18 June, 2015 Himeville to Lake St Lucia Time to search for warmer weather so we packed & headed for the coast. On local advice went off the beaten track through Ixopo towards Umtinzini then onto N2 motorway. Lots of people walking the side of the road and a few cows and goats, otherwise totally uneventful. We constantly marvel at the housing growth, the number of houses with power and the immaculately turned out school children. A small stretch of the road...

17 June, 2015 Himeville, Sani Pass, Himeville Today dawned bright & clear & cold - perfect conditions for our trip up Sani Pass. It's not too long before we hit the dirt and off we went. Only 4x4 vehicles are permitted to ascend - the SA police at the border post see to that. What a great experience, it was so cold our eyes were streaming so they were quick, efficient and polite. There are ablution blocks on both sides - absolutely spotless. On we went...

16 June, 2015 Himeville It's Youth Day today, a public holiday in commemoration of the 1976 Soweto Riots which has made it a long weekend here. We are off on our way to Himeville to prep for 4x4 up Sani Pass tomorrow, but before this we plan to have morning tea with Bruce & Jennie Rooken Smith ( second cousins ) who live in Howick area. A pleasant and uneventful drive to Himeville, lovely scenery and before checking into the local institution ' The Himevi...

11 June - 12 June 2015 June 11 Vaal Dam to Ladysmith Well, today was time to leave Mothership and head towards our next destination of Ladysmith. We had a bit of a delay sorting out a new oil leak ( Darrels builder/mechanic Sam) popped under Pumba and created a new washer & fitted it and after the BIG pack up off we went, deciding to travel through Bethlehem, Clarens and the Golden Gate national park with a trip down memory lane ( Van Reenens pass). Gorgeo...

8 June - 10 June, 2025 Vaal Dam Monday 8th June dawned bright & clear with a crispy wind. Our plan was shopping at the huge Macro ( similar concept to Gilmours) but on steroids, looking around the plastic shops before meeting JJ & Karen for lunch. It was through them that Ray managed to purchase Pumba and we wanted to thank them. We met in the charming little town of Parys which has morphed from a farming town into a weekend Destination ( especially pop...