Slopend

When Dorien visited the intro days at Delft University in August she was looking for a sports club that allowed her to build on her free running skills, but also had an outdoor element (with summers in France in mind!). In the end there were two options: the Alpine climbing club, and Slopend, an outdoor-survival club. As the first one was attached to a traditional student fraternity (think social pressure and drinking) she started with Slopend, and fitted straight in. They basically have training twice a week, working on fitness and survival skills, mainly on manmade obstacle courses. In general it has similarities with the army, but then in a fun way. As Dorien is strong and fit she quickly started training with the inner circle, which now has become her social life in Delft. 

She has participated in several events: The initiation and survival weekend was in the Belgian Ardennes (night time walk, sleeping outside, making your own fire, skin your rabbit, canoeing etc.). Dorien also participated in a daylong race that included running, mountain biking and canoeing, which you had to complete as a duo. Subsequently she helped organising a training weekend (with similar elements) in the Veluwe in early December (again no tents!). To close off the first part of the season she participated in a classic survival run in Dinxperlo, where they had to complete a track of 7 km, with many obstacles (see pictures below). 

So, like Paula with her rowing, Dorien's life has been simplified to 4 elements: eating, sleeping, studying and Slopend! And there are many plans for the summer as well!

 One of the obstacles in Dinxperlo

Dorien (right) getting over the next one 

This is tough - going upwards 

Archery was also part of the race 

Happy at the start

Montevideo (II)

Piet went to Montevideo for a second time, for a set of meetings with the government. It was an uneventful trip, and it marked the end of a busy year, full of travel. Like always Piet took his small camera and made some pictures of the city.

 View over Montevideo from the hotel

 Playa de Los Pocitos - the sign

 Yacht Club Uruguayo

 The Montevideo sign at sunset

Playa de Los Pocitos

A bonus picture: Beau and Mary on the beach

Namibia: Windhoek and Erindi

Piet had to go to Namibia again for a number of government meetings and teaching sessions. He is working on this project with Dennis, 'our man in Windhoek'; who organised everything for this week. They are normally in contact on a daily basis by email, phone or online communicator and it is always good to spend time 'face-to-face' in the same office.

This time Piet came a day early and took the opportunity to visit the Erindi Game Reserve, a large area (700 km2) that is maintained as a wild park and conservatory. Piet rented a small car at the airport, and drove 3 hours to the Old Traders Lodge, not realising that the last 65 km were off-road. Luckily these roads were in reasonable shape, and once in the Reserve there was a 30 km speed limit to avoid scaring the animals. On arrival Piet went straight on a game drive through a very dry landscape. Namibia is suffering from one of the worst droughts in the last century, and that was clearly visible. Normally the summer (during our winter) is the rainy season, but there has been very little rain. In the Reserve there are a number of manmade waterholes where some of the animals gathered. In addition extra grass is supplied to assure that not all animals die. The game drive was mainly a pleasant tour of the Reserve, without seeing a lot of wildlife. After dinner and a night's sleep there was a second, early morning game drive in another part of the area. Jointly with the trip in and out Piet spotted wildebeests, gazelles, lions, rhino's, giraffes, elephants and a rare leopard. Although a bit rushed it felt like a true safari. Mary wants to join next time!

This was followed by a week of hard work, with many meetings and presentations, but also with time to enjoy Windhoek food (oryx steak!) and South African wines.

Erindi: an impala drinking from a waterhole

Erindi: a giraffe eating from a thorny tree

Erindi: a lion pair

 Erindi: a rare leopard

Erindi: an elephant eating extra grass and fodder 

Erindi: a springbok gazelle

Erindi: African wild dogs

 A typical Namibian cattle farm - nothing to eat

Christus Kirche, one of the few Windhoek landmarks

Piet teaching at the University of Namibia


Sunset over Windhoek