For the moment we are making “safe” solo trips to discover the smaller towns of out beautiful country.  Some of these trips took us on some backroads to Rietbron in the Eastern Cape and Sutherland in the Northern Cape and Van Wykdsorp in the Western Cape.  All did not go without glitch though. 

On a leisurely round trip to Van Wyksdorp the little Zook’s battery decided to die on us when we stopped for the umpteenth time to snap something in the hope to get THAT perfect picture.  Now the roads to Van Wyksdorp are all gravel travel and big stretches are without cell phone reception that is not a problem for us as we have done this route many times.  However, on that Saturday our travel story unfolded differently. 

We parked at the lookout point with the Gourits river flowing down in the valley.  A beautiful spot.  This would be the last stop of the day before hitting tar at Herbertsdale and turning west, heading home.  It was about 4 o’clock and the shadows were getting longer and the air chillier.  Boom!  In Afrikaans they say “soos dood soos ‘n mossie” – that is how that battery played out on us.  Now plan A, B, C, D and maybe E was rattling through our heads. 

Shortly after our detrimental discovery a single elderly farming lady wizzed past us in her Suzuki Swift without even looking left or right, hurrying home, so no chance there to flag her down.  Over we went to plan B as the shadows got longer.  The young one decided to start walking back up the steep hill until wherever she gets a signal to try and get help.  We had no idea how far back the “wherever” would be so she started walking. The fault we made is that we did not state a time when she had to be back before we move on to plan C and D.

Our rule of thumb when we get bogged down in remote areas is that at least one person should stay at the vehicle in case help arrives. One hour passed by – no traffic, no young one – and the late afternoon chill is setting in.  So the mommy in me started calculating the sleeping arrangements in the Zook and what are we going to use to keep us warm and if there is still something to eat and drink before we settle in for the night.  As I was ruffling through our snack stash in the back of the Zook I heard some panting behind me.  The young one was back, sweating and puffing from her one kilometre jog to find that one bar reception on her cell phone …. and help.  This mommy was relieved to say the least!

Within in 20 minutes the help in the form of skinny girl with her white Hilux, loaded with some lucerne, arrived.  We were standing ready with jumper cables and within two ticks, each girl doing what is necessary,  the Zook was blown to life again.

The moral of the story? 

Travel prepared – extra food, water, something warm to wear even if the weather is sunny.  Luckily the mommy in me learnt this many years ago when we started out on our adventures.  This motto saved the day many a time.

Will we explore more on our own? 

For sure!  Some things you can avoid by going prepared; some things you cannot control like a battery that die on you.

oOo

The post BOGGED DOWN appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

Running parallel with the new bridge over the N2 you will notice the old stone bridge to your left when driving eastwards.  Find the road to the old bridge and have a look at it.  I was quite impressed at the engineering skills considering the period in which it was built and the machinery available to create these types of structures.

The steel bridge built by Westwood Bailie Engineering Works from London and completed in 1879 so nearing its 150^th year soon.  Although the bridge’s length will not make the Guinness Book of Records, as it is only 0.46 kilometres long, it is still used by local farmers and pedestrians in the vicinity. 

Attempts to build a bridge over the Kei River started in 1877 when materials were shipped from London to East London and then carried by ox wagon to the site, but due to conflict with local people the building process was interrupted multiple times including the Frontier War.  From 1907 to 1917 the railway line was carried on a wooden bridge, but it washed away during a flood and thus had to be relocated to near the present day N2.

Thing was made easier for travellers.  Today there is a Shell Ultra City where you can buy your standard “garage pie” and coke and take a rest before commencing your trip on the treacherous Transkei roads. Take it slow and be on the lookout for pedestrian and stray animals.

Eventually the Kei River reaches the Indian Ocean as an estuary at Kei Mouth where you will still find a ferry transporting cars and pedestrians into rural Transkei, but more about the ferry crossing in another post.

Coordinates:  32°30’32.29″ S 27°58’48.60″ E

Altitude: 160 meters

oOo

The post YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE TRANSKEI : THE KEI BRIDGE appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

This gem can easily be passed by and before you know it, you end up missing the most delicious venison pie and you will have to settle for a garage pie at Storms River petrol station.  At Tsitsikamma Gardens Restaurant, you can park your car in the shade and take a stroll through the beautiful garden or relax on the ‘stoep’ while sipping on the homemade Ice Tea.

Or maybe you were adventurous and tired yourself out on one of the many activities the area has to offer.  The refreshing garden salad, all locally harvested from the farm, will freshen you up again.  The welcoming faces upon your arrival will make you feel at home and you get a sense of calmness when you take in the surroundings of the indigenous forest, farmlands and mountains.

What better way to celebrate your birthday or have a big function in such a beautiful setting, than by making a group booking where the owner will dish up some specialities and set the table to create the feeling of a 3 star restaurant.

Although this establishment is fairly new, it feels like this has been your regular stop for years.  The prices are good and the facilities are excellent.  This is truly an undiscovered gem.  With a well stablished garden with green grass, a VW Beatle and a kiddies bike among the other equipment in the kiddies playground, this is definitely a children friendly stop where parents can relax and let the kids tire themselves out for the road ahead.

Whether you are passing by or need a break to sit down and rest a while, whether it is for a coffee, a beer or a juice, savoury or sweet treats, you are sure to find something to your liking at this restaurant.  Make sure you browse through the selection of homemade biscuits and jams and take some with when you are heading to your final destination.

This stop sure makes the journey longer and the road shorter.  You are certain to leave here with a heavy heart as you are already planning your next trip and making sure that you stop here again.  This is a stop that every traveler along the route has to make.  You will not regret it.

Their trading hours are 08:00 until 17:00 daily.  Bookings for big groups for functions can be made by phoning the restaurant on +27 (0)72 809 7891

Find them at S 33° 58.981 E 024° 01.823

Note: Try their coffee/tea and cake special for R40, it is divine!

GUEST WRITER:  Inge

The post TSITSIKAMMA GARDENS RESTAURANT appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

Where are we going – love the planning stage!

You see this is where the practical me jumps in again.  I like it because:

There is nothing more rewarding when you are planning a trip than to spread out the map on the table and say that is where I want to go.

Yes, yes, I know the GPS shows me where I want to go, but sometimes we get so blinded by tunnel vision  focussing on what the GPS tells us what to do that we do not actually know where we are in the bigger picture.

Driving in town that is fine, you can just replace/recharge the batteries or plug into your car’s power source, but what happens if you are in deepest darkest Africa with no shops around to get the right size of batteries and/or no auto electrician to find the electrical failure and fix the problem while out there?

Seeing the bigger picture – nice!

Theft is a real issue these days in our day to day existence.  You are in Africa and jump out in a small village to buy that cold Coke to quench your thirst, but forget to press that button on the remote ….. Gone is your GPS!

You can even scribble a quick note or telephone number to someone on a piece of your map if needs be!

Ever spared a thought what you will do if you loose that vital satellite signal?  It is unbelievable what a piece of paper in your hand can do towards reassuring you on a remote adventure trip.   In our travels we have learned a few times that the GPS is not always right.

And then there is the me thing.   I do not always want to follow a tinned voice telling me what to do, because

I am me:

I am an individual …

I want to explore more …

I do not always want to follow …

I want to test my own navigational skills …

And what else tells a better story than a well travelled map with pigs ears, creases and plotted routes?

Our well travelled pig eared, coffee stained map from our Sudan trip – such good memories!

Hopefully I have planted a map “seed” while you were reading this.  So go out and buy that map, learn to orientate and read the map – sooner or later you will need that map!  And do not fret, we take our trusted Zumo on all our trips into the unknown.

…. and if you need some assistance in the planning department – I will gladly help!  Just email me.

“This heart of mine was made to travel the world.” – Unknown

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING ROUTES DROP ME AN E-MAIL

The post THE GOOD OLD PAPER MAP appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.