Perfect Harmony




Very dear friends of ours from Cape Town Pieter & Gail Kroucamp have joined us up in the Berg for a while.
Isn't it amazing how the Drakensberg makes even couples with such diverse sporting allegencies forget about their differences for a while

 

Dragons Peak Panorama



Took this pic at 7am in the morning while out on a hike. It shows Dragons Peak from the airfield to the reception hall, the pub, restaurant, function hall in the middle of the lake to the camp sites under the trees on the right.



Air Force training



While out on a hike we spotted these Air Force helicopters arriving at our camp airfield. Apparently it is a regular thing as thet train pilots on the difficulties of flying in the montains.



At the "Berg Agricultural Show"



Christel explaining to Bernie the impracticalities of trading his camper in for ....
(See next pic)



FOR THIS



The theory being... That we can go anywhere on this mother



Dragons Peak - Our playground in the Berg



A view from the conference center in the middle of the lake showing the games room, fabulous pub, restaurant and chalets



Arrival in Dragons Peak - The Drakensberg



Arrival at Dragons Peak Resort. First impressions? Spectacular. The camp is situated 28 kms from Winterton on the slopes of Cathkin Peak



Hows this for a Fluke



Bernie while attempting to create an interesting night shot with an extended exposure, by pure coincidence caught the International Space Station passing overhead from right to leaft across the pic



"Jacobs Ladder" - Central Berg



Jacobs Ladder Falls



"Starry Starry Night"



A magnificent example of what one can create with an over exposure. Armed with a camera like Bernies, you can never get lost. Simply take an exposure like this and due South is in the middle of the concentric circles.



Bernie Breakaway - On to Lotheli



The sole occupant in a rest camp in Lotheli - Central Drakensberg



Sani Pass - A Sign ........ (of the times)



Bernie spent 20 minutes trying to work this one out. Could it maybe be a sign for aircraft.



Sani Pass - Moonset



The Zig Zag mountainous pass can be seen in the background as it rises to more than 3400 m



Sani Pass - S. Drakensberg



The spectacular scenery to be seen in  the Southern Drakensberg



Bernie Breakaway - Starting up the Sani Pass



Bernie got within 8 kms from the top of Sani Pass and a cold ale at the highest pub in Africa, when border officials turned him back because he was not driving a 4 x 4. Had to settle for a cold coffee instead.



The forerunner of the VENTER Trailer

This relic was owned by the voortrekker AJ Venter whose great great grandson went on to develop Venter Trailers from this prototype ........ I think

Glen Sheiling - Make a note of it - Go There

David (83 years young) and daughter Julie who made our 3 week stay in their beautiful park truly memorable.
David, besides showng us all the trails,directing us to all the sites, kept us enthralled around the camp fire with the most amazing tales of his life exploits. Our thanks to both of you and God Bless, we WILL be back. 
Make a note of this one campers you WONT regret it.

Nottingham Road - Spectacular send off



At 1.30 am in the morning the camping Gods sent us a magnificent electrical storm to bid us adieu



Hello all ! From Karkloof falls



Me and my goose and hond. Just another day .... another day in paradise



Ride em Cowboy

Gone are the days of a lone herdsman ringing a bell. This lad on a scrambler, hooter blaring, herded more than 300 cattle up the mountain in 3 minutes flat. The farm adjoins the Karkloof forests

How does he find these things?



While on his walk up the mountain Bernie found this spider sitting on a leaf lying on his web with the spray of the falls crystalising the whole effect. Beautiful !



Karkloof Valley

Berne's shot of the valley. The Kombi can just be seen under the pines in the picnic area (off centre right)

The main falls in Karkloof

The Karkloof Falls near Howick with the smaller falls (name escapes me) seen up river in the background. All the land is owned by Sappi who allow the public free access to the falls and great picnic areas. Thank you Sappi

The Baby Falls

Chris, myself and "Jack the Russell" (on a leash) taking in the splendour of the view down the valley from the smaller of the 2 falls at Karkloof. That night Christel woke up with a "SKRIK" as she had a dream about Jack being washed over the falls.

Karkloof Falls

The magnificent SAPPI Pine forest that surrounds the river at Karkloof Falls. It was good to see how well managed things seem there. As forestisation happens in one part, huge forrests of young pine trees are already planted and growing well in others.

Nog n' Duister



Bumped into a fellow camper from Hout Bay. Joachim (also German) wandering where the noise is coming from as a swarm of "miggies" engulf him



Full Moon over the Glen

Magnificent "moon rise" over our camp

"Boer War" defence

On a walk in the hills we found this trench and fortification going back to the Boer War. David, the owner says that if you dig around there are spent cartridges to be found.

Glen Sheiling - Aerial view

Bernie climbed up the hill on the opposite side of the camp to get this gr8 pic

Don't miss this in the Midlands Meander

I had to go and get the mixing desk repaired. Bernie & Chris along with 2 British tourists did the canopy tour.

More than 1 kilometer of what is essentially a "foofie slide" made up of 8 sections. After being taken by 4x4 to the "launch pad" you slide from treetop platform to platform high above the forest canopy, sometimes more than 100ft above it. Absolutely stunning and well worth the R450 per person (Lunch included)

No turning back now

Bernie with a frozen smile off on the 1st slide
His face stayed that way for 10 minutes

Down the valley we go



Christel off on the 1st slide



YAAHELLPP



Not the best first landing



That was close



Don't tell me there are 7 more of these pleeeze



GERONIMO !

Tarzan at speed thru the tree tops

Hey...this ain't so bad



After a nervous start our intrepid "tree dwellers" grow in confidence



The rewards for perserverance

A successful landing AT LAST

OUCH !

Tarzan about to give new meaning to the term "SKID MARKS ON MY BUM"

How many grannies can do this - "action lady"



Is my goose phased by a 100ft drop... not on your life



Long Overdue



Me auld mate and fellow entertainer Robin Boltman displaying his recently awarded "Heroism and Patriot award he recieved from the Society of American Magicians in recognition of the heroic role he played in both the Oceanos and Achille Lauro disaters. He is the first non American to ever be bestowed with this pretigious award. A tremendous achievement albeit 15 years too late in my humble opinion.

Robin is also the new owner of The Argyle Arms country Inn, a beautiful and well appointed little hotel in Mooi River. We wish him all the success in the world in his new venture



The Medal

Beautiful award presented to Robin

Marathon Set

On stage at the "Argie". Got on stage at 8pm took one break and got off at 3.15 am. Real staying power these "midland meanderers"

Festive Crowd Indeed

Part of the really festive crowd that attended the show at The Argyle Arms

Traditional Fish & Chips - The Argyle Arms Mooi River



Some local "trailer trash" tucking into the Fish & chips , newspaper and all.
Only kidding my brother Lenard suprised us with a visit all the way from Durban



The Fat Trek



On a genuine Ox Wagon near Fort Nottingham.

Thing must weigh 3 tons, how did they get these over the mountains?



Our Pool Room



Can you think of a better setting to play pool?



Our front garden at Glen Shieling caravan park



Sorry to harp on this but how can one get tired of waking in the morning, looking out the motorhome window and seeing this. I could become a permanent resident here in the future lol



Your Hostess at Swissland Cheese



Andrea our well travelled and free spirited hostess was great with helping us choose really tasty extras to compliment our picnic basket - Don't enter into a debate about cheese with her you will come second



Swissland Cheese - For an unbelievable array of truly great cheeses



Do not pass through the Midlands Meander without a visit to this fabulous cheesery



A cheese brunch in "The garden of Eden"



A mid-morning brunch at Swissland cheese. Sorry for 2 things. 1) It was too early to wash this feast down with a bottle of chilled wine and 2) You cannot see the view from where we were sitting