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Tsitsikamma Forest Trail Part 2: Old Storms River Bridge

After a couple of hours hiking through the Plaatbos Nature Reserve we emerged from the forest close to where the old pass road crosses the Storms River.  We headed straight down to the river, kicked off our shoes and soaked our feet in the cool, soothing water.  Just what we needed at the halfway mark of our hike.When the pass was originally built the road went through the river with the low water bridge only being build by soldiers during the Second…

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04/12/2012
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This is Eat

I have discovered the most awesome fish and chips shop at the Baakens River entrance to the Port Elizabeth Harbour.  There used to be a small fish and chips take-away called Catch 22 which recently expanded into what is now called This is Eat. This is Eat is a typical local fish and chips shop like you would find in the Cape at places like Hout Bay and Kalk Bay harbour.  You order by the counter and the food get served…

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04/12/2012
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Tsitsikamma Forest Trail Part 1: Plaatbos Nature Reserve

I find forests to have some kind of therapeutic effect on me, hence the fact that I will find any excuse to go and spend some time around forests.  It's no surprise then that I found myself and Family Firefly on a family outing in Storms River Village in the Tsitsikamma.  Three days around the forest for me is probably comparable to somebody from Gauteng spending a week at the beach.  I did make it clear to the family that I wanted…

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03/12/2012
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Temple peacocks

Do you ever wonder where the peacocks around the St Georges Hospital and Settlers Park come from? How did they get there in the first place?  I have to be honest and say that I have never really thought about it until I recently visited the Shri Siva Subramanier Aulayam Temple in Upper Valley Road next to the Baakens Valley.  Peacocks are associated with the Hindu faith in various ways while the temple has a number of permanent peacock residents.  The…

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03/12/2012
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Klein treintjies

Op die eerste Sondag van die maand stroom baie families met klein (en ander met nie so klein) kinders na die Port Elizabeth Model Locomotive Society se maandelikse oop dag.  Families staan al van vroeg af tou om op die treintjies te ry met veral die stoom lokomotiewe wat baie aftrek kry.  Die rit vat wel net 'n paar minute, maar sluit in 'n tonnel, die Groot Grasrivier brug en 'n paar draaie deur die gronde in. En die beste…

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03/12/2012
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SAMREC needs your help

"If nothing is done to conserve the African Penguin then they will be extinct in only 4 years."   Quite an alarming statement, isn't it?  The buzz word may be rhino conservation, but I truly think that people should also start to seriously look at penguin conservation at the same time.  One place that does a sterling job here in Port Elizabeth with penguin conservation and who desperately need people to support them with funding as they support the rhino initiatives,…

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02/12/2012
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Addo flowers

After the rains we had in the Eastern Cape this past winter the veld is looking really good.  Its no different in the Addo Elephant National Park with lots of yellow and purple flowers all over.

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01/12/2012
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Cannon looking west

The cannon in Schoenmakerskop at the start of the Sacramento Trail is one of the cannons recovered from the wreck site of the Sacramento in 1977 and points towards the site where the ship went down in 1647.  The Sacramento was a Portuguese Galleon on its way back to Portugal when it ran aground in a storm about 1 kilometer from where the cannon is mounted.  72 survivors made it ashore and had to walk from here to Delagoa Bay (present…

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01/12/2012
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Humewood links course

We are really fortunate to have a true links golf course in the Humewood Golf Club right here in Port Elizabeth.  This I realised again when I had to go to a meetings at the club and stood on the balcony watching a couple of guys on the 18th fairway while a fishing boat passed in the background.

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30/11/2012
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Maitland River Mouth

With all the recent flooding in and around Port Elizabeth all the rivers in the area came down in flood.  The Maitland River which is normally nothing more than a trickle was no different and the aftermath can still clearly be seen at the river mouth with debris lying all over the show.  You can also see how wide the river ran into the sea when it flooded.

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29/11/2012