Wednesday 1st November
Umngazi to Cradock
Our bungalow hotel on the river was eleven kms off the main road so on the way out there were cows wandering all over the road. Interestingly from our hotel room we could see cows wandering along the stretch of sand between the river and the sea. Cabbages (we've seen so many of them) and silver beet were being sold at stalls on the roadside.
Heading towards Mthatha on twisting roads through the rolling hills there were yet more roadworks. It is astounding the amount of roadworks seen in South Africa. Although most of the R61 had 100kph speed limit, we averaged 49kph on this stretch. Toyota Commuter vans holding about 12-14 people stop and start along the roads. Some are loaded to the gills with people, shopping and goods.
Ngcobo was a hive of activity with people & cars everywhere. Stopping to refuel there was a queue of about 30 people lined up outside the fuel store. We asked what they were queuing for and the attendant gave us a brochure of the daily specials, soft drink and lollies. This town apparently has a high crime rate. Stopped in Queenstown for a break and then headed on the R61 to Tarkastad and eventually Cradock, our stop for the night.
Doctor Delle on duty as a Marshall
Cradock is known for its perfectly preserved street of Victorian and 1840's houses. The Victoria Manor hotel owns many of the houses and we were given the Frontier house, an 1840's house with a telephone booth on the verandah.
At dinner a group of four local ladies sang, all with strong voices, traditional songs and songs of welcome. The man who introduced them said they practised witchcraft but were also Christians! They took up a collection afterwards.
Umngazi to Cradock
Our bungalow hotel on the river was eleven kms off the main road so on the way out there were cows wandering all over the road. Interestingly from our hotel room we could see cows wandering along the stretch of sand between the river and the sea. Cabbages (we've seen so many of them) and silver beet were being sold at stalls on the roadside.
Heading towards Mthatha on twisting roads through the rolling hills there were yet more roadworks. It is astounding the amount of roadworks seen in South Africa. Although most of the R61 had 100kph speed limit, we averaged 49kph on this stretch. Toyota Commuter vans holding about 12-14 people stop and start along the roads. Some are loaded to the gills with people, shopping and goods.
Ngcobo was a hive of activity with people & cars everywhere. Stopping to refuel there was a queue of about 30 people lined up outside the fuel store. We asked what they were queuing for and the attendant gave us a brochure of the daily specials, soft drink and lollies. This town apparently has a high crime rate. Stopped in Queenstown for a break and then headed on the R61 to Tarkastad and eventually Cradock, our stop for the night.
Cradock is known for its perfectly preserved street of Victorian and 1840's houses. The Victoria Manor hotel owns many of the houses and we were given the Frontier house, an 1840's house with a telephone booth on the verandah.
At dinner a group of four local ladies sang, all with strong voices, traditional songs and songs of welcome. The man who introduced them said they practised witchcraft but were also Christians! They took up a collection afterwards.
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