18th September 2008

The first stop out of Sani Top (my halfway mark) was summiting Thabana Ntlenyane (3482m), the highest peak in southern Africa. Although Larlie and I were getting restless by the time we left and our legs were itching to get moving, I had a strange feeling in my stomach. I was keen to get started going, though I was also nervous about the rest of the trip. To tell you the truth I think it was being around many people (tourists and non-tourists) telling me how brave I was and warning me of all the dangers etc. I guess it just made me nervous all over again. But as soon as my feet hit the path and I began to wind between the mountains, all my nerves were gone and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else!

Setting off for Thabana Ntlanyana, with Adolf and his two lovely licky dogs. If only he had offered one to me!

Lesotho had many marshlands in the highlands. it reminded me of western Tasmania, aaaahhh home

Thabana Ntlenyane (3482m) was apparently a 17km walk from Sani Top, but by the way Larlie and I bounded up the mountains that day, it seemed like a stroll. We were so fast in fact, that Larlie and I left the man who was accompanying us, and had apparently summited the mountain more times than he could count, in our dust. The 17km distance was the first time that I had a measured distance to reference all of my other walking to. The 17kms seemed a lot shorter than I expected and it made me really appreciate the distance which we had probably covered in those much much longer days which we had walked earlier in the journey.

The summit of the mountain was nothing too spectacular like scaling the Himalayas and it was a gradual climb rather than steep, but it did feel like we were on top of the world. The easy climb made it possible for Larlie to share in the summit also, which I was so glad about because we’re a true team. I had of course achieved so much already reaching my halfway mark at 400kms, but it seemed like adding to the achievement already was even more satisfying. AWESOME! The wind was howling so much at the top that in order to take a picture the camera had to be sheltered behind a pile of rocks, so the tripod wouldn’t blow over. The view from the top was, of course stunning; looking into South Africa below in the distance, I could see a sea of clouds. Lesotho on the other hand, was a cloudless, dry, dusty mass of rugged mountain peaks. Again I though, ‘aaahhh, I can’t believe I’m here, in Lesotho!’  I have been dreaming of Lesotho for so long, that sometimes I’m still surprised that I’m here and to add to it I’m walking around it with my beautiful horse – and friend - Larlie, even better!

Larlie and I taking 5 in the highlands

On top of Lesotho, and the highest person in southern Africa. Windy enough to fly that day, WHAT A FEELING.. AAAAHHHHH!!!!