Kaye shifts into gear for exhilarating journey
The Upper Highway grandmother is excited to compete in her second Defender Trophy event.
UPPER Highway’s vivacious and daring Kaye Durant is revved up to compete in this year’s Defender Trophy Cape 2021 alongside her long-time friend, Kim Austin, and her trusty metal steed, Bluebell.
At 57 years young, this adventurous Botha’s hill resident will compete in her second Defender event. She participated in 2019 with her team mate, Kim, and snapped up third place overall among 33 teams.
“It was so much fun and we learnt an incredible amount of what’s happening in the Eastern Cape. We camped every night, with no water or toilets and what has me coming back? The camaraderie. Everyone is there for one another and everybody helps each other if they need it,” she said.
The inaugural event kicked off in 2004 and has continued to evolve and grow into what it is today: a family friendly adventure competition that focusses on flora, fauna as well as social development.
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Kaye is a Pinetown girl, born and bred, but has lived across southern Africa, her latest stop was in Namibia, where she lived with her four boys. The qualified chef left Durban in 1989 an only returned to Durban in March last year to look after her parents.
“I lost my husband, Patrick, five years ago on 19 October in 2016, to brain cancer,” said a deeply saddened Kaye. “I have come to realise now that life is too short and you have to live for the moment and if you don’t do the things now, you are never going to do them.”
Her pride and joy, Bluebell, is a 1996 Land Rover.
“For 40 years I have been a wife, a lover, a friend and a mother and after Patrick passed I really wanted to do something for me and to find me again. I am now doing things for me, which will hopefully make me a better grandmother. I hope to be able to instill that love of adventure in my grandchildren. To let them know that doing things is important,” said a determined Kaye.
In her spare time, when she isn’t out living her life to the full, she spends her time at home as a bee keeper, milks goats and is in the process of writing a cookery book.
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“It may seem strange, but bees have taught me a lot. They may have a queen but they have their own democracy. It’s very interesting the way they work. I love them and, without them, we wouldn’t have life. I am very protective of them,” she said.
To add to her overflowing plate, Kaye is currently studying through the The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa.
“At my age, I think my school teachers would be horrified to learn I am back at school,” laughed Kaye.
Her latest adventure in Bluebell kicks off in Coffee Bay and takes place in the Transkei Wild Coast from 27 April to 1 May. Each day the participants will receive a questionnaire that focuses on the fauna, flora and the local culture. Once the questionnaires have been handed in and the marks have been tallied, an overall winner is chosen.
“Some days you may drive 300km and on others it could be 700km. It’s also about making sure the footprint you leave doesn’t do any harm to the environment. We don’t go bashing through forests – it’s all very planned out. We drive in convoy and it’s so great to be surrounded by people with the same mindset. It’s a few days of absolute fun and excitement!”
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