Author: fitravel

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The Red Windmill – Then and Now

 There was a time when the Port Elizabeth beachfront had some real iconic roadhouses.  Places like the Red Windmill, Something Good, Cashbah and Palm Beach (Flat Rocks).  Three of these are no more with the new Something Good still being there although slightly more advanced these days.  The Red Windmill Roadhouse used to be at Hobie Beach and is remembered for the neon lighting instructed you to “flick your lights for service”.  With the development of the area the roadhouse became an burger and ice cream shop with…

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22/10/2014
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Enjoying the view at Bruce’s Beauties

There are some really tranquil spots along the Jeffreys Bay and St Francis coastline where one can sit and take in a view of the ocean.  Passing through St Francis Bay I had an hour or so before a meeting and decided to grab a couple of Geocaches.  One of the caches was located close to the legendary surf spot, Bruce's Beauties where I found this young lady taking a break on a bench overlooking Bruce's.  The sea was fairly calm so…

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22/10/2014
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Eersterivier – the Tsitsikamma’s hidden gem

Hidden on the rugged eastern coastline of the Tsitsikamma is a little gem that not a lot of people know of.  Somewhere you can get away from it all and enjoy stunning scenic coastal landscapes bordered by cliffs and lush vegetation.  Somewhere you can take in a bit of beach life and lots of vitaminSea without being trampled underfoot by crowds.  This little hidden corner on the Garden Route is Eersterivier. One can't really call Eersterivier a town or a village.  Its…

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21/10/2014
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Despatch’s second entrance

Coming from Port Elizabeth side there are two entrances to Despatch.  At the first entrance there is a waterwheel while the second entrance, the lesser used of the two, there is a sundial.

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20/10/2014
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Supertubes on a calm day

Jeffreys Bay is famous as a surf destination and one of the reasons is Supertubes.  Supertubes is said to be the best right hand point breaks in the entire world both in consistency and quality.  Generally Supertubes break for about 300m or more but if conditions are right and the surf is big enough then it links up with the surrounding surf spots and result in a ride of about a kilometer in length.  I'm not a surfer and have never had the opportunity to…

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20/10/2014
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Old Man’s Beard

I'm sure most people have seen the lichen generally referred to as Old Man's Beard.  One sees quite a lot of it in the Tsitsikamma forest, but in this case I found it on the Bushbuck Trail in The Island Nature Reserve.  Usnea is the generic and scientific name for several species of fruticose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae, that generally grow hanging from tree branches and resembling grey or greenish hair.  It is often referred to as Old Man's Beard, but also…

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19/10/2014
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Promoting PE and the Eastern Cape… with Chinese subtitles

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/fjSUxRPPe7U&source=udsI came across this stunning video that was made in 2009 to promote Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Stunning landscapes, beautiful scenes, great activities and all right here in my home town and right on our doorstep.  AND with Chinese subtitles nogal.  Perfect for our weekly Friday Video Post.

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17/10/2014
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A thousand years in the making -The Tsitsikamma Big Tree

One of the best know attractions in the Tsitsikamma is The Big Tree, one of the giants of the forest and thought to be up to 1000 years old.  The Garden Route from the Tsitsikamma through Knysna to Wilderness is famous for its indigenous forests and precious trees, amongst them the Yellowwood.  The Outeniqua Yellowwood tree is also South Africa's national tree which makes this particular Outeniqua Yellowwood even more special. Getting to the Big Tree is very easy.  First of all…

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17/10/2014