A Ride to yesterday- Agter die Palala, Boere en Basters

[Armpie]

3rd Generation bushvelder.  Rudolph Lewis.  Forgotten veteran and hero of the Bush war.  From 1978 to 1988, was he in every big cross-border operation.

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[Armpie]

Gansekraal, the northern edge of the Waterberg painted by Gert Pietersen, 1992

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[Armpie]

I went another 5km towards the mountain.  Here my uncle Cas farmed with his cousin for many years.  The northern side of the Waterberg is majestic.  I have a painting of the koppe in my house.  I took a picture.  I crossed the drift over the Palala.  The house oom Cas and his family lived in does not exist anymore.  Of the huge tomato fields nothing is left.  The sekelbos have reclaimed their country.  Now the area is farmed with game.  Exotic  stuff, that black and gold and white stuff.  By people that recon they do conservation.
So I returned on the road towards the R518.  Up the long uphill and came out on the Kunap River.
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[Armpie]

So I turned south on the R518 and travelled for 50km towards Potgietersrus.  As I came down the de la Reypass, I decided to have a beer in Mmatlakala township.  I turned left into the village and knew it would not take ages to get to a tavern.  And so it was.  I stopped  in front of a grey building with a red roof.  I am the only whiteman in many kilometers.  I bought my beer for R18 and walked out.  Outside on a 1400 Datsun bakkie sits a man.  Hendrik he is the owner.  “Hierdie vokkon mense, hulle kan vokkon drenk!” he said to me.
So I had my beer, made some new friends and set off for Sterkrivier.

I had a solo trip taking me through some good memories.

Hendrik. "Hierdie vokkon mense hulle kan vokkon drenk!"

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"Jy sien al die witmense hulle kom hier vorby, hulle laaik daai berg baie.  Hulle stop die bakkies en hulle vat die fhoto".  Staan daar dat ek foto van jou met die tavern en die berg neem!
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[Armpie]

With Hanglip to the front I pushed on to Pretoria.  Without lights.  In the rain.  But that is a story for another day.

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[McSack]

Thanks for sharing and putting in the extra effort of including some  history.

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[katana]

Very much enjoyed this.

 

[windswept]

Lekker man. :thumleft:

 

[Bokveld]

    Lekker om n RR te lees wat agtergrond en geskiedenis van die area gee.Ek was nog net eenkeer in daai geweste en vind dit baie interesant.Is Buysplaas(?) in daai area? Moet erken, die ou Buys kerel was nie lui vir spyker nie.Dankie Armpie vir die saamry.

 

[Armpie]

Buysdorp is so 200km noord, wes van die Soutpansberg, maar in 'n ylbevolkte deel van die wereld was 200km nie afstand nie

 

[Bokveld]

    Ek neem aan dat Buysdorp na Coenraad du Buys vernoem is en dat die Basters hoofsaaklik sy nasate is.Mooi area.

 

[Armpie]

Korrek.  Buys dorp is vernoem na die Buys familie en dan ook Coenraad du Buys.  Gedurende die Anglo Boere Oorlog was hulle aan Boerekant

 

[KLR DEE]

enjoying the history immensely.

+100

 

[RobbieJZW]

Thank you for sharing, so so much more than just a ride report!  :thumleft:

 

[Armpie]

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[Slim Jim]

thanx for the RR, really enjoyed that

 

[Rotten]

Very interesting. Thank you

 

[Abre]

Thank you for sharing, awesome riding area.

 

[YamaV]

Dankie Armpie, lekker trip en storie!

 

[JG]

Cool read - enjoyed it!

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