Thomas River - All you need to know on the sign



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.



Thomas River - "The Owners"



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.



Thomas River - " The Guvners"



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.



Thomas River - Halloween Party



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



Thomas River - The Band



Entertainment for the evening was supplied by "SIMON C SAW & THE WAILERS"



Thomas River - "Auld Day Approach"



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



Thomas River - Say no more



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



Thomas River - House rules & Tariffs



Although they're a friendly bunch here, the following rules are to be strictly adherred to .... lol



Thomas River - Stunning



Cell phone battery dead,? wanna make a call? No problem simply nip outside the pub to the "tickey box".
How beautifull are those roses?



Thomas River - The Rock Art Museum



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.



Thomas River - The Pub



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.



Thomas River - The start of my diet



Everybody here is so lean and healthy I have decided to go on diet and limit mysekf to only one beer a day



Thomas River - Pendulum working there ?



Two of the jovial characters who welcome you to the Pub. Looks a lot like Rusty and Richard from Pendulum. What you say guys?



Thomas River - Jeff's "Pride and Joy"



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.



Thomas River - Simply the Best



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



Thomas River - If it's fit for a King then its .....



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 !"



Thomas River - The Garage



Would you believe that the old garage still has on display the original forerunners of the currently recognised petrol and diesel pumps



Thomas River - The Main Street



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.



Thomas River - The Church



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



Thomas River - Jeff's Joys



Just some of the magnificent history collected by Jeff to be seen in the Motor Museum, Library and Blacksmiths shop



Bernie Breakaway - Hogsback



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



The"Weatherstone" in Hogsback



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



The Hogsback "Californian Rewoods"



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.



The Labyrinth - Hogsback



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 



And just to prove it



This appearance of this "photoshopped fairy" evidence had the locals qualifying their claims like you wont believe



The "39 Step Falls - Hogsback



The 39 Step falls in Hogsback



Flouris & Berta - River of Joy Caravan Park Bloemfontein



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. 



Arrival at River of Joy Caravan Park Bloemfontein



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.



On to Queenstown



Bernie's view of our rig on the road as he desperately tries to "keep up" lol



Trevor - Where the hell does he sit?



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.



The Restaurant - Golden Gate - Royal Natal National Park



When we saw this sign we pictured turning left and sitting down to some Wild Oysters washed down with a bottle of chilled champagne



Dinner is served



Turned out to be a place where the consevation people lay out carcasses for the preservation and monitoring of Vultures



"Basuto Village" RNN Park



Just asmall part of the beautifully restored Basuto Village to be seen in the Royal Natl National Park



Caves Aplenty



If one cares to explore the Golden Gate pass you will discover scores of caves carved into the sides of these sandstone mountains



Check out the face



Bernie christened this eerie face as "The Keeper of the Cave"



Golden Gate Pass - RNN Park



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.



Royal Natal National Park - Golden Gate



The beautiful Brandwag Peak lt up at night



Bergwoning Adventure Farm - Clarens



Thuys & Zieta who own the Bergwoning Adventure farm 15kms from Clarens and only 5km from the SE Gate of the Royal Natal National Park.. Zieta is also an accomplished artist whose works are on display and available for purchase at the "Koffie Pot" and restaurant on site. All of the normal adventure activities are available at Bergwoning.



Arrival at Bergwoning in Clarens



At the time of taking this pic some 20 minutes after arrival we had seen herds of sheep, horses and springbok in the camp. Got the whole camp to ourselves.



Veal on a spit ?



A cow calf plonks itself down in our camp and adopts the CHANA as a mother figure



I'll have none of that



Mother ignoring the "NO COWS ALLOWED" sign I put on the braai, promptly walks straight through our camp to intervene (and tramples my TV cable)



Intervention



Mother explaining in no uncertain terms that there will be no adoption



HLALANATHI - THE A TEAM




The team at HLALANATHI DRAKENSBERG RESORT
From left Karla (Reception) Heather (The Guvner) and Rene (Housekeeping)
To book at this highly recommended resort phone Karla on 036 438 6308

 

On a Drive



On a drive through the hills with the Amphitheatre clearly visible in the background



Hlalalnathi - This setting takes some beating




I have no idea what the word Hlalalnathi means in Zulu, but the word PARADISE springs to mind

 

The Casscades & Mc Kinnleys Pool



A short 8 minute drive from Hlalanthi takes one to the gates of The Royal Natal National park where we went on a hike to the Casscades. I took this pic of Bernie and Christel after appologising to the sole German couple who were enjoying the solitude... when suddenly



The Dutch Invasion




Suddenly the site was invaded by a group of 40 plus cheese eating, folk singing Dutch tourists
"Mein Gott" said the Germans, "#*^#@^ it" said us and we all beat a hasty retreat.

 

Hlalanathi - Went from this ....



The weather closed in and the camp was hit with a spectacular thunder shower which lasted all of 20 minutes



To This



After the thunder storm the camp was hit with a sudden hail storm which lasted all of 4 minutes. The biggest hail stones we have ever seen. The size of golf balls but fortunately no damage



And this ..... Ice from heaven



Collected enough of the best ice in the world to last us a week or 3 bottles of J&B, which ever comes first.