Crossing streams

I feel like I am having one of those days where I just want to get out and go for a walk somewhere relaxing. Somewhere in nature. Somewhere with a stream.  But alas I am stuck in the office.  I do have this picture of a couple of friends doing just that in Settlers Park.

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Cape Recife WWII Forward Observation Post

Port Elizabeth has arguably the most complete collection of surviving coast artillery buildings and equipment dating from the Second World War (1939-45) of any port in South Africa. Before the Second World War the Port Elizabeth Harbour actually had no defence in place except for Fort Frederick which was built in 1799 to guard the original landing place in the early days long before a harbour was even built. In 1942 it was decided to put harbour defences in place…

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Eerste Drif

Sleepy Hollow is situated in the Maitland River Valley which means that the Maitland River runs through the property. Duh.  That sounded better in my head before I typed it.  Anyway.  There are several trails that you can take with the main trail following the stream up the valley.  Along the way the trail passes several pools while you have to cross the stream three times.  This is Eerste Drif (First Crossing) where you can either walk through the knee deep stream or follow…

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River pool

One of the pools on the Maitland River at Sleepy Hollow west of Port Elizabeth. In summer a lot of the campers like to cool off in these pools which is situated up the valley from the campsite.

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First drift at Sleepy Hollow

I love camping at Sleepy Hollow just outside of Port Elizabeth. Its only 15 minutes from the city, yet its out in nature with a bit of indigenous forest growing along the Maitland River flowing through the valley in which Sleepy Hollow is situated. I have quite a lot of pics from Sleepy Hollow which I will post from time to time. Following the trail up the river one gets away from it all. Along the walk you cross the…

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Sleepy Hollow caravan and camp site

Sleepy Hollow caravan park truly is one of Port Elizabeth's best kept secrets. It is situated in the Maitland River Valley and is a real get back to nature spot. That is if some idiot doesn't play his music loud enough for the whole camp to hear. But them you occasionally find in all camping areas. Sleepy Hollow has various short hiking trails with the main one following the Maitland River up the valley. Along the way are a few…

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University

Continuing our little jaunt down Marine Drive, we pass the grounds of the University. Previously known as UPE, it recently amalgamated with the nearby Technikon, and the two are now together known as Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, or NMMU for short.The buildings are a classic example of what is now called "brutal architecture", the raw concrete edifices that were considered the height of modernity in the 70s. They are very spread out, the original intention was to have a built…

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Alien invaders

While we are in the area, we might as well take you along Marine Drive between Summerstrand and Schoenmakerskop. We featured the beacon the other day. If you travel away from town from there, you enter a Marine reserve, which, until recently, was covered with alien vegetation. However a concerted effort has been made to clear the Port Jackson Willows and now there are views across the dunes to the sea where you could previously only see scraggly bushes. The…

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