Tswaing Meteorite Crater Breakfast Run Past Events

We gathered as planned at the Engen Platinum 1-Stop on the N4 and after a hearty Wimpy breakfast, we departed in convoy at 09H30, destination the Tswaing Meteorite Crater some 45km north west. In the convoy were 5 Disco 3/4s, 1 Disco 1, 3 Defender 110s and 2 Defender 130s. Our departure was slightly delayed when Di and Nigel Hardres-Williams discovered a flat right rear tyre on their 130 just as we were mounting up to leave. It was decided to pump the tyre and monitor it. It was hoped the puncture was a slow one and we could make our destination before deciding on further action. This proved to be a vain hope however and the convoy stopped short of the destination to allow Di and Nigel to change the tyre. What would a club event be without a little vehicle drama?

After what seemed like an unnecessarily labourious admin process at Reception, we made our way to the picnic site which is the start of the short hiking trail to the rim of the crater. Most of the members started out on the hike immediately with only a few deciding to take the option of driving up to the Shoemaker View Site on the eastern side of the crater rim. The site is named after a Dr Eugene Shoemaker, recognised for his pioneering work in the fields of Astrogeology and Impact Cratering Studies. The hikers were directed past several points of interest which highlighted the soda ash and salt recovery factory established to exploit the rich deposits in the water at the crater floor. The factory ceased production in 1956 and is now in ruins. After ooh-ing and aah-ing and much photographing of the kilometre-wide crater, we made our way back to the picnic site where we all enjoyed a well-earned lunch. After a failed attempt to gain permission to drive down into the crater for a unique photo-opportunity, we finally began to wind our separate ways homeward.

Thanks go to all those who attended and helped to make the day a rather special one.