Colin and Derry Fleisig
Kent - UK
29 August 2008
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I met Colin and Derry at their Sea Point apartment and we set off on our Garden Route adventure.
We stopped in at Peregrine farmstall near Grabouw where we had some coffee and bought some biltong for our journey
On arrival in Swellendam we toured the town and then went for lunch to Oppie Stoep
Derry in one of the jails at the Old Gaol
Walking amongst the houses at the Old Gaol
We arrived at CV at 18h25 and after settling down and taking a short break we enjoyed a great fish meal cooked for us by Katrien.
Enjoying some port and Stilton cheese before retiring to bed.
DAY 2
TRAVEL TO KNYSNA
Enjoying and early morning walk on the Cape Vaccas beach
With Daan just before leaving Cape Vaccas
Colin next to a whale jawbone at the Diaz museum in Mossel Bay
Enjoying the exhibits and Diaz's Caravel at the Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay
We stopped in for lunch at the Ocean Basket in Mossel Bay and then moved on to the Wilderness and Sedgefield
Enjoying The Heads in Knysna just after sunset
After our visit to The Heads we travelled to Overmeer Guesthouse. After resting for a short while we visited Zest restaurant for a wonderful dinner.
DAY 3
STORMSRIVER AND TSITSIKAMMA
We travelled to the lookout point in Plettenberg Bay where the above picture was taken
At the Bloukrans Bridge where we encountered hard rain, heavy winds and hail. Brrr.
Enjoying a wonderful lunch at Alje van Demeent's forest home.
Alje's Rhodesian Ridgeback Boela joined us for lunch. JJ
We travelled back to Knysna and visited the Belvedere Estate. While on the estate we visited Belvedere Manor and had some tea at the Bell Tavern
An enlargement of part of the above picture to illustrate that our meals contained a reasonable amount of calories. JJ
In the evening we went to Firefly restaurant where we had a fantastic multi spiced meal presented to us by Dell and her staff.
DAY 4
TRAVEL TO OUDTSHOORN
Before leaving Overmeer Guesthouse
Derry examines a dressing table at Botha and Barnard near the Wilderness
Leaving the Outeniqua Railway Museum in the powervan
Returning from the 2.5 hour powervan journey
All aboard! JJ
With some of the many steam engines in the Outeniqua Railway Museum
We left the museum and stopped for lunch in George before starting our journey onto Oudtshoorn. We arrived at Mooiplaas at 18h15. in te evening we had a wonderful Ostrich streak barbecue cooked for us by Viljee Keller the owner of Mooiplaas guestfarm
DAY 5
TRAVEL OVER THE SWARTBERGE
We started our day with Koos from Mooiplaas taking Derry and Colin on a tour of the ostrich farm
Derry and Colin with some fine feathered friends. JJ
Having fun with the big birds. JJ
In the incubated chicken hatchery
At the Ostrich farm co-op where we bought some ostrich feathers
Colin and Derry with a snow covered Swartberg range in the background
On top of the Swartberge Brrr.
In the valley below the Swartberge
Having fun with the caddies on the Prince Albert golf course
Enjoying lunch at Cafe Albert in Prince Albert
Admiring an Aloe Ferox on our way to Oudtshoorn via Meiringspoort
In the evening we had a marvellous meal at Jemimas
DAY 6
RETURN TO CAPE TOWN
We started out our day by stopping in at Calitzdorp and visiting the museum where we found the historic last flag of SA which was used in the country handover ceremony in 1994
When we passed Ladysmith we saw lots of Klapperbos as seen above (Clapping bush)
We stopped in at Ronnies Sex Shop just before Barrydale
We enjoyed a wonderful lunchtime meal at Clarkes of the Karoo in Barrydale and the travelled on past Montagu, Ashton, Robertson, Worcester, Paarl and eventually Cape Town where on arrival at Derry's daughters home we unfortunately had to bade each other farewell.
.
This was truly a wonderful tour. Colin and Derry were fantastic people to tour with at all times. The ability that they had to go with the flow when on tour made this whole journey through the Garden Route a wonderful experience, not only for the two of them but also for me. The fun we had while travelling never stopped and we all learnt a lot from each other at all times. Overall this was a great tour for me to do with two very upright citizens who were always happy and friendly but most of all wanted to enjoy as much of the Garden Route as possible.
WHAT A GREAT GARDEN ROUTE TOUR.
HUGE THANKS
DERRY and COLIN
Received 24 September 2008
Hello Selwyn!
We've got ourselves together enough now to write a proper thank you
for the incredible six days that we spent with you. We have to say that
we felt so privileged to experience so much of the 'hidden' South
Africa that you were able to introduce us to. Something special every
day, from the wild serenity of Cape Vaccas to the 'klapperbos'.
We have nothing but praise for all the hospitality shown to us by
everyone we met en route - we were made to feel SO welcome. Our
memories of the ostriches are especially dear (as is Koos!). Back home, friends and family have appreciated your photo diary and, of course, we have a great reminder of what we did when.
It looks as if Joanna and Rob's wedding is going to be in South
Africa, so we could be back in October next year! See you then?
Very best wishes, Selwyn - good luck with all your tours, and your
sterling work in the township. We'll keep an eye on the travel
magazines because you're sure to turn up somewhere again soon!!
Thank you once again,
Derry and Colin.
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