The fabulous 'Halfmens' of the Garoep Nature Reserve

The end of my first day, quietly in the lounge here at Klein Pella on the Orange River, just having had some blister management and content to have done the first 31km leg.

On the path to Garoep

We drove from Springbok to the nearby Garoep Nature Reserve to walk among the carpets of wild flowers, swathes of orange, yellow, purple and white. We passed herds of Gemsbok, Zebra and Springbok while the baboons were barking from the hills. The perspective as a walker is so different to being in a car. What a privilege. We were well taken care of by Frik and Jaco all day too.

By midday the temperature was about 23 degrees with no wind, walking on the sandy tourist route, it was very challenging at that point. My feet took some damage, a few blisters from the irritation caused by sand, heat and friction.

Apart from the sheer pleasure of the flowers I just loved meeting my first 'Halfmens', the Pachypodium Namaquanum, it has a very narrow distribution here in the Northern Cape.

Fred is enthralled with the spectacle of the flowers, he would stop, take a few photos and then run to catch up with me, as I quietly put one foot in front of the next - his energy is remarkable.

• Walking log: 16th August

The walk was in 3 parts.

9km along the access road into the Nature Reserve. Tar road. I liked the warm up exercises that we
did in the fresh Namaqualand morning air before heading off. Walked well.

14km walk along the tourist loop in the Garoep Nature Reserve. Felt fine heading off after our quick 'safari style' rest for iced tea. But it got hard going, soft sand and very hot. Felt shattered when I walked into the toilet block, put my head under water and breathed deeply. Feet were burning and a few little blisters started up.
Good rest, feet up against a wall yoga style, crackers cheese, pate and an egg and was ready for the last leg.

8km return walk out of the Reserve. Held up fine.

I am of an age with the women on the walk, but they out stride me and I fall a few minutes behind them on each leg. I an missing my 'bubble' of just the two of us walking, but need to do my own walk each day.

Ultra Walk progress: 31km of the 301km

Fred's wonderful photos from our first outing in Garoep Nature Reserve