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Having retired the Puce Goose from active duty, we now have a new long distance rally car:

Avanti the Alfa

You can follow our future rallies, including Peking to Paris which starts on 2 June this year at the following:

https://avantialfap2p.blogspot.com

Saturday 4th November 2017
Hermanus to Franschhoek

From Kleinmond we followed the rocky coastline through small villages. It was a scenic route with a good twisting road along the coast with huge rocky mountains on the other side. Being the weekend lots of cyclists  and motorbikes were also on the road (and the usual baboons).

Leading up to the gravel section we passed large acres of apple trees and apple processing plants, also wineries, pine forests and gum trees. The gravel section was about 20kms over the Van Der Stel Pass, passing farm houses and derelict buildings. As this was a pretty fast section there were four code boards which cars had to slow down or stop to note down the letters & numbers. 

On the way to Franschhoek we crossed over the Threewaterskloof Dam. No wonder the towns have water restrictions, the dam water level was extremely low.

At Franschhoek the town was buzzing with cars, people, shops & markets so it was difficult to find parking. We had a quick look around and went on to the Motor Museum.

The museum consists of four large barns in beautiful gardens with the stony mountain as backdrop.

Amongst the collection there are some interesting and valuable cars, a D-type Jaguar, a Ferrari once owned by Nick Fleetwood (of Fleetwoodmac), some early Aston Martins and Formula 1s.

Our hotel, a collection of small buildings, set in lovely gardens was about 16kms out of town.

Not long after our arrival we received a call to say that Peter & Jenny Dimaio, local Morgan members had come to see us in their 2017 Roadster. Peter had organised the rally we are going on with the Cape Town Morgan Club but has had surgery so cannot go. We were very pleased to meet them and chat over drinks.

During the last few days the ever growing hire car contingent decided to have a scavenger hunt competition, using the first letter of each of Endurance Rally Association VIP Hertz Rental Club. Jim and Skippy were the judges. Four cars competed in the final, laying out their goods to be judged. The items had to have something to do with Africa or with rallying. The winner will be announced tomorrow evening.

Friday 3rd November 2017
Plettenberg Bay to Hermanus and Kleinmond

Breakfast on the terrace overlooking the ocean and some spotted whales passing by.

Passed the roundabout with the dolphin statue and on to Knysna. Along the way and going in the opposite direction was a bright orange Anglia. We certainly didn't expect to see an Anglia in South Africa. Pity it wasn't Harry Potter blue and white.

                                                       Knysna

Around Oudtshoorn there were hops and vines growing. This is also ostrich country so there were paddocks with hundreds of ostriches. Some came close to the fences and stared back with their long necks sticking up over the top rail.

Heading into the township of Outshoorn and the coffee stop at Smitswinkel Farm we were pulled over by a policewoman manning a speed camera. Janet & Ed were in front of us and stopped thinking the policewoman was hailing them. We were exceeding the speed limit and were let off with a caution. Marco & Claudia were similarly treated.

                                       

At the Passage Control we were informed that the 43km gravel section via Lategansvlei was cancelled due to the condition of the road.

Via Calitzdorp on the R62 which was a scenic route with lots of viewpoints looking out over the Little Karoo we reached the lunch stop at Ladismith at a restaurant in an olive grove. You'd think they were expecting an army so much food was laid out.

Between Ladismith and Barrydale there was a road sign to VanWykdorp (Van Wyk Town) so Chris & Marlene must be expanding their Morgan dealership to their own town.

Over the Tradouws Pass of 351mts  we got onto the N2 to Caledon. As far as the eye could see it was a scenic picture of yellow fields, wheat growing, newly mown hay, and huge wheat silos. We passed the pretty town of Hermanus and turned onto the R44 to Kleinmond, on the Whale Coast Route.

Our hotel overlooked a lagoon and golf course.

Mike & Lorna caught up in a hire car. Near Cradock their Volvo had broken the front suspension for the second time. 

Thursday 2nd November 2017
Cradock to Plettenberg Bay

The first test was about eleven kms out of town on gravel roads, over the Swaershoek Pass. Scrubby country with isolated farm houses, lots of windmills and narrow bridges.
We then got onto the R61 and tarmac to Somerset East and Cookhouse. This area is called the Golden Valley with vast stretches of wheat and paddocks with recently harvested hay and large wheat silos.
Through the Olifantskop Pass to the N2 to the very familiar Port Elizabeth (quite a few ships anchored out of the harbour) and the Sunshine Coast.

Reaching Jeffreys Bay we had the choice of a two hour route direct to the hotel or the more challenging route on the Prince Alfred Pass, a narrow twisting gravel road which would take over three hours.

Via more roadworks around Kareedouw and many apple orchards (the trees seem to be espaliered to a certain height and then left to grow upwards allowing space for more trees), we reached the gravel road turn-off on the R339 to Avontuur and 53 kms of gravel road. This was a spectacular narrow road through several gorges on gravel that was orange coloured. Thankfully there wasn't much traffic as the drop on the passenger's side was steep with no barrier.

After this very scenic and enjoyable drive we reached the roundabout with the whale tail statue and our hotel at Plettenberg Bay.

Not long after our arrival, Peter, a local Morgan owner came to say hello as he lives in the area and is going on the Morgan rally in a week or so. He has retired to the area and says there are about 11 Morgans around these parts.

Our accommodation here was actually a villa overlooking the ocean with two bedrooms with ensuites, dining room, lounge kitchen and swimming pool. We shared the villa with fellow Australians Jillian and Gunther. Unfortunately it was only for one night!

We heard that De Sousa's clutch in their Volvo was unable to be repaired and they are now in a hire car, hoping to catch the rally tonight. This hire car club is expanding.

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.

Tuesday 31st October 2017
Umhlanga to Umngazi

Breakfast was on the hotel terrace overlooking the ocean with southern right whales passing by on their way south. We got on to the N2 and skirted Durban which is a very spread out city. Traffic police and speed cameras were about as we headed south to Port Shepstone.

Sugar cane is growing all around and trucks carrying it are not covered so there are pieces of sugar cane all along the sides of the road.

We cannot understand the tollway tag in our hire car. Sometimes it bips and we don't pay, other times a toll fee is payable. In any event the tolls are very cheap compared to Japan.

The first test of the day is at the Dezzi Raceway. Once around the track with three witches hats (which actually turned out to be 40 gallon drums) on the final straight. It was amusing to watch from the sidelines the number of cars being driven straight past the drums, or entering from the wrong side.

The raceway is close to the coast so we drove through many areas with holiday or retirement homes, Shelly Beach, Margate & Port Edward.Back on to the R61 there were lots of roads under construction and the inevitable delays. We passed many villages with flat roofed houses and painted in bright colours. Women by the roadside selling bits & pieces had smeared their faces with yellow powder as sun protection. Not sure what they used but it looked like the fever tree powder.

Still on the R61 we passed through rolling hills and the villages of Bizana, Flagstaff and Lusikisiki. More rondavels around here with washing hung out to dry. The most popular colours for houses appear to be peach, turquoise or yellow. The roads have numerous speed humps which certainly slow down traffic but is mighty uncomfortable for those in the car. Cows and goats wander at will so it was not surprising to see that we averaged only 67kph this afternoon.

Our hotel for the night was on the Umngazi River.

Everyone had to dress for a Halloween dinner tonight. As a witch with a long horrible nose and bat hat I won second prize.

Monday 30th October 2017
Umhlanga Rest Day

It was nice to have a sleep-in this morning and a leisurely breakfast.

The hotel has a resident cat named Skabenga (which means hooligan or vagabond in Zulu). He was a stray who has certainly made himself at home on the lounge cushions and has his own bed in the gift shop. He wears a diamente collar. He is very fat and is currently grumpy because he has been put on a diet.

Our first priority was to get the car washed as there was red sticky mud all over it from the drive into Phinda.

On arrival at the hotel last night there were halloween decorations (including cakes and biscuits) everywhere so it seems it is celebrated here and many children were dressed in scary outfits. The concierge told us that there was a Party shop not far away so we checked that out as it was close to the car wash.

A good steak at Turn N Tender for dinner.