Mood:
on fireTopic: The Overberg
'Over the Berg '
I Can never hope to relate all the trips I have made into the Overberg in one blog post,however I'll try give you a short flavour of the place and it's diversity. From the unique ,almost "Out of world" pillars as you pass over the Sir Lowry's pass the complicated Terroir best explained in another thesis.. the ancient granite base rock supporting sedimentary rock which gives Table mountain and it's surrounds a unique eroded character.
As you drive past the fruit farms of Grabouw & Elgin and pass out into the Overberg's vistas towards Caledon you could be forgiven to imagine your were in the movie "Legends of the Fall" Here you enter the sweeping wheat and canola farms , home of the Blue Crane . 'The bread basket of the Western Cape'
I always base myself in the little gateway village of Napier.. wedged between Caledon and Bredasdorp on the main route to L'agulhas .Napier was formed in 1838 after a dispute between two neighbours, Michiel van Breda & Pieter Voltelyn van der Byl, over the location of the community church ..thus forming Bredasdorp and Napiers beautiful NG kerk,the stand out features of both. Napier has two great little pub's with food. 'Gunner's Mess' and 'The Fox in Napier' During an early morning refresher I always trek up the mountain at the back of Napier and check out the Fynbos with Proteas to die for ! I've posted a few on my previous entry! After a few drinks at Gunner's and the Fox I retire to watch a fabulous sunset with a Braai!
A wonderful sunset I snapped from the stoop of my son Callum's grandfather's house on High Street Napier...'Braaied Cape Salmon & Sunset!'
Driving through Bredasdorp and on to the dirt road along the back of the Napier mountain you reach Quoin Rock and then Elim .. I have covered a few wine farm visits(Zoetendal,The Berrio,Black oyster catcher) on the famous "SpitorSwallow" site here : http://spitorswallow.co.za/?fbconnect_action=myhome&userid=849
Elim is such a wonderful and historic Moravian village and has bags of Character. I really hope the South African Government do not allow this heritage to go into decline! Such a feast to the eyes.Founded On 12 May 1824 by Bishop Hallbeck of the Moravian Church ! I usually stroll around and then head to The Berrio or Zoetendal for a refreshing Weathergirl or Sauvignon Blanc before crossing the Wet land Protected area and on to Struisbaai and L'agulhas!
Elim Moravian Church
I shall continue my blog with the Stingrays at Stuisbaai Harbour and the Most southerly point in Africa L'agulhas..perhaps Greyton and the beautiful run to Bonnivale ..to be continued! I'll leave you with a short video ! Little bit of Mark Knopfler to give you a flavour of the place ...
