Port Alfred, etc

Next stop Green Fountain near Port Alfred, all very zooty with each site having it's own ablutions.  Notice how the bike has shrunk and changed colour.  Decided that the Honda was just too nice and it was getting ruined by the coastal air so advertised it on OLX and had two calls at 7 am the next day.  Sold it for cash to Gerrit in George and he had someone come and collect it from Cove Rock, a very large Oom who had obviously had a really good liquid lunch - I did fear that it would not make it.

Not bad hey?  The ablutions not the bike.

Before  leaving East London I visited Game and bought a Chinese Raleigh for R1 300 (not quite in your class Dave Mercer) as it was the last one in stock and having been assembled in house didn't work so well. Never fear out came the tools and although it only has 18 of it's 21 gears it's good enough for me - really need some exercise.  Also visited the museum and while I'm not wild about stuffed animals (because that's exactly what they look like) the really interesting part was the Coelacanth Hall.  Also collect my last UIF payment and on a stroll down to the beach from Cove Rock came across a very indignant little puffadder crawling across the road.  Although he didn't appreciate it, I did see him safely to the other side.  The lump out at sea is Cove Rock - a sign at the beach says "High crime area due to Municipal negligence"

Had lunch down at the marina in Port Alfred one day and noticed some guys messing around with a boat - a sunken one.  Three of them in wet suits were being given some very vocal advice from a varying number of bystanders and it eventually dawned that they were trying to re-float it.  As the camera was were it always is when you need it, I had to be content to just watch though what they did was very clever.  With a rope attached to the pier and looped under the hull, they tied the other end to a plastic 44 gallon oil drum which was then filled with water and tied off just below the surface.  Then out came a very small plastic tube attached to a compressor and air was pumped into the drum and up she popped, well a little way.  Then with the first drum holding the boat up they repeated the process with a second drum, etc, etc.  Took about 3 hours but eventually the gunwales cleared and they were able to bail - which of course they left to the black guy!

Next day I noticed a lot of young ladies assembling an enormous rowing eight, they actually have to transport them in two halves then assemble on site, I reckoned them to be at least 15 m long.  They started practicing starts and turns with the male cox bellowing orders - reminded me of the army.  It's an annual regatta involving those Universities that can afford such costly pieces of kit.  Note no male volunteers to carry the thing either.

Took a trundle through to Bathurst, as in another life I actually bought a piece of land there, R1 800 for 4 acres, if I recall. While nosing around I saw a sign that said Toposcope and not knowing what the heck that was took a drive to the top of a nearby hill and found this pile erected by the 1820 Settlers Foundation.  Though now a bit vandalized, it shows the direction and distance to the farms of all those guys dumped here in 1820 and the view is pretty spectacular.

On the way back I detoured to a private reserve (which I later found is on the market for a mere 20 million) where I discovered a new  mammal species for my life list, a pretty little Grysbok that was so fascinated by something I couldn't see, that I got very close indeed before it dashed off..  Grys is Afrikaans for grey referring to the markings on the flanks.

I also spent a morning atlassing at Riet River Mouth a short distance from the camp, which not only has a lagoon and massive beach but a rather large dunefield which I couldn't resist.  Great fun taking giant strides down precipitous down-wind sides.......

..........and even an oasis with lovely fresh water and a couple of Shelduck.

As Green Fountain was being invaded by some mob I had to leave so moved to Grahamstown, into what appeared to be a very grand municipal caravan park that also boasted individual ablutions - but the cracks were beginning to appear like so many other spots in the town.  The Botannical Garden is sad and as with so many other towns the roads are a mess, but there are still a lot of magical buildings and St Andrews School looks like it was transferred straight from the English countryside.  Spent time around the varsity ogling some very pretty ladies both young and old.  One thing there's no shortage of is churches including St Patrick's here which doesn't seem to know whether it's a castle or church.

Found this at a local shopping centre and am thinking of doing the same to the Beast.

Did a day trip up to the land of JRR Tolkein in Hogsback and although there are foreboding natural forests in the town there didn't appear to be a single indigenous tree.  As it had been raining very heavily the trails were a muddy mess so only stayed for a toasted sarmie.  A view of what I assume is the Hogsback.....

.....and back down into the valley.

 After three nights in Grahamstown, I've moved to Cannon Rocks near Kenton-on-sea about 100 k's from PE.  Only planning on three nights here and was delighted when this little Fiscal Flycatcher welcomed me to the campsite.  They are having problems with newly installed ablution block so once again have a private suite in one of the cottages.