21 October 2024

Cape Town - Cape Point Hiking Trails

 Cape Town - Cape Point Hiking Trails 

Cape Point National Park

We love visiting Cape Point for the amazing scenery, the birds, the flora that changes according to the seasons, the beaches, the tidal pools at Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay, the fresh air and the climb to the top! The Hiking Trails are great for those with more time - pop in at the Visitor Centre for more info.

Tidal Pool - great to cool off after a hike

"Cape Point is a hiker’s paradise, and there are a number of beautiful and manageable short walks throughout the reserve. Each walk serves up a selection panoramic ocean and mountain views, access to unspoilt beaches, and the opportunity to spot rare wildlife wandering peacefully among the vibrant fynbos or across the salt white sand.



Here’s our selection of some of the best short walks and hikes in and around Cape Point Nature Reserve:

Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail is often overlooked by visitors eager to pay a visit to the iconic old lighthouse atop Cape Point, but this short trail that runs below the well-known landmark should not be missed. The trail begins just behind the upper funicular station, and a narrow but well-established path will lead you along a sheer cliff-face towards the lesser-known new lighthouse. It offers a fascinating perspective of the old Cape Point lighthouse which towers many metres above, and it walks you through historical bunkers and beautiful fynbos until the path runs out, at what certainly feels like the very tip of Africa.

Departs: Behind upper funicular station. Park at the Cape Point main parking area and walk to the station or save energy and take the funicular.
Distance: +-2km, one hour return
Difficulty: Easy

Cape of Good Hope Trail

The Cape of Good Hope trail takes you along a well-maintained and marked boardwalk towards the famous Cape of Good Hope sign, located on the rocky shoreline far below. The trail is popular for its accessibility, and for the unsurpassed views over the pristine Diaz Beach and rugged western shoreline. Make your way all the way to the very end of the trail, and you’ll have reached the most southern point of the Cape Peninsula – a perfect photo opportunity to prove that you’ve visited the most South Western corner of Africa.

Departs: Cape Point main parking area. Follow signs towards Cape of Good Hope.
Distance: +-3.5km, 2-3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy

Antoniesgat Trail

Buffels Bay Beach is a gem hidden from the main tour groups, and the Antoniesgat Trail that departs from nearby offers beautiful views, a moderate level of difficulty, and the opportunity to cool off in the tidal pools, or enjoy a braai at the well-maintained facilities, at the end of the walk. The walk takes you close to the action where powerful waves pound the peninsula, and there are a number of caves and tunnels to explore en-route. The views over the bay, towards the mountains, and of course up towards the Cape Point lighthouse make this one of the region’s most enjoyable short trails.

Departs: Traffic circle south of Buffels Bay Beach
Distance: 3.5km, 2-3 hours return
Difficulty: Moderate

Gifkommetjie

The Gifkommetjie trail follows the south western shores of Cape Point, and offers beautiful views of the unspoilt shoreline, lush green dune vegetation and open pans and marshes. It’s a great option for the moderately fit looking to get some good distance on a flat route, but can also be shortened if you’re just looking to stretch your legs, away from the busier sections of Cape Point. It’s an often overlooked region of the nature reserve, and the result is a feeling of true isolation and escapism in one of the most picturesque locations.

Departs: Gifkommetjie parking area, follow signposts upon entry into Cape Point
Distance: +-5.5km, 2 hours return
Difficulty: Easy

Kanonkop

The Kanonkop trail, which is a 3 hour circular route departing from the visitor centre, is one of the most popular among Cape Point hiking enthusiasts. Named after the old canon located at its peak, the Kanonkop trail provides impressive views over False Bay, Cape Point, Buffels Bay Beach, and the prominent Da Gama monument, and it also passes an interesting old lime kiln along the way. The trail requires only a moderate level of fitness, but if you’re feeling less energetic follow the road to Venus Pools and park close to the signs directing you up Kanonkop, a few hundred metres after the turnoff at Bynes.

Departs: Cape Point visitor centre
Distance: +-5.5km, 3 hours return
Difficulty: Moderate

Phyllisia Circuit

The Phyllisia Circuit, named after the large trawler that ran aground on the nearby shoreline in 1968, also departs from the Gifkommetjie parking lot. This circular route takes you parallel to the western Cape Point coastline, and returns along the shore. This too is an often overlooked route, and even on busy days can offer beautiful Cape Point tranquility.

Departs: Gifkommetjie parking area, follow signposts upon entry into Cape Point
Distance: +-7km, 3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy

Shipwreck Trail

Perhaps the most popular of the shorter walks at Cape Point are the shipwreck trails. These unique walks depart from the Olifantsbos parking area, and each offer fascinating insight into the early days of the many Cape Point maritime disasters and access to unspoilt fauna and flora."

The Article above is courtesy from the Official Website:

https://capepoint.co.za

 

 





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14 October 2024

South Africa - Kruger National Park

 Kruger Park South Africa - an iconic experience!


Kruger National Park - South Africa - what can I say - it's an experience that lives on forever in one's mind and many folk are very privileged to return again and again to this iconic part of South Africa.
So, whether you only go once in your lifetime or many times, the thrill of spotting wild animals is just something so very special.



It remains an experience like no other and it is not only about the Big Five. Those sightings of smaller animals or birds are just as exciting and should be enjoyed as animals move so quickly, that sightings are often entirely being at the right place at the right time. 


There are numerous Rest Camps within Kruger National Park
Berg N Dal, Crocodile Bridge, Letaba, Lower Sabie, Mopani, Olifants, Orpen, Pretoriouskop, Punda Maria, Satara, Shingwedzi, & Skukuza. There are also Private Concessions, such as Singita Lebombo within the Kruger National Park. These establishments are pricey but the total experience is a "once in a lifetime" memory! 



The Kruger is HUGE so don't expect to see it all unless you are there for 3 to 4 weeks. 
It is best to concentrate on smaller areas. The speed limit, together with sightings, means that one does not cover much ground in a day. Birders normally go further north whilst the south is very popular and much busier. 
The speed limits are 50 km per hour on tar and 40 km on the gravel roads. One cannot exit the vehicle except in designated picnic spots. 


African Jacana

Organised Game drives will take you out for early morning or sunset drives - these can be booked at the camps. There are also walking safari's. Check out the SANPARKS website for full details. Bookings are made months in advance so always plan ahead. Although, having said that, sometimes you will be lucky to get a last minute booking. There is also accommodation outside of the Kruger Gates - this just means an earlier start to the day! 

Do buy a Kruger Visitor Guide at the first camp shop that you go to. This will provide much information plus photos of both birds and animals. 



The following tar roads are recommended
H4-2 Crocodile Bridge to Lower Sabie
H4-1 - Lower Sabie to Skukuza
H3 - Skukuza to Malelane Gate
H1-2 Skukuza to Tshokwane
H10 - Lower Sabie to Tshokwane
H1-4 Satara to Olifants
H7 - Satara to Orpen

The gravel roads often provide interesting sightings so don't discount them although they can sometimes be challenging. 
S28 Crocodile Bridge to Lower Sabie
S114 Skukuza to Malelane
S128 Lower Sabie to Skukuza
S36 Tshokwane to Satara
S100 Satara to Gudzani Road
S90 Satara to Olifants


We enjoy going in the winter months (June/July/August) when the day time temps are lovely and warm and the park is drier so animal spotting is easier. It's a personal choice as the camps are open all year round. Flooding does happen during the summer months after heavy rains and then some gates may not be open. Please do check the official Kruger Park web site if you are going during the rainy season (Summer time in South Africa) 

August time (winter) in South Africa

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28 July 2024

South Africa - Helderberg Nature Reserve

 

HELDERBERG NATURE RESERVE - SOMERSET WEST, CAPE TOWN


Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West offers numerous hikes and wonderful views.
Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, overlooking False Bay this is a must for hikers or walkers.

Guided Hikes are available or you can take the map of the trails 

Sugar Bird Trail 2.9 km long Grade 1A
Protea Trail 6.2 km long Grade 2A
Caracal Trail 4.4 km long Grade 1.5A
Leopard Loop 8.2 km long Grade 2B
Watsonia Trail 4km long Grade 2A
Waboom Trail 7km long Grade 2B
West Peak 7 hrs Grade 3C
The Dome 8 hrs Grade 4C
Grading as follows:
1 - Easy
2 = Moderate
3  = Strenuous
4 = Very strenuous
Height Exposure
A - None
B - Some
C - Middling



There are 10 Trails in total - remember to take water, snacks, warm clothes (for those at higher altitudes) plus sunscreen and a hat.
It's a peaceful reserve with a No Fire, No Bin policy so please remember to take any litter home with you.



Always hike with a group or partner and keep the Emergency numbers on your phone.
City of Cape Town 107 or 021 480 7700
For more info view:




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30 June 2024

USA - 3 States - Self-Drive

 

USA 2024

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont

Self-Drive


 Thursday and Friday 9th & 10th May 2024

We left Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa at 15.30 Thursday 9th May bound for the airport. We arrived at Falmouth, Cape Cod at 22.30 SA time on Friday 10th. Very comfortable flight to Heathrow with British Airways. Then a seamless transfer from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3. No transit visa is required if one has a USA visa. Despite assurances on this I was still a tad skeptical! Then a very good flight to Boston with American Airlines. Our stewardess was lovely and we were offered more food than we could eat! We both turned down the last offering. Even a chocolate ice cream just out of the blue!

Boston airport was painless although the queue for immigration took ages. Then we had to upgrade the hire car as we have too much luggage. The trip to Cape Cod should only be about 1.5 hrs but took ages because of bumper-to-bumper traffic out of Boston. We can't get used to using miles instead of kilometres. And the temperature in Fahrenheit not Centigrade. At least the GPS I bought from Amazon with USA maps preloaded seems to be working well. As most of you know, we lost our trusted Tom Tom "Betsy" in May 2023 at Frankfurt airport. "Betsy" had seen us take many trips overseas in all sorts of weird and wonderful places. Then to some shopping and the cashier at Walmart did not know what long life milk was. "Long life milk" - what on earth is that? She was astounded. It's a South Africa staple. For me anyway. 2% Long Life Milk! In another store we asked a guy if they sell beer. "No" was the answer. We got chatting and he remembered Windhoek Draught from his visit years ago in Cape Town. It's out favourite back home. For now, it's Budweiser seeing as we are USA.

Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

I already love the houses here - clapboard homes with no fences, the gardens are open to the street. How wonderful to be able to live like that. We look forward to start exploring tomorrow.

The wind is a little chilly right now but we hope for the best tomorrow. This town is ideal for long walks. After a good night's sleep, we should be ready to roll with our cameras.

 Saturday 11th May 2024

The Knob 

Today we drove around and discovered The Knob near Quissett Harbour. This land of 12 acres was donated by Cornelia L Carey. The walk to The Knob is peaceful with lovely views of Buzzards Bay and Quissett Harbour. Swimming in warmer weather would be ideal here. Later a drive towards East Falmouth - the homes on Cape Cod are amazing. Very cloudy today -temp was around 13 degrees C with a chilly breeze late afternoon. Our GPS is doing well - we have named it Ben!

 Sunday 12th May 2024

Today we visited Spohr Gardens - a 6-acre Cape Cod Garden located on Oyster Pond. Margaret and Charles Spohr donated this area as they had no children. The gardens started in 1950's and the many anchors collected shows Charles passion for collecting since a young boy. We then also did a beautiful woodland walk, birdsong and nature surround us. We also saw a woodpecker!

"Charlie’s collection includes anchors circa 1760, 1850, and his most prized, a 1760 English anchor intended for use on the H.M.S. Bounty. It was found to be faulty and left ashore for repairs. It measures 14 feet long, has 8 ft. arms, and weighs 2, 475 lbs. How he acquired this beauty is unknown. He also inherited a collection of large anchors from a fellow engineer who worked for the Baldt Anchor Company in Wilmington, DE. Thirteen historic anchors now rest atop the retaining wall along Oyster pond. Most of these are labeled with the ship and time period of their use"

 

Next, we headed to Highfield Hall and BeebeWoods. This area is huge and is very popular with the locals. It has a story path with drawings and a musical area where we could pretend to know a tune or two! The locals are very friendly. A totally enjoyable morning! Now for lunch of Bacon Mac and Cheese bites, egg salad and delicious Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad. Yummy!

 


13th May 2024 Monday

Today we enjoyed blue skies! It was a Cape Cod Canal Day first. This canal is the widest sea level canal in the world. On the Bourne side we walked all the way to the Cape Cod Railway bridge and we were so lucky to see this lowered for the train crossing. Once the train had gone thru the bridge was lifted up again. Incredible to watch and a very lucky sighting. The heaviest use was during the war years 1940 to 1945. Today the train carries trash from Cape Cod to Rochester. We also saw a replica of the Aptucxet Trading Post from 1627. Closed on Mondays! 


We then headed to Sandwich where we saw the end of the Cape Cod Canal. Too far to walk - it would be a breeze for a Two Oceans Runner! Sandwich is the oldest town in Cape Cod with a history dating back to 1637. The buildings are incredible and the oldest we saw was from 1698 Bassett House. There may be older of course. The Sandwich Glass Museum was also closed. We have found the drivers and walkers so very friendly and polite. Everybody greats and cars stop for us tourists with cameras around our necks! We are also driving a car with New York plates - not yet sure if that is good or bad! The Speed Limits keep changing and vary from. 25 to 55 mph. "Ben" is continually shouting at James "You are exceeding the speed limit" But other cars are passing so it's rather frustrating.

 


Tuesday 14th May 2024


Sunny skies beckoned so we decided that a portion of the Shining Sea Bikeway was a good walking trail. This trail is ideal for bikers, roller bladers, walkers. This 10.7-mile trail is named in honour of Katherine Lee Bates (1859 - 1929) This lady was born in Falmouth and is famous for her "America the Beautiful" The branch line of the Old Colony Railroad was completed in 1872 and this gave rise to the first summer houses of Falmouth. Now this is the Shining Sea Bikeway! We could only do a portion of the trail as we had to head back the same way! Not quite sure how the knees and feet will feel tomorrow but it was great! Everybody sticks to the correct side of the trail. We did take advantage of the benches on the way back. The wild honeysuckle looks ready to burst into blossom and there are bushes everywhere. Love the homes scattered along the path - no fences, just a few with "Private" notices. The freedom to wander is wonderful. We did section 7 to 1 and back again. My blisters are proof!

Wednesday 15th May 2024

Rain was forecast today but we ventured to Chatham. This town has a number of "Vacation Rental" signs outside and it seems that the town is gearing up for summer. Currently rather deserted on this cloudy day. The Fish Pier had some boat action. We walked Main Street and the stopped at the USA Coastguard Station. The dunes below looked interesting for a walk but the raindrops stopped play! Cape Cod is a very large area and it is impossible to visit all the towns. Drivers are very polite; the roads go every which way and we find the tree lined roads quite claustrophobic given that we are used to the wide-open spaces of SA. Clam Chowder is on the menu tonight as it's rather chilly right now.

PS Thanks to Inn Season Resorts - Captain's Quarters for a very comfortable stay in Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Sea views from all our windows and a huge balcony that we never used due to the cold wind! The gas fireplace in the bedroom was good though.

 

Friday 17th May 2024

A long drive today from Falmouth, Cape Cod to Eastern Slope Inn, North Conway, New Hampshire. The first part was relaxing but slow at 55mph max. Although 99% of cars pass us, we are wary of speeding fines. Then going past Boston took forever and was busy. Next was 95N - 3 to 4 lanes and speed limit up to 65 at times. Trees, trees everywhere - it's amazing the thousands of trees. Single lanes again as we headed to Conway. "Ben" took us the wrong road but we got here eventually. We have a lovely SC suite with 2 beds and 2 bathrooms! Yeah! Exploring can wait until tomorrow.

We found an amazing supermarket "Market Basket" Wow - the variety is simply astonishing!


 Saturday 18th May 2024

Cloudy with intermittent rain today. We decided to drive the iconic Kancamagus Highway between North Conway and Lincoln. This is approx. 35 miles of White Mountain State Forest on all sides with many hiking trails and, best of all, waterfalls! We stopped at Lower Falls, Rocky Gorge and Sabbaday Falls. We had a short walk along the river and I inadvertently stepped on a frog. It seems he was possibly a Pickerel frog. What a great sighting - hopefully he is ok after being disturbed! The Sabbaday Falls were so named because of the sabbath day. As winter was approaching, the team making a road from Albany Intervale to Waterville decided to hide their tools and leave for home on Sunday. Their thoughts were to return the following spring. Although they never did return, their name for the falls has continued to this day. The noise of the Falls is incredible. Despite many signs to beware of "Moose Crossing" we have not seen any! A lovely day, despite the intermittent rain.

 


Sunday 19th May 2024

This afternoon we did a train ride from North Conway to Bartlett and back again. Unfortunately, the train windows were not clean so not great for photos. Relaxing 1 hr return trip but lots of trees along the journey. As usual, in both Cape Cod and New Hampshire! It is amazing for us to see houses right in the forest - one wonders if these are full time residents. Once we were back in the hotel 3 Police vehicles, 2 Fire trucks and an ambulance went screaming past. Hope it's nothing too serious but they have not yet returned.

 Monday 20th May 2024

A great ride today on the Mt.Washinton Cog Wheel Railway. It takes 45 mins to get up to the summit (6288) and this has been happening since 1869! The gradient is crazy! Weather at the summit was chilly but not too cold. The highest wind ever was recorded here at 231mph. 12th April 1934. The buildings are chained into the rock. Those who monitor the weather station are up there year-round. The Appalachian trail goes past here - hikers apparently can only pass this section during summer due to adverse weather conditions most of the time. This is certainly a must do if in this area of New Hampshire. There are also road races up this mountain and a lecturer from Penn did this about 30 times! He is apparently still alive at 104! George Etzweiler. There is also a car race for those with a death wish up the Auto Road! The current title holder is Travis Pastrana- 5mins 28.67 secs. Cars take about 30 mins! I am still trying to persuade James to do this by car!

We also passed the very beautiful Mount Washington Hotel completed in 1902. This became a designated Historic Landmark in 1986. In the olden days these hotels used to host families for the entire summer with approx. 57 trains arriving daily.

All in all, a very interesting day.

 Tuesday 21st May 2024


Another beautiful drive thru New Hampshire. We drove thru Bethlehem - this town attracted many sufferers of hay fever in the 1800's as it was noted for its pollen-free air. Apparently, this remains the highest town in New Hampshire. Then on to Littleton to walk between the covered bridge and the suspension bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River. For the first time in USA, we felt very unsafe walking into the covered bridge. There was a looney shouting and screaming and dashing across the path. We headed back to the start to wait for more people. A guy with a beautiful dog approached so I asked him if we could walk with him. It turned out that he was USA Special Forces for about 45 yrs.! So, protection indeed. We ended up chatting about world politics and our travels - during this time the crazy loon dashed past us to be followed about 3 mins later by a cop! We could then do our river walk in safety. The Curran Suspension bridge was fun to cross and there are a few locks on the bridge. Not as many as one sees on bridges in Europe. A more sober walk was across the Veterans Memorial bridge. There are plaques of fallen soldiers from World War 1, World War 2, Korean War, Vietnam & Iraq war. Unfortunately, the script on many of them is not very clear.


The town centre is cute but we have not yet figured out shopping hours in USA. Many shops only appear to open on weekends. There were typewriters in the window of a computer shop. Really? But the shop was closed so we couldn't ask if these were antique or brand new!

Next, we headed to Franconia where we could see the 200 yr. old Iron Furnace on the bank of the Gale River. It was built with local granite. Driving up Sugar Hill we spotted Polly's Pancake Parlor. We both love pancakes so we stopped. However, USA pancakes are what we would call flapjacks back in SA. Tiny little round things. Oh well, they filled a hole! At 20% tip (added automatically) this spoilt the experience. 

Our last stop for the day was a historical site in Crawford Notch. Situated between 2 mountain ranges with the Saco River flowing thru, Samuel Willey moved here with his wife, 5 children and 2 hired men in 1825. They operated as an inn for Travellers. On August 28th 1826 one of the worst storms ever to hit this valley occurred. The Saco River rose 20 ft overnight. The house was found intact however the parents, 2 children, the 2 hired men were found crushed in the wreckage of the landslide. The other 3 children were never found. An addition was built into the existing house and that operated as an inn until it burned down in 1898. Today the Saco River was a gentle trickle but one could imagine the torrent of water rushing down the mountain slopes. A sad story to end the day.

 Wednesday 22nd May 2024


Today's beautiful drive took us to Weirs Beach where we could embark on a 2.5hr cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee on the Mt Washington boat. Before boarding we wandered around a few streets and got talking to a local. Their summer house has been in the family since 1898 and the family now own a few in the street and have their eye on a gorgeous "fixer upper" across the street. These houses are all "summer houses" and therefore also need lots of maintenance. Over the years the house has withstood 3 hurricanes. Apparently, it is a mission getting houses up to "code" at times. I don't know how people can get away from their jobs all summer unless they are retired and wealthy!




Lake Winnipesaukee is huge - 21miles long and up to 12 miles wide in places. The depth can go down to 212 feet off Rattlesnake Island. Thankfully, for current residents the last rattlesnakes were killed by razorback hogs.

There are 365 islands in the lake, 274 of these are habitable. The smallest island is called Becky's and it is only 10feet wide.

The largest 2 islands are Long Island (accessible via a bridge) and Bear Island.

Indian Folklore claims the name as "Smile of the Great Spirit" and the story is fascinating. Too long to describe here.

The cruise was great and they even have a special beer called "Mount" beer. My turkey and bacon sandwich was delicious and only 10% tip asked for compared to the 20% added to our pancakes (flapjacks!) yesterday. Why staff can't be paid a decent wage is beyond my understanding. Those "pancakes" were never worth an extra 20% despite the interesting history of the place.

Summer homes must cost a bomb on the islands in Lake Winnipesaukee - apparently, the highest price recorded stands at 12.3 million USD. Oh well, we can but dream!

All in all, a beautiful cruise on the historic M/S Mount Washington on this huge and amazing lake.

The ship was not very full today - apparently, they can take 1000 people at full capacity. That would not be much fun!

There are 7 lakes in the region - Newfound Lake, Lake Opechee, Ossipee Lake, Squam Lake, Lake Sunapee, Lake Winnisquam plus Lake Winnipesaukee that we went on.


Thursday 23rd May 2024

Today was both nerve-racking and exhilarating. We can now claim to have driven up Mt Washington. This road opened in 1861 and is the oldest man-made tourist attraction in USA. The narrow, winding road is only 7.6 miles long but, oh boy, driving up in the fog to the top was rather hair-raising. Thankfully, James could follow the yellow middle line as there are no protective barriers. I love the yellow lines in the middle of the roads - so easy to see. With some sheer drops, this is not for the faint-hearted. The speed limit is 15mph for normal people. Some crazy guys have ridden this route in just over 5 minutes! Obviously closed to all other traffic at the time.

In 1880 a Stage Coach, driven by a drunk driver, overturned and 1 passenger was killed. During 1984 brake failure led to another fatality.

Mt Washington boasts the worst weather in the world. There is fog cover 60% of the time. And we were in it. A record low temperature was -43degrees C. Highest wind speed was 231mph (372kph)

Mt Washington rests almost exactly midpoint between the Equator and the North Pole. Cold air from the North clashing with tropical air from the south appears to cause this crazy weather here. At 6288 feet above sea level, Mt Washington is the tallest mountain for approx. 1000 Miles. The weather researchers go out every hour in all weathers. Often even at 15 to 20 mins if the weather is bad. Living up there is not for sissies - the buildings have to be anchored into the rock to keep them from talking off in high winds.

It was so foggy with rain and high winds that we didn't get out at the summit today. We had seen that on our cogwheel train ride.


Going back down one is forced to stop to cool down the brakes. This was a fun ride down! Freezing cold and blustery but so worth it. I wanted James to turn around and do it all again but the answer was a resounding NO!

We were sad to leave Cape Cod and now we are sad to leave North Conway and the White Mountains.

Roll on Green Mountains tomorrow.

(There was a scam artist parked on the road - tried to scam me - one always has to be wide awake!)

 Saturday 25th May 2024

An interesting 1st day in Vermont. We visited the Simon Pearce shop in Quechee (pronounced kee chee like lychee!)

Simon grew up in Ireland and started working at age 16. He worked all over Europe learning as he went along. In 1971 he opened in Kilkenny, Ireland (been there!) And now he has 12 stores in USA and over 400 retailers’ country wide. An impressive "good luck" story.

Next was a magical mystery tour to find Sugarbush Farm but we got there eventually.


Jeff and Ralph Luce tap over 9000 maple trees to get 40 gallons of sap to make just 1 gallon of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup. Established in 1945 the Luce family still owns this farm. It was an interesting walk amongst the Maple trees where there are sap lines going from tree to tree. They also make 13 varieties of cheese. Can't wait to taste the one we bought!

There is a legend of how an Indian woman, going for water, saw the sap running out of a Maple tree. She decided this "water" was closer than going to the river so she took some and cooked her meat in this Maple sap! It turned out sweet and thick. Bet the men were not impressed.

The Maple trees should be at least 40 yrs. old before they are tapped. The Maple season is about 6 weeks long and starts late Feb or early March. As the snow may be several feet deep, snowshoes are worn to get into the forest. These days up to 100 trees are connected by tubing and the sap runs down the hill to be collected at the bottom.

Next up was a walk along Quechee Gorge. The Gorge is deep at 165 feet and the cascading waters of the Ottauquechee river are way below. It is the deepest gorge in Vermont. The river below is the Ottauquechee River that is popular for kayaking. There are hiking trails along the gorge and we walked as far as Dewey's Pond.


At least we got our steps in today - I am fairly shattered!

 Monday 27th May 2024

Memorial Day in USA today and it’s been raining. Later we took a drive to the Price Chopper supermarket in Windsor. We took a long way round and found the longest 2 Span covered bridge in USA on the border between New Hampshire and Windsor, Vermont. This bridge spans the Connecticut River. Love these covered bridges that have stood the test of time.

 Tuesday 28th May 2024

Today we did a 5.5Hr drive on Route 100 Vermont. This iconic drive is also known as "Vermont's Main Street" or "Skiers Highway". The speed limit varies between 25mph and 50 mph

Everybody overtakes us so it seems there is total disregard for speed limits. This route runs nearly the entire length of Vermont and is 216.6 miles long from south to north. It is the state's longest numbered highway. It meanders along the Green Mountains and passes many New England villages. We drove thru Ludlow, Killington, Pittsfield, Granville, Warren and Waitsfield. There are a number of ski areas along the route - Mount Snow, Okemo, Sugarbush. On the way back we took the highway Route 89.

Photos are not great as mainly taken thru the windscreen! We cannot get over the trillions of trees in all the 3 states we have travelled so far. Cape Cod (Massachusetts) New Hampshire and Vermont. Maybe Vermont takes 1st prize - the trees are incredible along the routes and Green Mountains. The official motto of Vermont is "Freedom and Unity". This was adopted in 1788. However, perhaps this road, Route 100 is prettier in the fall when the leaves are glorious and full of colour. Just a personal observation.

We have now travelled partially thru 3 of the 6 "New England" states. They are Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. The others are Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut. These states are so called as they were populated mostly by English settlers. The street names are all so cute and English!

 

Wednesday 29th May 2024


A lovely drive from Brownsville to Woodstock Vermont where we stopped at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. The history of both Vermont and the 3 families is so very interesting. By the mid-1800's most of Vermont’s forests had been cut down. This is turn caused erosion and flooding and led to the state's first environmental crisis. George Marsh (1801-1882) grew up in Woodstock and realized that the actions of humans "brought the earth to a desolation almost as complete as that of the moon" He wrote "Man and Nature" (1864)

The next owners of the property were the Billings family who started a farm with purebred Jersey cows. Mary French, Billings grand-daughter married Laurance Rockefeller and they carried on the conservation first started so long ago by George Marsh. All 3 families were conservationists. The Rockefellers donated their stunning family home and extensive grounds and this became Vermont’s 1st National Park. We watched a film on the history of these 3 families and their passion for conservation from way back when.

Anybody who has travelled in Vermont can see how the trees are now all over the Green Mountains and valleys. As a local told us today "we live in the mountains of Vermont - they are all around us" Personally, I now have great admiration for these pioneer Conservationists. Their efforts are visible everywhere!

On the way back to our villa we stopped at a "No Name" Covered bridge. This was closed at one end and appeared to lead to a farm. On the river bank we saw a gravestone for Maisey, the Moose! So, despite the many signs saying "Moose Crossing" and never spotting any, the gravestone does suggest that there was a friendly Moose in that area!

Our afternoon excursion was to try and hike to the summit of Mount Ascutney. The drive up is quite tame compared to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. The elevation is 3144 feet above sea level. The mountain formed over 100 million years ago and is not geologically related to the surrounding hills but stands alone and is closer geologically to the White Mountains of New Hampshire rather than the Green Mountains in Vermont. For those interested in geology this mountain is known as a "monadnock" Greek to me but there you learn something new every day!


We tried both paths to the summit but did not manage to get over the bigger boulders. Knees that don't like to bend anymore are the bane of my life. But we did get pretty far up before sadly turning back. So, steps achieved for the day! Mt. Ascutney is considered one of the premier Hang-Gliding sites in New England. These folk have to hike, with their equipment, up to the West Peak.

An educational plus a fun day!

What more could one ask for.

 Thursday 30th May 2024

Another country drive in Vermont today. We headed to Weston to visit the Vermont Country Store. The store was re-opened in 1940 by a descendant of the original owner. It's huge, it's quirky, it's quaint and even a large group of bikers were browsing inside. There is even a village green with the bandstand. A fun place to visit. There is another store in Rockingham - apparently slightly smaller. At one stage 10 to 15 yrs. ago there were around 250 General Stores in Vermont. Now down to around 95. Sign of the times, sadly.

These country roads are beautiful but don't be in a hurry to go anywhere. Unfortunately, the roads are narrow and never anywhere to stop for those "never to be seen" again photos. We passed a fisherman in the middle of the river, presumably fly fishing, a Sherriff sitting in his car and the many American flags flying all over.

As usual, there is so much more to see in Vermont but time has run out again. The Fire Stations all appear to be Volunteer run - I suppose not enough fires to keep on permanent staff. Given the trillions of trees I would freak out living in these mountains!

Tomorrow we are back in Massachusetts in the Berkshires. Having said that we do still have to drive south in Vermont so maybe we will still have something to see on the way....

 

Friday 31st May 2024

Sadly, today we said goodbye to our stunning accommodation in Ascutney- Brownsville, Vermont. We drove thru Vermont, then we hit New York State. The area we drove thru appeared less affluent or perhaps more geared to farming. We did stop at Creative Custom Woodcraft as their outdoor display of chairs was simply crazy. The colours are bright and bold and there were hundreds to choose from! We enjoyed a chat with Jason who still has Cape Town on his bucket list. He has travelled to Kenya but not SA as yet. He lives in NY State but travels to Vermont for church as the border is very close. People from Vermont stay in Vermont according to Jason as they very seldom cross into New York State unless heading off the airport!!

After driving thru New York State with bad roads and not much to see, we eventually turned onto the Mass Turnpike and back into Massachusetts.

Our accommodation this time is only a 1bed Duplex but the bedroom upstairs is huge! And we have 2 bathrooms. And always a dishwasher! The "Berkshires" await tomorrow.

The grocery store close by (3miles) is called Big Y. Huge and with an incredible selection.

The original store was called "Y" Cash Market as it was situated where 3 roads met in the shape of a Y in Chicopee, MA. This was founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D ‘Amour. The name was changed to Big Y Supermarkets. Today this family-owned operation goes back 80 years and now has stores in 75 locations with over 12,000 employees. Certainly, an American dream and success story.

 

1st June 2024

We found a pamphlet advertising the Hancock Shaker Village. Deciding that this could be interesting (but knowing nothing about the Shakers) off we went.

Ann Lee was born in Manchester, UK in 1736. She fled to USA together with 8 other women. They settled in Upstate New York at first.

This was the start of the Shaker community

The museum is currently celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Shakers arrival in America

The Hancock Shaker village began in the late 1780's. This religious sect were all celibate so they drew more members by taking in, and caring for, orphans, widows or widowers with children or other members of society.

They lived together in the 1830 Brick building, housing over 100 in separate, communal dormitory type rooms. The Privy outside had 6 seats - that takes communal living to an uncomfortable level! Everyone had a task to do and these tasks were based on their strengths.

The Shakers invented a number of things such as metal pen nibs, the circular saw and a prototype washing machine. They also made various types of chairs, other woodwork and also metal work. They were tolerant of modern technology and believed in education for both girls and boys. Both sexes were given the same education which was unheard of in the 1700 and 1800's.

The Shakers composed 1000's of songs, dances & hymns. In 1813 they published a hymnal containing only lyrics. This tradition still lives on with Arnold Hadd (Google for more info)

By the late 1800's the "modern" world started pulling members away. So much so that by 1900 there were less than 1000 members. By 1936 only 92. Today there are only 2 members (Arnold Hadd and June Carpenter) They currently live in Sabbathday Lake, Maine. Apparently, Brother Arnold still does Podcasts.

This village has been preserved since 1960 and is listed on the National Historic Register.


The staff give talks on various buildings - we were fascinated by the 1826 Round Stone Barn. Apparently, this was destroyed by fire in 1864, presumed arson. The Shakers were pacifists so refused to take part in the Civil War which may have caused anger amongst the neighbouring community. The barn was rebuilt, even higher than the original. Incredible workmanship.

The museum offers many different activities throughout the summer. We were invited to join the "Goat Yoga" class! This takes place 1st June to 7th September and the goats roam freely amongst the yoga folk! That's certainly a new one for me! We did politely decline!

Certainly, an interesting slice of American history that we knew nothing about.

 2nd June 2024

Out outing today was to the Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry. This was originally called the Chester-Hudson Quarry. The granite mined here was used in many USA states. It was operational from the 1860's to the 1940's. Apparently, mis-management and lack of funds for improvement led to the closure of mine. Many of the mine implements were just abandoned and can still be seen as rusted relics.

When it was muted that the area should be developed a group of concerned citizens decided to club together and they bought 300 acres in order to preserve the site.

Besides the 1mile hike to the Quarry there are also numerous trails in the forest.

Parking was 10USD.

Sadly, there were litter bugs who left their trash to annoy other hikers. Graffiti as well. Swimming is not allowed in the Quarry Lake yet we saw 2 towels on the boulders.

The forest is beautiful and we spotted a tiny mouse on our way down. Cuteness!

We found it fascinating to see the old equipment, the sturdy cables, an old generator, railway lines etc. Relics of a bygone era.

Afternoon walk around our Holiday Inn Oak n Spruce in South Lee, Massachusetts. This complex is huge, like most of them have been in USA. We have been blessed with great accommodation in all. On our river walk we spotted this wild bunny and a squirrel who refused to pose. So cute.

 Monday 3rd June 2024

Today we had 2 very interesting outings.


First Berkshire Botanical Gardens in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The gardens were established in 1934 and are approx. 24 acres. The flowers were beautiful and there were a number of sculptures by Todd McGrain named the "Lost Bird Project" showing North American birds driven to extinction.

There is also White Ash that grew out of a rock. A beautiful garden to walk around. Our guide has visited Kirstenbosch, Namibia (for the Welwicha plants) plus Japan to name just a few! This garden is not as extensive as Kirstenbosch and does not have our stunning mountain backdrop but still beautiful with some amazing trees.

Monday 3rd June 2024

Our 2nd outing was to the Norman Rockwell Museum. Norman Rockwell had over 4000 works, he illustrated over 40 books, did 323 covers for the Saturday Evening Post over a period of 47 years. During WW1 he was the Military Artist. During 1943 WW2 he created the Four Freedom Series. Norman Rothwell was born on 3rd Feb 1894 in New York. He died on 8th November 1978 aged 84 in Stockbridge Massachusetts. One of his paintings fetched over 46million USD. An artist whose attention to detail was profound and certainly makes one think out of the box when viewing his works of art. Google Norman Rockwell for more interesting facts. It's an amazing life, well lived and leaving incredible works of art for generations to come.



The stone sculptures in the garden are by Peter Rockwell.




Tuesday 4th June 2024

A slower day today due to my swollen right knee. We walked the section of Main Road, Stockbridge where artist Norman Rockwell painted one of his most beautiful paintings. That particular painting was not published and, when asked for a winter scene of Stockbridge he offered up his original. He was told it did not depict the current era where cars were already a feature. So, he "doctored" the painting by adding 2 cars from the 60's - one coming into Stockbridge and one leaving. The original had cars from the 50's.The new version was accepted. It was one of my favourites in the museum. The mountains behind the Main Street do not exist - artists license!

We were browsing for fridge magnets in the beautiful Country Store in Stockbridge and the owner gave us a free magnet of the Main Street. This was compiled from photos that her mother took! "Winter on Main Street" by Mimi L Macdonald. What a lovely gesture for us, as South Africans in USA! All the other tourists have been American.

We are nearing the end of our USA adventure.

Drivers have been great and do stop at pedestrian crossings most times - although a local says "Not in Massachusetts"!

The Black flies are SOOO annoying

The tick issue is a problem - one of the reasons that Moose populations have dwindled in New Hampshire and the Green Mountains.

Supermarkets are amazing - so much variety.

Many small towns have theatres. The Berkshires have it all - theatre, arts, historic homes, shopping, more hiking trails than one could possibly do.

All the states that we have travelled have been so interesting.

Cape Cod for the most amazing homes and walks. North Conway for the Cog Wheel Railway and that scary Mt Washington Auto Drive

Vermont for the it's peace and tranquilly

The Berkshires for the art, history and beautiful villages.

The safety for hiking in all the above states.

Wednesday 5th June 2024





Today we drove to Mount Greylock - the highest mountain peak in Massachusetts at 3489 feet or 1063 m. Driving through Pittsfield we were stunned to see a lady begging at the traffic light with her cardboard sign. Speaking to a local later it seems this is some sort of syndicate as the ladies seem to move around. Rather disturbing nonetheless for America. Whether the many cannabis stores in Massachusetts have anything to do with this trend, who knows.

This mountain is part of the Taconic range.

The first steam powered “Locomobiles" ascended to the peak in 1902. Followed by gasoline cars in 1904. This was via the Notch Road. In 1907 the Berkshire County opened the road from the south. Imagine the excitement in those far off days!

The Appalachian Trail route opened in 1929 and crosses this peak.

By 1913 17 trails had been completed. Today there are over 70 hiking trails in this forest.

Bill Bryson mentions the Appalachian Trail and Mount Greylock in his book "A walk in the Woods" and there are so many woods in this area of USA - Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire. Hikers’ paradise.

The Veterans Memorial on the summit was completed in 1932 at a cost of 200,000 USD.

It stands 93 feet (28 m) tall and has 87 steps to the top via a spiral staircase. Yours truly managed to get to the top!

The name Greylock came into use around the 1830's. 2 theories - either the summits cloud-wrapped, frosted winter look or the name of a legendary Native American chief. Anybody's guess!

Whilst this road was very tame compared to Mount Washington in New Hampshire it was still a lovely drive.


We met a lone, female hiker taking selfies while doing a crazy, happy dance. She had already hiked 9miles and had another 9 miles to go. Plus, we chatted to a lone, female biker who we later passed going back down the mountain. Great to see.

Sadly, we missed seeing the bears. James did catch a glimpse going up the mountain. Apparently, there had been 3 bears at the summit 2 days previously. Plus, we also missed the bear sighting at Edith Whartons home. Really disappointing Bear Day!

Wednesday 5th June 2024

2nd stop

The lovely lady at the Visitor Centre at Mount Greylock suggested we stop at "The Mount" the home of American author Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937) Edith designed and built The Mount in 1902 and lived there until 1911 when she separated from her husband and then moved to France.

Edith Wharton was the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate of letters from Yale.

Apparently, Edith did most of her writing in her bedroom in the early mornings. She would drop the finished pages on the floor to be collected and typed later by her secretary! Edith also loved her privacy and her home has many doors!


The Mount resides on ancestral homelands of the Mohican Nation. Known as "the people of the waters that are never still" they were forced from their lands in the 1700's by European settlers.

It was an interesting slice of history from an author of way back when! Edith published 40 books in 40 years - an amazing experience for any author.

On the way back we drove thru Williamstown where there are a number of colleges. On one building there was a huge banner "Black Lives Matter" . Quite something to see in "real" life when we normally see this on TV.

Thursday 6th June 2024

South Lee to Boston on the Mass Pike. It rained, lorries all come flying past, the road is dreadful despite all the roadworks and tolls! Thankfully, our trusted hire car was 100% and "Ben" got us here with many admonishing "You are over the speed limit" shouts, despite being the slowest car on the highway! Early start tomorrow - catching the hotel shuttle at 4am!

It's been a wonderful USA experience.

Long flight and then back to work on Monday 10th June 2024.


Sadly, we just missed seeing bears twice while in USA 


 

    For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

 

Norman Rockwell 

Thanks for a wonderful road trip in merely 3 USA States this time.
We hope to return again in the future!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 


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