Category: travel

Doha flashback

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I spotted this image when I was going through some old downloads the other day.

Almost three years ago now, wow.

This was taken in the middle of the night, and we’d already been travelling for a long while. As I remember, I was pretty knackered.

But I did think that the zig-zagging route along the Atlantic Seaboard might make for a pretty unpleasant trip home. Although, probably some incredible views on the port side: if you could hold your breakfast down.

Of course, flights out of Qatar come with their own bit of excitement at that end right now.

But that aside, this is no way to make an approach to Cape Town International.

Part II (& III)

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Of this.

Swellendam via Hermanus today.

And then Caledon on Monday and Tuesday. Not quite sure what to expect of this weekend, but it should be fun, and even if it isn’t, we’ll make the most of it.

The weather today looks… iffy.

In Hermanus:

And in Swellendam:

But these things are out of our control, and so while we’ll prepare for the worst, we’ll hope for the best.

Photos coming up on Instagram (if I can find an internet).

And the Smalltown Western Cape Roadtrip playlist here.

Smalltown Boy

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No. Not the 1984 song with the iconic keyboard riff.
But don’t let that put you off reading some more of this post.

I mentioned the other day that I’m a bit all over the place over the next few weeks. But it’s suddenly come to my attention that I’m doing a bit of a tour of a few (or more) Western Cape small towns over the next month.

Tulbagh – named after Governor Ryk Tulbagh, and famed for its 1969 6.3MW earthquake – is the first. Actually, I’m going to be just outside the town, which might mean that I’m less at risk from any potential seismological activity. I don’t know. I’m not exactly sure how these things work.

But after that shaky start (lol!), we’re off to Swellendam and then Caledon.

Swellendam – named after Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel (crazy name, crazy guy) – is the third oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. If you look at a map, you can tell how the first European settlers were heading north and east (mainly because there really wasn’t anything south and west), and – following a somewhat chequered history – Swellendam became quite an important town for trade in the booming Overberg region during the British colonial ear of the early 1800s. Nowadays it’s really just another town on the N2, and honestly, there’s nicer coffee in Riviersonderend.

Caledon – named after Governor Du Pré Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon – is just an overnight stop for us in a couple of weeks time. An early morning appointment in the town means that it makes sense to wake up there, and so a nice Lekkeslaap place (no, not this one), on a nearby farm seems just the job. Caledon is also on the N2, and is also bettered for coffee by the place in Riviersonderend (which we’ll definitely call into on the way there).

And then a long weekend in near Villiersdorp. Villiersdorp isn’t on the N2, and isn’t named after a Governor. It is named after a bloke though: Field Cornet Pieter de Villiers, a local farmer who founded the settlement in 1843. A central area for agricultural packhouses, it’s also next door to Theewaterskloof Dam – the largest of the dams supplying water to Cape Town – see here and here.

Thankfully for the 12,438 residents, we’re staying a few kilometres outside the town centre.

Safety first. For all concerned.

Anyway, the first trip kicks off today.
And who knows what other towns we might visit during the upcoming month?

Watch this space for updates and photos.

Ice Road news

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Great news for anyone wanting to travel between the Estonian islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, but who hasn’t been able to get a ferry because of all the sea ice in the… er… sea.

The authorities have opened a 17km ice road between the islands – specifically between Tärkma on Hiiumaa and Triigi on Saaremaa – over the frozen sea.

This is pretty cool (no pun intended), as it’s an official ice road, sanctioned by the government and maintained by a private contractor. You can even check on the current status of the ice road on this website.

The really good news about this official ice road is that it’s safe, simply because it’s sanctioned and maintained. But Estonians are a wild bunch, and so authorities have had to warn against individuals using several unofficial ice roads (no sanction, no maintenance; no Pirlo, no party).
That does come with some risks:

“The concern is really about this uncontrolled situation. The risk is high. Right now, one might think the danger is not great since the weather is so cold. Because right now the road is unclear and not everyone knows exactly where to go. You definitely have to monitor the road. There is just one spot where there’s a crack with water, but otherwise it’s totally passable.”

Oh, just the one spot where the freezing, dark, salty water of doom is creeping through?
That’s perfectly ok then.

The list of rules for the official ice road is long, involving weight limits, visibility constraints, distance between vehicles and banning overtaking. Also:

Seat belts must be unfastened, and vehicle doors should remain easily openable.

But why? Oh, wait.

Oh.

Right.

But it’s not like they haven’t thought this stuff through. How about this for a directive:

The recommended speed is up to 25 km/h or between 40–70 km/h (speeds between 25–40 km/h may generate a resonance wave that could damage the ice).

I wonder how they found that out?

I think that it’s unlikely that ice roads will ever be a thing here in SA. Mainly because of the weather, but then where would we go to anyway? Robben Island? That’s really about it for local offshore land around here. But it’s probably just as well, given our dodgy driving reputation.

Honestly though, this Estonian version sounds like something that you should experience at least once in your life. Or just do an unofficial one and make it the last thing you do in your life.