Archives for April 2017

Hole in Wall

48km

We woke up this morning wondering where to go ….  Hole in the Wall or Lighthouse.  Spoke to a few guys and they did not seem to know much.  We decided to head for Mbashee lighthouse.  While we were still on the concrete road, we decided to change our plans.  We chatted about this and decided to turn around and go to the Hole in the wall.

With regards to the light house, we have decided to leave this mosquito infested abode where the showers and toilets are far from rustic, and head for a new camp site.  Although this campsite is beautiful, we both feel that we can do better.  Tomorrow we will head for Dwesa campsite and hopefully we wont be carried away by these blood sucking buzzing horrific insects, that have no right to our blood.  I would hate to be here is the heat of summer time.  I think these bugs will be deadly.  But anyhow, we had an amazing day.

We turned around and headed for the Hole in the wall.  What is 9km of dirt road, took us over 1.5 hours of driving.  This road can be done in a normal car, but in the wet season, forget it.  I was grateful that my bakkie was able to do this.  We arrived at the stop point and then walked for about 2 km to the hole.  What a sight.  We spent quite a while just looking at the space wondering how it has happened.  The whole mountain is split in half.  The hole is on the right and a hill on the left.  The mind boggles at the strength of nature and what it can do.

We watched some crazy guys jumping off the edge under the arch into the sea.  Really ….  Are you mad … Why do this… But anyhow….  They enjoy the thrill.  We headed back to the car only to be met but the “car Guards”  He told me my jammy was fine.  I said thank you and what will this cost me for your 2 hours of guarding.  He told me R70.  I said thank you so much I cant pay you that.  I don’t have that amount of money.  I will give you R10 and R10 for the old man.  He said ok R30.  I told him R20…  take it or leave it.  He took it and mumbled away.

We then headed back to the campsite.  I saw an incredible photo opportunity.  We stopped only to be harassed by 4 little girls.  They were quite aggressive towards us when we tried to leave.  The oldest one accused of us of running away and asking why we left and if we were scared of a lion.  This for me was horrible as I am a tourist in my own country and this would really leave a bad taste for anyone who was visiting here.  But anyhow, this is what has happened and I cant change it.

We arrived back at the camp, had a shower, chilled in the shade, had some supper and crashed.  What a day….  Nice, slow and relaxed.  Crawled into bed with the sounds of crickets, bugs and the waves on the rocky shore.  Tomorrow is a new day and a new adventure.

Port St Johns – Coffee Bay

Coffee Bay Campsite

203 km

Weather still amazing.

We woke up to a very wet and misty morning.  We decided to take it slow as we needed to have the tent dryer than what it currently was.

Mom made an awesome breakfast of fried eggs and tomatoes with fried potatoes. .Yummy.  A good breakfast to start the day where we have some serious driving to do.

We headed for the lighthouse and landed up walking up a hill for about 2.5 km.  Again very pretty scenery and a very rugged coast line.  Being a ship traveller in these waters must have been quite nerve wrecking.  Landing up on these rocks with such high cliffs, must have been terrifying.  Thank goodness to these light houses.

This light house for me is one of the prettiest ones around.  The write up about this lighthouse is really cute…. “Even lighthouses have a dream of having their own sea-side patch of grass on the perfect hillside bordered by a little wooden picket fence.”  This says it all.

Mom and me strolled down this hill and left Port St Johns feeling energised and fit enough to take on the next adventure.  We had a quick snack and a cold drink and hit the road.

This was quite an uneventful drive, but it did take most of the day.  Driving through lots of little villages and people selling goods on the side of the road.

We arrived in Coffee Bay and headed for the Camp site.  A good friend of mine suggested that we don’t go to Coffee Bay as it is a questionable place, but Im glad I did come here.  The camp site is rather rustic but situated in a forest it is very pretty,  the bird life is amazing…  This includes the mosquitoes.  They are quite happy to feast on you and even when you have killed about 20, they still keep arriving.

The beach on the other side of the fence is a beach =like I have never seen.  The sand has been replaced by rock and pebbles.  No sand visible.  Very interesting.  Will come tomorrow in explore a bit further.  Time to hit the duvet as I am exhausted.  The night sounds are deafening.  I suppose the forest is alive.  Sleep tight.

Mkhambathi to Port Saint Johns

Weather is amazing

Cremorne Caravan Park

162 km

Mom dragged me out of our luxurious accommodation to go and take some sunrise photographs.  The moisture in the morning air was nothing like what we had arrived with.  The scenery here is mind blowing.  I cant express it any more than this … you have to visit this place to experience this place.  It is absolutely awesome.  This particulate accommodation is right on the sea and wave edge.  The waves are breaking over the rocks right in front of the door.  You can feel the spray coming off the waves.

After packing up our very expensive accommodation…. Tent pitched in run down rondaval…. No windows, no hot water, no electricity, we left for Port St Johns.  I was very sad to leave here as I would love to have had some time to explore the area.

It was at this point that I realised that I had taken the wrong road to reach the light house.  I should have gone to Mzikhaba, but this was the best that I could do under these circumstances.  I will return to grab this image of this lighthouse at a later stage.

Here I have waded through calf muscle deep water to see if my bakkie will make it, waded through calf muscle deep water to photograph water lilies in a nature reserve.  This is a first.  I had no idea that they grew out in the wild.  Time to head for Port St Johns.

There was not much to write home about with this leg of the drive.  Pretty landscape scenery with little thatch huts dotted all around.  What a serene landscapes.  I would be happy to live here.

We headed for Port St Johns.  Came across a n interesting  sign advertising a Spar shop ….  “Only 133 bends to go”.  At the half way point we came across another sign saying “You are half way there ….  Only 68 bends to go”  We counted the bends and believe it or not, these people can count.

Arrived at the main bridge and turned left to Port St Johns.  We went through to find the Tourist information center where we found an amazing Caravan Resort …  Cremorne Caravan and resort.  I highly recommend this place. I managed to organise a camping space for 2 pensioners as I have a fair amount of grey hair and they agreed that I could be a pensioner for the day.

We went looking for the Port St Johns lighthouse, but gave up due to evening lights descending  on us.  Went and pitched tent and enjoyed the sunset at the park.

 

Leisure View Caravan Park, Port Edward – Mkhambathi Nature Reserve

Stunning weather

We said our Good byes to George Morbin and headed for the Bridge at Wild Coast Casino. Took a quick photo of the Red Desert and headed off.
The goal for today was to get to Port St Johns. Let’s hold thumbs that we make it. We knew that the trip was going to be hectic but who knows. Things do work out for the best. We went through about 5 stop go traffic control posts. At these points we waited about 20 minutes each time. The problem with these is that it put some serious time constraints onto our trip. But anyhow… let see what happens, Arrived in Bizana and filled up with petrol as I was not sure what was ahead of me. Turned left and headed for Flagstaff and Holy Cross. I am hoping to get the photos of the lighthouse at Mkhambathi and then head to Port St Johns. The road…. Well that is something that needs to be discussed over a few glasses of wine. The sand road was hectic…. But driveable as long as you could stop in time for the holes . water run offs, corregation., goats. Kids. Cows. People and anything else that makes a road crazy.
We headed for Mkambathi iin hope of capturing the light house. Rather excited about this reserve as I have heard so much about it and not sure what to expect.
Arrived there at Mkhambathis after 2.5 hours of dirt road from Flagstaff. The last 5 km were fantastic as there was road works and they were laying down some crushed stone. At last at Mkhambathi to find out that they do not allow camping. We are too late to turn back to go to Port St Johns, So I had to beg for assistance. If they did not allow us to stay then we would head for the plantation and sleep in the car. There was no way that I was heading back up that sand road.
So after a fair amount of begging, saying that I was happy to sleep on the floor in their office, to sleep in their car park, they offered us a rondaval.
Now this rondaval was something that no-one would ever accept, but I was desperate. They told me they were full. But there was this rondaval. But there were a few issues…. No hot water, no electricity, no bed, and a window missing. I think they gave us this in hoping that we would turn away, little did they realise that I would take anything. So mom and I arrived at this hut…. Wow what a sight but the wind was so strong that it was bringing heavy swells and lots of moisture with it,
We pitched our tent in the hut just to get out of the wind and moisture. Not a very good night but we were safe and off the road
I park my van in front of the window to try to reduce the wind, but the wind did subside and all was good.
The scenery here was amazing. Wish I could stay longer. I now understand why this place has such a huge calling card. One day I will return.

All Broken Up……

Margate – Port Edward

Sunny and awesome weather

KM

After a good night rest at friends home in Margate…..  It was time to hit the road again.  The goal was to get to Port St Johns.  A mammoth distance to travel, but let’s see what we can do.

Our first stop of the morning was at Ramsgate.  I found this keg with some woman who had fallen in head first.  Moral of the story is …. There is no need to scrape the bottom of the barrel…

Our goals for today were to get to the Port Edward Lighthouse and to find the Ship wreck remains of a fishing trawler and to go to the Red Desert and to look at the bridge at the Sun coast Casino.

We arrived at Glenmore beach in search of the ship wreck.  I had no idea on what I was looking for other than to head north towards some rocks north of the lagoon.  We arrived to find the boiler lodged in the rocks with bits and pieces of the wreck scattered far and wide.  This was an awesome find.  The rust colours are so amazing that I could spend so much time here, but the clock was ticking and we were getting worried about the distance we had to travel.

Our next find was the light house (Cape Hermes) in Port Edward.  Very pretty area, but sadly lighthouse keeper was not around to give us a guided tour.  Maybe one day I will return for a tour.

Time to head for Red Desert.  After we had made a booking for the night at Leisure Bay Camp site, we headed for the Desert and Bridge.  In short….  Don’t bother about this desert.  Far as Mom and me are concerned it does not exist.  There is a sign board showing Red Desert and that is about all.  We parked our car and walked for quite a distance but found nothing.  Bumped into a Surveyor and asked if he knew about the Desert, but he also knows about it but also can’t find it.  Maybe on day when I’m fitter and have time on my side, a good search of the area might be a good idea.

We drove through the bridge passed the Casino and decided to head back to the campsite for tea and coffee and to chill for the evening.  Checked in around 15:30.  What a stunning campsite.  Sadly far away from the sea but we should get an awesome sunrise tomorrow morning.  This Camp site is well worth the stay.

 

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The Hunt is on….

Cloudy, sunny(Maybe), rain and ok weather

Karridene – Margate

Light houses:  Scottburg, Ifafa, Port Shepstone

119 km

We woke up this morning to rain outside.  Lots of rain during the night and was worried about today.  Got up and headed for the beach.  Could not wait to walk on the sand and get feet wet.  Headed down and loved every moment.  Still in PJ pants, rolled up to knees and headed for water.

Headed back to the camp site and breakfast, repacking car, shower and then time to hit the road.  Dropped in at the security office to discuss mom’s phone and they wanted us to open up a charge.  We finally got onto road around 13:30.  We stopped at Umkomaas for lunch.  Heavy clouds and rain.  Holding thumbs weather will improve.  Bits of blue sky and bits of sunshine.

Time to start working and looking for the reasons of this trip.  Headed for Scottsburg.

We have decided to stay on the R102… off main road N2, no toll fees and closer to the sea and beach.  Driving to Scottburg on the hunt for my first lighthouse.  While driving we passed this private road and I thought that was the road, but drove to Crocworld.  Stopped there and asked about lighthouse.  Told to go back to that private road.  Turned back and headed there.  Passed a hectic sign that showed Private property, and also showed vicious dogs, guns to shoot you for trespassing, and some other hectic stuff.  I decided to go for it and ask for forgiveness and not permission.  Got to my first lighthouse.  I’m so excited.  Can’t believe I have finally started.

Green Point (KwaZulu-Natal) – Scottburgh/Umkomaas

Ifafa Beach – Ifafa Beach

Port Shepstone – Port Shepstone

Left port Shepstone and found that there was no decent accommodation and we phone our friends (Scotts)in Margate for a night to sleep. Arrived, nice dinner and good bed.  No camping for tonight.

Let the adventure begin

Cloudy, drizzle and questionable weather

118Km – Pietermaritzburg – Karridene

Let the adventure begin.  From a shaky start, and leaving a few days later, I’m hoping that things will improve.  I was hoping to leave home at 09:00 am, but it took slightly longer to pack one bakkie.  By 13:30 mom and I finally got onto the road.  We stopped off at Romans Pizza for lunch.

I decided not to leave for Karridene on Saturday as things were not going too well at home.  Mom and dad came home on Sunday and then we left on Monday morning.  I left feeling a little stressed, but I’m sure that things will improve.  Mom and I headed down for Port Edward, but will see where we get to.

This is was what my bakkie looks like when we left Pietermaritzburg.  I think I should contact Cadac as so many things in vehicle are supported by Cadac.

Mom suggested that we must be at our point of sleeping by 16:00.  In that way we can be off the road before dark and have tent pitched before sunset.

Because we left so late, we are not able to get to Port Edward.  We went to ATKV Natalia to sleep, but they wanted to charge us over R270 per night.  We landed back at Karridene for the night at R85 per site.  Mom suggested that she is happy to cook our meals, in that way it will give me time to write the daily travel blogs.  So this is the first showing what we have done each day.

So we stopped for the night had cup of tea and then cooked supper and crashed for the night.

Beginning of this mega adventure and hoping for some awesome times with mom and fantastic photos.

Let the good times flow.