Witbank Geloftefees 2015 planning started

[Gert Odendaal]

Good day members.
It is this time of the year again, planning of the activities regarding the 2015 Geloftefees commenced already the past week.

This year will be something special...we will have seven ox wagons on the Geloftefees terrein (opposite the Nissan Garage /business near the Portuguese hall just past the The Ridge Casino /Mall.

We in -spanned the first two oxen today with the assistance of my good friend Chris Moolman, he is showing Johan Greyling and me how to in-span the oxen. I will ask Iwan to take photos of this activity.

One of the ox wagons Johan Greyling is currently restoring is in all categories a world record, the longest , heaviest and larges ox-wagon in South Africa and in the world, since South Africa is the only country that build ox wagons and exported it to Australia and America...

Other countries like America only build wagons pulled by horses and not ox-wagons pulled by oxen...There are fifty different ox wagon builders from the past...

Some of the ox wagons that will be on display...



Herman and Elbie Nel will be visiting with their ox

wagon:


The normal gathering will be prudent...


The ox wagon itinerary will be on display:

There will be food prepared on the camp fire:



We will be dressed like our Voortrekker ancestors..quite different than our clothing of today..


Sleeping quarters on wheels, all under one roof:


Johan Greyling will be charging the canons again...shooting the canons every night...




The main attraction , our camp fire...where all the stories will be told...and coffee served...



I will upload more photos as we progress...

[Yeager]

Good luck with all the arrangements.

[Toxxyc]

Sou lekker gewees het om te kom deel in hierdie fees, sjoe.

[Gert Odendaal]

Die lekker deel is die aktiwiteite wat daar sal plaasvind,ons probeer regtig om die lewenswyses van ons voorouers uit tel leef vir daardie week wat `n mens nogal laat besef dat hulle hard gewerk het om `n daaglikse bestaan te voer..soos om brood in `n miershoop te bak, botter te karring, rieme te brei, osse in te span, velskoene te maak, onderhoud aan die ossewa te doen en smeewerk te doen ...ek dink die besonderse deel sal wees om al die ossewaens daar te laat staan en in `n vorm van `n laer te trek,....dit gaan `n mooi gesig wees....

[Gert Odendaal]

Ruan het vandag `n paar fotos geneem met sy mik en druk kamera waar Chris Moolman vir Johan Greyling touwys maak om die osse in te span en met die osse te werk. This is a time consuming process, you need to have patience since these animals are huge and heavy, a person can get injured ...







Wiegman en Dopper trek lekker saam. Ons mikpunt is om ses osse vir die Geloftefees reg te kan inspan en te laat trek.

[Gert Odendaal]

Update:
Johan Greyling is restoring the ox wagons he required lately..they need some restoring since this huge ox wagon has some fire damage while standing in the veld.

Apprentice working the nuts loose :


Inspection being carried out by apprentice ox wagon restorer..


The "Boss restorer" hard at work:






The "boss apprentice " getting orders from the "boss restorer , Johan Greyling himself...




Quality , un-compromised by the historical master builders ...this is the longest, heaviest freight ox wagon build up to date in the world....

Restored wheel:


Johan is making progress but there is still a lot of work to do..





Building the burned and damaged parts up with fiberglass resin and cloth...

[Gert Odendaal]

Video: Osse in opleiding en ingespan.

[Gert Odendaal]

Update: I spend today on building a truck rim forge and assist Johan Greyling to repair the bellows we will use during the few days at the Geloftefees terrein....a few photos..the bellows really works great..some small adjustments to make still but it will definitely bring metal up to forging temperature....





The two old ones looking for a better performance..discussing problems with the bellows...I have replace a piece of teared leather with a new piece to close up the gap on the side of the bellows..I used contact glue to ensure better results..


I am waiting for a few more photos to post...

[Gert Odendaal]

Update:
We visited Herman Nel on Sunday , for his birthday gathering. Johan and Iwan Greyling brought the Kakebeen wa back to Witbank where Herman and Elbie will be attending the Gelofte Fees .



This year will see a lot of activities regarding the old ways of our Voorttrekker nation of old. We will be forging nails , knife blades, ox wagon parts. Johan is currently preparing the Gelofte Fees terrain.
Bok van Blerk will be singing as well...please contact Olga Greyling for tickets ...0726419271

Photos will follow...

[Gert Odendaal]

Photos of yesterday:
The camp terrain ...


The miershoop bread baking oven:





Herman `Nel`s kakebeen wa:


Loading the forge, moving the ox wagons:




More photos will follow...