18th Blantyre Three Peaks Walk. 23 June 2002
'A torch may be
useful' was the advice given to participants. As the walkers headed down Soche
Mountain led by Martin Horrocks, we realised that it was bloody good advice, as
we nimbly (speak for yourself, Gordon — I was NUMbly by this stage — ed)
stepped around small boulders and tried to follow the fading light — yes, we
had just enough torches at the end of the day. The 16 walkers made it to
Zingwangwa and although we suffered some verbal abuse from 'well-wishers' on
the roads leading to Blantyre Sports Club we made it back in one piece.
Fifteen people had set
off at 5.10am earlier that same day, all in good spirits and happy to have Mike
Petzold back in the team. We walked like the clappers and apart from a little
hiccup caused by my good leadership in letting a few young 'uns lead the way,
we were on the summit of Michiru to glorious red glows and a great view. Tea
was served at 8.20 — only half an hour behind schedule. The 15 Michiru team:
Gordon Benbow, Hitesh Anadkat, Andy Jones, Julia Greig, Mohammed
Tayub, Akeel Hajat, Salman Issa, Bob Hancock, Frank Bell, Ryan Murphy, Edward
Borgstein, Vishal Patel, Bob Patel, Mike Petzold, Yvonne Robb (Meths
members italicised — ed).
With Martin and Miriam
doing a sterling back-up job, I took them on my short cut across and through
the lively villages to the Chileka Road. I really enjoy this part of the walk
because you see all the locals in a myriad of tasks: making bricks; selling wood;
anything you can think of. The people are very friendly at this time of day (they
get stroppy as the day warms up — ed) and it is a joy to say muli bwanji.
The walk across the
railway bridge was as hairy as ever with 'that gap' between the rails but we all
made it to the Johnstons' house where we waited longer than we should have for
some stragglers. I was wary about the next section because last year it had
caused us so many problems, cutting through the 'roads' to Ndirande gully and
then the problems on top fighting through the thorns. This time it worked
perfectly for the lead group. I took a bee-line to the 'road' (no car could do
it now) skirting the peak and cut back to the gully. The walk up the gully was
steep but with good holds and before long we huffed and puffed our way to the
top, young Ryan and Edward leading the way with the mountain man Salman Issa.
The 360° view from Ndirande really was superb and the route down was perfect —
we stayed to the right off the peak and found the path to Kamuzu view.
Lunch saw
clock-watching and at least an hour behind — and we were really walking fast.
No route problems on the steep track down to Hynde Dam and the weather was
perfect — overcast and not too warm. Verena Petzold and Martin/Miriam quenched
our thirsts once more, before the drag through Limbe and on to Soche Hill
Secondary School. At this point Martin took over the lead. Brian Lewis, one of
the foolish cycling three-peakers, took over the back-up. Verena joined the
team for the third and final peak. Soche Peak is becoming harder to find with
all the wood being cut down but Martin had done a fresh recce and kept us all
together. It was a great feeling to get up the rock on Soche, but with the
knowledge that darkness was fast approaching, we had to limit our time at the
top. Pity.
We made it back at
7.20pm — too long, I know, but everyone was safe and sound. Many thanks to the
back-up team. Next year, I might join the cyclists! Gordon Benbow
(At BSC, we were
just getting into our liquid post-mortem when ESCOM struck. The club was
plunged into inky blackness. But Verena had brought along a birthday cake
covered in candles. It was your editor's birthday .. and 12th TPW — if I'm mad
enough to do it again, it'll be 12½ — ed).
David (Shooting Stick)
Leishman pitched up on our doorstep, having driven all the way from Katima
Mulilo (2,000kms?) in Namibia for the Blantyre Three Peaks walk. He was three
days late, the event having taken place the previous Sunday. When I told him,
his language was unprintable — even for Meths! Mad Mike
Click here for an account of last year's meet.
©
WDYFO, 2002