Six Stoned Sisters: A Mission - Pt. 2

... continued from here


Despite normally being a 'Morning Person', when I awoke at the Bullenkopf Campsite I was not in the best of moods - my eyes felt puffy and my back was giving me hell - I struggled to roll-up the tent and bedding.

I took a last pic of the intriguing Cave. I'll be bach sometime and I'll sit in it for awhile.

I drove to Büllsport and gulped down two cups of coffee. I told the Owner that I'll return later in the year on a trip northwards and collect a few rocks from her.

Now, to complete my Mission ... I headed south and found the road where I'd seen the Rocks I wanted.


It wasn't long before I before I found them, standing like Sentinels where I'd left them a few months ago - awaiting my return.

I pulled-up to the Farmhouse and knocked on the door. The windows were all closed and nobody answered.

I walked around the back and an elderly man shuffled towards me from some tin shacks nearby.

After exchanging greetings, he told me that the owner lives in Rehoboth and only visits the farm occasionally. He couldn't give me a name or contact number.

So that was it - there was nobody to buy the rocks from, I'd come this way in vain.


I felt deflated.

I didn't want to drive back to Büllsport so I drove back about a kilometre to a hilltop where I'd spotted some rocks on the road verges.

Ignoring my back, I found a few nice, smallish rocks and huffed and puffed them onto the Pickup - at least I had something ... not that it made me feel much better.

After resting for a few minutes I continued on my way south ...


Fifteen to twenty kilometres down the road I stopped to photograph a Guest-Farm Entrance Sign for my collection.

I noticed a swarm of about 25 long, thin rocks standing erect, near the gate - they'd obviously been planted there as a feature.

In negative mood, I was about to press-on without even taking a photograph of them.

As I hit the accelerator, something - perhaps it was Intuition - caused me to swing the wheel sharply right and drive into the farmyard.


I found the owner, Mrs S and told her about my interest in the unusual rocks of the area. As we walked around the garden I drooled over her beautiful rock creations. She said they were her hobby.

Mrs S explained that she had been recently widowed and, unable to handle the Guest Farm on her own, the property will be auctioned next month.

She said that there were more rocks on the farm but a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to get to them - they were beyond my reach.

I asked her, (in as pleading a voice as I could muster without sounding like a Wuss), if she would consider selling some of the Long Rocks I'd seen near the gate - I promised to respect them ... and create something beautiful ...

... she looked at me for a few seconds then, with a faint smile, said "Yes" - I could take some.


Henry, the Gardener, was assigned to help me load the rocks. Together we wrestled Six long Rocks from the Earth and loaded them onto the Pickup.

Even though I could probably have fitted in another four, I decided that six rocks were enough - we were sweating in the sun and my back ... also, I didn't want to appear too greedy ...

Henry thought I was crazy when I insisted on wrapping the rocks in my duvet so they wouldn't rub against each other and get scratched - he looked at me kinda strange ...

Mrs S and I agreed a price and I drove away, elated.


Relaxed and in good Spirit now, I continued my journey south into the desert, stopping to photograph anything that caught my eye.

I had not succeeded in bagging the Stones I wanted but, I had six others of equal beauty.


When I drove over this creature I thought it was a Chameleon crossing the road. Surprised, I turned back to check it out.

It's big, about 10cm long and has no wings - a flightless Locust.


I drove deeper into the Desert, stopping to photograph landscapes, some of which I've captured before.

The Desert is not static, each time you view a scene there are subtle changes in light and colour.

Considering the foul mood I'd been in when I awoke and my disappointment at not getting the rocks I'd come for, my day had turned-out OK ... but it wasn't over yet - there was a Cherry On Top:


To my delight I was able to meet up again with Leslie - I hadn't seen her since our first contact in July last year.

After her stint as a volunteer Teacher in northern Nam, Leslie was offered a job home-schooling two kids at a Guest Lodge near a small village - a village through which I had to pass.

She looks healthy and happy.

I still had a long way to travel and couldn't stay long ...


... a Crow welcomed me back to the desert.


OneStonedCrow and SixStonedSisters.

I don't know why I've assigned the Feminine Gender to them, the only feminine thing about them is their quiet, solid strength - and possibly, their curves ...


So what next? - my Mission isn't over yet, I still have to haul the Six Sisters another 1,200km to my home in the North ...

... and the Sentinels await my return ...


Six Stoned Sisters: A Mission - Pt. 1


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