Getting around
This is more a travelling and planing blog so if you are looking for my daily life, you’ll have to look somewhere else :)South African House
This is a very typical South African House. Unfortunately the colour is not shown correctly, it’s mint green. In other areas all the houses are like soft pink. But the never mix. One area green, the other in a different colour.
Flagsstaff a small town
On my way to Underberg in Drakensberg Mountain I passed one of several smaller villages and towns. As far as I can tell it is very much the same story. First the main street with almost all the different shops then a school and in the middle of everything the Police Station (read more about the Police in another article. Minibuses parked outside and hardly any space to get through. There are also people crossing everywhere; totally neglecting the surrounding traffic. I’m glad I’m on a bike; there is always room for me 🙂
Port St. John
I’m sorry this is not in the right order but here is more about Port St. John where I stayed the last night. I arrived in darkness so I couldn’t see much. This morning I woke up in a small town with a lot of Guest Houses and lodges.
This is how my place looked like.
The Lodge I slept in had monkeys all around it.
I also found this little friend in my bathroom, about 5 cm.
As I rode off through the town I saw the Market and the main street.
Before I left Port St. John I went to a second beach called “The second Beach” 🙂 I was not allowed to the first beach; “Too many sharks man”.
People don’t swim on Fridays; it was me, the beach and 6 lifeguards.
On my way out of Port St. John I had to cross the river, it was a mighty view.
Lunch in Kokstad
I just arrived in Kokstad for lunch. The landscape has changed considerately. I see green hills and lots of cows and goats. It is also very populated. There are people all over the roads, eitehr waiting for a pick up or walking.
The cattle are quite dangerous, they suddenly just walk of into the road. I haven’t seen any dead cows yet, but there are numerous dead goats laying on the road.
Suddenly you realize Sweden is a fortunate country
I found this in Grahamstown, I don’t know if I would use this service if I had to.
Long ride, 650 km
Today as I woke up it was raining. For the first time I had to get out my rain gear. Originally I had planned to go swimming in the Indian Ocean today. But that literally went down the drain. Instead I left early with a plan to get as far as possible today. By doing so I will have some nice easy rides left with lots of time to see and do things as they turn up.
Shortly after leaving PE the weather turned better and after an hour I stopped in Grahamstown to fuel up. A very nice little town and I suddenly realized how warm it had turn. Now I could not only pack my rain gear but my warm clothing. I’m glad I brought them along though, in Swartberg there was only 6 degrees C.
I had lunch in a very small village called Hogsback. I found a Restaurant called Nina’s. As I stood in front of the house I realized that this could be Sweden. A red house in a garden with a large lawn, an oak tree and some birches. As I told Nina so (I presume that it was Nina) she said that she actually had been to Sweden. And stayed at Af Chapman.
I left at about 2 o’clock, heading for Port St John. And now I’m there. I arrived shortly after Sun set so I cannot say so much yet. The descent was in any way beautiful. I travelled along the river with massive mountains surrounding the road.
A very unpleasant thing happened as I sat in the restaurant. A small boy, perhaps 8 or 10 years old sat down at my table. I said hallo, he answered and then nothing more happened. He just sat there. I asked him what he wanted but he didn’t answer. I then asked him to leave. But he didn’t move. As the waitress came I asked her what to do. She spook to the boy and he left. Fine so far but then the waitress said to me: “I thought he was with you”. I will not comment this further but I felt very uncomfortable.
Oh, a lizard in my room. Nice, about 20 cm in the ceeling.
That’s all for today. I was lucky being able to upload this. Tomorrow will be the same, I think I will have difficulties connecting to the Internet.
Golf City
I have been wondering why there is so many old Golf-cars driving around. And they look brand new. Now I know, they are brand new. I SA you can get at VW Golf version 1 (I think). They are called VW city. I presume they are cheep and that would be the reason they are still manufactured.
From Oudtshoorn till Port Elisabeth
Today I travelled 490 km. Both on gravel as on tarmac. I left my wonderful B&B early and aimed for the mountain road which passes between N9 and N2.
It was a beauty. I suspected there would be lots of bends and ups and down because it looked like that on my GPS. But it was mare than that. A marvellous scenery, for example a small creek following the road so that I had to pass several small bridges.
At the end, close to Knysna, I ended up in a national park. Unfortunatly, the road was terrible, lots of holes made me mostly stand on the bike.
I had lunch in Knysna harbour. A very fancy region. Nice, but not nice in the same time. It lacked personality. Everything was brand new and a missed the originality that exists in Cape Town.
Oh yes, I was stopped by the police again, routine control. He hardly looked at my licence; he was more interested in the bike. He was kind to pose for a picture.
After Knysna I decided to put some km behind me. Before PE I only stopped to watch the highest Bungy Jump in the world. Then I went straight to Port Elisabeth. I’m staying at a Backpacker in again, save some money.
I don’t know if I can update my blog tomorrow, I will be spending the night in a very small village and I suspect that my rented 3G-modem won’t work.
Prices
I am amazed over the South African prices. They are extremely low. I had a nice cup of tea for 8 Rand = 6.50 kr.
This evening I had a starter, filet and a glass of wine. All together 120 Rand = 96 kr.
Getting around 