Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Airforce Museum Mirrage

The South African Airforce Museum in Port Elizabeth has a fantastic collection of aircraft, miniatures, uniforms and other memorabilia for such a fairly small museum.  They receive very little funding from the airforce itself and get a lot of their funds from donations while a lot of the work done there are done by volunteers.  One of the aircraft in the collection is a SA Airforce Dassault-Breguet Mirage F-1CZ which was manufactured in France and first took to the air in 1966.

Comments Off on Airforce Museum Mirrage
23/03/2013
Uncategorized

Rust en Vrede Waterfall

When I was in primary school we did a tour to Oudtshoorn and one of the places we were supposed to visit was the Rust en Vrede (Rest and Peace) Waterfall.  The visit was cancelled due to bad weather and I've always wondered what I had missed.  When I started working as a tourist guide about 15 years ago I noticed the turnoff and sign to the waterfall on the way to the Cango Caves, but as it wasn't included in any of…

2 Comments
22/03/2013
Uncategorized

Wellington Park

One of the things I've discovered since I've taken up geocaching is that even though I thought I knew everything there is to see in and around Port Elizabeth, I haven't.  I've already been to at least three spots I've never visited before and I have another two new places lined up.  One of those I haven't seen before was a corner of Settlers Park called Wellington Park which is quite popular for a short walk with the residents living in…

Comments Off on Wellington Park
22/03/2013
Uncategorized

Jozi skyline

South Africa has two very recognisable skylines.  The one is Cape Town with Table Mountain and the other is the Johannesburg skyline, easily identified with the Hillbrow Tower in the middle.  The picture was taken from Midrand, north of the city.

1 Comment
20/03/2013
Uncategorized

Suburban Valley

I don't think all Port Elizabethans realise how fortunate we are to have the Baakens River flow through the city, creating a green belt all the way from the suburbs towards the city centre and the Port Elizabeth Harbour.  The Baakens Valley is great for walks (or hikes), mountain biking, trail running, bird watching and so many other activities.  On the day I took the photo I was out geocaching with Chaos Boy, looking for one of quite a few…

1 Comment
20/03/2013
Uncategorized

Schoenmakerskop fortress

I have posted in the past about the series of Fortress Observation Posts that was built around Port Elizabeth at the start of the Second World War as harbour defences, showing in particular the one in Cape Recife.  The FOP most people may have seen before is the one sitting on the hill above Schoenmakerskop.  Notice the curves along the edges which was part of the design to make it blend in against the bush and hills behind it.  This was done so that…

Comments Off on Schoenmakerskop fortress
18/03/2013
Uncategorized

People watching

Taking a walk along Port Elizabeth beachfront I spotted this kelp gull standing on a light pole along the walkway looking at all the sun worshippers go by.  People watching. That's the life.

1 Comment
18/03/2013