| | | | | Sept - Dec 2006 Magazine
Pioneer Trail Meeting Mabukuwene Nature Reserve Fridays 19:00 - 21:00 hrs
| Scout Leader Norman Scott Norman's Email address
|
With thanks to:- Editor, typist, distributor - Leon Wuyts
UNDER THE PSEUDOLACHNOSTYLIS MAPROUNEIFOLIA
Two Scouts of our Troop are currently representing us and also Zimbabwe at two prestigious
regional Scouting events as the year draws to a close. Assistant Patrol Leader Dylan Sandwith is
participating in the 2006-2007 Gordon Park Challenge, which is an eight day event being held in
the Matopos, whilst Patrol Leader Leon Wuyts is participating in the ten day Senior Scout
Cederberg Adventure in South Africa. Both events are High Adventure Scouting and I wish them
each a great experience. As these two events spill over into 2007, their reports will appear in the
January - April 2007 issue of Pioneer Trail.
The past four months have been a busy
period for the Troop, as we participated in
the Provincial William Arnold Carnegie
Assegai Competition, in which we took
fourth position. The Cookout competition
was once gain held in the grounds of
Milton Junior School, the Headmaster of
which we say Thank You to for allowing us
the use of this central venue for Bulawayo
Scouting. The Troop only entered two
teams, each winning their age groups, but
unfortunately the aggregate of their points
were not enough to win the trophy. Well
done for your efforts. At the awards
ceremony of the Cookout, Patrol Leader
Leon Wuyts was announced as the winner
of the Provincial Commissioner’s Hike
Project and was handed a cash prize. The
hike competition was run for the month of
August during which time Scouts competing had to hike at least 40 kilometres, sleep out for at
least three nights and write up a logbook. Well-done Leon for winning the competition.
At our Parent’s Camp held at Gordon Park on 14 - 15 October 2006, we welcomed Brendan
Judge, Dale van Aarde, Shaun Francis and Leam FitzPatrick into the Troop. Their investiture at
the campfire on the Skipper Knapman Training Ground was witnessed by a large gathering who
had come out to attend the candlelight memorial service for Fr Odilo. Welcome to the Troop,
chaps, and enjoy what Scouting will be offering you for the next eight years of your boyhood in
Scouting. Being invested on the Skipper Knapman Training Ground during the 70th Anniversary of
Gordon Park will be an experience to treasure for many years to come. Kieran FitzPatrick and
Dylan Sandwith were promoted to Assistant Patrol Leaders at the same campfire. Well done on
your promotions. You now have the opportunity of experiencing responsibility and helping your
Patrol members along the Scouting Trail.
The Troop participated in the International Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet
events (JOTA and JOTI), which this year was held in Bulawayo at the National University of
Science and Technology. Conditions were not very good for radio communication, resulting in
very few contacts. However, Leon was fortunate to be able to speak to Mr Evan Pedlar, a former
Scout of the 8th Hillside Troop, who now lives in Cape Town and who was hoping to be on the
Cederberg Adventure that Leon is attending.
Five members of the Troop attended the Annual General Meeting of the Matopo Conservation
Society. As members, we try and attend as many of the Society’s events as we can. Still as
popular as ever, all the monthly hikes were held despite the shortage and high cost of fuel and
trouble finding vehicles to get to and from the hike venues. Some night hiking was included on
two hikes, which provided us with another aspect of our experiences in the bush.
Our end of term Sausage Sizzle was a little different this term, as we held it at Mr and Mrs Gus
Vermaak’s home, where we were able to use their swimming pool in between cooking. Our
grateful thanks to the Vermaak’s - our circle of supporters continues to grow.
Ending off the normal programme for the year,
the Troop undertook duties at the Bulawayo
Theatre’s Pantomime production of Little Red
Riding Hood. As in the past, we enjoyed
ourselves in providing a community service to
the Theatre Club, who gives of their time and
talents in bringing joy to the people of
Bulawayo. Well done to the actors for a funfilled
two weeks of song, laughter and drama
in true pantomime imagination.
For the third consecutive year, the Troop
received a "goodie parcel" from our former
Scouts. This time the parcel of sweets,
badges and pens came from the Swannack
family who immigrated to Canada last year.
Arriving just in time for Christmas, the
presents were divided out during our duties at the pantomime. Our Thanks to Ian, Marguerite,
Edwin, John-C and Matthew for thinking of us again in sending the gifts.
And now, until the next time, it is back to my hammock beneath my Pseudolachnostylis
Maprouneifolia, with a floppy hat pulled over my eyes as I dream of a Blessed Christmas and a
action packed 2007 as Scouting celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
N. Scott
Scout Leader
Hike to Nkantola Battlefield
1st - 2nd September 2006
On a hot Friday afternoon Chayce, Kieran,
Chris, Leon, Norm and I met at Christ The
King at 5 o’clock. We left for Gordon Park.
There, we left the landie at the Lodge and
started our hike at the pump. We crossed
the Mtsheleli River to the road on the other
side. We followed the road for a while and
then went off into the bush. As it got dark we
went around a rock three times trying to find
a path, which we had already past three
times behind us. When we found it we
walked a little bit until we couldn’t see any
more so we decided to rest our eyes for the
night. In the morning, we found that the path
was left from where we were sleeping..
We followed the path up the mountain called
Kopilo gap, at the top of the mountain where
we were supposed to have slept
there was a cave with rock paintings
and a grain bin in. We called this
cave Kopilo Cave. Then we walked
along the plateau until it went down.
We entered the rural communal
lands. We had to go around a big
plot of farmland. At the corner of the
farmland we sat down for a rest.
When we started to eat, Norm
asked some rural people where the
path to Nkantola River was. Then
we followed the path that they told
us, and passed Tokwe School. We
carried on walking till I split up with
the other guys, and walked in the
donga next to the path. The donga
led straight to the Nkantola River.
We soon saw the plaque for the
Nkantola Battle, from the Matabele
Rebellion in 1896.
There we had tea, before turning around and heading for Shumba Shaba. It took us two hours to
get to Shumba, and soon after we walked back across the Mtsheleli River and had a nice cold
shower..
We stayed at GP for another day till we came home at 6 in the evening on Sunday. And that’s the
end of my hike.
Dylan Sandwith
Assistant Patrol Leader
William Arnold Carnegie Assegai Competition 15th - 17th September 2006
This year’s Assegai competition was run by
the head of Leader Training in Zimbabwe,
out at Gordon Park. Leon, Dylan, Peter,
Chris, Martin and Chayce took part. A large
number of Patrols entered the competition,
and the competition was stiff. We all did the
best we could at what we knew best, and we
all learnt a lot about Scouting and people in
general.
The tests were very varied, and included
pioneering, knotting, first aid, physical well
being, and teamwork. All the tests were
interesting and fun to do, and we all learnt
from them. It was sad that a large number of
the judges also had Troops in the
competition, as it should be unbiased. But
all in all, the competition came off as the
organisers intended it to.
Short Hike from Ififi and World’s View 6th - 7th October 2006
Oh no!! Once again, Christ The King Church was besieged by a horde of wriggling, screaming
young Scouts - ready and eager for this month’s hike. This month the young guys joining the
Troop, Dale, Brendan and Shaun were going to join us - their first hike. Besides them, Chayce,
Scott and Leon had decided to join Norm on this hike. Well come on, let’s get going!
Luckily for us, as you’ll see later, the 8th Hillside Cubs were in camp at Gordon Park, and we
managed to talk their Akela into giving us a lift to our hike start: Ififi. Strangely enough, this
October Hike is exactly the same hike as
last year’s October Hike, except there
wasn’t a Parent’s Camp on this weekend.
Anyway, after being dropped off at Ififi, we
sorted out where we were going to sleep
the night, and got a fire going. We had our
supper, chatted for a while around the fire,
and after a while, rolled up in our sleeping
bags, waiting for sleep to overtake us.
Which it did - eventually. The sun rose
much too early the next day, and a couple
of hours of "lie-in" were much sought after
by myself. But, alas, I did eventually have
to get up - the smell of breakfast finally
got me to sit up, though I didn’t get out of
my sleeping bag until I absolutely had to.
Ahh, the comforts of home..
Well, after being rudely expelled from my nest, I found we were about to set off - the hike was
soon to begin. Oh dear - what’s that about "nipping over the mountain quick"? I didn’t like the
sound of that. But sadly, at an hour in which most normal people are sound asleep: 7:30, we
started off, to "nip" up and over the mountain.
Laboriously trundling up the near vertical slope,
we finally made it to the top, noticing along the
way the sharp decline in temperature, and
seeming lack of oxygen at such high altitude.
We plopped down, panting, and to hide our
exhaustion, we took some pictures and "admired
the view." I just wish I could have "rested my
eyelids" a bit more..
Not content with going down the way we had
come up, we instead went the other direction -
down the mountain, bundu-bashing downhill. At
the bottom, we got our bearings sorted, and
then set off towards World’s View.
The
temperature was cool, and the hiking easy. It
wasn’t long before we were climbing the plateau up to World’s View.
Here we visited the graves of Rhodes, Jameson
and Coghlan, and had a short rest down by the
Alan Wilson Memorial. It was still quite early in
the day though, and so we didn’t say for long.
Soon, we were off again, headed to Gordon
Park. This part of the hike was also very easy,
as we climbed slowly up the plateau between
the two sides of Circular Drive. As we were
walking, we startled a kudu, and it was amazing
to see how quickly it disappeared, blending in
with the surrounding bush.
Before tea-time, we were very close to Gordon
Park. We crossed the main road just down a bit
from White Rhino, which we visited for a few
minutes, before entering the Park through the
back entrance. Showers waiting for us when we got to the bottom, and tea and biscuits waiting
with the Cubs down at the Lodge drew our hike to a close.
Leon Wuyts
Patrol Leader
Parent’s Camp and Scout Memorial Service for Father Odilo Weeger 14th - 15th October 2006
I was rudely stirred from my midmorning daydreams by the arrival in Gordon Park of the Camp
Commissioner and two Scouts from the 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Troop. Oh, I groaned, for I had
been half expecting something to happen today. You understand it was a Friday, and to top it, it
was a Friday the 13th - you know the bad luck combination.
My first thought was to disappear into one of the many dark caves that abound in Gordon Park
and to pretend that the day did not exist. Piglets cave seemed a good choice. But, on second
thought I didn’t, because, well you see I was busting with curiosity as to why the Camp
Commissioner should have come to the Park today. And to have Leon and Dylan with him, as
they should have been at school. Bunking I guessed. So I hung around to see what their visit was
all about.
Well, after they had unpacked Ingulungundu, lit the fires - one in the stove for tea water and the
other under the hot water boiler - there was a frenzy of activity back and forth to the Chapel. Not
being in the best position to see what was going on in the Chapel, I moved to a vantage point on
Gordon Park Rock, and made myself comfortable in my deckchair - the one with the fading
canvas that blended in with the fallen leaves of a winter past, but enough green to tone with the
budding green of a coming summer. However, no floral design I may add.
I had no sooner settled down than the purr of a small generator interrupted the far carrying liquid
piping and bubbling notes of an African Golden Oriole and the whistling call of a Black Eagle
soaring above. Soon the jarring sound of a rock drill rose above all sounds as work commenced
on the face of a large granite boulder to the
front and left of the Chapel area. At intervals
the ringing sound of a cold chisel took over
and I saw fragments of rock peeling off of the
boulder. The scrapping noise of shovels biting
into the gravel-laden earth joined the unnatural
sounds as the three interlopers to my kingdom
toiled away.
As the shadows began to lengthen the
workers began to tire, but not before the open
air chapel had taken on a new dimension.
There behind and to each side of the altar
stood two tall wooden pillars, along the sides
were more and down the steps leading away
or towards the chapel - depending on which
direction you were proceeding - were more
pillars. A raw, white scar marked the huge granite boulder. Then, all was quiet as night crept in.
faintly at first, then building up as the stars punctuated the darkening sky, the night sounds of
insects, animals and birds set up a
caconophy of sounds that only Africa
can produce. Thus the night watch
was announced. The still air hung
pregnant with the combined scents of
flowering trees, shrubs and plants in
all directions. The Chapel went to
sleep as an emancipated moon
bathed all in an ethereal light.
Dawn, Saturday morning. A perfect
day lay ahead. The three interlopers
had stayed the night and now set to
work early in the day. This time their
attention was concentrated on the
Skipper Knapman Training Ground.
Tables, benches, braaidrums and
lighting was set up around the
campfire circle. Yet another
transformation to my Kingdom. I wasn’t sure if I approved of all this, after all it is my Kingdom -
the trees, the animals, the birds - and now tables, benches..Oh dear!
Late morning witnessed more people arriving and by mid afternoon there was quite a sizeable
crowd, with tents popping up like mushrooms - the button variety - on the parade ground. A light
breeze ensured that the National, Scout Bureau and Gordon Park flags fluttered lazily from their
mastheads, adding colour to the sombre brown of the parade field.
The fires for the braai had been lit earlier, and as night closed in the camp fire flickered into life
and the lights hung high above the tables burst into light as the throb of the Park’s power
generator settled into a constant rhythm. The headquarter area looked like a fairyland with its
lights shining brightly. In no time, the tantalising aroma of roasting meat wafted on the evening
air, merry voices chattered. The evening’s activities had swung into full gear. What was
happening in my kingdom? I was soon to discover.
At 8:00 pm, the Chapel bells peeled out
their welcome and the tall pillars leading
up and into the chapel flickered into flame.
The huge candles lighting the way to the
service, which was about to begin. The
general hubbub of voices was replaced by
the strumming sounds of guitars and the
accompanying harmonious voices of the
signers calling all to hymn and pray. And
so the memorial service for father Odilo
Weeger began on Saturday 14 October,
what would have been his 94th birthday. A
candle light service in the depth of the
majestic Matopos. Gordon Park, the Heart
of Scouting. Baden-Powell territory of
1896, one hundred and ten years ago. A
mere coincidence?
Celebrating the Mass was Father Benno
Holtz and celebrating with him, Father
Kevin O’Doherty, Parish priest at Christ The King, Hillside. In addition to the giant candles around
the fringes of the Chapel, all present held their own personal candle, illuminating faces which
provided a breath-taking scene from my vantage point high up on Gordon Park Rock. The
readings were taken by Gordon Park Crew Member, Leon Wuyts and 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer)
Troop, Scout Kieran FitzPatrick. Father Kevin, with lighted candle in one hand stepped forward
and read the Gospel. The Homely was the blessing of the bronze plaque affixed to the granite
boulder earlier in the day. In his Homely, Father Benno spoke briefly of Father Odilo, his love of
people, the Matopos and the Scout Movement. Then he blessed the plaque, sprinkling it with holy
water, which incidentally, had been blessed by Father Odilo at the Easter service in April.
Mr John Sullivan, a close friend of father Odilo
and author of father’s biography, had the
honour of addressing the congregation,
speaking of father Odilo’s life, his missionary
work, Father as a man, and his impact on the
people of Bulawayo. Mass continued with the
Holy Eucharist. All in all a moving service
attended by 65 people of various religious
denominations and made more memorable by
the guitar group from Christ the King Church.
The giant candles burnt down to a glow as the
service drew to a close. Simultaneously a
waxing moon inched its way over the Tandale
range on the other side of the Mtsheleli valley,
silhouetting Gordon Park Rock looming over
the St George’s Chapel. A fitting climax to a
candle light service in the Matobo Hills, to
honour the work of a missionary priest, a Scout of the highest order. One could not miss the
message conveyed at that moment. The earthly life fading as the candles consumed themselves,
as Father had consumed himself in God’s service, whilst a new dawn awakening in the rising
moon. Surely God at work.
Quietly moving out of the chapel, some people headed back to Bulawayo, but a good number
gathered at the campfire, where yet another ceremony was about to take place. This I gathered
was part of the programme for the 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop’s Parent’s Camp. It is a
tradition in this Troop to conduct the investiture of new Scouts at the campfire, whilst the Scouts
are in camp. This was a special camp, which would make this investiture all the more memorable.
Although it was now 10:00 pm, the standard bearers were called to parade and then, one at a
time, the new Scouts, Brendan Judge, Dale van Aarde, Shaun Francis and Leam FitzPatrick
came forward to make their Scout Promise in front of all present. Mums and dads took an active
part in their investiture, so demonstrating that Scouting is a family commitment. The promotion of
Scouts Kieran FitzPatrick and Dylan Sandwith to the rank of Assistant Patrol Leaders of Cheetah
and Eagle Patrols respectively, concluded this solemn procedure. Those who had not yet had
their evening meal proceeded to cook their food. And so the merriment continued.
Nobody had yet noticed me in my deckchair, high up on the platform beneath Gordon Park Rock,
watching the
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Four new Scouts: Leam, Brendan, Shaun and Dale invetiture into the 1st Pioneer Bulawayo Scout Troop-2006
ceremony below with
deep nostalgia. How
Baden-Powell would
have been so proud
to see these young
men make their Scout
Promise with such
dedication in the very
hills that he had
practiced and honed
his scouting skills in a
century before. For
him it was a time of
hostilities, but now it
is a paradise of
peace, where boys
can grow into
manhood in complete
safety in this bush
and boulder land
where wild animals
roam freely.
It was past midnight when the last visitors returned to their tents or simply lay their sleeping bags
out under the stars. The Park was left once again to the animals of the night watch:
predominantly the leopard and the white rhino, the later leaving ample evidence of his patrolling.
Up at 5.00 am, the energetic few joined the Camp Commissioner on his Sunday ritual of climbing
Shumbashava. Breakfast was at 8.00 am, and then the clean up of tables, benches and all the
other equipment was attended to.
The last item on the Parent’s Camp programme was a few hours of abseiling, a favourite activity
of the Troop. Then after a late afternoon tea everybody headed for home. Fortunately, I
discovered, the weekend coincided with the school’s midterm break, hence the arrival of the party
of three on the Friday.
Four new Scouts: Leam, Brendan, Shaun and Dale
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Having witnessed such as eventful weekend of activities, the erroneous belief that Friday the 13th
is associated with bad luck is a sheer myth. However, I do need a rest after observing such an
active packed weekend. After all, moving my deckchair around is no easy task at my advanced
age. Now that my Kingdom has returned to normal I can set up my deckchair tomorrow in a cool
spot to regain my strength, and perhaps, err my sanity.
Well, until the next time we meet..
The Silent G.P. Observer
The Chiming Rocks and Maleme River 3rd - 4th November 2006
We met at Christ the King Church on Friday afternoon, and stopped at Retreat Shopping Centre
to get some food, and then we carried on to the Matopos. When we got to Gordon Park it was
about 6 o’clock. We checked our stuff and put it into the landie. We then picked up Mr and Mrs
Ross, who were staying at the Park over the weekend, and Norm drove us to Maleme Rest Camp
where we left the landie. Mr Ross then drove the landie to the start of our hike, close to
Whitewaters. We then started our night-hike, and we did 8 kms in 1 hour and 45 minutes!
At the end of this, we ate chips and
sweets for dinner, and then went to
check for water in a nearby stream,
which Norm wanted, to bath in, but the
water was too dirty. Then we talked a lot
while we changed and went to bed. The
lightning was bad while we slowly fell
asleep.
We got up at 5:30 and Norm and Leon
were still fast asleep! We never had
breakfast because we were too lazy! We
then went and threw stones for a while,
before playing with the two chiming
rocks, which make a noise when you hit
them with a stone.
We then started hiking at 6:10. We were
headed for Maleme Base Camp. We
hiked along the river, and decided to
have a swim in a pool. After we started hiking again, Brendan nearly stood on a snake, which
Norm thinks was a cobra. Then we rested a bit and Norm showed us where we were on the map.
We had hiked about 5 kms. It started raining - we all got wet until we eventually put on our
raincoats - except Leon, who was a very rugged pixie. The rain got harder and harder and some
of us got cold.
Then we had some oranges - they were nice and sweet, and feeling all juiced up we raced off at
a high speed. We were three kms from a road, which we were to cross eventually before
following a path over a hill, which led to the worker’s compound at Maleme Rest Camp.
There we got in the car and left for the Park.
We went bundu-bashing first though, and we
saw warthog, klipspringer, kudu, wildebeest,
duiker and impala. When we got to the Park
we slept for the rest of the day.
We stayed at the Park for the rest of the
weekend, and on Sunday we went through a
long tunnel on Everest with Norm, where we
went slipping and sliding all over the place,
because it was wet from the rain, and tore our
shorts!!
Dale van Aarde and Brendan Judge
Matopo Conservation Society’s AGM and Field Trip 19th November 2006
Dale, Dylan and myself met at nine o’clock at Retreat Shopping Centre, where we waited for
Barry to arrive and collect us for the field trip to the Matopos with the Matopo Conservation
Society. It was their AGM, which was to be at the Farmhouse on the Kezi Road. Barry arrived
and we climbed into his little truck. Off we went, along the way we saw some vultures eating a
dead cow on the side of the road.
When we arrived, every one was having tea outside, before the AGM started. Soon Norm and
Leon arrived from the Park. At the AGM, they discussed several things: the state of the National
Park, the status of World Heritage, and dealing with the Matobo Committee. Several changes to
the constitution were also ratified, all being passed unanimously. After the AGM, the lady in
charge of the Farmhouse gave a short talk on her company, and the work they do within the
National Park.
After the AGM meeting all the people went for a walk around the place to see if they could see
any animals and to look at the rest of the place: it was a very nice place but had no animals. We
had lunch and after which we all went to look at Bambata Cave. The road was not made for
Barry’s little truck but we made it to the car park area. It is a long walk to the cave: about 1
kilometre from the car park, the three of us went first and reached the top fairly soon and had a
good look around. When the rest of the people arrived, a man gave a talk about the cave and it’s
paintings, which was very interesting. We found out that the Bambata Cave paintings are the
second best in Africa, the best are in Egypt. I think the paintings are remarkable.
After leaving the cave we stopped off to GP to see Norm and Leon and have a nice hot cup of
tea, on the way we saw lots of game: Impala, Wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu and Baboons.
In all it was a very nice day and thanks to Barry for taking us out.
Christopher Mackenzie
Sausage Sizzle 24th November 2006
On Friday 24th November, the
troop went to the home of Mr &
Mrs. Vermaak, who are the
Uncle & Aunt of Patrol Leader,
Leon Wuyts of Eagle Patrol,
who had offered us the use of
their home for this term’s
Sausage Sizzle.
"Sausage sizzle" is a term used
for a very quick social braai for
the guys as the event is held
during the normal troop meeting
time. One is held each term.
Our Supporters are very good in
allowing the Troop the use of
different venues, making the event more exciting and interesting for the guys.
Norman & Leon went to the house before 7.00pm to organise the braai, while I collected the boys
from Mabukuwene in my trusted "little pick-up", my Ford Bantam. The ford is not as strong a
Norman’s Landie, but it did the trick. With 7 boys in the back and I in front, we set off for the
Vermaak’s house at 7.05pm.
On arrival, we met our hosts. Mr.
Vermaak, it seemed had gone to a lot of
work the week prior, cleaning out his pool,
so the boys could swim. He had also
planted fresh grass, so "instructions" were
given not to traipse soil into the nice clean
pool.
The boys had great fun however, diving
and splashing in the pool with great gusto.
Back flips and forward flips and side flips
and upside-down flips - all the while,
keeping an eye on their braaing sausages.
Along with the braai, our hosts had
supplied a nice pot of sadza & tasty gravy.
We ate, chatted and enjoyed ourselves
and before we knew it, we had run out of
time. Norman gathered up the boys and
we then thanked our hosts. I then took the boys home.
Unfortunately, my wife Vicky & I are leaving Zimbabwe for England at the end of January so I
know I won’t make the next "sausage sizzle", but the memories will remain. In the short time I
have assisted Norman and the boys I have enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Yours in Scouting,
Barry Duplock
Hiking Trio 1st - 2nd December 2006
The last monthly hike of the year was a
very fun one as there were only three of
us, namely Dale, Norm and myself.
Having left town at 5:05 pm, on time for a
change, we started our hike from Gordon
Park at 5:50 pm on Friday evening.
We hiked over the wall of Lake Scott,
across the main road to follow the
National Park Warden’s track north up the
Mtsheleli Valley. Just past a small dam
with very little water, we found the remains
of a wildebeest - inkonkoni.
It was now getting dark and so we made
our camp just outside the National Park by
IMadzi Mountain. During the night we
heard frogs and crickets making a noise and now and again gun shots from what Norm said was
the police training grounds at Cardross Park nearby.
Having had an interrupted sleep, because of the gunshots and mosquitoes and ticks pestering
me, we had our breakfast at 5:15 am - wow that was early for Norm!
Having had a look at the map, we headed off into the rising sun and scattered clouds. Our first
stop was at Mr Ngwenya’s house that we chatted with and asked directions to Gwangwazila
Kopje. The second stop was to watch one of the local farmers ploughing his fields. The oxen
were named Peck, Midge, Meg and oh dear I have forgotten the fourth. The farmer pointed to
Gwangwazila and off we went.
Sitting on top of Gwangwazila we could see for miles in all directions, even Mount Shumba
Shaba, the next main kopje on our route. We took three pictures, had some buns, jelly babies and
an apple. We then headed down the kopje for Shumba Shaba, about five kilometres away. This
time we met a man named Daniel who showed us a short cut over a small kopje, which saved us
about a kilometre of walking.
It was not long before we were enjoying paddling in the pools on top of Shumba Shaba where we
also found tadpoles and freshwater shrimp. Below us was Gordon Park. It was now getting hot so
we headed for Gordon Park and had an early lunch.
Our hike ended at 10:50 am, having walked 18½ kilometres. Super fun!!
Shaun Francis
Parting Thought:
"I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby
1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop
100 Years of World Scouting
One World - One Promise
Troop Programme of Activities for January to April 2007
January
1 - 4 G. P. Challenge (28 Dec. 2006 to 4 Jan. 2007)
5 - 6 Monthly Hike
9 Schools open
12 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
14 Gordon Park Service: 12:00 noon
19 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
26 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
27 Provincial Sports Day
February
2 - 3 Monthly Hike
9 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
10 - 11 Parent’s Camp
11 Gordon Park Service: 12:00 noon
16 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
23 - 25 B-P Camp: Gordon Park
25 B-P Day Service: Gordon Park: 12:00 noon
March
2 - 3 Monthly Hike
9 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
10 Boy Skills Course: Provincial HQ
11 Gordon Park Service: 12:00 noon
13 Africa Scout Day
16 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
23 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
24 Provincial Uniform Competition
30 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene: Sausage Sizzle
April
1 St. George’s Day Parade
6 - 9 Provincial Cub Scout Camp: Gordon Park
7 - 10 Easter
8 Gordon Park Service: 12:00 noon
12 Schools Close
13 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
18 - 22 P/L’s Camp: Gordon Park
27 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
Additional Activities may be added to the Programme
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