Garden Route Archives - Page 3 of 4

ST PETER’S CHURCH, PLETTENBERG BAY

I just love to find all the little churches of this remarkable lady – Sophy Gray. This one dating back to 1879 adds another tick to my Gray list! The church with its lovely setting is situated close to a grove of trees and overlooks the beach and ocean towards the distant Tsitsikama Mountains. In 1848 when the Grays (Rev Robert and his wife Sophy) arrived at the Cape of Good Hope there were almost no Anglican churches in the diocese in Cape Town. Bishop Gray’s enthusiasm – the obvious need for churches – and apparent lack of architectural services as well as money probably encouraged Sophia Gray (a self taught architect) to design buildings to suit the immediate needs. Saint Peter’s was built from a random selection of stones and boasts beautiful glass stained windows. The church welcomes visitors, but please show respect when entering the premises.

FOSSIL DUNES ON THE BEACH

Just up the coastal road, Knysna way, from George you will find South Africa’s highest fossil dune known as Gericke’s Punt (Point) near Sedgefield. Although going there for years I must admit that I never knew that it was a fossil dune, but thanks to Geocaching now I know! Take the easy walk to the point along the beach and marvel at all the patterns that the wind has carved over years in to the sand dunes. If you have an artistic eye there are really a couple of spots along the walk where you can spend a while taking really great pictures! Every time I go there I see some new patterns in mother nature that I have not noticed before – even a dragon if you use your imagination …….… Also keep an eye open for the endangered Black Oyster Catchers at the waters edge with their startling… Read more >

TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK

This year my birthday present to myself was spending the day at the Tsitsikamma National Park with my daughter as hubby was in a far away place in Africa. Situated halfway between Port Elizabeth and my hometown of George it was an ideal place to hook up with my daughter to do a hiking trail or two in the park. The weather was just what we have ordered – sunny without wind and low humidity. Before we settled for our walk to the mouth we enjoyed brunch, on the deck of the Cattle Baron, with breathtaking views of the river mouth and cliffs as a backdrop. The day is going to be good! The wooden walkway contributes to an easy walk to the mouth …… until you get to the last steps. Well going down is still easy going and not the biggest problem, but as you know what goes… Read more >

WHERE IS THE NEXT CUPPA?

We are really enjoying our 1962 Landy now after the rebuild has been completed. 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… Read more >

HISTORIESE GEORGE

Die storie van George, wat na King George III vernoem is, begin reeds op 23 April 1811. Ek begin stap in Yorkstraat, wat vernoem is na die Duke of York en tweede seun van King Geroge III, by die Old Town House. Dit is reeds in 1847 opgerig en het eers die George Museum gehuisves, maar vandag dien dit as restaurant. Dan 100 jaar later in 1911 word daar op die hoek van Mark- en Hiberniastrate, ‘n gedenksaal opgerig wat vandag die Ingenieurs Departement van die George Munisipaliteit huisves. Ek kruis die straat en stap na die witgeverfde Poskantoor met sy mooi houtdeure en kenmerkende rooi posbusse. Nie net is dit in 1948 voltooi, maar spog ook met ‘n hout kloktoring. Dan verder op in die straat kry ek onverwags, agter mooi ysterhekke in ‘n lowergroen tuin, ‘n glimps van die statige Bishops Lea, huis van die Diocese of George…. Read more >

FOREST LEGENDS

While everyone else was hanging out on the beach for the first day of January 2016 our family went to visit the Forest Legends Museum on the gravel road as you traverse the Prince Alfred Pass from Knysna to Uniondale. What a pleasure to drive through the damp forest and then unexpectedly arrive on top of the hill at the coffee shop. It was a lot busier than we expected. Families with grannies and young children were having something to bite in the shade of a tree, others were taking hikes and on the decks families camped out and were just relaxing and enjoying nature. This is far from the maddening crowds and cell phone towers. First we ordered something to eat from the coffee shop – a vetkoek stuffed with curried mince, a home made hamburger and toasted bacon and egg sandwich washed down with delicious home made gemmerbier. … Read more >

ST GEORGES CHURCH, KNYSNA

Today, while on my way to Diepwalle Camping Decks in the heart of the Knysna Forest I made a quick stop in the centre of Knysna to take some pictures of another Sophy Gray church so I entered through the old wooden gates to explore some more. Sophy’s stone churches stole my heart and now I am on a quest to tick them off one by one. This quaint church with its tranquil garden is situated in the Main Road, but is easily missed when one is in a hurry. John Rex., son of the legendary George Rex, laid the foundation stone in 1849 and soon after in 1850 construction started on plans adapted and provided by Sophy. Her church, the first in Knysna, is standing in front of the newer, darker church building which was only constructed in 1926. The gardens are well kept and the green grass, edged… Read more >

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