10th Birthday Celebration - 1st to 4th May 2008 At 1.15am the alarm went off and soon we were in the Hilux and were on the way to meet Andy and Janine at 2am. The morning was cool and were surprised to see so many people still partying. Dawn started to break and while the sun started chasing away the darkness we were approaching Beaufort West. Clive and Linda, George and Susan and Frans and Lyn had all stayed over at the Karoo National Park and would join us later. I stopped for diesel and we were soon approaching Colesburg and a few kilometers further the turn off for the Gariep Dam. I had not been at the resort for almost 26 years and once we had signed in we found the luxury campsites. A few folks had already arrived and were sorted.... we quickly set up camp. The wind was freezing, but many hands made light work and the tent was up and we were unpacked. By nightfall the rest of the folks had arrived and the final tally was just over ninety people. Thursday evening everyone was tired and so it was off to bed. Early Friday morning I was woken to little Michaela sing songs and the day looked promising. At 10am we met Hanzel for a tour of the dam wall and it soon felt like we had walked everyone of the 2000 steps inside the wall. We descended into the bowels and soon were on ground level following the outside footprint of the wall. Then down to the original river bed and up the stairs again. The tour was great and very interesting. A short drive found us back at camp and while I set out the GPS challenge for Saturday morning Alan, Charmaine and Tamsin organised Kaskanades for the kids (and adults). On my return the crowed wanted a challenge between Gauteng and Cape Town or rather Alan against Greg and hey I won! Then it was a potjiekos competition and Clive (chef), Alan and Greg with and entourage tasted and scored the Potjiekos. Jono came first, Morne second and Natalie and Charmaine third. We got everyone together for a short speech, champaigne to celebrate the ten years. Alan presented Greg with a great book on Africa from the Gauteng branch. Soon we were in dream land....only to be woken by RAIN. On Saturday morning the GPS event and geocache got off to a good start in the rain and by 2pm most of the participants were back. Points were tallied but the rest of the afternoon was spent watching rugby or visiting the local game reserve. Saturday evening was potbrood evening and then the heavens opened. The breads were devoured by the makers are with the rain Alan and Greg decided to put the event on hold. The last few people braved the rain and soon the weather got the best of them and they were also off to bed. Then the lightening and thunder started. I remember that at about 3am thunder roared around the tent, or so it seemed and from then on the thunder was relentless. At 6am the rain stopped and everyone packed in haste. By 9am the camp was deserted and the folks were on their way home to Cape Town and Gauteng. We had an awesome time and in three years when the Gauteng Club turns ten we will do this again. Thanks to all of those who attended and especially to Alan for co-organising the event. Thanks to our sponsors who organised some really amazing prizes, Bridgestone, Aroma, Outdoor Warehouse, 1st Alignment Centre, Eco Trailers, Kauai, Karsten for the Port he donated and both Clubs for donations. See you at the next one. Greg