Welcome to our blog. We hope you enjoy walking, riding and eating with us.
Wet …. and …. Dusty …. Roads
This is us – Berto & Corna from sunny South Africa
We love the Lord, we love each other, and we love being outside in nature. We believe in keeping things simple and having a positive outlook on life.
We’ve come a long way (literally and figuratively) and in the process made some big decisions.
Three hiking journeys that changed our outlook on life are:
- Camino Frances in Spain – 2017 (Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela – 729km)
- Portuguese Camino in Portugal and ending in Spain – 2018 (Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela – 620km)
- Tankwa Camino in South Africa – 2019 (Calvinia to Ceres in the Northern- & Western Cape Provinces – 256km). This Camino was more about having fun – which is another thing we love!
Lessons learned on the Camino:
Some days you will walk in sunny weather and on easy pathways surrounded by breathtaking scenery. It will be fun, and you will obviously enjoy these days. But there will also be the other less pleasant days. That is when it rains, the pathways will be muddy, and your feet will be tired and sore. Those days will not be so wonderful (trust me, I have experienced it firsthand).
So, what are we actually saying? That there will be many wonderful and enjoyable moments in your life, but there will also be those gloomy and miserable periods. But hey, that’s okay, because that’s just the way LIFE is!
What we need to remember is that at the end of each day we created wonderful opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime! It is in our hands to decide what we will do with these opportunities (whether good or bad).
- Experience it
- Enjoy it
- And learn from it
Who writes and who takes photos:
The photos on our blog are taken by both Berto and Corna, but more by Berto because he is comfortable with a camera in his hand while also carrying a heavy backpack. Corna is the one who dreams a bit, collects stories and therefore behind the pen (or the laptop).
Enjoy travelling with us and discovering new places – whether it’s on foot or by car (the long road trips and 4×4 journeys are the best) or even when we’re camping and making delicious meals. We’re glad you’re here 🌸.
Wet and Dusty Roads 
Kan nie wag om te begin lees nie!
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Ek hoop jy geniet dit!
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Ahaa, its fastidious dialogue regarding this paragraph at this place at this weblog, I have
read all that, so now me also commenting here.
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Thank you for taking the time to comment on our blog. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading about our experiences!
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Bertus en Corna, kan nie wag om alles te lees nie net so vinnig ‘n dag of 6 gelees, asof ek tree vir tree saamstap, Dankie!!
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Ahh Jackie, jy gaan hier teen die einde flou wees 😄
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Thank you for being a frequent visitor on my blog guys! 🙂
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We love reading about the Camino … thanks for sharing all these wonderful stories and memories on your blog!
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Appreciate it!
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Yes, we always have a choice about our attitude. I’m realizing that as I get older and grow even closer with the Lord, I trust Him so much more–and that is what makes it easier for me to praise Him no matter how I’m feeling or what the circumstances, situations are. He truly is GOOD ALL THE TIME, and He keeps His promise to never leave or forsake us. I’m so glad I’m His and He is mine! May He bless you so abundantly in this new year, 2021. ❤
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Hello there and thanks so much for dropping by my Sri Lankan pages and commenting.
I am not a religious man myself but I always fancied walking some or all of the Camino de Compostela just as a trip but unfortunately my health has taken a bit of a nosedive so I think it unlikely ever to happen now but I shall certainly enjoy seeing it through your eyes.
Sterkte (don’t you love translation sites!).
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😁 Yes, “sterkte” is a word we’ve often use on the Portuguese Camino! We’re certainly not done on your blog yet … see there’s many more stories that we will enjoy reading!
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This is such a great introduction! We love the Lord too. It’s really great reading your blog. 💕🌈
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Ahh, thank you so much Morag 💌. I can see from your blog that you must love the Lord, because of all the beautiful things you wrote … give me time, I’m going to read every post on your blog, because it is so enjoyable.
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😀💕🤗🌷
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There are so many wonderful things about long distance walking; the exhilaration of reaching the top of a climb; the wonderful views; the warm glow as you take that well earned evening beer and unwind from the day…not to mention taking a breather and just laying in the sun for a while. We will enjoy following you as you walk on future trails.
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We could not have said it more perfectly! Besides of the workout physically (which is of course a bonus), it is also the perfect opportunity to clear your mind and find peace within yourself … well, for us at least ☺️.
Thanks for following us – we hope to continue on more beautiful trails.
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Lovely blog site! Will follow. Cheers!
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Great, thank you guys! I am trying to follow you as well (but some glitch is coming up … WP is seeing whether they can solve this … would love to read and follow you guys!)
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Congrats for your walks!!! I was envisioning myself at some point, on one of these Caminos, but that’s a tough decision I guess. Not excluding the idea, I would love to do one, one day😊
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Thank you 😁. Those walks were definitely highlights in our travel journeys – such a challenge, but hugely rewarding. I really hope you get the opportunity one day – you won’t regret it 👣👣.
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Hi Corna and Berto
We so enjoyed meeting you on the Postberg hike, and wow,,,your blog is amazing.
Please whatsapp your contact details to Alan on ……, we would love to keep in touch.
Cheers, Nicola and Alan
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Hi you guys! Ah, it’s great to hear from you again – and it was nice meeting you as well! We’ve enjoyed spending time with you in nature (our favourite place 😄). Thanks for the compliment on our blog … and if I’m not mistaken, you are following us as well (that’s nice of you)! I have made contact with Alan – so, now we are connected … maybe we can do a hike together in future or just enjoying a braai with you! Take care, Corna & Berto
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It’s so good to meet you this way and hear/read about your travels.
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And I’m glad I discovered your blog as well 😊! Looking forward reading about your travels (and seeing your lovely photo’s). Greetings from South Africa, Corna.
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Thanks Corna!! It’s a great way to connect 🙂
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Nice to meet you!
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And nice to meet you as well Jo. I visited your blog and oh my, Portugal is a firm favourite with us!
I tried to post a comment on your blog, but not sure it went through … I sometimes get so fed up with myself and technology ☺️ … but if it didn’t went through, I just want to say that we have such fond memories of our time there when we walked the Portuguese Camino in 2018 from Lisbon to Santiago in Spain. I’m looking forward to read more of your stories! And love that shirt of yours – what a pity that you lost it 😯.
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Thanks a lot! The comment did go through and many thanks for the follow too. I don’t do such adventurous walks as you 2 these days but I do like a good stretch of my legs 🤗💕
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Sometimes a good stretch of legs are all that’s needed 😉. Oh, I’m happy the comment went through (I’m not that useless after all with technology then)! Take care, Corna 🌷.
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No worse than me, I’m sure 🤣💕
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Lovely to meet you guys. We share the hobby of walking. I must admit we don’t walk the way you do but we do what suits us and take walks which keep challenging us. Best wishes.
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Walking shouldn’t be about covering 100’s of kilometers (or miles), but about the journey and the experiences along the way. We are a bit lazy these days (will have to rectify it 😉), but we do try and get out in nature at least once during a weekend. Take care and happy walking 👣👣.
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Oh my …. that’s a lot of walking!!!! I salute both of you. Looking forward to looking around … and thanks again for visiting. Cheers to our link to Jo.
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Ha, even looking back now it’s hard to believe we’ve walked so far! But you know the saying: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” … or maybe we’re just plain crazy!
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Cheers to your will!
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Hi Berto, Mark here from the City. We are considering the Oorlogskloof hike and I stumbled across your blog! What a fabulous adventure you seem to have had since I last saw you all those years ago. Please feel very free to reach out if you would like. I have retired now and would love to meet for coffee.
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Hi Mark, this is a surprise to hear from an old colleague again. Oorlogskloof is not an easy hike and it is more like bouldering. You descend and ascend the gorge all the time and it is quite steep. Especially on the second day. It is a bit better on the third day when you traverse the plateau but it is still a climbing over or crawling through affair. The views are spectacular though.
The best time to go is during or after the winter rains because you cannot relay on the supply of water by the park rangers and you rely on natural sources.
I am in the Eastern Cape at the moment on a project but will contact you when I am in the Western Cape again.
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Awesome to hear from you Berto. Yes our booking is in August which seems close to ideal. And we are not worried by some scrambling – we hike most Sundays on TM and most of the routes we do involve scrambling. Doing it with a rucksack will be different though. One of the stronger members plans to bring a rope to assist. Please do reach out when you are back this side – would love to catch up. I am so impressed that you managed to follow through on the walking/camino plans – I have mentioned you a few times in conversation but never really knew how it had worked out until I saw your blog.
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Hi Mark, it’s Corna here (Berto’s wife). I just want to mention that a rope on the Oorlogskloof hiking trail is a very good idea! While this is a very challenging route (especially if you’re carrying a heavy backpack), it’s a beautiful landscape … especially in August when there are spring flowers as well. Good luck and have fun!
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Hi, I own a guesthouse in Montagu called Rainbow Glen (https://rainbowglen.co.za/) that is an excellent base for exploring the Montagu hiking trails.
I am a rock climbing guide so please contact me if you want to hike or climb in Montagu?
Thank you
Dave Webster from Rainbow Glen in Montagu
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Hi Dave. Thank you for your message. We may not do the rock climbing (that’s a little too adventurous for us 😉), but the hiking sounds right up our alley. Your guesthouse looks like a beautiful place – I can see one would be surrounded by tranquility at Rainbow Glen. If we ever get into that area, we will contact you, thank you very much. Regards Corna
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