Day thirteen - Grahamstown,
15th October 2007
Up at 5am for the eight hour 700km journey to Grahamstown.
I left Kokstad at 6am and took the same scenic route as yesterday through
Matatiele up to the Ongeluksnek Pass.
Then it was south skirting the Drakensberg via Mount Fletcher, Maclear, Lady Frere, Ugie and Elliot. The road then went south to Queenstown, Fort Beaufort and Grahamstown. All the towns (up to Queenstown had gone very black... it was only in Queenstown that I saw any white people... the towns ringing the Drakensberg now reverting to the old trading store type environment surrounded by large sprawling shanty towns. Just beautiful churches from days past remained.
Image right: The N2 just before you arrive at Grahamstown
It was cloudy, rainy and misty all the way but the road was much better than the Umtata option that I took last year. Vivian Haviside, who took me up the Ongeluksnek yesterday had suggested this route as the traffic would be less stressful.
The scenery was shrouded in cloud and mist but still beautiful as you will see in the pics below. I had lunch at the UFO Bar in the Savoy Hotel at Fort Beaufort before taking the final leg to Grahamstown - at about 2.30pm.
Just after 4pm left for Rhodes University for my book launch... more below this set of photos.
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Between Matatiele and |
Mount Fletcher |
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Mount Fletcher today |
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On the road |
to Maclear |
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Maclear today |
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Elliot |
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On the road |
to Cala |
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Cala |
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On the road to |
Lady Frere |
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On the road to |
Lady Frere |
Lady Frere |
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Lady Frere |
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Queenstown |
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Whittlesea |
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On the road to |
Fort Beaufort |
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On the road to |
Fort Beaufort |
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Fort Beaufort |
Savoy Hotel |
UFO Bar |
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On the road to |
Grahamstown |
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The drinks
and eats set out by Cory Librarian Shirley Kabwato were already laid out
when I arrived. I met Shirley and we set out my slide show and chatted as
the first guests arrived. Shirley had set out a small display of original
Griqua materials from the library's enormous archives. There were about 40
in all including Prof Paul Maylam, Rhodes University's Professor of
History, who introduced me. Paul had read my book and talked at length
about the impact of forced migration on the Griqua people.
Image right: Scott with Shirley Kabwato and Prof Paul Maylam of Rhodes University
Also at the talk were several history and english lecturers and book sales went very well - even before I had got up to make my launch speech. Included in the people were Jeanne Berger who had originally put me in touch with Shirley Kabwato and Gwenda Thomas, Director of Library Services.
It was a very successful evening except there was a rival celebration going on upstairs and the African music got progressively louder as I spoke eventually I gave up and wrapped up my speech. It was quite a humorous way to end the launch at Rhodes...
Rhodes' coverage of the launch can be seen at this link.
After the launch Ian Balchin from Fables Bookstore joined me for a glass of champagne at the Rat and Parrot Bar - a popular escape for the local residents.
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Rhodes University |
The Griqua Marriage |
Lucas van der |
The Griqua Marriage |
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Shirley Kabwato |
Cory Library |
building |
Sign in toilet |
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Prof Maylam speaking |
Scott launching the book |
The audience |
Shirley Kabwato, Gwenda Thomas |
