May 27, 2025

To Pietown Road Alternate mile 4.8

Hiked today: 23.5 miles / 37.8 km

With another early start, we were greeted with a short sharp ascent, rewarded with lovely views from the ridge. Then it was a downhill stretch until we reached the beginning of the alternate track into Govinda Canyon. A short way along, we came across the place marked as a good water source. It took some hunting to find the cistern on the hill above an old shack. Then we had to lift the heavy iron lid and reach down to scoop up water.

First we filtered the coarse debris through a clean hanky, then we used the filter. The process took nearly an hour as we had to back flush the filter multiple times. We had breakfast at this spot and then moved on.

We were hoping to make a good number of miles as we hope tomorrow to get to a campground with facilities. There was a climb out of the Canyon and another as we rejoined the official trail. After that, we hurried along a steep descent, finally leaving the mountain for the lower flatter ground. We decided that, since the going was good, we would keep moving and stop for a late lunch when we reached the next water source. So it was after 3 pm that we stopped at a solar powered well to top up our water supply and eat some crackers and cheese for lunch.

According to the comments on the map app, there should have been flow from a pipe into the water tank. Unfortunately for us, the flow wasn’t happening, so with some ingenuity, Rob managed to attach a cup to the end of his hiking pole and scoop water out. Again, the process of filtering through a hanky, then the filter. Another hour taken up.

If only we had known, there was a water cache just another mile or two down the track where it met a road. Alongside it, a car was pulled up and we were offered an energy drink and a couple of chocolate Corinthians. A nice surprise of some unexpected trail magic!

We still had some energy to trudge up the dirt road along a few more miles before setting up camp. Not far down the road from our tent is the carcass of a dead cow. A bit further along is a stock pond where some deer are congregated. We’ve had our dinner, hung the food bag in a tree, and are ready for bed.