Lowveld Ramblers have surprise guests on hike up to Devil’s Bridge
A local man and his dog recently ended up on an 8km hike with the Lowveld Ramblers instead of the 5km Barberton parkrun as he had originally planned.
The Lowveld Ramblers had two unlikely but very welcome gatecrashers at their Devil’s Bridge hike near Barberton on June 18.
Mbombela local Rob Duke and his beloved Jack Russell Jock had had every intention of attending his very first Barberton parkrun on Saturday morning, but instead, they ended up on the peaks of the Barberton mountains near the eSwatini border.
“I was on the way to attend my first parkrun of a gentle 5km with Jock, when I passed a group of people I know coming from the Plaas Kombuis parking,” said Duke.
“They are normal attendees of the parkrun, so I assumed that’s where they were headed. I asked if I could tag along, as I did not know the format of parkrun, and they said sure.”
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Duke said he started following a convoy of around 12 vehicles and after travelling some 35km towards the eSwatini border along the R40, he realised something was amiss. “When they stopped and started kitting up, I was asked a lot more questions about my shoes and kit than I anticipated.”
It was then that Duke was told he was not in fact at the parkrun, but a fairly difficult 8km hike to Devil’s Bridge.
“I decided to do as much as I could. At 66, I am totally unfit and a bit portly. Jock was totally up for it and with him running up and down the line egging everyone on, I dared not let him down,” said Duke.
“I have a strong can-do attitude and made the whole trip despite the odds.
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“It was the most wonderful experience, seeing God’s creation first-hand. The Ramblers are the most friendly and helpful bunch imaginable.”
Duke said the Ramblers named him “Mr Parkrun”. He said he would definitely be back to join another hike, and not by mistake, either.
One of the Lowveld Ramblers, Sheryn Nader, said the group just loved him and hoped he would become a member.
“He and Jock hiked all the way with us to the eSwatini border – a 455m climb – not your ‘average’ parkrun,” she said.
“He was a real champ. This is a very difficult hike and he took it in his stride,” Nader said.
