Treasuring the last couple of hours with Livingstone the new super excited owner of our beloved 1962 Series II Landy was picked up in Livingstone (what else?) at the George Airport to meet his new love.

Time was really running out …… we need to say a final goodbye.

Livingstone was washed one last time by my  Malawian garden keeper, who is always very proud to be entrusted with the Land Rover, before turning up for the final photo shoot.

We knew that this hour will come, but all the while we were hoping from the bottom of our hearts for the slightest chance of NOT parting with Livingstone.  Somehow reality was catching up on us.    We were holding thumbs that Livingstone will find a really passionate new owner and we were fortunate enough to find him.    Thank you Kevin for being just what we were hoping for – an enthusiastic and loving new owner of a classic!

I have to say that both hubby and myself were in tears when seeing him driving off one last time, but we were promised that we will see Livingstone on top of the Rocky Mountains in the USA.   You will have to keep your promise, Kevin!  We will be following your journey with Livingstone.

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A very emotional decision was made last night to sell Livingstone.    It is time to say goodbye to  our beloved Landy.    As I am writing this my eyes are filled with tears and my  heart with a little bit of sadness  …

Both my husband and I got so attached to our daily drive with the dogs.  Even the dogs associate the sound of the Landy and the jingle of the keys with their daily walk.

I hope that we will find the right owner for Livingstone and that his new owner will be a real Landy lover and drive him with the necessary passion and respect.  Go well Livingstone, you are leaving your oil marks in my heart ….

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Calm down and don’t be in a hurry when following this road.  It is very narrow with only single lane traffic possible and no trailers, caravans and trucks are allowed and just a special warning:   it is  popular with  mountain bikers coming down hill at great speeds!  At several occasions we narrowly missed these projectiles.  I swear that they do not have nerves or they are so high on adrenaline that they do not think straight ….

Travelling with a 1962 Landy we do not have a choice other than to go slow, very slow and enjoy the ever changing views of the Outeniqua mountains covered in all shades of green, purple and pink as the flowers come into bloom.  This section is part of Cape Nature so no flower picking and/or removal of any plants are allowed.

Along the route there are several boards marking historic places on the pass such as Moertjiesklip, Die Noute and at Smidswinkel where you will find some remains of the blacksmith shop.  Note the road’s edge that still boasts the original stone walls built by 250 Italian prisoners over a four year period and are still in good condition.

Montagu Pass served as the main road over the Outeniquas for more than 100 years and it was only with the completion of the Outeniqua Pass in 1951 that this old pass became no more than a scenic route enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.  You got to love life if you drive a Land Rover!!!

For more interesting facts on the history of the Montagu Pass you can read the geocache listing at :

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5PGET_historic-montagu-pass?guid=ff297682-8362-43c2-959a-9d53d4928c73

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We regularly go for a “coffee drive” where I pack my Stanley flask with steaming coffee and we just explore all the scenic passes in our own backyard.    What a joy and privilege to live in the Garden Route.

Some times we take the dogs along with for the ride.  Chuck, the Fox Terrier, just loves it, but Pilot, the Jack Russel, is sometimes a bit nervous, but he is getting better the more he rides.

Lately we have a new dog addition to the family – a Bull Terrier named Fiela – which we are training to enjoy the drives but sometimes it gets a bit busy at the back.  Hoofseun,  aka Pilot, is trying his best to teach her although he is not a very good traveller.

Life passes you slowly when you drive in Livingstone (respect her years).  We enjoy the scenery – that is part of the drive – and stop often to check her oil (she is after all a Land Rover) and have a steaming cup during the journey.  Coffee surely tastes better in fresh air next to a lovely old Landy!

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