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Our
Journey Begins!
| We did it!! We
left on schedule on 12th May 2004 from our Rotary meeting, where
lots of our friends came to say "cheers!" We will
think of them everyday we are away, and will miss you all madly! |
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After a visit to the factory to say goodbye to our staff, we
headed off southwards through the maize fields of the Free
State. Our first night was spent in the farming town of
Reitz - the friendliest town I have ever visited, where every
passerby in the streets says "hello". We crashed
into bed early and made up for some the sleep deprivation of the
past few nights.
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Our second day saw us travelling with the Maluti mountains on each
side of the road the daunting vista of the purple Drakensburg
mountains forming the horizon to our left. Having spent most
of my holidays in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, I cannot believe
how many mountains we have in South Africa!
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| Our second
night was spent in the town of Ficksburg - this has to be the
coldest night I have ever endured; inside our snug Unimog, with 2
polar-fleece blankets, a duvet, thermals, tracksuits and
beanies!! And we were still cold! Two glasses of
sherry didn't even come close to helping. Next time I visit
Ficksburg, it will be in summer!
We were on the road again the next
morning, making our way to Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape.
The trip involved many steep inclines and long rolling declines
had the Mog working in 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear! Our journey
ended at the Aliwal Spa and Holiday Resort. No, we didn't
take pictures, but we did swim at 8.00pm at night in winter in the
warm waters of the spa - it was wonderful while we were immersed
in the gently bubbling waters, but it wasn't so wonderful when
dashing to your towel on the other side of a chilly room!
Our fourth day presented us with
even more mountains. The weathered tans and rusty browns of
the hills and mountains blended harmoniously with the golds and
yellows of the drying autumn grasses. The sheep, with lambs
huddled close to their mothers for warmth and security were
watched over by forlon windmills, fitful in a lazy breeze.
We chugged along and crested a pass at 1844m - it seemed for while
that even the sheep could read the warning signs of SNOW! as
nothing seemed to inhabit this rugged and desolate place.
Informal settlements started appearing with agile goats searching
for something edible amongst the stones. Slowly, thorn trees
and aloes start making an appearance in the grasslands,
giving green relief to the eye.
Game farms beckon the traveller to
search the environs - we did, and were rewarded with good
sightings of Blesbok and Springbok while Cirrus clouds swirled
majestically across the sky.
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The Eastern Cape still has places where the main road travels
through the town; I'm sure all this "holiday traffic" is
of annoyance to the locals, and the driving in heavy traffic is a
pain for those who have travelled for hundreds of kilometres in
relative peace, but I believe that the economic benefits to the
towns in question far outweighs any inconvenience. We
stopped for coffee, lunch or fuel at some of these towns - and if
we did, others surely do too.
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I have pages of notes on travelling between on Hobshoogte,
Cathcart and Sutterheim, but will resist the temptation to
"wax lyrical" on the grounds that I may bore you to
tears!
Suffice it to say, that on the
afternoon of Saturday, 15th May, as the sun began her journey
towards the horizon, we caught our first glance of the ocean and
the city of East London. East London is a picturesque place
built on treed hills - our glimpse however was brief, as we were
quickly heading east towards "home" for the next few
nights.
We arrived at dusk, so just set up
camp, made dinner and curled up in bed - at least the temperature
has improved by a zillion degrees!! Today, was "chores
day" as it is the first time we have stopped long enough to
do any! After the work was done, we set off exploring - this
is the kind of place you want to share with your friends, but
don't want too many people to know about lest this relatively
unspoilt paradise be lost. Cinsa Bay is a beautiful large
bay with gently breaking waves in which White Breasted Cormorants
and Black Oystercatchers search for tasty morsels. Are we in
heaven? We think so!!
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Our
campsite with our first visitor -
the neighbours Beagle! |
The
vast and beautiful Cinsa Bay |
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