A story about resilience and my ability to embrace change.
At the age of 60, on 15 November 2015, I found myself on a long-distance coach taking me with a backpack and almost no money on a journey that would once again change my life. I travelled from Durban to Midrand, a 9-hour journey where I met my son who drove me to the tiny village of Broederstroom in the Northwest Province near Hartbeespoort Dam.
My youngest sister was dying from colon cancer and needed a carer to take care of her.
She was the manager of a large river rafting and abseiling business on the Crocodile River. A few days before Christmas she passed away. She had two large dogs, and her other possessions which needed to be dealt with. The bigger issue was managing the business which was in super high season. The owner was not available.
I took the decision to step into the gap she had left behind. I knew nothing about river rafting and abseiling, but having changed career several times, organised events and conferences, was financially qualified, computer literate which included web design skills and social media, how hard could it be?
For the next two and a half years I did the sales and marketing, set up an accounting system, created a website and social media pages, helped the river guides communicate with people from all walks of life including foreign tourists, rowdy bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate and school groups.
I drove the 3 and a 1/2ton truck loaded with16 pax pulling a trailer load of inflated rafts several times a day to our 2 launch sites one of which was in the Lion Park. Our guests loved the giraffes who accompanied us down to the launch spot at the river.
My husband Dave joined his crazy wife after six months, but it was difficult as he was working online and the internet was unreliable.
It was exhilarating and very stressful. When you have 50 pax booked and it pours with rain and you must cancel, the troops of monkeys that sneaked into the house and stole what they could, but my worst was the snouted cobra snakes which are extremely dangerous.
Winters were too cold to raft so money was tight. We organised corporate events with abseiling, crossbow and other activities to see us through.
Loadshedding was regular and being reliant on a borehole that uses electricity was extremely challenging. Sometimes I resorted to carrying buckets of water from the river to flush the toilets.
Despite the challenges, I doubled the turnover of the company and was proud to have created a team of river guides who were enthusiastic to give of their best.
In May 2018, we moved to Johannesburg so Dave could continue his online coaching more easily and I would be closer to my children.
