Piatto Breakfast

Our favourite breakfast place is Piatto's in Farrarmere.

We always make an event of it so it is a good breakfast we have and a ride on our Harleys.

We are so fortunate now to have our time to ourselves so we make any day a special occassion.

John Westley Community Centre Art Students

On Tuesday we were back at the John Wesley Community Centre to visit the art students.

They do some incredible work.

Just after three o'clock the students started their class and we were introduced to them and some of their work and we spoiled them with some munchies and cold drinks.

They have paintings and drawings that are entered into different art competitions and at the moment one of them has now  won regional and provincial level competition. Next step - Nationals.

Last year they had a student that competed in the USA and with approximately 40, 000 entries finish 24th.

Well done you guys.

We will definitely come and spoil you again

Nan's Quilt No 14

It has been decided.

All funds raised with Nan's Quilt no 14 will be used for "Jubilee Home Fun Day"

Jubilee Home is place of safety for children from 1month – 13 years of age.

When the courts remove children from abused situations while the court cases are in process, they are placed in the safety of Jubilee Home.

They are well looked after and work with social worked and therapists during their stay at Jubilee Home.

Once the courts have come to a decision the children are then returned to their parental homes or in foster care.

I think they would really enjoy a day of laughter with no cares but to have fun.

We will be setting up a Carnival atmosphere where they can have Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Pop Corn, Candy Floss, Games, Jumping Castles - you name it we are going to try and put it up for them.

Should you want to join us and extend a helping hand we would really appreciate.

We need donations and physical help to make "Jubilee Home Fun Day" a great success.

The Fun Day is set on the calender for 14 December 2013.

So please keep those in mind that are not as fortunate as us to have a Christmas with family. 

Harley Day

Saturday was our riding day again so after a bit of a lie in - we had a hectic week, we

decided to hit the highway for some long distance practice.

It is still on our bucket list to do a long distance holiday down to the coast with the Harleys.

We set off to Delmas and then on our way back went through Springs so that we do heavy traffic practice as well.

Our intercom system is now sorted and we could chat to each other on the way.

This is really needed because sometimes one of us get help up by a traffic light and then we can just let the other one know what the situation is. - Super technology.

Had a super day out

Hotdog Day at John Wesley Community Centre

On Friday we had the opportunity to do a Hot Dog day again so off we went with Fran Caldwell to the Care Centre at John Wesley Community Centre in Etwatwa.

Pre school children from the ages of 1 - 6 years of age are under the care of qualified care givers and a senior teacher.

Some 170 youngsters receive classes and graded daily activities are planned to cater the many needs of the children.

The children receive two healthy meals a day which are planned to provide good basic nutrition and are varied from day to day. 

They also receive basic computer instruction according to their age and abilities in our computer training centre.

Everything at the centre is well cared for and clean. First impression is that it is a place of love and care.

Mike Endicott at Northfield Methodist Church

Wednesday and Thursday last week I attended a workshop presented by Mike Endicott.

Mike Endicott is a blind Anglican minister, based at the Well Centre in Cwmbran, South Wales.

He is the leader of the Order of Jacob's Well, a recognized Order of Christian healing and wholeness, operating under the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.

The Order was established to seek out, to train and encourage those called into ministries of Christian healing.

Nan's Quilts No 14

Nan's Quilts No 14 is complete. It is Packaged. It is delivered.

This quilt is going to bring joy to Children in December.

It will be raffled and the proceeds will be used to have a fun day with the children of the John Wesley Community Centre in Etwatwa.

It is our idea to have a day of Water sports or Jumping Castle with candy floss and popcorn and treats for the children.

We need to do some serious fund raising here but it will be great fun doing it.

Emseni Quiet Day

I was very fortunate to once again attend a retreat at Emseni in Benoni.
This is food for my soul again and in these times when we run around like busy bees I would recommend it to everyone.
When last have you spent a day of quiet with the Lord.
Thank you for the privilege.

Nan's Quilts No 13

Another happy day for Nan's Quilts. 
 

Today we delivered No 13 to a very special lady with a beautiful soul.

Fran is part of the Mission Team at Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni.

She does fantastic work in all different communities in and around Benoni.


Fran is always feeding, praying, making someone happy.

I am not sure yet why I am drawn to this ministry - I think maybe Fran has influenced me with her enthusiam for what she does.

Heads will be put together as to how funds will be raised with No 13 and we will keep you up to date. 

Thanks Fran - shout if you need any help.

Golden City Club Shoot

Saturday and Sunday were two days of eating, drinking, sleeping, dreaming shooting.

The longest shooting days we have ever had.

The heat was extreme and the dust with all the new ranges being build for the SA Champs at Golden City next year left us hot and bothered.

Not enough to take away the sheer joy of shooting.

Ten stages with minimum of 179 shots and we decided to shoot Standard and Production Divisions. That meant twenty stages and loads of ammo.

Richard was once again very accurate but the time plays havoc with the score when we have these jams

I had one really disastrous round where the Range Officer had to unjam my gun it was that
bad.

Sunday was Production Class for us with our CZ Shadow 9mms.

My time improved vastly and once again we learned loads.

One thing that is a great advantage learned today, but took two or three stages to master was that the first shot in Production is mostly double action unless told otherwise in the stage brief. Now we learned that you can half cock the hammer and it is still deemed double action on the first shot.

Much easier when you get the hang of it.

Thanks to everyone that shot with us.

Tori Decides To Sew

Busy As A Bee

Last Sunday Tor got a bee in her bonnet and decided she wanted to sew.

Warren dropped her off and we started with once of the Barbie dolls dresses.

I have only being sewing straight doing my quilts lately so it must be about thirty years since I did any dress sewing.

It didn't turn out too bad and I thought that was the end of her fancy idea.

The Final Product

But no go.

On Wednesday she decided it was a dress for her that was to be done and off we set first to
buy the pattern and material.

Loads of finger pricks, fitting, cutting and sewing and we had a dress to wear.

We did cheat a bit and selected an easy pattern but we are quite proud of our creation.

She decided we will call our collection the "E & V Collection"

I had a super time with you Tor - Thanks.

Golden City Club Shoot

We arrived back from the Namaqualand Flower tour to beautiful weather. Good enough to pack away the winter jackets and jerseys.

Lo and behold this morning we woke up to an icy wind and it is shooting day, so out come the warm woollies again.




 It's the Cape's fault - it is snowing

down there again.

In the end our weather turned out lovely but then again when we start shooting, then the elements are non existent to us.

Once again Richard was very accurate -  just a few jams today. Three full house stages.
My gun is still not feeding properly (not making excuses)and I went through all the teasing of not straightening my arms and having limp wrists.  Richard and I then changed guns and he had had the jams. Whew was I relieved - I wouldn't have heard the end of it.

Thanks Heinrich, Tinus, Albert, Glenn, JP and Erwin - it was good shooting with you and thanks for all the tips.

Once again I had an absolutely awesome time. I always do when I shoot.

Day 7 - Namaqualand Flower Tour

The Last Night at Palmhof - Kakemas

Last night we had everything packed, showered and hair washed because we had to be ready for a 0400 departure.

All on the trip have been very punctual on each morning.

0730 we arrived at Oliefantshoek to breakfast at Gelukdam B & B.

0800 went past the Sishen Mine.
The bulk of Kumba’s iron ore production comes from Sishen

The Huge Flower Postbox - Calvinia

mine, located in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province near the mining town of Kathu. Opened in 1947, Sishen mine is Kumba’s flagship operation and one of the largest open-pit mines in the world. It operates 24/7 and in 2011 produced 38,9 million tonnes (Mtpa) of iron ore.

Flowers Galore to Remembered

Sishen mine has sufficient resources to sustain a 21-year production. Most of Sishen mine’s iron ore was exported, with around 6,2Mt of its production being supplied to Arcelo rMittal South Africa in 2011. All mining is done by open-cast methods, with ore transported to the plant where it is crushed, screened and beneficiated. Kumba is the only haematite ore producer in the world to fully beneficiate its product, made possible through dense medium separation (DMS) and jig technology. The Jig Plant at Sishen mine is the largest of its type in the world. Iron ore products, conforming to different chemical and physical specifications, are produced at this mine.

Homeward bound we pass through Kuruman, Vryburg, Delareyville, Sannieshof, Coligny, Ventersdorp and finally back in Muldersfrift to be collected.
I would love to know how many

The Mad Hatters Tea Party

kilometers we have travelled - Peter should you read this please let me know.
We have had a super time and van tick another two items off our bucket list - flower and Augrabies Falls but  I am going to be very  happy chappie in my own bed tonight
 
Thank you to Riana and Peter for organization and safe travelling.
Thank you to Tilda, my Spook and her sweet sister Christine. Keep making daisy chains.
Thank you to Liza, an absolutely delightful lady.
Thank you to Willie-Willie and Anita, hope you enjoy all you photos
Thank you to Christa and Leisbet - vir jou Liesbet het ek geniet.
Thank you to Nico and Elaine, I am sure we will see you again.
Thank you to Magda, you arrived sad but left with a smile.
Thank you Ilze and Whilda, Richard is saving a half-jack in memory.
Thank you Annette, enjoy your grandkids and your jeripicko when you get home.
It was lovely and we are pleased we did this trip.

Day 6 - Namaqualand Flower Tour

Breakfast at Jakkalswater

Augrabies Falls

Breakfast at 0730 with the young son, Alwyn, preparing our meal. He was very fancy with garnishes of strawberry on the yogurt and orange twirls on the main plate.
We are off to the Augrabies National Park passing through Springbok which is about thirty km from Nabebeep, travelling northeast.
Poffadder which only has a population of 500. No chemist or doctor and all businesses like the petrol station, cafe, etc owned by one family. The town is named after "Klass Poffadder" - a Khoisan gentleman and not a the snake as everyone surmises.
Directly after Poffadder we enter the region known as Boesmanland which miles and miles of vast flat land.

The Gorge on The Orange River

Augrabies Falls

1100 saw us do a pit stop at
The Augrabies Falls is one of the events of this road trip that I have been waiting for.
It is every bit as beautiful as what I expected and more.
The Augrabies Falls is a waterfall on the Orange River, South Africa, within theAugrabies
Falls National Park. The falls are around 60m in height. The original Khoikhoi residents named the waterfall Ankoerebis, "place of big noises", from which the Trek Boers, who settled here later on, derived the name Augrabies.
The falls have recorded 7,800 cubic metres (280,000 cu ft) of water every second in floods in 1988 (and 6,800 cubic metres Niagara Falls of 2,400 cubic metres (85,000 cu ft) per second, more than four times Niagara's annual average, and greater than Niagara's all-time record of 6,800 cubic metres (240,000 cu ft) per second.
(240,000 cu ft) in the floods of 2006). This is over three times the average high season flow rate of
The gorge at the Augrabies Falls is 240 m deep and 18 km long, and is an impressive example of granite erosion.
Our temperature in this part of the country is 34 deg today and all jackets are packed away.
Tonight we are back in Kakemas for our last night of the trip

Day 5 - Namaqualand Flower Tour

The Rolling Countryside of Flowers

This is another 0700 breakfast. What I would do for a bit of a lie in. The meals at Tharrakamma B & B are scrumtious.

The sun is out and the jackets discarded for the day. Good stuff.

On the way to Garies and through the Kners Flaktes.

The Kners Vlaktes is named such because of the layer of stones that cover this area and as you walk you hear a "crunching" sound. This layer also acts like a ground

Kamiesberg Pass

cover for the soil to retain the moisture for the succulents to flourish.

Entered Namaqualand at 1045. This is where we should see the vast fields of daisies. The sun is out and it all looks good for viewing the flowers.

There are rolling fields of Namaqualand Daisies, Vygies and Gazinias whichever way you look.  When you do the flower tour you must take it as you get it. You may see an abundance of flowers or nothing at all. We were told that two weeks ago it snowed and there was nothing to be seen. We were very fortunate.

The Farm Jakkalswater

We overnight on the farm Jakkalswater in Nabebeep. Supper was grilled  lamb chops, chicken and "skilpadjies" (kidneys and liver wrapped in a lard net) Potato salad with rooster koekies (bread dough shaped like rolls that is basted grilled) I did everything except the Skilpadjies

The farm is powered by solar panels, gas and generator so there was no using the hair dryer. Pony tails for us for the mean time.

We all had to make a head gear of some kind to be admitted into supper and as usual we were way behind time as we were sitting chatting - so it was a last minute affair.
It can be confirmed with absolute surety that we will not win the prize for originality.

We are not good at this kind of thing.

Day 4 - Namaqualand Flower tour

0700 breakfast and off on a chilly, windy morning.

Rooibos Factory

We travel east to Clanwilliam past acres of Rooibos. The vegetation is full and lush all the way.

Strassberger Leather Factory

The Rooibos factory in Clanwilliam produces products made from the Rooibos Products range from tea to beauty creams and soaps and loads more. This area  is the only place in the world where this Rooibos grows. It's end product is exported world wide.

Bushman Painting

The next stop in Clanwilliam was the famous Strassberger Leather Factory where hand made
shoes, belts and hats are made. These products are also distributed country  wide.

Clanwilliam Main Road

We strolled through the Ramskop Nature Reserve which had an abundance of flowers and were even lucky enough to find some bushman paintings hidden in a corner of the reserve. It was really chilly and damp so a whole lot of the flowers were not open.

At Ramskop Nature Reserve

We overnight at in Vredendal at Tharrakamma B & B where our hostess Magda looked after us and spoilt us with a seafood buffet of note. We started with fresh mussel soup and then an array of snoek,  prawns, calamari and pasta. Beautiful salad and then we ended off with "Melktert in a Glass"



Looking forward to a sunny tomorrow - don't want the overcast any more

Day 3 - Namaqualand Flower Tour

Calvinia was a very cold 0 deg last night. We

Niewoudt Falls

froze during night with no extra blanket and a cold shower - think positive - nothing is going to spoil our trip. We just huddled extra close.

Niewoudtsville Waterfall

Nice!

Early 0700 breakfast and we are off to Niewoudtville.  There is fog and a slight drizzle which I hope clears before we get to the Niewoudtville Falls.

The rain lifted just long enough for us to walk down to the waterfalls which is a few kilometers out of Niewoudtsville.  Most amazing this underground water gushing out of the sandstone mountainside. You cannot believe that this is still part of the Karoo - it is lush and green.


The Dutch Reform Congregation in

Niewoudtsvill Dutch Reforem Church

Niewoudtville was established in 1885. In 1906 the cornertone was layed. Pews for 500 are made of oak and the pulpit of white Tafelberg Sand Stone. Beautiful.

Kners Vlaktes

At 1315 we passed the border into the Western Cape Province and through the van Rijn Pass into the Kners Vlakte. The rain has lifted slightly so holding thumbs for good weather.

Van Rynsdorp boasts the largest succulent nursery in the world.  The Kokerboom Nursery has a variety of 500 indigenous species.

Oliphant's River Bridge

We are on our way to Lambert's Bay where we will over night.

The Sishen to Saldahna Railway line is 861 km long and crosses the Oliphants River just outside Lutzville via a

Doring Baai

bridge of 1,035 km.




We took the coastal route passing Doring Baai on the way to Lamberts Bay Where we had to pass through a toll gate even though we were on a gravel road. Staying at the Lamberts Bay Hotel and going to enjoy fresh seafood tonight. 

Still a bit cloudy and low temperatures but looking forward to tommorrow

Day 2 - Namaqualand Flower Tour

Breakfast at iKaya

Ouma Mimi's in Kenhardt

I slept like a log last night seeing that on Wednesday night I was so ill. Now I am ready to enjoy this trip.
 
We had an early 0700 start this morning from Kakemus to do breakfast at iKyaya in Keimoes. Looking out over the river, sitting in the sun we enjoyed full breakfast with croissants to die for.
 
In Kenhardt we stopped at Ouma Mimi's which is a little curio shop in the town and also stocked up on something to drink.  All the roads in this town are gravel except for the main road and the houses date back to early 1900.
 
It is a real relaxed day today. We all got to know each other last night so today there is a whole lot of "leg pulling" going on.

1215 saw us going through Bransvlei in the Karoo on our way to Calvinia.

Pink Tulip

Arrived in Calvinia at about 1430 and quickly shopped at the Spar for some snacks for the road because for the next few days nothing in this area is open on the weekend.

Tonight we overnight at the "Blou Naartjie" (Blue Naartjie) which is one of

Elephant Ear

the original building that went up on the church square in 1874 when the town was established.


We are on the verge of the area where the main flower display is and you can already get a glimpse of them along the roadside. 

The parks in Calvinia area are also in bloom. 

"Blou Naartjie"

We had a local guide that took us round the town. She had grown up in the town and knew all the historical stories about the houses and their owners or tenants.

The temperature has dropped dramatically this afternoon and we are looking forward to a Lamb Shank dinner tonight.

Day 1 - Namaqualand Flower Tour

Very Comfy With Aircon

Slept over at Warren and woke up at 11 feeling like a dog with some bug - a fever and a wobbly inside.

He dropped us off at the Sasol Garage near the Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp. Left Muldersdfrift at 0500.
We are 17 on the tour including Riana and Peter our tour guides.

The Clan

As we passed the different little towns they would share some interesting information about that town with us. So as I remembered bits and pieces, I will share with you.
First stop at 0700 at Colingy for a pit stop and to pick up two ladies.
Went through Sannieshof at 0830 and passed Barbers Pan

The Orange River

along the way. It is called so because of the abundance of barber fish and then some carp can be caught there too. It is 11 km long and 3,5 km wide, at some place it is 8 m deep.
Passed through Delareyville at 0930 and then another pit stop in Vryburg. Vryburg happens to be the biggest producer of beef in the country and is also the 5th largest municipal district in South Africa.
Crossed over the border into the Northern Cape Province at 1050.
Kuruman our next town has some interesting history. In the centre of the town is "Die Oog" (The Eye) which is a fountain that pumps 20,000,000 litres of water a day no matter what the season. This is also where David Livingston stopped when he was fell ill on one of his trips and had to stop over at the Robert Moffat Missionary Hospital. There he met his wife, Mary Moffat - daughter of the missionary, Robert.

The Famous Kilometer of Date Palms

We passed through Olifantshoek at 1345 and stopped for a pit stop - AGAIN. It is a small neat town.
As you approach Upington the farmers irrigate their lands and all because of the Orange River. This is the longest river in South Africa running from Drakensberg Mountains all the way to the Atlantic Sea. The best table grape and raisin as produced here, mainly for export. Upington used to be the the ideal hideout for robbers and thieves in the late 1800. Many sultana farms are also found on the banks of the river. Here you will also find a 1041 meter avenue comprising of 200 palm date trees. They were planted in 1935 and can be found in the local municipal gardens.
Tonight we overnight in Kakemas. Supper was Babotie with rice and salad.