Post on 11-Sep-2018
transcript
THE CITROEN NORTH SOUTH RUN
By Carl Mouton
Our trip started on 10 July 2013.
Ernie Young accompanied me on the trip. I collected him at 6.15 and then proceeded to Maytime
Store where we were joined by Reg Taylor in his 2CV.
We proceeded to Hilton
above Pietermaritzburg
where we stopped at the
Shell garage to await the
arrival of Konni and Kathy
Hoferichter and their son Nic.
Later Avril Leahy arrived and
yet later Gavin and Lindy
Walker. This was the Natal
Group that completed the trip
together. There were in total
4 x 2CV and 1 x Mehari
(Which is derivative of the
2CV, has the same engine
but a fibre glass Jeep type
body)
We headed northwards on
the N3 with a break at the One stop Garage near Escourt and then proceeded past Colenso on the
old main road and stopped for brunch at the Wimpy at Ladysmith. We then proceeded via Glencoe to
Newcastle and on to Volksrust where we stopped for a rest and a bite. We then proceeded through
Amersfoort to Ermelo. We clocked in to Elna’s Guest house, where we spent a pleasant night. For
supper we went to the local Spur. We were all struck by the excellence of the décor. For myself, Ernie
and Reg we covered in excess of 500km on this day.
The next day 11th we proceeded on the N11 through Hendrina to Middelburg where we waited for a
while for some of the members to catch up. Gavin had taken an alternative route to us, led by his
GPS. We proceeded further north on the N11 stopping
once for fuel and biltong and then past the Loskop dam
where we had a rest. The route took us past Grobelaarsdal
and Marble Hall and on to Polokwane. At times this route
was very interesting and as we got further north the
agriculture became more intense. At one stage near
Polokwane we passed a farm with some old vehicles
standing around, everyone came to a stop and we spent
some time looking at them amongst which was an early
Landover as well as an early 1950’s Saab.
We got to Polokwane around 3 pm after filling the tanks and booked in to the Pietersburg Lodge
where we spent the night. We all then went to a shopping centre to get provisions for our later 3 day
stay at Tshipese. Here we met up with the Gauteng and Polokwane contingent of the raid, it consisted
of 6 x DS, 3 x 2CV and 1 x CX. Later that evening a visit had been arranged to the Model Car
Museum which turned out to be very interesting. The value of the models ran in to several million
Rand. We then proceeded to the Golden Pillow Restaurant for supper which turned out to be a very
pleasant occasion. We had a pleasant nights rest.
The next morning, the 12th , we awoke to a very cloudy and rainy morning, after breakfast, we left
Polokwane at 9 am and headed north up the N1, we encountered some heavy rain in places but that
soon cleared and became a beautiful day. Along the way we stopped at the La La Panzi Hotel to see
the museum related to the Anglo Boer War. Very interesting!!. There was a book available that had
recorded some of the atrocities committed by the British forces. Soon after we had passed Makhado
(Louis Trichard) we turned off the Pass to go to the Eco Products – Baobab Shop. The lecture about
the Baobab and products made from it and its seeds, was very interesting and most bought some of
the products that were available.
We then moved on over the Pass and through the Verwoerd tunnels en route to the Tshipese Resort.
All the 2CV’s were in there element through the passes, they felt so at home travelling on these
winding roads. On route Nic van Niekerk a member from Polokwane arranged a bush veld braai, it
was enjoyed by all. It was at this stage the Reg’s
2Cv grew some horns (see picture) We then
booked in to the Chalets. The bookings had been
messed up and instead of a double room for Reg
and Vivi and two single rooms for Ernie and me;
the two of us had to share a room. Reg had even
phoned to assure that the booking was understood
but even that did not help. We later found out that
some members were booked into 2 bedroom
Chalets on their own. Snoring was the order of the
night!!!! We had supper in the Chalet.
The next morning, Saturday the 13th, soon after 5 30 we headed down to the hot spring pool where
we spent an hour or more in the gloriously hot water. I tried the Rheumatism pool but that was so hot
that I could hardly keep my foot in the water.
Later the morning, around 10 o’clock, we headed off to visit the largest Baobab tree in the world. The
roads were atrocious, badly corrugated and with serious potholes. The tree was absolutely enormous.
There was a guide there, called Simon who took great pleasure in showing us various features that
the tree or the bark had formed over the years. He had quite a vivid imagination and it caused many
laughs. We had picnic lunch there sitting in groups around the tree and there were some interesting
stories swapped.
After lunch we went to see the Baobab tree forest but on the way back Steve took a wrong turn and
we went for a long drive over those terrible gravel roads, eventually landing back at the forest and
then followed another longer road back to the Resort. We got back rather worn out but the cars must
have felt worse!
That night a special dinner was arranged and some other activities like an Auction of handbooks and
other memorabilia. Later some of the party stayed on to dance and enjoy themselves. There was a
competition for the best dancing shoes and guess who won the first price, Reg with his painted gum
boots.
Sunday 14th which happened to be Bastille Day, we once again visited the pool and enjoyed the hot
water, after which we all gathered and moved on to visit the next venue which was the de Wet portion
of the Popalin Ranch.
We had lunch there which was very nice and we also visited the Limpopo River which is our Northern
border to form the real start of the North-South run. I made sure that I got to the water’s edge, the
actual start of the ‘North-South Run’
Monday 15th we departed on the ‘great trek’ south via Tzaneen to Magoebaskloof. The scenery was
spectacular and the roads unbelievably steep at times. We headed up the pass sometimes in first
gear if one was held up by another vehicle and eventually near the top we turned right to arrive at the
Cheerio Lodge. Here we realised that we were back on the Highveld and that it was winter ! Once
again the booking was messed up and Ernie and I had to share the same minute bedroom,
fortunately in separate beds. We had supper at the restaurant on the farm right next door. That night
it frosted so heavily that one could only just see that colour of the cars on the sides. They were
completely white and we had to scrape the ice off the windscreens. The next night Reg gave me
some plastic bags to cover the windscreen and the back window.
The next day, Tuesday 16th, some of us headed to a citrus packing factory beyond Tzaneen. That
turned out to be an absolutely amazing experience. The season lasts 6 months and at least twenty
two thousand boxes of Oranges are packed each day all for Export. Each box contains at least 20
oranges so imagine the volume! The whole plant is completely computerised which allows each
orange to be photographed over 30 times to make sure that it is perfect!!!! The oranges are all sized
into over 36 different sizes. The plant is also linked to a computer so that if there is any problem, no
matter how small then the plant is stopped! Each orange is hand packed into the boxes. Any Orange
that has the slightest blemish or spot is rejected and sent to another plant for juicing. This was an
amazing experience. All the cars that visited were given a box of Oranges as a gift.
On the way back to the Lodge we turned off the main road and went up another hill to a Restaurant
overlooking the massive Tea Plantations where we had lunch. On the way back to the Lodge, part
way up the Pass we took a detour to see the Magoebaskloof falls, after which we tackled the steep
Pass again up to the Lodge. What a climb!!!
That evening we all gathered at one of the Chalets and shared snacks and stories and then got to bed
reasonably early. I was glad the next day that we had protected our cars from the frost.
The 17th Wednesday we made our way towards Nelspruit, once again travelling through the most
spectacular scenery. We stopped to look at the Blyderivier Canyon and later stopped at Graskop for
lunch. We took the side roads towards Rosehaugh and later towards Montrose on the N4 which we
followed till we got to the road that turned off to the left to Kaapsehoop. There we checked in to the
Kaapsehoop Gastehuis, a really nice well-appointed place. We were more than they could
accommodate so some of us were housed in nearby houses.
A few of us went walk about and eventually met in one of the local Pubs. Thys Eloff, a friend of mine
who settled in Lydenberg some years earlier, joined us there for a drink and as usual there were lots
of stories and lots of mirth. Supper was at the Lodge and was very good. Ernie and I had separate
rooms again which was nice. The house we were housed in had 5 bedrooms, so we had a wide
choice.
Thursday 18th we left early and proceeded to Barberton to enable Ernie to look at the town and take a
few photos for his friend Cynthia who had gone to School there. The short cut to Barberton from
Kaapsehoop was really bad so we took the longer road via Nelspruit which was tar all the way. Reg
was adventurous took the short cut on dirt muddy roads through plantations and later told us that it
was really bad.
We now made our way to Badplaas. Here we stopped for something to eat and as I made my way to
an area where I could turn, the little car bottomed on a culvert and the arm that sets the height of the
car came loose which meant that we had to find a way to fix that to enable me to travel further. We
had a bite to eat and some Coffee and then took the car over to the Garage over the way, where
there was no Mechanic. We found a bolt at the adjoining shop, jacked up the car with some difficulty
and with 10 washers to take up the slack between the bolt and the hole in the suspension rod, we
managed to fix the problem and re adjusted the car to the correct height. Problem solved. It turned
out that the bolt in the suspension had worn very badly during the car’s previous life as a Safari car.
Earlier in the trip, on the way down the Pass near Louis Trichard we heard a loud bang. We thought it
was a stone that had hit the chassis. When the car scraped on the concrete it bent the holder and the
remainder of the old bolt fell out.
We made our way to Piet Retief where we were booked in to the Palm Court Lodge. It was nice
accommodation and we had separate rooms again. After we had settled in we walked in the very cold
air to a nearby Lodge where the rest of the
group were booked in, had a few drinks and
then went to the Mama Mia restaurant for a
pleasant supper. We all had a good sleep that
night.
Friday 19th July. We were going to leave at 7
am to get home early but Nick wanted to see
some old cars. They belonged to Paul
Mouton a distant relative of mine and he
agreed that his youngest son Paul could
show us the cars at 8 o’clock as he was
away. We went there and he had a
magnificent collection of about 15 cars, some
very old. Next Paul offered to take us to the
other collection of cars owned by the local Baker, Thys Botha. We first went to his home were there
were about 10 of his best cars in very good condition, after which we went to a shed some distance
away where the rest of his 54 cars were housed, some absolute classics even though they were
mostly unrestored.
We made our way homewards via Paul Pietersburg and Vryheid to Dundee where we tried to have
lunch at the Royal Hotel. It was a vestige of its former self and they could not help us, so we back
tracked to the Talana Museum where we had a pleasant lunch. Mandela birthday celebrations were in
full swing in the town and there was loud music blaring in the town and Horses and cart’s and Horses
all over the show. After filling with Petrol we headed home via Ladysmith, Colenso and then on to the
N4 Highway heading home. The last stop was at the One Stop Shell Garage where we all said
goodbye.
Reg, Vivi, Ernie and I headed home. The other 3 cars would turn off at Howick where Avril would give
back the one spare wheel that was lent to her because two of the rims of her car had been seriously
damaged by potholes. All of us showed some minor damage to our wheel rims.
Ernie and I got home between 6 30 and quarter to 7. That brought to the end of an absolutely
amazing, interesting wonderful trip. Ernie could not believe how well the little car did and kept on
remarking about that. He said that he was amazed at the way it coped not only with some of the
terrible roads but also generally. Ernie turned out to be an absolute joy to have around, I thoroughly
enjoyed his company and I am very glad that he came with me on the trip.
For me the whole trip brought back many, many memories from the past, some as far back as 1953
when I toured all those areas in my little Fiat 500 with my late uncle.
Carl Mouton. 20/07/2013.
Distance Travelled 3082 Kilometres
Fuel consumed 188.439
Fuel Consumption 6.064 litres/100 kilometres