2020 - 4 X 4

 

Thursday – 24 September 2020.

At last our long-awaited trip that was booked during lockdown is here.

No rush to start our trip as we have the entire day to get to Nottingham Road and group will only meet at 7pm.

What we did not realize is that it is Heritage Day and the first long weekend of travel for many – and many it was. The roads were really busy as everyone wanted to get out and exercise their freedom again.

Lesson number one. When Google tells you that the highway route will be 50 minutes longer and to take the alternative route, listen to it. Roads works held us up for an hour just after Villiers. Just as the traffic eased off another 35-minute delay showed and this time we took Google’s advice and took the R103 detour. No more hold ups.

We all met at the Crystal Barns Estate – originally, we were going to spend the night at the Nottingham Road Hotel but were notified that there was a change of plan. The setting is beautiful but the rooms and the food we are not going to discuss. Rather forget about it and enjoy the trip.

We are twelve cars in the convoy – ready for some touring.

 Friday – 25^th September 2020.

We were surprised that it was not a crack of dawn departure and after breakfast – again we will not talk about it – we set of at 0900.

We travelled along the Lower Lotheni Road to Himeville on good dust roads along the foothills of the Drakensburg. Magnificent scenery most of the way. Just past Underberg we passed through the Coleford Nature Reserve and then refuelled in Kokstad.

Travelling down the Tabankulu road through the Mountains and through Lusikisiki toward Mboyti Lodge for the night.

We arrived in the dark because of heavy traffic, being a Friday and also a few pit stops were stretched out.

Myboyti Lodge accommodation is spacious and comfortable, the food was really good. Old fashion set menu to choose from so we feasted on Pickled Fish, Roast Lamb with Veggies and Tiramisu with a bottle of Robertson Pinotage.

Bed was calling after a long day.

Saturday – 26^th September 2020.

Mushroom, Bacon and Cheese Omelets for 7am breakfast. We miss our coffee and cream but looking forward to the day. Everyone was ready at 0800.

We did not have a briefing about today are left in the dark a bit, so I will try and track our route as accurately as possible and look it up on Google maps later. 

Missing the Magwa Tea Estate last night in the dark, we were fortunate enough to see the rolling fields of tea bushes as we leave Myboyti Lodge and then had a peak at the sea again at Port St John.

The R61 is a good highway to travel and again all we saw were mountain after mountain occupied by the local people who are constantly building their new homes. It does not look like Covid has affected them and buildings are sprouting up everywhere.

Being Saturday morning, Mthatha and Maclear is extra busy and it is slow going through the towns but soon we left Maclear onto the Naude’s Neck Pass. Breath taking views and 4X4 that is not too difficult so we could enjoy the scenery.

We arrived in Rhodes at 17:25 where we are staying in homes in the town. Dinner was buffet – Chicken Pie, Lamb Curry with all the trimmings of rice, samp, etc.

The accommodation is disappointing but no more of it here. We all know it was Covid period, but we expected more from this historical town in the first place and secondly, cleanliness has nothing to do with Covid.

According to our itinerary, we would have stayed two nights at Tiffendale Lodge. This I was really looking forward to. The explanation is that The Lodge is closed due to Covid. My thought is that we should have been notified beforehand.

Sunday – 27^th November 2020.

I miss not having a coffee while I have my quiet time – these are the little comforts that would make the trip much better. There is every conceivable piece of equipment in the house to cook a three-course meal but alas no coffee for the morning.

It is rest day for those who do not want to do a 4X4 route through Wartrail and New England, so after breakfast of Scrambled Eggs, Mince and Vetkoek, all others set out in their vehicles.

A wonderful day of technical driving – steep inclines, slippery slopes and rocky paths with Tim assisting everyone safely through the tricky patches. We loved every minute of this route.

A buffet dinner of Chicken, Lamb Curry (again) and the trimmings and then Elizma’s husband came to tell a bit about the sheep farming in the area. It is the highest area that yields the highest price for wool in South Africa. Also, the area produces the most wool. There is a folk tale about the Wartrail that he shared. Young Sotho girls were brought along the trail and were bought and sold – I will check to see if I can get more information.

We will be pleased to leave Rhodes as we have not enjoyed the accommodation or the food.

Monday 28^th November 2020.

I am still searching for that elusive, good cup of coffee and at 0730, after breakfast of scrambled eggs, some kind of sausage and bacon that I wish was crispy.

We immediately hit the dirt road and down Mitchell’s pass. The pass is very rocky and not too long. All the drivers love the parts when they are able to set their 4X4 vehicles into gear. After the pass we refuelled in Elliot.

Next to tackle was the Katberg Pass which I think is the highlight of the tour. We climbed the winding round through the mountains with lush trees and ferns lining the road, looking down onto the farms in the valley from an awesome height. It was a privilege to see this part our country. We hit the plains at the top of the pass and then through Cathcart on our way to Hogsback.

The Arminel Hotel, set on the hills is our stop over for the night. The rooms look good and I spied an electric blanket that will definitely come in hand as I am sure it is close to zero degrees in the evening at the moment.

Dinner in front of the fireplace was excellent. The buffet was an array of starters (Spring Rolls, Mussels, etc), Pea Soup with Croutons, Fish, Roast Beef and I can’t remember what desert was. Richard brought our Limoncello and all decided they would try, even the receptionist.

Tuesday 29^th September 2020. 

A crisp sunny morning greeted us and a breakfast buffet. My highlight at breakfast was a decent cup of coffee and at last fried eggs and crispy bacon.

The day’s trip consisted of dirt roads and a stop in Tarkastad where everyone stopped for coffee and cake or quiche. A refuelling stop in Steynsburg at 1630 and we reached our accommodation at 1800.

Once again, we are not staying at the prescribed accommodation. The explanation again for the change is ‘Covid’. I was so looking forward to a stay at the popcorn farm mentioned in the itinerary. I have Googled for this Guest farm and only find one, namely Waschbank River Lodge and it is actually open for reservation if you email them. I think this is worth some investigation.

The River Destiny Lodge is very basic. Dinner was a la carte and I had lamb chops which I always have when I am in the area. Richard opted for his favourite as usual – a rump. We didn’t get to a desert as the kitchen closed before we finished our main meal.

Another one of those overnight places you would like to forget but this trip has been fabulous.

Wednesday – 30^th September 2020. 

It’s our last day and we are all packed and ready to hit the road home.

Breakfast and goodbyes are now all that is left.

We had our highs and lows on this trip, but it was really good to be back on the road after lockdown.

2645 km round trip of some of the most stunning scenic routes in South Africa.

 

 

 

Hungary 2020

Thursday 05-03-20 and another day experiencing this lovely country. Hévíz is only 10

minutes away from our home base Keszthely.

The town is located near Lake Hévíz, the world’s second-largest thermal lake, but biologically the biggest active natural lake. Its temperature is affected by the combination of hot and cold spring waters, coming from 38 meters underground. The water breaks out from a spring cave, at approximately 410 liters per second, with a temperature of 40 °C. The biological stability of the lake is shown by the 

Zalakaros Forest

temperature of the water, which has not changed for years and even on the coldest winter days doesn’t drop below 24 °C. That makes bathing possible in the lake year-round. In the summer, the water temperature can reach 37 °C

Zalakaros Lookout Tower

We spent the day at the indoor Thermal baths - outside was a bit chilly for us. You can't really float in the sulphur water and also the current drags you down so everyone floats around on their noodles. You can wait in line for a series of ten power jets to massage your body from the feet to the shoulders. a buzzer sounds and you move onto the next jet. All very relaxing and orderly. Later we lazed on the deck chairs in the inner sun porch.

Monday 09-03-20 and we are off exploring again. Zalakaros is our destination with an amazing forest to have a short hike. There is a beautiful panorama from the  Zalakaros Lookout Tower and it is said that you can see the Kis-Balaton on a clear day. The Kis-Balaton - Little Balaton - is defininatly not small and in the 1800's it used to be a bay of Lake Balaton but the Balaton deteriorated and 

so to preserve the wetlands the Kis-Balaton was established.

Lángos

The weekend weather was beautiful and we had the chance to wander round the Balaton waterfront in Keszthely. We also had our first taste of Langos - pronounced Langosh - a Hungarian sreet food speciality. It is like a Vetkoek dough shaped like a pizza and deep-fried. You then paint your base with garlic butter and drench in cheese. It is really yum and really fattening.

We have now opened a banking account with the OTP Bank in Keszthely and are just waiting for the wheel to turn with the house in Varaszlo.
Monday also saw the crashing of the markets world wide and the Corona Virus is spreading.

Wednesday 11-03-20 and once again bad news about the house. For a second time the owners have pulled off the market. We think this has also to do with the Covid-19 virus and everyone is really in a panic. We are not interested in any of the other country homes we have seen so it is time to decide what to do.

We are really lucky to be able to change our flight for Thursday 12-03-20 and our

Kis-Balaton

landlady is very understanding. She actually had not even asked us for a deposit or to pay upfront when we arrived, so when she asked if one day notice period was good - what could we say. 

Lookout At Kis-Balaton

Thursday 12-03-20 was another day when the stock markets dropped a huge 10% the Covid-19 is spreading. Hungary has now closing their Universities and the border between Austria and Hungary is now closed.
We got home safely on Friday 13-03-20 - how ironic it was Friday the 13th - with markets in a shambles and the entire world in dreadful state with the virus.

Hungary 2020

After our last trip to Hungary in August 2019, Richard and I were convinced that this was where we would like to live permanently.

Our Apartment in Kesthely

Loving It Here

It seemed like one of those pipe dreams but the more chatted about it the more we realized that it could become a reality for us.

 We have spent so many hours searching houses and areas. Searching for information about residency permits. Trying to learn a little of the language to come by in daily meetings with Hungarian folk in the supermarkets or on the street.

Not a day went by that we did not plan or learn more about Hungary.

Balatonfüred Harbour

Then started the plans to spend a month here and get the ball rolling. Flights and accommodation were booked. Arrangements were made with the Estate Agents and then all that was left was to pack and board the plane.

Tagore Promenade at Balatonfüred

So here we are at the end of our first week in Hungary and we are ready to make an offer on the house in Varászló which is a village in Somogy county.

We loved the house the last time we were here but the owners took it off the market.

 This time it was the only house that we really wanted to buy after spending ages looking at other properties.


Now the paperwork starts.


In the mean time this past week we have made Kesthely our home base for this trip. We have been busy sight seeing and meeting up with some expats from Klerksdorp.

Richard with Gróf Festetics György

On our first day of arriving we drove straight down to Keszthely where we have a fabulous little apartment and will be our base for the most part of our trip.

On Saturday 29-02-20, we met up with Bruce Fonteine and

Keszthely

his wife Anna Maria in Balatonfüred which is a Hungarian spa town on Lake Balaton’s north shore. We had lunch there and they had loads of information to share with us about life here in Hungary.

Balatonfüred is a town in Veszprém county , the seat of the Balatonfüred district. The

Tapolca Lake Cave

settlement originally belonged to the county of Zala from the time of King St Stephen to 1946 . The capital of the northern shore of Lake Balaton the oldest resort on the shore of Lake Balaton. It is the sixth most popular settlement in Hungary in terms of overnight stays at commercial accommodations. Its proximity to Lake Balaton is mainly due to its carbonated springs and its Mediterranean climate.

Sunday 01-03-20 found us in Tapolca, which is also on the northern side of the Balaton. We had the opportunity to go into the caves that the town is famous for. A guide first took us on a tour of the info center - all in Hungarian - then we went down into the caves and onto a small paddle boat through the caves. A special experience.

Amanzimtoti and Eston Compak Trial 2020

It has been two years since we have been at the South African Coast and so with the Eston Compak Trial the was held in natal we decided that this was a good opportunity to unwind and relax in the sun.

We booked through Afristay.com and found a lovely place right on the beach front.

It advertised a luxury flat with luxury everything...........

I am not going to say much except - don't believe everything you read. We enjoyed our stay and the

Sugarfields B&B

accommodation was good but isn't it typical of how we are just accepting everything in South Africa. Everyone (okay not everyone - but the majority) is also not prepared to take responsibility for what they advertise.

It was not our landlords fault that we didn't have what was advertised because Afristay just advertised his property without him knowing. Pull the other leg landlord.

I think our country is suffering because it looks like there is not enough money to maintain the towns. Amanzimtoti looks really drab. I cry for my country.

Sugarfields B&B

We had beautiful weather and then off to Eston we went to shoot the Compak Trial.

On Sunday after the shoot we immediately hit the road and luckily the roads were not bumper to bumper with the huge trucks we encountered on our way down.

It was good to get back home.

Now we are all excited for our trip to Hungary.

Visas are in order, Flight is confirmed, Car is booked, Accommodation waiting for us and we are ready for a new chapter in our lives.

Stay tuned.

Christmas 2019

This year Christmas was a very quiet affair.

A very special lunch and just enjoying time with the kids and grand kids.

A typical summer in South Africa with temperatures souring to 37 degrees and all of us eating way too much.

Enjoy the few moments we did catch on camera.

Hungary August 2019

Thursday to Sunday was a mixture of agony and ecstasy.

Your ride To The Stages

The thrill of participating on these stages and rubbing shoulders with the best of the best.

The only way I can capture these moments are in these videos.

We would have loved to shoot better scores but the learning and enjoying took over any other emotions.

We enjoyed the local food as usual. The wine is good.

We learned a bit of the language to get by.

We loved the safety, the simplicity and the culture of this country.

It was sad in a way to leave on Monday as it was a very short trip this time, but we will definitely be back in Hungary in the very near future.

Hungary August 2019

After a very stressful time obtaining our temporary import permits for the shotguns for

Our House In Godollo

the World Compak Championships in Hungary and the registration of them on Emirates, we were finally all prepared for this trip.

Emirates was good as usual and at Ferenc Liszt Airport, Hungary we had to wait about two hours for the 22 shooters permits to be issued.

The weather is full on summer and first we went into Budapest to collect our ammo.

Varaszlo Main Intersection

I think we are becoming seasoned travelers when we start recognizing sights along the way and also know our way around. 

We have a house in Godollo which is about 25 minutes drive

Traffic in Varaszlo

from the shooting range in the forest just outside Galgamacsa.

Monday was practice day and what an eye opener. Even practice day runs smooth. Everything works. No queues, No broken machines. No broken clays.

Tuesday we were keen to make the 300km trip down to Somogy County. We had appointments with the estate agent in the beautiful region just past the Balaton Lake.

Our Favourite House In Varaszlo

Typical Hungarian houses with cellars and outbuilding. All have fruit trees and vegetable gardens and they love their flowers even though they don't mow the lawn too often. Then on the verge of a forest in the village of Varaszlo we saw what we think we could like in. a Lovely house with part of the property running into the forest.

Big decision to be made and lots of homework to be done.

Garden At Our Favourite House

Wednesday evening was the opening ceremony held at the equestrian estate which was about ten minutes from our house. I thought I would be more excited about this but the occasion is really blown up. It could be that I am not that patriotic as before.

We were treated to goulash with pasta or gnocchi and wine and collected our goody bags consisting of back packs and a bottle of wine.

Compak World Championships - Hungary.

It was such good news when we heard that Richard had made the South African Team

to shoot in Hungary.

Compak is so organized that they make shooters that did not qualify for the team also take part so that they feel part of this event - guess who is going  in the Compak Team.

So at the beginning of June we started the arrangements.

Galgamácsa

Most important was the gun permit that now no longer gets issued at the Airport within ten minutes. No No - this now get applied for at your local DFO, goes to Johannesburg, then Pretoria, then finds it's was back to you if you are lucky.

Today we are 60 days into the process and we do not know where our permit is. Holding our breath so that we have shotguns to shoot with.

All other arrangements are in order - just waiting for the visas to get back.

Count down has  begun.

Croatia 10 April 2019

The end of our trip is here and today we fly back to South Africa.

It has been a fact-finding trip for us. But First. Our last two days in Zagreb.

Three weeks ago when we were in Zagreb we lived on the outskirts and it was really difficult to come into town with all the traffic and trams so we found a long term parking for our car and we did Zagreb by foot.

The tulips and daffodils are in full bloom and the streets are crowded with students. Opera singing practice drifts from the School of Music and since it is spring the residents are enjoying the sun by lazing around the numerous street coffee/bar establishments which are found on every street and on every corner.

We found a favourite eating place within 10 minutes from our apartment and we were quickly swept up in the Croatian way of relaxing and enjoying our food and wine in a quiet and restful manner. Not the rush of back home where it seems we always have loud music and loud restaurants.

I am rather sad it is all over.

The Croatian people have been fabulous. Always helping when we had a battle with the language in a supermarket or restaurant.

The best example was when we had to pay for our long term parking and had no more kuna and they did not accept credit cards. What we got was a smile and a wave to travel safely. He as not worried about the account at all.

Croatia I love you and seriously will make every effort to return

Croatia 7 April 2019

This morning I was up at 0515, wanting to be the early bird t the Plitvice National Park. We don't

really do crowds well and this time it paid off.

The weather was lousy but it made up for no crowds as it must be horrendous to have hundreds of visitor on these wooden walkways that wind over the water and through the forest.

We had our rain macs, beanies, gloves and brollies and all I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

The National Park is world famous for its sixteen lakes arranged in cascades.

We did the long loop which takes in the lower and upper lakes.

You get bussed to the first walking station and what should have taken us two hours turned into three because we could not just rush through the lower lakes.

We then took a ferry across the lake and did the walking loop to the upper lakes and the Veliki Slap (Big Water Fall)

All in all, that was a nine-kilometer hike, so can you imagine what we feel like tonight. No actually, the bodies don't feel anything tonight

Enjoy the slides here: Plitvice Lakes - Croatia.

Croatia 6 April 2019

Medevja

Rijeka is not at the top end of our best cities list. In fact, it is a not to do again city. It is crowded and

Opatija

awkward and we could not even find a good restaurant. You have millions of coffee shops/bars everywhere and that is all they serve. No food.

The downside has also been the weather that has been very wet.

Yesterday we did take to the coast, north of Rijeka towards Pula through Opatija and Medevja. The road winds along the cost and the businesses are starting to open

Richard at Mrežnica River

for the spring, awaiting all the tourists. It must be a madhouse in summer.

Mrežnica River

Today we made our way to the Plitvice Nationaal Park which is way more our scene.

As usual, the GPS took us on a scenic route and we landed up in the forests just outside

Apartment at Rakovica

Rakovica where we have an apartment.

Along the route, there was a thirty-kilometer stretch that took us into the forest, in Karlovac County, and over the Merznica River where they river raft. The rapids are stunning and the colour of the water is out of this world.

Excited about tomorrow. Plitvice National Park, here we come.

Croatia 4 April 2019

Medvednica National Park

My Ditch

Zagreb is clean and organized.

The Medvednica National Park, situated on the outskirts of Zagreb is stunning. We could not get to the Ski Resort as the road was closed but made our way up for a while into the forest.

This must be a wonderland when covered in snow. Now it has the most amazing hiking trails into the forest up the mountain towards the Slovenian border.

Tuesday morning we made our way to Rijeka on the coast.

Leo & Ena - Zagreb

Rijeka

I think I am a bit disappointed. It is really cramped and built up. The streets are narrow with the
house entrances on street level. It is not an easy town to get around.

We met Josipa, an agent from Delnice, who showed us some properties in forests, in this area. Some of these villages are on the River Kupa which is the Slovenian/Croatian border.  Stunning scenery but the north of Croatia is still prettier.

Rijeka

Lokve Near Delnice

Our weather is cloudy, with a drizzly now and then, but no rain that has kept us from sightseeing so far. Maximum temperatures are 16 deg and a minimum of 3 deg.

Croatia 31 March 2019

Our last two days in Varazdin have been spent seeing all the sights and getting to know the town.

Shooting Range Zelendvor

One of our favorite restaurants is the Kineske Kuhinje which actually means Chinese Cuisine, but no Chinese Cuisine in sight at all. They served the best Squid and Pomfrit. Meals, beer and wine are on a par with South Africa cost wise.

Varazdin Cemetry

Everything in the supermarkets is pretty much the same and we are slowly learning what everything is in Croatian.

We drove out to Zelendvor where there is a hunting lodge and

King of Varazdin

behind the restaurant, we found a trap, skeet and sporting range. Looks like we can easily live in this are.

Varazdin Castle

On our way back we stopped at the Varazdin Cemetry with the most beautifully kept gardens. Graves date back to the 1800's and they even have sections honouring the soldiers who fought for the different wars of Croatia. History is very important to the people.

Today, which is Sunday, we made our way to Zagreb where we will stay for two days before we go off to the National lake Park.

Zagreb City Centre

We went into the city which should have been quiet as it is Sunday, but Spring has sprung and every person in Zagreb is eating out and going for a walk or a bike ride.

A very scary experience is when you are driving through th city centre, on the right hand side of the road and you have to share the lane with an enormous tram.

Croatia 28 March 2019

The last three days have been really hectic for us.

Our "Hope To Be" Home

There is so much information to take in concerning the Croatian land law and who can and who can't buy land. Which land you can buy and which land you can not buy.

When I get into bed at night I am over informed and have to sift through the information and process it.

View From The Bedroom.

We have found a really good property but we have to open a Croatian company to buy it. That would mean, setting up a PTY and getting an accountant to do your administration every year. This is all a load of legal work but if we go about it the correct way we can overcome the obstacle it raises.

We now have to see an accountant and a lawyer to see if we are

Varazzdin Street Market

able to apply for temporary residence, seeing that this property needs a Croatian company to purchase. This we will do next week.

In the meantime loads of decisions but it is really interesting and would love everything to start falling into place.

Slovenia - Just Past The Border Post

We visited what seems like a junkyard market held in Varazdin every Thursday and Saturday. We have also been shopping like the locals in the supermarket trying to see if we can overcome the language barrier and so far, so good.

The mobile comes out ever so often with a translating app but for just being here a week, I think we are coping. It is a really difficult language to master and I don't think we ever will, but slowly you can pick up the words and I think after a few months and lessons from a language teacher, you will be able to converse a bit.

Yesterday we went into Slovenia and drove up to Maribor, which should we be living here, will be

Leštakovec

where we can do some clay target shooting. It is just as beautiful as Croatia but the Croatian village roads are much better.

It is a pleasure to drive on all these roads with no aggressive drivers such as the drivers back home. Croatians have patience on the roads and there is no excessive speeding on the roads.

Loving it here.

Croatia 25 March 2019

Breakfast in Varazdin

We have settled into our apartment in Varazdin which is really comfortable. Slept like a log on Saturday night and only showered and dressed at 10.30. A real treat for us.

Drava River - Varazdin County Side

We explored the Drava River and forest and as it was Sunday the
local residents were out there enjoy the beginning of spring. Couples and families were strolling along the river chatting and the kids were out on their bicycles.

Drava River - Medimurje County Side

We stay in Verazdin County and across the river is the Medimurje
County where, on the banks, people have wooden and mobile homes for weekend getaways. They were out doing the barbeque and it seemed like a different world to this side of the river.

Country Home in Leštakovec. 

In the evening we met with Paul and Sanje who will be showing us properties in the morning. Went for a drive out to the hunting lodge in Zelendvor and then off for a pizza at a nearby restaurant.

We woke to rain this morning - it felt like we were in the UK - but jackets on and we were going to see the properties as arranged.

View From The House

The countryside is beautiful and a mist hung over the valleys and forests that we passed through. We have definitely decided we do not want to live in the suburbs so have already narrowed down our list. We saw one very promising home but could not get inside and will be going back before the weekend.