Thirty-one volunteers congregated on an overcast and cool day at the St Francis of Assisi Anglican Chapel to remove liens along the verges of Porter Drive. This was a continuation of the February hack, starting at the White Road intersection and ending up on the bend on the approach to Hermas Road.
Megs Tweedie was welcomed back after a three month grandparenting break in New Zealand. Andreas Claassens was welcomed to his first Betty’s Bay hack after recently becoming a Hangklip Hardcore Hacker. First-time hackers, Jessica and Anton Mauve were welcomed at the mid-morning break after having first participated in the Park Run. We hope you both thoroughly enjoyed your hacking experience and look forward to your return in the spring.
Hackers car-pooled at the chapel and then worked their way along Porter Drive, cutting, poisoning and dragging branches from the verges which are fifteen metres wide and badly infested with rooikranz trees .
The mid-morning break was taken at 10am in the Chapel courtyard. A big thank you to Tim Attwell for once again arranging the venue and for travelling to and from the Harold Porter book launch and the hack to keep both parties happy.
Thanks, as always, to Dave Mourant for providing all that is needed each month for a good cup of tea or coffee as well as the “blue” herbicide. Our thanks to Mary Whitelaw and Lee Boyd for sponsoring and making three loaves of delicious egg mayo and the cheese & cucumber sarmies. No crumbs remained!
After refreshments, the hackers returned to where they had left off. By the end of the hack, only 700m had been covered, giving a very good indication of how infested the verges are. The Dirty Dozen refused to stop when the whistle blew but eventually decided to stop twenty minutes later.
The aftermath at the chapel was enjoyed by all. This was another very productive hack as can be seen by the size and number of piles.
Thanks, as always to our hacking neighbours, who put in a special effort to attend from Kleinmond, Rooi Els and Pringle Bay – Christine Coupar, Megs Tweedie , Mike Christelis, Andreas Claassens, Chris Geldenhuys, Ken Meiring, Brian McMillan, Magda and Tommy Mills.
As ever, on behalf of the Betty’s Bay Fynbos, thank you all for your efforts.
Rob Boyd
Convener Betty’s Bay Hack Group