Strompie
Race Dog
On a trip one morning on the Gautrain, with my regular travel partners, one of the ladies asked me if I would be willing to drive to Nelspruit to photograph a matric dance. I immediately said yes, knowing full well that Strompie and I will be bonding again. I have been looking for an excuse to visit Swaziland, and now I had one.
I left early on the Friday morning from Pretoria. At the first robot, two Honda 125’s pulled in either side of me. All starry eyed they drooled over the fully laden Strom. I’m sure we have two future dogs right there! The traffic irritated me and I just wanted to be clear of it. I wrenched the throttle and quickly the traffic was but a reflection in my mirrors. On the N4, I stopped at the Rose Haven just past the first toll gate. I tried a different location for my GPS, but realized it was a mistake. I moved it to where it will now always live and had a quick cup of coffee. Today was going to be a boring stretch of tarmac to get me to the Swazi border. In Bethal, I had a quick breakfast, and headed in the direction of Amsterdam.
How many of you will recognize the reference to Bohemian Rhapsody ?
I filled up, bought a Coke, and asked the petrol attendant how far to the border. “17km” he said.. That was the right answer! A few minutes later I arrived at the Nerston borderpost. R50 road tax, and not more that 5 minutes, I was in Swaziland.
I did a quick 'flag-sticking' ceremony.
Almost immediately the road went to pot. They are re-doing a section of the road, so I finally had some gravel to travel on. I booked into the Forresters Arms hotel and I got room 007. As I unpacked, I took a quick shower and went for a walk. I saw the hiking route takes you deep into the plantation, so I went to fetch the bike, and just disappeared. I was truly a magnificent break from where I was earlier today. I sat there and drank in the silence. Later a Dutch couple meandered past so I decided to head back. The food at this hotel is absolutely top drawer! Man alive, dinner was a feast. I turned in early, for I was heading for a beautiful section of road the next day.
I left early on the Friday morning from Pretoria. At the first robot, two Honda 125’s pulled in either side of me. All starry eyed they drooled over the fully laden Strom. I’m sure we have two future dogs right there! The traffic irritated me and I just wanted to be clear of it. I wrenched the throttle and quickly the traffic was but a reflection in my mirrors. On the N4, I stopped at the Rose Haven just past the first toll gate. I tried a different location for my GPS, but realized it was a mistake. I moved it to where it will now always live and had a quick cup of coffee. Today was going to be a boring stretch of tarmac to get me to the Swazi border. In Bethal, I had a quick breakfast, and headed in the direction of Amsterdam.
How many of you will recognize the reference to Bohemian Rhapsody ?
I filled up, bought a Coke, and asked the petrol attendant how far to the border. “17km” he said.. That was the right answer! A few minutes later I arrived at the Nerston borderpost. R50 road tax, and not more that 5 minutes, I was in Swaziland.
I did a quick 'flag-sticking' ceremony.
Almost immediately the road went to pot. They are re-doing a section of the road, so I finally had some gravel to travel on. I booked into the Forresters Arms hotel and I got room 007. As I unpacked, I took a quick shower and went for a walk. I saw the hiking route takes you deep into the plantation, so I went to fetch the bike, and just disappeared. I was truly a magnificent break from where I was earlier today. I sat there and drank in the silence. Later a Dutch couple meandered past so I decided to head back. The food at this hotel is absolutely top drawer! Man alive, dinner was a feast. I turned in early, for I was heading for a beautiful section of road the next day.
