The Garden Route Pilgrimage of Hope runs from Uniondale to the lighthouse in Mossel Bay, a distance of 274 km, covered over 14 days although shorter versions are available too. Highlights include beautiful Baines stone-packed roads, tucked away off the beaten track, Prince Alfred’s Pass, hidden hamlets in forgotten valleys and of course the grey-coloured vastness of Karoo scrub, ochre-coloured conglomerate koppies and magnificent mountains. Along with this, the renowned hospitality of the farming communitues on both sides of the Outeniqua mountains. Distances vary from 15-25 km per day. The last week brings one to the shoreline and its beauty, a soft place where one reflects on the gifts of the previous week, ending at the lighthouse in Mossel Bay.There are three options (same food for all three):
- Accommodation in guest houses with luggage transported.
- Sleeping in your sleeping bag in a church hall, in private homes or on farms. Luggage transported.
- Third option is that of a true pilgrim … the walker carries his/her own pack and sleeps in a sleeping bag on beds in guest houses or on farms; no linen or towels supplied and no luggage transport provided.
All options offer meals which consist of coffee and rusks for breakfast, harvest tables along the way or brunch parcels and an evening meal. If you are ready to step off the treadmill of life and gift yourself with a week or two to rediscover the wealth in simplicity and your very essence, pull on your walking shoes, put a “Gone walking” note on the door and just do it. For further info, WhatsApp Marlene Fouche at 078 677 6312 or Elsa Davids at 072 877 7798.
Last but not least, I walked as a funding initiative for Up with Downs in George and raised R13 000. Grateful thanks to all supporters!
