Kameel Stoepstorie: The regenerated Post Office building

 We visited the Old Post Office at Kameel some time ago. Telkom rented it for years. The building was where the villagers would pay telephone accounts, collect mail, send telegrams & have a chat with Glen. Aunt Glen knitted the most beautiful socks for her children while operating the exchange. 

On a blue day, Rulandi asked Patrick if she could rent the old Post Office building and change it into a little house. She aims to shape the old building and, thereafter the building will shape her and her new beginnings.

On her own time, RuIandi and some help started the change. Today we popped in and are sharing with you her process. 

She changed the structure into a cute cottage into a one bedroom, a bathroom and a huge living area with the kitchen. The old entrance became a bathroom, the reception area is now her bedroom and the second entrance is her laundry. 

She is eager to start a garden to brighten her new home. We wish Rulandi the very best and we are watching her progress.

Till next time 

Sandra 

Kameel Stoepstorie: Celosia

Many years ago, we grew cut flowers for the Multiflora flower market in Johannesburg. We planted thousands of Lisianthus but also Eryngiums, Queen Anne Green Mist, Tracheliums and Celosias.

During the last opening of boxes, Hennie discovered a packet of celosia seeds. The seeds germinated and it is now a feast to the eye. If you think it looks familiar - are quite right.  

It is a Cock's Comb in the amaranth family. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek word, meaning burning and it refers to the flame-like flower heads. 

The Flamingo Feathered Celocias are beautiful

Till next time 

Sandra

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: Devondale tot Kameel

Al ooit gehoor van Devondale?

Die stasie is 25km vanaf Kameel. Vandag is daar min oor van die eens tuiste en besigheid van my Oupa Victor en Ouma Hester. Na hulle huwelik het hulle Devondale Store besit en in die huis langs die winkel gewoon. In die goeie dae van Devondale was daar die watertenks waar die stoomtreine water gevat het. Ek onthou nog die ou Convent wat een van die groot geboue in die omgewing was.

Wanneer daar by die familie op Kameel gaan kuier is, het oupa en ouma met die motorfiets en 

side-car gery.

 

Oupa Victor op die motorfiets reg om die pad te vat Kameel toe, maar daar was darem tyd vir ‘n foto sessie.

Dan was dit Ouma Hester se beurt in die syspan. Sou wat wou gee om daardie hoed van nader te kon besigtig.

Ouma op die motorfiets. Kyk die leer kamaste. In my opinie sien ons altyd ons oumas en oupas as baie streng maar as ek so na die foto’s kyk haal ek my hoed vir hulle af. Niks kon hulle onderkry nie.

Ek is seker hulle het by al die bekendes van die omgewing gekuier. Aunt Ethel (oupa se suster) en Uncle Rex Collins het, net oorkant die spoor op Devondale, gewoon. Ek is seker dat daar ook gekuier is by Uncle Alfi and Ant Nellie Fincham, wat op Kinderdam gewoon het. Ook onthou ek die Starkes van Curnow. Daar was die Barlow’s (my ouma en ouma aan moederskant) van Langverwag.

Pa Gerald het altyd vertel van die spook op Devondale – ouma en oupa het na die 4 uur tee gaan stap. Toe hulle terug kom was die tafeldoek onder die koppies en teepot uitgetrek en bo-oor alles gegooi, sonder dat iets uit sy plek was. Daar was natuurlik die fosfor-ligte op die drade waarvan Ma Floss vertel het.

Groot-Oupa Alfred Ernest is in 1937 oorlede en Oupa en Ouma Fincham het toe Kameelbult toe getrek

Die dae op die plaas was gevul met daaglikse plaas aktiwiteite. Die eerste trekker was ‘n groot aanwins.

Die Dorsmasjien

Kameel het ‘n winkel gekry – Mr McKay se winkel. Mr McKay was natuurlik Tannie Glen se pa. Hy het vir jare die winkel besit, maar die beste was die stories oor die mak kraanvoël, Jock, wat almal gejaag het.

Oom Ernest en Tannie Glen op hul troudag.

  Tannie Glen was ‘n legende in die plaaslike poskantoor waar sy vir jare gewerk het.

Die winkel is later jare deur Oom Daan en tant Lizzi bedryf. Nadat hulle vertrek het, het oom Russel en tannie Corrie Olewage die winkel bedryf. Later jare sou my ouers die winkel bedryf. Nadat hulle genoeg gehad het, het Patrick, my broer die winkel bedryf en later jare het hy dit verhuur. Toe die laaste huurders van die winkel hom, na vele kere gesoebat het om die winkel terug te neem, het hy die bul by die horings gepak en die deure van Wilrick Kontrei winkel geopen.

Kameel se “Mall” ‘n kontrei-winkel, posagentskap en die bottelstoor. 

Daar was ook die Italiaanse kryggevangenes wat op die plaas kom uithelp het na die Tweede Wêreld Oorlog. Pa Gerald het hulle by Zonderwater gevangenes gaan haal en weer teruggevat. Renato het vir baie jare kontak met die familie gehou.

My Pa, Gerald staan links

Pa Gerald, Oupa Victor, Ouma Hester, Jean voor en die Italiaaners.

Oupa Victor is in 1954 oorlede en ouma het die Cafee langs die treinspoor begin.

Kameel is een van die dae ek en Hennie se nuwe tuiste ons hoop om in die voetspore van ons ouers, groot-ouers en geliefdes te kan stap.

Aunt Louis, Aunt Mary and Aunt Ethel

Tot ‘n volgende keer 

Sandra en Hennie

Van Reenen's Railway Pass

Next time when you travel between Johannesburg and Durban on the N3 and follow the Van Reenen's pass – just pause a moment and notice the beauty around you. 

  This road is often mistakenly called the Old Van Reenen’s Pass, which is incorrect because the original pass mostly followed the course of the present-day N3 route. The road tracks the course of the railway line, which follows a series of contorted loops and tunnels to keep the gradient to a reasonable level. There does not appear to be an official name for this pass, so it can be confusing to research and to locate. The road, which is mostly gravel, is in a surprisingly good condition and can be driven in any high-clearance vehicle, provided that the weather allows; like Van Reenen’s Pass, the route is subject to both snow in winter and violent thunderstorms in summer. Thanks to Mountain Passes South Africa for the information

 The landscapes around the Van Reenen Pass are stunning and the railway service roads and tunnels top off the adventure. The route is a superb gravel pass but easy going and we duck off the N3 just after Van Reenen. We travelled on the downhill mode. The scenery is stunning. This is the service road of the railway line and we travelled pass sidings, tunnels and farms. It includes a 200m tunnel built-in 1925, with a curve.

 Watch the video that will take you with us Van Reenen Railroad pass

Bookmark this pass for a sunny day and get lost in time and space and escape the frenetic traffic off the N3.

Till next time

Hennie & Sandra