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| While focusing on a spot where whales were breaching, suddenly these two cormmarants flew right past our camp site into pictre. Old Bernie "lightning trigger" Weimar was up to it. Well done! |
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| If we've seen one we've seen a hundred. Breaching Whales and Dolphins are doing their thing daily here. One just has to scan the ocean for a minute or two and "voila" |
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| Here our hero feeling as blue as the neon light makes him appear, attempts in typical bonehead macho style to settle every drink sent up to the stage. Well they did pay good money for it dammit. Cant remember the last 45 minutes (which in my defence, was beyond the hours of booked performance) Other than that I was "brilliant" lolol Never again ... it is a party trick that has seen the last of me |
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| Part of the large 550 odd crowd that attended this years annual "Truckers. Congratulations to all at TRI-SKYE EVENTS in EastLondon who co-ordinated the event... welldone! Great vibe, great venue, great food, brilliant early entertainment. |
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| There were some very attractive ladies in attendance at the annual "Truckers Lunch" in Esat London this year, and I'm not talking about the two goons in the foreground lol |
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| One of the many pretty nursing shooter girls looking after the health of patrons. Sadly other than deliver some of the 30 odd tequillas to me, she showed little interest in the ageing "Pop Star" on stage ....sigh I wish I were a 22 year old surfer. |
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| Bernie getting "tipped" to empty his pockets after neglecting to buy a round. Only kidding, its a ritual to new visitors to the Buffallo Club whereby you have to drink a tequilla standing on your head. Bernie could'nt stand upright anyway at that stage so he was assited |
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| The view from our tent at Yellow Sands Caravan Park, just 27km north of East London and the start of the wild coast. Yellow sands is a huge park with many, many seafacing powered sites. The park is well maintained and appointed. Taffifs are excellent much cheaper than The Areena and offering both river and ocean swimming ... beautiful. How do you non - camping folk exist looking at the same view every day. Hit the road Jack, for great experiences, great people, great places. |
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| A beautiful sunrise rising from the sea. As Capetonians, we just cant get used to it ... it supposed to set there dammit |
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| 'Jack the Russell' spends hours every day in this position, running down to the beach as canine talent walks by and then back to his post |
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| The Kwelera River mouth that borders the Yellow Sands Caravan park affords visitors the very best in both river and ocean swimming...absolutely stunning |
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| The sun has set as our hero cooks up the last batch of the 200 odd prawns we "pigged out " on. Even "Jack the Russell does not want to see another .... well maybe not for a week |
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| Where does one start when you discover a place that has it all for everyone. Thomas River is the brainchild of Jeff Sanson an East London businessman who purchased the entire village some nine years ago. It took him two seperate deals to secure, but he finally achieved it. With no permanent residents in his village to vote onto council, this makes him the Lord Mayor, Town Clerk, Fire Chief, Chief of Traffic all to boot etc. He has literally resurrected a derelict village into something to be truly proud of. Available at this moment to Campers, Corporates, and anyone wishing to utilise the many facilities are +/- 40 grassed caravan and camping sites all with power, ablutions, scullery and gamesroom. A beautifully appointed Pub and seperate 150 seater restaurant that have prices low enough to reflect favourably on the very era they are attepting to depict... unbelievable. All this leads out onto a huge outside "beer garden" that can be totally enclosed with a marquee if required, as well as the heated swimming pool. Also on offer for functions is the Townhall itself with a wonderful little church to perform wedding ceromonies a "chip and a putt" away. For the culture vultures there is the Rock Art Museum, The Motor Museum, the original Blacksmith Shop (currently being renovated into a "working facility) The Wagon Museum, an old Library that "skriks for niks", 2 star rated self catering units for 26 people (although you'd be crazy to self cater, you cannot prepare quality fare cheaper than that you will pay at this venue) and the old Post Office. The whole village itself is encircled by a 35km excellent gravel "ringroad" that is ideal for cross country, and mountain bike races. Longer distances can be created by utilising the surrounding farms. Imagine starting and ending your event from the Main steet and finishing off the day with a party at one of the many venues available on your doorstep. To the thousands of followers of this blog, LET WEL! Situated only 29 km from Cathcart on the N6 to East London (the last 4 km on excellent gravel road) Get yourselves down or up to Thomas River Historical Village, you won't find more pleasant and accomodating people to deal with in a hurry. I'll put my "Crock on a Block" you will thank me. |
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| Jeff and Ann Sansom pictured here along with "Jack the Russell's" latest love Tina. You are looking here readers at two people who have, and continue to work so very hard to make their vision for their village a reality while in so doing are creating a very...very special place for us campers to visit. All of this while still putting in a full days work at Jeff's Trucking business in East London Thank you and congratulations to Jeff, Ann, Andrew, Michelle and to all who have contributed. |
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| Jeff and Ann's son-in-law and daughter Andrew and Michelle Rielly who do such a superb job playing "mein host" creating such a positive vibe and making everyone feel so very welcome. |
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| How lucky were we to arrive on the 29th October, the night of The Halloween Party hosted by Andrew and Michelle. Christel refused to pose for the pic because Peter the "scotsman" asked her to remove her mask while dancing with her. The only problem with that is that she wasn't wearing one. lolol |
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| Entertainment for the evening was supplied by "SIMON C SAW & THE WAILERS" |
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| This is perhaps what one would have seen as you approached Thomas River station on your way to East London back then. OK maybe not the Kombi |
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| One would look out of the compartment window and say ... Gawd we're only at Thomas River still a full day to get to East London |
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| Although they're a friendly bunch here, the following rules are to be strictly adherred to .... lol |
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| Cell phone battery dead,? wanna make a call? No problem simply nip outside the pub to the "tickey box". How beautifull are those roses? |
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| What Jeff has done here is really unique. He photograhed all the major well known Rock Art sites in the Drakensberg and surrounding areas, and had them recreated by an artist with specific detail to size, layout and colour. Its like touring a dozen or so of the sites in one cave. It might not suit the "purist" but what it does do is unlike the original sites, give one an idea of just how stunning they must have looked a couple of thousand years ago.... Brilliant. |
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| The beautifull rustic pub brimming with history. Here Christel chats to Rosie who runs the bar during the day. Rosie is full of stories of the past and is a charmingly gracious and warm host, as is all of the folk we have met here. |
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| Everybody here is so lean and healthy I have decided to go on diet and limit mysekf to only one beer a day |
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| Two of the jovial characters who welcome you to the Pub. Looks a lot like Rusty and Richard from Pendulum. What you say guys? |
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| This simply magnificent 1929 Rubgy Motorhome is something to behold. It looks stronger and heavier than an armoured car and wide enough to seat 5 persons upfront comfortably. They didn't worry about weight in them days, it even has a 4 plate gas stove and oven with a knotty-pine ceiling . It is powered by the original 2.2lt Continental engine with a 6 speed gear box using 2 diffs. Jeff's biggest hassle is remembering which gear he is in, as once you have changed to second and want to advance to third you have to first change the diff and vice versa when changing down ...yipes. Wait for it ... top speed is a staggering, vision blurring 35 m.p.h. |
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| Hows the stable door and indicator arm. I'd like to see the driver use it if he was driving alone. Impossible I say, this thing is wider than a Hummer .....just fabulous. I would also like to have been a fly on the wall to see the heads turn in disbelief as Jeff drove it up to Thomas River |
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| Princes William and Harry pictured here at the Pub (where else) while in SA on a motorbike tour. Harry was heard to exclaim while inspecting Jeff's Royal Family Memorabilia "Crikey, there's me Mum !" |
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| Would you believe that the old garage still has on display the original forerunners of the currently recognised petrol and diesel pumps |
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| The quaint Main Street of Thomas River. This section along with the townhall and church formed part of Jeff's second aquisitions in the village. |
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| A beautiful little 60 seater chapel borders the graveyard of family and friends of previous owners. There is also the graves of two British soldiers from the Somerset Light Infantry unit killed at Thomas River in 1901 |
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| Just some of the magnificent history collected by Jeff to be seen in the Motor Museum, Library and Blacksmiths shop |
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| While we went to Thomas River, Bernie decided to do a 'breakaway" to Hogsback. As we parted ways in Cathcart this is the sign that greeted him as he entered the 49km backroad. It fully vindicated my decision not to follow and subject "Jack the Russell" to the trauma. The adjective "BONE JARRING" should be inserted between the word BAD and ROAD......lol |
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| The very informative sign at the Weatherstone in Hogsback keeps visitors abreast of what to expect from the weather on any given day, including Eathquake forecasts ....unbelievable, we should all get one |
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| Californian Redwood trees abound in the forests around Hogsback. I am not aware of anywhere else they can be seen in such abundance, or indeed what Californian brought them to our shores. |
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| Hogsback is steeped in mysterious myths and claims of the appearances of elves and apparitions on dark misty nights. Bernie valliantly went looking for them, sadly to no avail. Even his deliberate, intentional, foray into his Overmeer "Happy Box" failed to manifest any such apparitions. Oh well it was worth the effort.....hic |
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| This appearance of this "photoshopped fairy" evidence had the locals qualifying their claims like you wont believe |
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| Flouris & Berta, two nicer people you cannot wish to meet, who own the camp. Flouris who is a retired Electrical Engineer is brimming with ideas on how to improve their already excellent camp site as well as exciting "engineering projects" he wants to ultimately market. Give them your support campers, they're a truly lovely couple. We will be back for longer you guys and thank you. |
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| We discovered a quite magnificent little park just 25km North of Bloemfontein at the Modderrivier turn off. It is blessed with stunning well manicured grass sites (all powered) and views of the Modder River that offers swimming "to die for" Remember this one campers "RIVER OF JOY" it is well worth a visit. |
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| Trevor, a Free State local stuck on the side of the road with a puncture. After many valliant but fruitless attempts to get his bike into the Kombi, Bernie bunged him R20 to get his puncture fixed and a cold drink. Fortunately he was only 10kms from his desitination. All of this for a "Cheetahs Supporter" as well. |
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| When we saw this sign we pictured turning left and sitting down to some Wild Oysters washed down with a bottle of chilled champagne |
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| Turned out to be a place where the consevation people lay out carcasses for the preservation and monitoring of Vultures |
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| Just asmall part of the beautifully restored Basuto Village to be seen in the Royal Natl National Park |
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| If one cares to explore the Golden Gate pass you will discover scores of caves carved into the sides of these sandstone mountains |
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| The Golden Gate pass which reaches gradients of 1/7 in places. First gear stuff for the poor motor home pulling the 1 1/2 tons of Chana behind it. Kept looking in the rear view mirror half expecting to see it dissapearing over a cliff if the bolts on the A Frame snapped. |
