Kameel Stoepstorie: De Oude Huize at Kameel

 We, Hennie and Sandra invite you to visit the village Kameel, on the R377 in the North West Province. Situated between Delareyville and Stella

Kameel is the perfect stop-over for travelers en route to Upington or anywhere else in the top half of the Northern Cape, Namibia or the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

De Oude Huize at Kameel

 

The cottage that, we made available for guest accommodation, is situated in Kameel and was originally built as the Stationmaster house in 1945. It is a two-bedroom one-bathroom cottage fitted with wooden floors. The foyer serves as a photo gallery of the Fincham family that was involved in the lives of Kameel from the early days of the railway station. 

You will find the bedrooms very comfortable. The first bedroom is furnished with a king bed and the second bedroom is fitted with a queen bed. Our bedroom linen is percale and you will love the sheer pleasure of sleeping in cool sheets. We love the handmade quilts that add charm to the beds.

King bedroom 

 

Queen bedroom

 The lounge/dining area is fitted with comfortable vintage and antique furniture. There are railway memorabilia and vintage cameras on display. We have filled the bookcase with old books for reading during your stay. 

The music room will charm you 

The delightful kitchen

 The bathroom is fitted with a bath, basin and toilet. We offer white cotton towels and gowns for your stay.

There are two stoep areas to enjoy the outdoors. The front stoep, with an old church bench, is wonderful to enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunsets or spot the occasional freight train going through the village.

The back stoep is ideal for bird watching and early morning coffee with rusks. You will find an antique pair of binocular to watch the birds close up. We have spotted plus-minus 100 species of birds and for your convenience, you will find a bird list in the cottage. Kameel is a wonderful place for star-gazing. 

 The garden is there for you to enjoy. You will find the recliners ideal for an afternoon nap. 

The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge and gas stove.

The little TV/music room is fitted with a piano. There is a very special display of vintage hand planes. 

 We offer a Webber braai should you want to enjoy an outdoor meal. 

There is one shade cover parking area. 

Things to do

Go for a walk and visit the site where the old British Blockhouse used to stand. You will also find the trigonometrical beacons of the area. There are also a lot of veldt plants that you will find on your walk. 

 We can arrange for a little tour to show the Sociable Weaver nest nearby. 

A self-drive outing to the Anglo Boer War site at Kraaipan is an interesting site to visit. You will find a book in the cottage telling you more. 

Please note that you can book for a special dinner at R250 per person. You need to book in advance!

The cottage, sleeping 4, is available at R1300 per night. 

In case you were wondering – yes we are the previous owners of De Oude Huize in Harrismith. 

Directions

We four hours from Johannesburg and 25 minutes of the N14 highway which connects Gauteng with Namibia and the South Africa's west coast.

See you soon 

Hennie and Sandra  

Kameel Stoepstorie: Dinge, tye en die dae op Kameel

Dit was 'n kort week, maar elke ding op sy tyd.

Ons loop rond op ons "wistle stop" en geniet die stadige pas waarteen dinge om ons beweeg.
Vandag het die paptrein verby gekom en dit was omtrent 'n gekreun en gesteun met die vrag mielies na die buurstate.

Die skoorsteen en die maan speel helder oor dag wegkruipertjie.

Die laning bome langs die plaaspad laat ons altyd tuis voel.

Die volstruismannetjie se bene en bek raak rooi. Dis glo amper paar tyd. So by myself wonder ek of dit is waar die gesegde van rooi hakstene vandaan kom.

Oral steel die alwyne my hart. Ons weet dot is alwyntyd want die alwyne stoot knop.

Die ou waterkrip bring sommer nostalgie terug van Sondae ry om beeste te gaan kyk en sout en beenmeel in die bakke te gooi en dan die "check" of die ball-valve by die krip nie vasgesteek het nie.

Seëninge vir elkeen van julle

Sandra  

Quote of the day

One thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write, draw, build, play, dance and live as only you can.

Sustainability at De Oude Huize Yard

As our natural resources become increasingly depleted, there is more awareness about the need to preserve and protect the environment. To go this route we have implemented progressive eco-friendly practices. Our efforts to run a sustainable establishment may inspire you to make your own home more environmentally-friendly!

De Oude Huize Yard sits on a 3000m2 stand in the beautiful town of Harrismith in Eastern Free State. We have scenic views over Platberg mountain. Platberg is one of the most famous landmarks in the Eastern Free State and is 9 kilometres long and 2,394 meters high.
 
We believe in protecting the earth and aims toward making travel and living sustainable. The establishment was originally built in 1860 with mud bricks. When the establishment was remodelled and restored, we reused and recycled as many materials as possible.

We managed to get the original building plans and the alterations were made using the old footprints of the stables and regenerated building materials. The cut sandstone was collected and re-used. We have sourced old building materials like doors, windows and ceilings.

It is also an extremely eco-friendly and sustainable establishment. Solar power provides the heating of water and outdoor lighting. All bathrooms here have low-flow toilets and aerated low-flow showerheads. Non-toxic cleaning products are used and we make use of an outdoor clothesline to dry sheets, pillowcases and towels. The linens, towels and robes in guest rooms are eco-friendly and are made of organic cotton. Only non-VOC paint is used for the property. Guests are even provided with reusable glass water bottles during their stay to avoid waste. During winter months we use chopped wood of invasive species for our fire-places. Energy-efficient lighting is used throughout and natural light is utilized instead, when possible.

Sun power water heating
 

The landscape lighting is 100% solar-powered or rechargeable
 

We harvest water in three tanks. This reduces the daily water usage for the gardens. During water shortages, the water is treated with reverse osmosis rather than chemicals for use in the establishment.

All garden and kitchen waste go to our sustainable earthworm farm. The compost and fertilizer are utilized in organic gardens. Here we grow vegetables without chemicals. We have planted olive, quince, figs, plum and pomegranate trees.

Our guest dines on fresh organic produce from our garden at breakfast and dinner. We also serve local ingredients and no processed food.

Our vegetable garden is under shade cloth and the raised beds were made from old wooden pallets. Sawdust has been sprinkled as a ground cover to minimize weeds and pests. We have planted only heirloom seeds. 

Stone packed gabions as boundary walls.

The workshop has been fitted with regenerated floorboard doors.

Till next time
Hennie & Sandra

 

Hamilton Bridge in Harrismith

During the Anglo Boer War British troops were deployed near Basuto Hill – the area known as Wilgepark.

To enable the soldiers encamped in that area to reach the town, a suspension bridge was built by the by the Royal Engineers for easy crossing of the Wilge river. 

The first suspension bridge over the Wilge River was erected in 1900 by the Royal Engineers. Designed for pedestrian traffic. The British soldiers would now have easy access into the town from the area near the Basuto Hill.

The structure was washed away in March 1904.  By then the regiments were gradually moving to barracks on King's Hill and complete repair of the bridge seemed unnecessary. The troops made a temporary foot bridge of planks resting on barrels.

Today, at the same spot, a more sturdy structure, called the Hamilton Bridge, names after Sir Hamilton Goold Adams, Governor of the then Orange River Colony, provides access to vehicular traffic from the town crossing the Wilge River.

It was open to traffic on 7 August 1907.

In 1910 with the extension of the President Brand Park toward the south the town council kept the tradition of a suspension bridge and the existing suspension bridge was then built.  

The urban area has increased over the past decades and today there are new developments in this area. But the old Hamilton will stand tall.

Thanks to Nico and Biebie for sharing their photo's

Till next time

Sandra

Red Onion Marmalade

Often we utter the words - know what would be great with this? 

Onion Marmalade 

Then I asked myself how difficult it could be to make this sweet sticky onion marmalade. 

It turns out, it's the easiest recipes to fill your own jars with. 

Caramelized Onion Marmalade makes a delicious topping for bruschetta or pizza; it's also a nice complement to grilled steak, chicken, or pork. Try it with pâtés, terrines or a ploughman’s lunch 

Red Onion Marmalade 

2kg red onions 

4 garlic cloves – have used 3 elephant garlic cloves

Enough olive oil and butter

140g brown sugar 

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 

750ml red wine 

350ml vinegar 

200ml port

 Method 

Halve and thinly slice the onions and garlic. 

Melt the butter and oil in a large, heavy-based pan over a high heat. 

Tip in the onions and garlic and give them a good stir so they are glossed with butter. 

Sprinkle over the sugar, thyme leaves and some salt and pepper. 

Give everything another really good stir and reduce the heat slightly. 

Cook uncovered for 40-50 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

The onions are ready when all their juices have evaporated, they’re really soft and sticky and smell of sugar caramelizing. 

They should be so soft that they break when pressed against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon. 

Slow cooking is the secret of really soft and sticky onions, so don't rush this part. 

Pour in the wine, vinegar and port and simmer everything, still uncovered, over a high heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring every so often until the onions are a deep mahogany colour and the liquid has reduced by about two-thirds. 

It’s done when drawing a spoon across the bottom of the pan clears a path that fills rapidly with syrupy juice. 

Leave the onions to cool in the pan, then scoop into sterilized jars and seal.  

Till next time 

Sandra 

An up and down route Karoo to Wilderness 3

A road trip is always packed with fun and when driving only on the back roads time is not relevant. 

We had time to chat, to look and to explore.

This will be our last leg of our journey that zig-zag through 3 provinces and travelled more than 2000 km 

Part 3

We needed to stop in Britstown 

The church in the centre of town

Our next stop was Victoria West

We found this wonderful memories of Mannetjies Roux a legend in rugby circles 

in Victoria West. Read more about the Victoria Trading Post here 

We passed all these wind turbines and wonder what was it all about. 

It was Noblesfontein Wind Farm

Beyond the valleys of Victoria West and Drie Susters in the Northern Cape lays a vast landscape boasting a new kind of bloom. Noblesfontein Wind Farm is situated 40km from Victoria West and is one of the first privately owned wind farms in the country. The erection and completion of the wind farm was in 2014 and there is 41 towers currently in operation. The farm, which belongs to the Roux Family Trust, was chosen not only due to the position of the land, but also due to the family’s own commitment to renewable energy in South Africa and it does not only focus on the environment through the use of alternative energy resources, but is also trying to give back through various projects in the community.

Thank you to Noblesfontein for sharing this picture

Beaufort West

Beaufort West is the largest town in the arid Great Karoo region, and is known as the "Capital" of the Karoo. Did you know? Professor Christiaan Barnard, the town’s most famous son who performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant is honoured in the local museum, which houses a display of awards presented to him and a replica of the original heart transplant theatre.

Beautiful architecture 

After travelling for some time we stop for a bite at Boeteka Farm Stall 

They have proper padkos and the warmth and authenticity cannot be replicated. You will find this Farm Stall on the N12 

A selection with a difference 

When driving to the coast you have to make time to stop in Meiringspoort. The poort follows the natural gorge hewn by the Groot Rivier (big river) through the Swartberg range connecting, on either end, the towns of Klaarstroom and De Rust or the Groot and Klein Karoo respectively.

The 24 drifts are numbered and named according to something that happened. Some of our favourites are:

Spookdrif (Ghost Drift) A supernatural light, was seen at this drift.

Damdrif (Dam Drift): Upstream was a large waterhole. 

Boesmansdrif (Bushman's Drift) There are broad deep clefts in the rock, where bushmen lived. There artefacts were still to be found as late as 1965, but now the area is overgrown by wild fig trees. 

Skelmkloofdrif (Hidden Ravine Drift) Legend has it that layabouts (skelms in Afrikaans) living in this ravine stole Petrus Meiring's sheep. 

Aalwyndrif (Aloe Drift) named after the beautiful mountain aloes, which bloom from 

July to September

Nooiensboomdrif (Maiden's Tree Drift) Given this name because of two Kiepersol trees on either side of the road, their branches intertwining. 

Steweldrif (Boot Drift) Legend has it that Petrus Meiring's wagoner's boots were washed away at this point, causing him to return home for another pair. 

Herrie se Drif named to Herrie se Klip after CJ Langenhoven chiseled the name of his imaginary elephant in the stone which is found a little further up the river.

Witperdedrif or Rabbi se Drif (White Horses Drift or Rabbi's Drift):A Rabbi along with his horses and cart was washed down the river 

Wadrif (Wagon's Drift) A number of wagons were washed away at this point through time. 

Uitspandrif (Outspan Drift) There was space at this ford for the wagoner to outspan his oxen. This is now the site of a very neatly laid out picnic site near the Great Waterfall

Ontploffingsdrip (Explosion Drift) A wagon, fully loaded with dynamite and travelling at quite a speed on the very bumpy "Boer Road" is said to have exploded at this point because of the volatile cargo. Miraculously although the cart and mules did not survive, the driver did. He only carted wool afterwards.

Rooiuitspanning Or Langstraatdrif (Drft at the red Outspan or Long Street Drift) There was room enough at this drift for a number of wagons to outspan. The soil here is red, hence the name. This is also the end of a stretch of road almost 3 kms long without any river crossings, which is referred to as Long Street.

Peerboomdrif (Pear Tree Drift): A huge saffron pear tree made this a popular rendezvous and outspan. On the road nearby was a house. Two spinsters lived here until the death of one.The other buried her in the lounge and disappeared, never to be seen again.

De Rust a quaint, picturesque Victorian village connecting the Klein Karoo and the Karoo. De Rust has always been the place to rest before challenging the route through the next pass. 

Outeniqua Pass almost there. The Outeniqua Pass was built utilising labour from Italian prisoners of war between 1943 and 1951. 

Wilderness time to kick off the shoes and enjoy the sea. We stayed at Wilderness Dunes and this was wonderful. The only down side 225 steps to the beach. 

When in the area you have to visit Knysna and Belvedere, but that's not all you also have to eat at all the wonderful eateries in and around. Do not forget Victoria Bay, Sedgefield and Hoekwil. There is so much more to see and do. 

Enjoy your trip 

Thank you for taking this wonderful trip with us 

Till next time 

Sandra 

Our route from Northern Cape to Wilderness in the Western Cape 2

We have made time to explore the back roads during our trip to Wilderness. 

With no "padkos" but only cold water we started our journey.

We visited 25 small towns on our route 

And zig-zag through 3 provinces and traveled more than 2000 km 

We traveled for many kilometers next to the railroad 

The old steam engines made way for diesel locomotives 

We entered the Northern Cape and the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme

Hartswater was laid out in 1948. 

There is a monument built in the shape of a miniature church dedicated to the women of Vaalharts for their contribution towards building and developing the Vaalharts irrigation scheme located in the town of Hartswater.

You will find Olives South Africa just outside the town an a must stop on route 

The women monument built a s miniature church
The Vaalharts Irrigation water canals
The Olives at Olives South Africa
And old mobile at the wine cellar
Lots of donkeys along the route 

Our next visit Jan Kempdorp which was the site of a concentration camp for German men. The first plots was wold in 1938 and was named after Genl. Jan Kemp the Minister of Lands.
It is also known for the location of an Ammunition depot.
The most important reason for our visit was that our son Gerald-Cecil and his very special wife, Lesinda,  live in this small town.

A good reason to visit Jan Kempdorp is to go and have a look at stored steam locomotives at
93 Ammo Depot.

You have to get permission to visit this site as it forms part of the Military Base 

We had to say goodbye to our children and move on to Kimberley. 

As you enter the city you pass Kamfers Dam and the Lesser Flamingos breeding site  

Kimberley is known as the Diamond City. It is known for the Big Hole. A hand-dug hole the size of eight football fields. The labour that went into this is unthinkable. 

Next to the Hole is the Mine Museum and you can imagine the frenetic days of the diamond rush. 

Thanks to the photo's that we could use 

The Big Hole from the sky and the Star of the West that opened in 1870

Kimberley is known for the monuments and old buildings

Left: The Honoured Dead Memorial is situated at the meeting point of five roads, and commemorates and the tomb of 27 soldiers who died defending the city during the Siege of Kimberley during the Anglo Boer War. It was designed by Sir Herbert Baker as commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes. It is built of sandstone quarried in the Matopo Hills in Zimbabwe. It features an inscription as commissioned to Rudyard Kiplin:
This for a charge to our children in sign of the price we paid. The price that we paid for freedom that comes unsoiled to your hand. Read, revere and uncover, here are the victors laid. They that died for their city being son's of the land."
Top Right: This bronze work by Hamo Thornycroft depicts Rhodes mounted on his horse with a map of Africa in his hands. Facing north it symbolise Rhodes vision to extend the British Empire into Africa. Rhodes is depicted in the clothes he wore at the memorable Indaba with the Matabele leaders in Matopos in the 1880s.
Middle Right: St Cyprian's Cathedral
Bottom: The Town Hall is a beautiful building was constructed in 1899. Fergus Carstairs Rogers was the architect responsible for this outstanding workmanship.The old tram that stops right outside the town hall

Our next roadstop the Diamond Fields N12 Battlefields. We stopped at the Riet River which commemorates The Battle of Modder River. 

A wall that depict the Anglo Boer War 

The magnificent bridges - on for vehicles and one for trains catches your eye. The old picture of of the reconnaissance soldiers on their bicycles on the train tracks 

The block house that was built during the Anglo Boer War to protect the railway line 

Our next stop was Hopetown and the Oranje Rivier but before we get to Hopetown you have to read about my great grand father's brother and The Grange here.

The wind pumps at The Grange
Alfred Ernest - my great grandfather and Allister Thornton was brothers. Allister Thornton FINCHAM was born in 1871 inherited "The Grange" from his father they were ruined by the ostrich slump and become diamond diggers on the Vaal River, mined manganese at Black Rock and dug salt at Britstown. He was always looking for oil without success. Allister FINCHAM, the diamond millionaire, is his son.
The sign along the N12
Allister snr and Allister jnr with a selection of diamonds
Allister jnr 

Hopetown was founded in 1850 a farming area where several large diamonds, most notable the Eureka and the Star of South Africa were discovered between 1867 and 1869. 

This could be a beauty once restored.  Seeing some potential 

Kambro Farm stall was the stop for something to eat. They offer more than just food we left with some of the wonderful canning and jamming that is on offer. 

You have to try the pears in red wine.

Thanks for traveling with us 

Till next time 

Sandra