Scott Balson's trip to South Africa -
19th September 2006 - Victoria West
I set off from Cape Town at 7.30am and embarked on a 600km
journey which took me over six hours - a journey with the highs of Karoo
flowers everywhere because of the higher than average rainfall this dry region
had received against the lows of numerous road repair stoppages that added
over an hour to my journey to Victoria West. The work parties on the road
were a joke - with inaction being the order of the day. The only workmen
doing anything were those directing traffic while I saw dozens of others
at all times of the day sleeping, talking, eating - doing anything but working
on the road repairs.
De Oude Pastorie, the oldest building in Victoria West built in 1846 at the
time the Griquas were being forced out of the region to the southeast of
here (north of Philippolis). The accommodation at De Oude Pastorie
is basic but the owners have great pride in the history of their home which
was built for the first priest in this region. Tomorrow I head for historic
Griquatown!!
 |
 |
 |
The road to nowhere |
Leaving |
Cape Town |
 |
 |
 |
|
The N1 to Johannesburg |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Beautiful Karoo flowers |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Beaufort West |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
My turn to Kimberley |
 |
 |
 |
|
The three sisters |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
On the road to |
Victoria West |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Victoria West |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
De Oude Pastorie |
 |
 |
 |
|
Old buildings and churches at |
Victoria West |
 |
 |
 |
|
In the Victoria West Museum |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
More exotic Karoo vegetation |
near Victoria West |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
I set off from Cape Town at 7.30am and embarked on a 600km
journey which took me over six hours - a journey with the highs of Karoo
flowers everywhere because of the higher than average rainfall this dry region
had received against the lows of numerous road repair stoppages that added
over an hour to my journey to Victoria West. The work parties on the road
were a joke - with inaction being the order of the day. The only workmen
doing anything were those directing traffic while I saw dozens of others
at all times of the day sleeping, talking, eating - doing anything but working
on the road repairs.
