2010/11 Around South Africa

[FlyFree]

Been considering whether I should attempt this for a while. I will try.

I'd ask for your patience, trying to sort out the pic upload mystery....

Faces have been blurred. Not because I have anything against you seeing it, it's just me and the internet that have this understanding.

Spent a year travelling SA. Arrived mid-winter and spent a few months in Johannesburg.


Now let's see if I can make the picture magic happen.





She loves winter clothing, for some odd reason. Probably the novelty.


As an aside. Notice the green? I lived in Jhb for a long time, it ain't green in Jhb in winter.

[FlyFree]

As we were to travel for a year, had to buy a car. I like French cars. Not as reliable as Jap crap but that's not what everything is about.







Fled Jhb for the warmer climes of the Natal South Coast. We decided to wait out the winter there as she has always wanted to see Cape Town but on previous visits we never had the chance.

It's cold, wet and dreary in the Cape in winter.






Rented a house on the beach in Port Edward, a tiny village on the tip of the South Coast.





Worked out quite cheaply, all things considered. Around Bht 40 000/month for a 2 bedroom on the beach is a gift.

[superman]

You should have linked up with 'Tsicar'. He lives Jo'burg.

[FlyFree]

These pics are still messing me about.


Generally I'm a sort of a loner. Enjoy company but don't seek it out.


Wtf can't I change pic size. Always comes up the same.

[FlyFree]

Natal coast is the place to be in SA's winter. Still warm enough even for a swim.

Was there during the annual sardine run up the coast. Great whale, dolphin and general feeding-frenzy watching from the porch. With a good bottle of SA Cabernet Sauvignon at decent price.


And great, clean beaches.

[FlyFree]

This is hard work. Can't size pics. Help.

[draco888]

Pic size looks ok to me.

French cars? Do you enjoy picking up the pieces of plastic constantly unattaching themselves in their bid for freedom.

[FlyFree]

I've owned 2 Peugeots. There's been a couple of Citroens in my family. Never had pieces detaching themselves.

Can't speak for the Citroens, but Peugeot is a great car. I've owned many cars. Jap. German, American, Brit. Love the Peugeot.

But won't buy one again.

There is a story though, It'll come later.

[draco888]

I've owned 2 Peugeots. There's been a couple of Citroens in my family. Never had pieces detaching themselves.

Can't speak for the Citroens, but Peugeot is a great car. I've owned many cars. Jap. German, American, Brit. Love the Peugeot.

But won't buy one again.

There is a story though, It'll come later.

I've had experience of peugeots and plastic did not seem to want to stay attached. I could also mention cracked cylinder head as well.....suppose it depends which factory they come from to a certain degree.

The largest citroens do have a certain quirky appeal though....

[Dillinger]

Peugeots are shit. I worked at their plant in ryton coventry as a quality inspector. It got shut down around 7 years ago.

The boot compartments are quite comfy. I had many long snoozes in them.

Oh. Nice pics and commentary flyfree. Enjoying this thread

[FlyFree]

Peugeots are shit. I worked at their plant in ryton coventry as a quality inspector. It got shut down around 7 years ago.

The boot compartments are quite comfy. I had many long snoozes in them.

Oh. Nice pics and commentary flyfree. Enjoying this thread

I like an honest man. Have a beer on me.

Maybe that'll give Draco some closure on his bits that fell off.

[FlyFree]

After 6 weeks we had to move house. Found this one just down the road, at much less rent as not directly on the beach.

3 bedroom all with en-suite. SA is a badly marketed bargain.




Wtf invented 3/4 pants and slippers??

[Ratchaburi]

Great Thread & pic's FF

[FlyFree]

So after 2 months spring sprung and it was off to the Cape. It's a long drive down the coast, approx. 1500 km, so we would stay over a couple of days in Knysna, about 2/3 of the way.

Got plenty nice pics in the post later with requests for cash, or else....



Before you hit Knysna there's a magic little place called Nature's Valley.






I was shocked by the state of the place. Many of the properties are flooded, the whole village was decaying. That was a really sad sight. I loved that place.
Unfortunately I left my wife to do the clicking, so no pics.




If you look on Google there's plenty pretty pics, but I wonder how many of them are old.



The road to the place has fallen into a terrible state of disrepair, this a narrow winding road that goes down into a valley.

[FlyFree]

As an aside. Notice the green? I lived in Jhb for a long time, it ain't green in Jhb in winter.

I want to expand on this a little. When staying in Jo'burg I was a bit of a rose lover. Grew a lot of them around my property and enjoyed intimate contact with my roses. You just have to be careful of the thorns...

Roses harden off or die back (whatever the correct term is) in winter in Jhb. They have to. That's why they did so well there.

On a previous visit I was astonished to see roses actually blooming in winter.

Just thought I'd share.

[Mousepad]

My sister has a house in Knysna! SA is one of my favourite countries and as I was bought up in Southern Africa the two of us go back a long way. Actually going back out for a family reunion at the end of this month .... Looking forward to it too!

Great thread and am enjoying the pics.

[FlyFree]

^Bring biltong/dry wors!! Had properties in Knysna & Widerness, lived there for 5 years.


I appreciate the support, don't expect too much. The wife clicked away as I said, I wasn't much interested in 'creating memories'. I'll do what i can.

Knysna is located in the heart of the Garden Route, a magnificent stretch of forested land sandwiched between the Tsitsikamma mountain range and the Indian Ocean.

This area has so many attractions you really have to linger and explore the forests, mountain passes, waterfalls, beaches and villages.



So we arrived in Knysna late afternoon. A lovely little town on a lagoon.

[FlyFree]

More Knysna. There used to be a timber mill. now closed, in Knysna, it was what kept the town going till tourism took off.

Entrance to the lagoon from the sea is between two "Heads" and the current can be treacherous. In the days when sailing ships made the entry, many were wrecked.














There are house boats for rent, a great way to spend time there.

[Marmite the Dog]

This is hard work. Can't size pics. Help.

You're not linking to the full sized image, just a thumbnail of it.

Remove the 'normal_' from the image's link.

[FlyFree]

^Thanks much. Was just about to grapple with it again.

[FlyFree]

TBH, it feels like sacrilege posting these pics. The area is so magnificent that these pics make me cringe.

Added to that it was rainy and overcast when we went through, so everything looks sorta greyish.

Nevertheless.


A bit down the road is Wilderness.



I usta walk with my todler on that beach....


This whole district has many lakes and lagoons.

Wilderness is a small village. Some good restaurants with great atmosphere there, where we had lunch.

[FlyFree]

Just over the hill from Wilderness is the Kaaimans River mouth.




They have a steam train running between George and Knysna.



The rivers in this area are all tinted reddish from the tannin picked up in the forests.

[Loy Toy]

I love South Africa particularly Durban and Capetown, reminds me of the beaches and surf conditions in Australia.

Jo'Berg I can take or leave.

Nice thread big ears.

[FlyFree]

[FlyFree]

Fast forward a bit and leaving the Garden Route you pass through an area of wheatfields and small towns.





Riversdale.




Magic little bakery in this town. Stocked up on way too many pies and various tidbits.

I love the way many little towns and villages have an unexpected gem in them.