Up hill behind ruins, Felix showed us rocks with six-inch wide holes a foot deep or more, and perfectly round. They were filled with water - their purpose, according to Felix. We like water with fewer bugs, but he and Irina drank water collected in them. It was a peaceful spot, overlooking valley below.

Arrowhead Hunting Success

Over hill, we had some luck searching for rocks and arrowheads, but not like Felix. We saw hundreds of pieces of pottery, but all very plain looking. He found pottery that had beautiful designs on it, and metates. He found a tiny clear quartz arrowhead, perfectly made, that had probably been used to hunt small birds two hundred years earlier.

Each of us wandered a bit. Ana and I made it back to van first, and when Irina and Felix returned, we cooked beans with instant rice on our camp stove. After meal, we said goodbyes, and traded addresses. They went back to hotsprings, while we headed other way with bags of rocks, an antelope antler, and two broken arrowheads.

Notes:

For interesting rocks, go out after a rain and you can see Fire-agate and Apache Teardrops laying on sand. For best rock collecting, visit designated rockhound areas in southeastern Arizona. As for arrowhead hunting, and ancient pottery, enjoy yourself, but it may be illegal to keep any artifacts now. The BLM office in Safford can give you directions and more information.

Be prepared for diversity. If you like a good dirge, stay away. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir has very catholic tastes. The first half of concert is classical. You might hear Bach or Beethoven or Mozart. The second half can be anything. It could be Queen sung in rounds by groups of immaculately trained 12-year old tenor and bass vocalists. (Freddie Mercury would have loved it). Or folk, or jazz, or sacred music. Or African harmonies you’ve never heard before that will bring tears to your eyes.

Come with tissues. And a jersey, for goosebumps. But whatever you do, BE THERE. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir performs most Wednesdays during term time at 3.30 p.m. There is a world class auditorium on campus.

If you’re in area on a Wednesday, you’ve got time for an early lunch (or a late breakfast) and a scenic drive along Route R600. Its not called Champagne Valley for nothing. Or if you’re planning on December, go to Drakensberg Festive Celebration, a four-day extravaganza of music, with lots of guest artists, Xmas music, and stalls for shopping.

So if you’re coming to South Africa – sure Cape Town’s good and you need Big 5. But Drakensberg is good too. And you really shouldn’t miss this.