Day 31 – The Princess Margaret Walk

40 days – 40 hikes – Walking 4 Education

Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

We had overnighted at the camp and so our walk began at about 10am with a lovely crowd including quite a few of the children. We headed down to the old jeep track and walked along it until we almost reached the neighbour’s fence.

We then headed uphill on a newly burnt tracer. The tracers form the edges of the firebreaks and are normally burnt off in the Autumn before it gets too dry. Once the grasses have frosted and are very dry then the break is burnt between 2 tracers. This tracer zagged up the hill and normally there would be the most wonderful view of the main escarpment. Colder weather and low cloud restricted the view but it was great to be out.

Just as we entered the Forest before heading on the Jackal Hill contour we found the rock which has ‘Princess Margaret Walk’ engraved on it. This was done by William Charlmers who did the rock carving of the Silent Woman and probably around the time of the Royal visit to the Natal National Park in 1947.

We then walked along Jackal Hill where the path meanders on a lovely easy contour through a few forests and grasslands before returning to the camp. The kids and most of the adults then choose to drive home. Daph, Dave and I continued along Bushbuck Ridge and back to the Cavern in time for the Sunday Braai!

Update

Below is an update of the progress so far…