Bridge over Troubled Waters Makes Midlands Slackpacking Safer

Posted Mon, 17 Jan 2011 (16 months ago)

Following our previous feature on Slackpacking in the KZN Midlands , we received the following email and pics from John Hall of Pleasant Places ...

"With all the recent rains throughout the country and particularly right here, we have had to make a plan to cross the Lions River on one of our trails.

Normally we can step from rock to rock - no chance right now!

Attached are two pics of the plan we made - as they say, 'n Boer maak 'n plan*!

It is a very safe and sturdy bridge and is a good meter and a half above the fast flowing river.

Before the bridge was built...

We checked and are assured that the last time the river flooded in 1988 it did not get as high as the bank level on which the bridge rests.

Naturally we shall monitor the situation and not allow anyone to walk across the bridge if it is considered unsafe.

Sturdy bridge over troubled waters...

Establishment of the trails is well on track, but trail maintenance is a bit difficult with all the rain and subsequent growth that occurs on-going!

Hope you can get here one day to test-walk; Irene Young (Portfolio Collection assessor for KZN) is coming on Wednesday to walk the plank.

All the best for the New Year.

Kind regards,

John Hall"

Pleasant Places - "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance"

* Much-loved Afrikaans proverb meaning literally "A farmer makes a plan", also used by non-Afrikaans South Africans

4 Responses to Bridge over Troubled Waters Makes Midlands Slackpacking Safer

Hi Joy,

Thank you so much for this, am really looking forward to seeing John and Linda again also visiting Pleasant Places its a stunning spot, Will walk the bridge and swim in the river if its not too rough, we sure have had lots of rain.

Ciao Irene

By Irene KZN OFFICE (16 months ago)

The bridge looks just the job, pity I am too far away in Caledon to test it out. Pleasant Places sure makes a plan to accommodate its guests come ..... or high water.

By Verna Watton (16 months ago)

Having know John for many years, I know he is a man of many talents but never realised he had engineering skills too! Well done my friend and all the best to you, Linda and Plasant Places - the best B'n B in the Midlands, for 2011

By Graham White (16 months ago)

Resorts could also request that you just re-use your towels instead of having them laundered every single day.

By Travel Guide – Travel Agent (16 months ago)