[Source: Map data ©2014 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd, Google]
We left Cape Town on a chilly Saturday morning following a cold snap that left the mountains snow capped. It being a long weekend that already started on the Friday, we had the road for ourselves.
The Overberg has a good spread of the ordinary South African’s diet on the farm lands. Wheat, Canola and sheep. Bread, butter and lamb chops close at hand, thus.
From Caledon to Bredasdorp you have these rolling hills. Then, from Bredasdorp to Struisbaai and l’Agulhas you have this totally flat land. Due to recent heavy rains the roads were flooded because of the wetlands in the area.
The Agulhas light house is a very recognisable beacon. Now under construction.
The town itself is a pleasant dorp.A great many shipwrecks are found in the area.
The hallmark of the town is, apart from the lighthouse, the fact that it is the Southernmost tip of Africa.
In case you miss it:
A boardwalk guides you to the spot.
And wala!
Nature can cause one to be in a reflective mood.
If all fails, and you do get bored, there are, of course, other options.
The end of the weekend saw us heading back to Cape Town. It would seem that everyone has left Cape Town for the weekend. Which meant that everyone had to get back to Cape Town again.
Bumper to bumper traffic on Houwhoek pass and Sir Lowrey’s pass stretches the return trip of 220km’s to 4 hours.
Video clip.
Some 80km’s from Cape Town lies the Riebeek Valley.
[Source: Map data ©2012 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd, Google]
Travelling from Malmesbury you first get to Riebeek-Kasteel. Five kilometers further on you find Riebeek-Wes. It’s difficult figuring out why there are two towns, instead of one, given the demographics of the towns.
According to the 2001 census there were then 2532 people living in Riebeek Kasteel. The town itself is a wopping 1,4 square kilometers big. This, as opposed to Riebeek West, which only measures one square kilometer, and had 2661 residents in 2001. Which means that Riebeek-West is more densely populated, should you care to notice.
In spite of the name indicating the contrary, there is no castle in Riebeek-Kasteel (kasteel = castle). It would appear that the valley was found in 1661 by one of Jan van Riebeeck’s men, who then for lack of a better name called it Riebeek’s Castle.
Apparently the mountain looks like a castle. Maybe if you’re on the mountain, dude, but not from below! But then again, maybe one should give a bit of leeway for the views and needs of the settlers in those days. I guess a castle counted for something then, and you could hence easily mistake something for your dream castle. (I wonder what they smoked in those days?)
Rumour has it that some 24 000 people now stays in the Valley. I’ve got my doubts. On my first visit there I saw 13 people, which included 9 visitors. Admittedly, I was on the outer perimeter of Riebeek-Wes. On my second visit, though, I found myself in the hustle and bustle of down town Riebeek Kasteel. And indeed, this time I saw more people. About twenty people, but that was on a Sunday morning just as the church came out.
But these guys use any excuse for a festival. Maybe that’s when they get the 24000 people.
October – Shiraz & Arts Weekend
December – Kloovenburg Summer Market Day
March – Mediterranean Fest
April – Portuguese Festival
May – Olive Festival
July – Berg rivir marathon and the Riebeek Mountain Marathon
From the local information brochure I could glean that Riebeek-Kasteel sports 32 overnight places, and 12 eateries. Clearly, you might die of boredom long before you will die of hunger in this place. This outperforms Riebeek-Wes that only sports a humble 14 places to stay, and 3 eateries.
But according to my calculation it gives you an option of 46 places to stay, and 15 places to eat at. And that in two towns totalling 2,4 square kilometers. Not bad, huh?
For my first visit we went to stay at Andrea Townsend’s Church Hills Guest House in Riebeek-Wes. Andrea is a lawyer turned guest house owner who speaks Afrikaans, English and German. And a bit of French too, although most locals would probably mistake that for swearing.
A view from the stoep.
We went walkabout through Riebeek-Wes.
Time comes to a standstill.
But still takes its toll.
Each of these towns has its own church as well.
Roads are well marked. It’s only the Do-Do that has a bit of a problem knowing whether he should go left or right. No wonder he became extinct!
PGJ
…
By the time you read here, you were supposed to have read my previous posting on Riebeek-Wes. So as not to repeat myself, most of the vital detail and statistics of the town are to be found in the previous mail.
After our first visit, and just to check that we have not missed something, we went back for a short visit to Riebeek-Kasteel.
And promptly tried out one of their restaurants. Kasteelberg Inn & Bistro. It was a coldish morning, with two fires being stoked to keep the place warm.
Behind the Inn you can see the outline of Kasteelberg (Castle Mountain). Of course it looks like a castle!
You could go next door for coffee.
Or we could also have eaten 20 meters away at De Jonges.
Or at Fat Cats Kitchen.
Or we might have been in a hurry.
Pizzas anyone? Bread? Cookies?
Or maybe just water?
Of course, there are other important things in life too.
And of course, the other hallmark of the Afrikaans platteland, the church.
And just as we left, I even noticed a few houses.
PGJ
…
At the upper end of the Gardens is the Iziko Museum.
Chipmunks and doves abound. The doves’ sanitation arrangements pose a bit of a problem at times. Fortunately chipmunks cannot fly.
Nearby is the old Green Market Square, surrounded by old buildings from the colonial era – and a few newer ones.
Colours for Africa
Sculptures.
And for good measure, a quick visit to the new Cape Town stadion, with some supporters showing their colours for the Soccer World Cup – a bit late, though.
Have mountain.
Want to go up the mountain. Now one can walk. But a disconcerting number of people that I read about in the papers that walk up Table Mountain have to be brought back in an emergency helicopter. Now I’m all for a flip in a chopper, but maybe not quite as a patient. So we opted for the cable car.
The waiting takes a while. At the lower cable station it was a quiet 26° Celcius. Some of the girls took the opportunity to get rid of (most of their) clothes and catch a tan. Sorry, no picture of that.
OK, mom, I’ll check out the route, you just relax.
Yeah, right.
Eventually we got on the cable car. Not to do if you are scared of people, confined places or heights.
Or, uhm, did I mention heights?
Better look up.
On terra firma again you can go walk about.
Robben Island viewed from above.
Table Bay
Le’me see, le’me see!
Now what’s the name of that movie again….?
Funny, it just does not look as charming from this angle.
PGJ…
[Source: Map data ©2014 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd, Google]
At Mykonos yacht club.
Kite surfers on the beach
Just around the bay to Saldanha. A panoramic view from the koppie overlooking the bay. If you know what to look for you can see Mykonos in the middle in the background.
Jacobsbaai hotel
Walking distance away from the Jacobs Bay hotel
Paternoster beach
Shopping at Paternoster
Where Tietiesbaai got its name from
Camping at Tieties Bay
Cape Columbine lighthouse
[Source: Map data ©2014 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd, Google]
Stompneus Bay
Shopping at Stompneus Bay
Mid-West, St Helena Bay
Sandy Point Harbour
The bridge over the Berg river
Port Owen in Laaiplek
Rocher pans
Elandsbaai hotel
Harbour
Bird hide
Gannets
Side walk cafe – Isabella’s
Pictures by Johnie Jonker
Karoo
Sometimes there is water – even in the Karoo.
Some folks have left, though
A bekslaner gate (a ‘chin hitter’ would be a fairly accurate translation)
Trusted companion. Mode of transport. Grandstand seat. Leisure traveller too.
Local wise man says: no tube. Put in as many plugs as necessary.
Local wise man also says: don’t bother making the plugs neat on the outside. Karoo bossies will do it for you.