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"We're
taking the horses and going camping", said Natascha, " you want
to come?"
"What time are
you leaving?"
"Oh, as soon
as you get here". I flew like a mad chicken around the house, throwing
things together, sorting out the cats with food, water and litter.
We bathed
their two horses (rather nervously I might add), loaded up the truck and
headed for the hills.
East Fork
is about two or so hours from Nashville on 12000 acres of forest, trails
clearly marked, good camp sites, power outlets, clean ablution blocks (with
hot water) and $10 for firewood (a big pile of neat logs). It was really
nice to experience camping, ('urbanish ' cowboy style) with the horses
spitting distance away.
For people who
enjoy the outdoors, horses and good trails this is a place I highly
recommend. I listened to a rather rough but pleasant chap chirping about the
other sites he'd been to. He was a bit sozzled from hooching at the camp
chilli cookout. He referred to the South Fork Park Rangers as Pork
Rangers. He said he wouldn't be taking his horses there again.
"East Fork is
a horse-friendly place and the three hour drive I make from Green County is
worth it".
Naturally, I
had no inclination to challenge my terror levels still further and I did not
go galloping off across the hillside. Instead, I sort of waddled stiffly
along a forest path. Every bone in my fast aging body ached. The temperature
had plunged to a level most un-Christian. I had one small, thin blanket and
that was all. Sleep had obviously frozen itself elsewhere in the night and
did not find me.
I would like
to return to
East Fork some other time. The owners take care of the place. I met
Mike, (a lean cowboy) the trustee of the family land and he has an air of
sincerity about him. The farm is well
maintained, clean, $18 per camp site/
night and the scenery very beautiful. Highly recommended for 'horsey'
people.
East Fork
Reservations |
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Enjoy your visit - and never, ever
daydream without the proper travel authorization in triplicate
and copies for your files |
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A lot of
people think they own the planet and have no respect for life.
Nasty people with big bellies, big buckles, big trucks,
women with too-tight jeans had camped next door. Their horses had been ridden
hard and tethered with no water, no food and the sweat not brushed off their
flanks. We sneaked around in the dark giving them buckets of water. I
have decided I do not like most people - they suck big time. |
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"This is the most unorthodox
website. Contains a bit of everything" -
Scoutt who speaks with a lisp.
"Bizarre
and
scary" says Tweedledee of Tweedledum Publications!
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Not Knowing What Else To Do, Woman saves the organic egg from extinction -
hailed as hero by local ant population |
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Egg observations:
O Eggie, O Eggie, none better than the Eggie
From bum of chicken to plate of prince, peasant or me
personable, satisfying,
uncomplaining and nice to eat
Eggs grow leggs - eventually - and run off to greener pastures
How interesting is the Egg
NOTE:
eggrorian chants
eggacerbate
eggagerate
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JENNI EVANS,
Johannesburg | Monday
WINNIE Madikizela-Mandela will be told
to stop the reconstruction of her businesses which were demolished last month
and will be assigned an inspector to help her comply with bylaws to resolve the
matter, Johannesburg's mayoral representative said on Monday.
The tavern, club and tuck shop outside her house were demolished on October 24
by a sheriff of the court for being in contravention of bylaws. Media reports
over the weekend said Madikizela-Mandela had started rebuilding the premises.
Mayor Amos Masondo's representative Kgotso Chikane said an inspector had
examined the new structure and the council's legal department had looked into
the matter and concluded that it was not in contravention of the court order or
in defiance of the city council. It was on a private stand on someone else's
property.
However, Madikizela-Mandela needed to comply with building control and town
planning regulations -- meaning she has to submit plans for the structure and
apply for permission to use residential property for business purposes.
A letter would be delivered to Madikizela-Mandela on Monday afternoon requesting
that she stop the reconstruction. An inspector would then be sent to help her
comply with the regulations.
Chikane said such an application normally took up to two weeks but sending an
inspector to Madikizela-Mandela would speed up the process.
"We don't want confrontation, we want to help her comply," Chikane said.
"There is an impression created that it is a witch hunt -- it is purely a bylaw
issue. We just want the matter to be concluded."
Madikizela-Mandela's representative Alan Reynolds said he had not been able to
reach her for comment.
The council's decision provides relief for Madikizela-Mandela who over the past
few weeks has also appeared in court to face charges of fraud and theft.
She and her co-accused Addy Moolman were arrested on charges related to an
alleged scam involving the use of her signature to fraudulently obtain bank
loans.
Outlining her expenses in her bail application she sparked a furore when she
revealed that much of her income stems from donations from wellwishers.
This led to the Democratic Alliance demanding that she explain why the donations
had not been declared to Parliament and she has until Tuesday to explain the
matter to Parliament's ethics committee.
Madikizela-Mandela was the second wife of former president Nelson Mandela.
During the struggle against apartheid and while campaigning for her husband's
release from prison, she was harassed, imprisoned, placed in solitary
confinement and banished under severe restrictions to a house in Brandfort by
the National Party government.
She was convicted of kidnapping for her role in the disappearance of teenage
activist Stompie Seipei who was later found dead.
Madikizela-Mandela is currently the chairwoman of the African National Congress
Women's League and a Member of Parliament. - Sapa
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the above article is with thanks to the Weekly Mail & Guardian |
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World
