of English but never stopped talking.

We both just died the first night.

First day practice was so-so but second day looked real good.

Tonight is the opening and tomorrow we start - holding thumbs for you Richard.

World English Sporting Champs in Churchill

23 June 2018 - 5 July 2018

The Bokke in UK

It was freezing cold back home in South Africa so it was with some joy that we went off to one of the hottest summers the UK has had in a long while.

Not For Lack Of Trying

We are shooting at EJ Churchill which is an estate in Buckinghamshire

I will not say much about the shoot as we experienced clays that we had never seen before. The South Africans were devastated with their scores the first day but after that we just

Guess Who?

took it as it came and had a wonderful time.

We stayed at Garden View Apartment during the shoot and then spent two days with Clint and his family.

Had loads of excitement at Addis Airport and were most impressed by Ethiopian Airways for the way they treated us in the middle of the night in the middle of Africa.

Love being back home again, even though we are freezing.

Northern Cape Standard Champs - Kimberley

Mein Heim

It's that time of the year when the Clay Target Shooting is in full swing.

We missed the Free State standard Champs as we only arrived back from Megeve that weekend but here we are in Kimberley ready to break some clays.

The weather is extremely hot and the wind is blowing us away
We are staying at the Mein Heim Guest Farm which is quiet and restful and just what we need.

It was lovely with lovely hosts

France - Combloux

Mont Blanc From Our Apartment

At The Foot Hills Of Mont Blanc

A week of competition has come and gone.
Richard really battled but I am so proud of him and from here he can only do better. It was 20 years since his last international competition so now he has a taste for it again.

The Mountain Lake

We have moved from Megeve to Combloux where we have this apartment that looks onto Mont Blanc.
It is a mountain with a personality that changes every half hour. It is
one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.
We haven't been eating out much as our exchange is still dreadful but as we have a kitchen we have really good meals.

Combloux

We can buy salmon do die for and the fruit and veg are good.

My French Connection

We sit around like the locals doing the good food and good wine.
We have been to Mont Blanc and drove the 11 km tunnel to Italy and today we visited the first man made mountain lake.
Love the life style. So relaxed in the country.

France - Megeve

I can't believe we have been here in the south east of France for more than a week now.
We started off very organized.
Richard did all his practices and was shooting really good scores - 24s and 25s.
We had packed and when we Ubered to the Airport at OR Tambo we were quite relaxed. No last minutes fusses.
The shotgun went through with no hassle and it even helped us get to the front of the queue at the check in and off we

went.
We had fabulous seats but a two hour delay in the plane in Johannesburg.
Off to Abu Dhabi  and a quick change over to Geneva.
Then it started - the shotgun came through fine but our luggage was at Abu Dhabi.
Richard could not put in any practice as he had no kit, no glasses. Not a good start. For two days we just made do

with what we had as hand luggage.
First day of competition was an uphill for Richard and that put him way back.
We stayed in a beautiful chalet in Megeve with all the comforts of home.
Each day we would take the road winding to the top of the mountain in Megeve to the Ball Trap Club which was breath taking each time we drove.

Leopard's Lair - Middelburg

What I Remember

For a very long time I did not want to return to the Farm but I am past that and a while back we decided to take Christoffel up on his invitation.

The whole week I was excited as a kid to get to the weekend.

That Early Morning Quiet

Friday morning we packed, hooked up the quads and took a leisurely drive out. We took in the scenery and the new developments along the way. A new garage here and a house done up there, but the memories that we have are all good ones and slowly the familiar drifted back.

That BIG Pig

Friday afternoon Dirk, Harry and Richard went off to hunt and not even an hour later they were back with the bounty. A warthog when skinned and gutted of over 50 kg. Smiles on their faces and talk of how it stood and where it was hit. That's what Richard was looking to do for a very long time.

We had supper at the main house with a fire going, good wine and even better conversation.

The Impala

Saturday I was up before the crack of dawn. I could get to my quiet time and sit in the perfect spot waiting for the sun to appear on the horizon. What a beautiful sight.

We spend the day going back on to our old farm. We went through the first gate, took the center road and when we reached the second gate there was some trepidation. Should we or shouldn't we? I am not sure what that feeling was but we decided to go further.

Happy Chappies

I am so pleased we did. The farm is very run down - weed have taken over the pathways,fittings have been removed, ceilings have been damaged - but I did realize that my joy lies in where I am now and I have only happy memories that I have taken from the farm.

Richard and Harry went off to shoot an Impala in the afternoon, so we are now well stocked with biltong for quite some time.

Everything about this weekend was absolutely perfect.

South African National Champs In Paarl

Nelson Wine Farm

How we love the Cape - especially Paarl.

Richard is on point with his shooting and we are staying at Nelson Wine Farm not too far from the shooting range.

It is quiet and not a sole to disturb us.

We went out to Franschoek with Orazio and Val for lunch and then found a local place near our accommodation where the chef was a Harley rider but has since been banned by a wife, Now he cooks but still has his Harley bandanna.

Shooting was good with Richard winning his section.

I was first lad on day one but that soon fizzled to third position on day two.

We Left a day early and got a refund because there was a wedding and the drinking started in the morning and we were not going to wait for the evening celebrations.

Loved it all. 

Will be back next year