Going on an Adventure Drive in the Gamtoos Valley

Beautiful scenery, rolling hills covered in fynbos, citrus orchids, farmlands, white frothing streams, mountains on the horizon, forested valleys, interesting back roads, friendly people and countryside hospitality.  These are all things you will find in the Gamtoos Valley.  The best way to explore and get to know the Gamtoos Valley is to spend a weekend and see for yourself what this valley on the eastern doorstep of the Baviaanskloof has to offer.  One of the quick fire ways to do this is the annual Gamtoos Tourism Adventure Drive.  On Saturday morning we headed out to Loerie for our fourth Adventure Drive and we were joined by our friends Mr and Mrs Smith with their two littlies.  For the second year now the Adventure Drive started at Loerie Ruskamp and included the area around Loerie and Hankey.  We covered a distance of about 60 km with eight fun challenge stops along the way.

Our first stop for the day was in a wooded valley outside Hankey at InnieKloof.  The challenge were to throw naartjies into containers to see how many points we scored.  Each stop had a possible 100 points up for grabs and hitting that yellow crate in the middle would give you an automatic 50 points.  

The route is set out very nicely so it's very hard to get lost.  Unless you have a deaf and dumb navigator and you miss a turnoff. Luckily for us I'm not and we didn't.  The valley is so beautiful though that I really don't think anybody would mind getting lost around here.

Stop number two was at the Hankey Golf Club.  This 9 hole golf club apparently is one of the best local courses in this part of the Eastern Cape.  We didn't have time to go a driving so ended up chipping for points awarded closest to the hole.

Our next stop was just outside of town below Vergaderingskop.  This little koppie is where Sarah Baartman was buried in 2002 after her remains were repatriated from France.  Across the road they are busy building a big cultural centre which I really hope will become a worthy attraction in the valley.  The point was manned by the guys from SANCCOB in Cape St Francis and a steady hand was needed to get a high score over here.

The route then hit one of the back roads.  This is truly what the Adventure Drive is about. Discovering and exploring.  We didn't need an excuse to stop and enjoy the scenery though.  The next challenge was on hand.  I did grab the camera for a pic of the rolling hills with the Cockscomb Mountains in the distance before it was jukskei time.

Jukskei you ask?  Yes, jukskei.  Jukskei is a 270 year old Afrikaner folk sport and said to be the forerunner of American Horseshoe Pitching.  The sport is believed to have started around 1743 in the Cape and was developed by transport riders traveling with ox-wagons.  They used the wooden pins of the yokes - Skei in Afrikaans - of the oxen to throw at a stick that was planted into the ground.  The game was also played during the Great Trek and became an organized sport around 1939.  Let's just say I came close to hitting the stick a few times and only scored with the last throw.  Needless to say, I suck at Jukskei.

The next stop on the route brought us to Spekboom Lapa.  Last year we stopped here as well and we had to fish Smarties out of a bowl of flower with our mouths.  This year the challenege was a little less hardcore and... No, we didn't have to do break dancing. I'm just glad there are no photographic evidence of me trying to pop balloons between my legs.

From Spekboom Lapa we followed the road via Melon and along the Gamtoos River to the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel were another "traditional" sport was awaiting us.  A bit of egg and spoon racing.  Humpty Dumpty sat on a spoon...

The route took us back towards Loerie and up to the Loerie Dam.  Here it was time for... the one activity that comes up each and every year.  The obligatory and compulsory, Kududrolspoeg.  And for those who doesn't understand Afrikaans or who have never heard of it.  Spitting kudu dung pellets as far as you can.

I've gotten used to it over the years and stick those pellets in my mouth with no hesitation.  This year was the first time Drama Princess did it though and it was an Oscar winning performance.

Actually, she wasn't quite the only one in the running.  There were also great nominations for Chaos Boy, the Damselfly and Mrs Smith.

The last stop of the day was at the Koekepanne Farmstall on the road between Loerie and Hankey.  By now we were on a roll and could smell the end.  The activities got completed and we bundled back in the car for the last drive up the road to Loerie Ruskamp.

After the race everybody got together for lunch while the calculations were done to determine the finishing order.  All the points as well as the times were fed to the computer and then it was time to announce the winners.  One of the great things about the day is that everybody are winners and that each competitor gets something.  The names are called out in order of final scores and you then walk up to the prize table and choose your prize.  The Gamtoos Tourism members and other businesses in the valley comes on board in a big way and makes it worth everybody's while. I'm really hoping to see bigger numbers enter next year though.

We've already marked the date in our diaries for next year and be sure that we will be back to explore the valley a little bit more.

A classy day at the Jazzy Boozy Cheezy Affaire

Anybody blindfolded and flown around the country before being dropped off at the Jazzy Boozy Cheezy Affaire would have been excused if they guessed their destination to be somewhere in the Cape Winelands after seeing what was around them.  They would have been very wrong though.  The JBC wasn't taking place in the Cape Wineland.  Far from it.  It took place just outside Addo at Africanos Country Estate in the Sundays River Valley of the Eastern Cape.

The JBC Affaire wasn't just another event with music and stalls.  It was something slightly different and brought to the Sundays River Valley some of the Western Cape's top wine estates, specialty food stalls ranging from cheese and cold meats to olives, oysters, chocolate and biltong as well as a craft brewer and PE coffee roasters Mastertons.  These were all  bound together with live jazz performances on stage and the most amazing food, flower and fragrance pairing demonstration.

The Damselfly and I left the KidZ with friends and headed out into the Addo countryside nice and early on a perfect spring Saturday morning.  The beauty of the valley this time of year is the striking fragrance of citrus blossoms in the air and one just can't help but to pull over and suck in lungs full of it.  We arrived at Africanos just after the doors opened and before the crowds started coming in which gave me a chance to have a look at all the food stalls and take some pics.

The wine section of an event like this is always a huge attraction and the glass we received at the door came in very handy when wanting to taste some of the wines on offer.  Wine estates on offer included Calitzdorp Cellar, Ken Forrester, Simonsig, Beyerskloof, Cape Point Vineyards, La Motte and a couple more so there was something for everybody.

The program on stage started at 10 am with a different band going on every hour.  While we were there there were some excellent performances by Khanyiso, the John Edwards Trio and Cosa Nostra with a few more that we didn't get to see.  I'm not one who can sit and listen to Jazz all the time but the music on stage was the perfect backdrop for enjoying the food and wine on offer.  I even caught myself bobbing along with the beat at one stage.

As I have said already, there was really something for every taste on offer at the JBC.  Claus the Cheeseman from Knysna had a great variety of cheeses, cold meats, salami and artisan breads while those who like their meat dried could pop by Kirkwood's Famous Karoo Butchery's stand.

People went to the Laharna stand to try their olives, chillies, sundried tomatoes and herbs and most enjoyed it so much that they came away with tubs of olives and other goodies.

The Sundays River Valley is famous for elephants and oranges and oysters couldn't be further removed from what the area has to offer, but oysters turned out to be one of the most popular treats at the JBC.  I always thought that the first dude to dare throw a raw oyster down his throat must either have been very hungry, very stupid or very brave.  He must have known something cause as we know oysters are regarded a delicacy by many today.  Some even believe it to be an aphrodisiac.  Whatever you think, the Oyster Bar did a roaring trade of both the traditional raw oysters as well as a yummy deep fried one that I got to try. 

The coffee and chocolate lovers wouldn't have felt left out with what was on offer.  Sjukla's hand-made Belgium chocolates are delectable, especially those with a hint of citrus in them.  Right next to their stand Mastertons' barista was waving his magic coffee wand for those in need of a caffeine fix or some chocolate covered coffee beans.

Not everybody are into wine, but the organisers had thought of that as well.  They also had craft beer on tap brought to the valley by the Dragon Brewing Co as well as craft ciders by Everson's.

The highlight of the JBC, for us anyways, was the Neroli Fragrance Experience which involved food, flower and fragrance pairing during an interactive session in the Africanos hall.  The food bit was done by South African TV and Kokkedoor chef Mynhardt Joubert...  

 ... while the flower arrangements were done by PE based German Master Floral-Designer Fayette Scherwinski who is a floral magician. 

Flowers decorations and topped up glasses were the order of the day

The one hour session, done at 11 am and 2 pm on both days, didn't just involve us sitting and watching a cooking and flower demonstration.  It involved interaction as well where all six senses with us getting to see, touch, taste and smell the food, flowers and perfumes; and of cause listening to the experts.

While the demonstrations were on the ladies were encouraged to try out the DKNY scents on display while one lucky lady from the audience also got to have a makeover.  Wine glasses got topped up and taste buds were tantalised.  Some of the delicacies Mynhardt and his assistant dished up was an instant meringue with citrus rind, a quick sticks cheesecake with lavender flowers in it and various spreads and dips (sorry, but at a loss for a proper description for it) that went with the proper meringues and fresh fruit that also went onto the table.

One of Fayette's table decorations

Once the food and flower demonstration was done the final products were used to set the table in the middle of the hall.  It wasn't just a case of dishing everything up on plates.  It goes straight onto the table. 

Then it was our turn and spoons were dished out - excuse the pun - and we were invited to tuck in straight from the table.  We were encouraged to try different combinations and to even try some of the flower petals with the food.  Truly a very unique experience and very well presented.

All in all the Jazzy Boozy Cheezy Affaire was an absolute breath of fresh air.  There are a lot of artisans and country markets all over the show these days, but there is definitely a market out there for something like this.  Something a little more sophisticated combining good food, wine and music in a controlled environment.  When I first heard about the JBC, I have to admit, I had my doubts.  Those doubts vanished like mist in front of the sun after visiting and seeing what they had to offer and I am sure that next year will be even bigger and better.

Disclosure: We received tickets to visit the Jazzy Boozy Cheezy Affaire from the organisers  and visited on the first day of the event.  Our transport and all other costs were for our own account.  

A rocking Wildsfees in Kirkwood - in pictures

Every year on the last weekend of June, thousands of festinos make their way to the small Sundays River Valley town of Kirkwood for the annual Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees.  The Wildsfees, in it's 14th years already, brings some of the biggest names in the Afrikaans music industry to the town and combines it with a weekend of entertainment, activities, food and stalls.  Over the weekend in the region of 50 000 people attended the festival with over 20 000 people in the grounds on the Saturday evening. 

 

We weren't planning to go to the festival this year but I got my hands on some tickets on #99 and after a quick call to one of my contacts in town, I found a spot in the backyard of Magnolia Guesthouse to pitch our tent.  The weekend was on!  The Damselfly was picked up after work and the KidZ from aftercare, the car packed and we were off to the Wildfees.  After dropping off all our stuff at Magnolia just after sunset we headed to the festival grounds.  The plan was to grab a seat and enjoy the Friday night entertainment, leaving exploring the rest of the festival on Saturday before the main entertainment started late afternoon. 

 

Kirkwood be Kirkwood and late June being winter meant that everybody arrives at the festival prepared for cold.  We were no different. Jackets, beanies, blankies, the works. 

When we got there the Radio Kalahari Orkes was on stage.  I really like a couple of their songs but struggle to sit through a whole CD of theirs. Seeing them on stage though was a totally different story. Wow, pure genius and lots of energy, specially from the only female band member.  Love her on stage with her accordion. 

The main reason the Damselfly wanted to be there the Friday evening was the fact that her two favorite artists, Jay and Leanie May, were on stage right after each other.  They also did their latest song, Naweeklyfie, together which is always a hit.

 

Singer and actor Izak Davel kept the crowd entertained on the Saturday afternoon both during his performance as well as one of the MC's.  I'm sure a couple of ladies in the audience still remember him strutting around in his red speedo on Survivor South Africa a couple of years ago.

Some of the artists on stage over the two days that we were there (we and my wallet were all festivaled out by Saturday night so we gave Sunday a miss).  Clockwise from the top left corner - Ian Roberts of Radio Kalahari Orkes, Jay, Snotkop, Nicholas Louw, Elizma Theron and Ray Dylan.  I just realized that I never got a pic of Kurt Darren who was one of the main acts on the Saturday evening. 

 

Two things mentioned by the artists immediately jumps to mind while I write this.  Firstly how much they enjoyed performing in front of such a huge audience and secondly how the stage and sound must be amongst the best they have performed on in South Africa.  Both of these are huge compliments to both the organisers and the people attending the festival.

I know the artists on show would all be able to rock an audience doesn't matter if they sing on a school stage, a street corner or from the back of a truck, but the stage and sound played a huge role to make this event such an fantastic experience.  The stage with its speakers and lighting stretched over a distance of close to 50 meters and the sound was superb.  Kurt Darren even commented how this was the first time in ages that he just walked onto a stage without a sound check and everything was perfect.  Event Hire Network really deserves a lot of credit for the work they did.

Obviously the KidZ, especially Drama Princess, made use of the photo opportunities with artists.

One of the things I particularly like about the Wildsfees is that they evaluate all stall applications and don't just allow anything and everything.  It means that there aren't rows opon rows of foong kong fake goods stalls.  The focus is rather on hand made quality crafts and products.

I always think that if you want to make money at a festival then you have to have a food stall.  Do your own math.  50 000 people, three day festival, entertainment all day long.  People get hungry.  People get thirsty.  People need to eat and drink.  It's not all just printing money though.  The food stall people work long and hard hours.  The food at the festival was yummy though.  Everything from kudu burgers to fish and calamari, chip & dip to sushi, koeksisters to Chinese food and everything in between.  Two places I didn't photograph, because I didn't visit it, were the wine garden and the beer tent.  Sorry, I'm not really a drinker so I lost nothing there.  My only negative comment about a festival like this is the amount of alcohol that people consume at it.  Both these areas were packed all day long and wine bottles and beer cans were stacked up six packs deep.  Not really my kind of scene. 

The festival also had a very popular display area where, on the Saturday, we first watched how a SANParks anti poaching dog took down a baddie before the annual Boerboel dog show.  If you haven't been there you probably won't believe me, but the Boerboel show must be the most popular activity after the music on stage.  People were pushing and squeezing in to get a spot to watch these magnificent dogs being judged.  I was also very impressed by the conservation area in one of the tents where SANParks and a couple of other organisations were exhibiting.

 

One of the new additions to the festival this year was a Fairy Garden... with real fairies.

All in all the ABSA Kirkwood Wildsfees was a huge success this year.  The weather was perfect.  The artists and entertainment superb.  People were (mostly) well behaved.  Service was brisk.  I have to give a big up to the organisers on running a very sleek ship from a festival goer's point of view.  A well deserved feather in the cap of Jennifer Honsbein and her team.  I'm already looking forward to see how they are planning to top this year when the 2016 ABSA Kirkwood Wildsfees comes around.

 

Disclosure: We received tickets to attend the ABSA Kirkwood Wildsfees from the organisares.  All additional costs, food, petrol and accommodation was for our own cost.  The tickets were for normal entrance and didn't allow for additional media or back stage access.  I received no further remuneration, wasn't asked to write a positive post and keep full editorial control.

Bigger, better, louder and more awesome. Imax comes to Port Elizabeth

I have never been to an Imax movie so big was my excitement when I received an invitation from Ster-Kinekor to the grand opening of their brand new cinema complex at Baywest in Port Elizabeth.  The complex is made up of 5 regular cinemas, two Cine Prestige luxury cinemas (kitted out with reclining chairs and the works) and, the cherry on top, an Imax cinema.  Only the fourth one in South Africa.  Did I mention that Joburg hasn't got an Imax yet.  Cool, hey! 

 

Last night Chaos Boy and I headed over to Baywest Mall for some blue carpet treatment and joined celebs, business people, media and a dinosaur for some cocktails (Appletizer for Chaos Boy), snacks, one or two speeches, lots of photos and a screening of Jurassic World. 

Ja ja, ok, se we were basically there to see Jurassic World.  But it wasn't sommer maar net watching another movie.  This one was in the 330 seater Imax theatre, on a screen three story high, perfect surround sound and, wait for it.... in 3D. BOOOM!  What an amazing experience!  Imax in 3D may possibly have spoiled every other cinema out there for me.  I may even have to go and throw out my old box tv and get a plasma just to increase screen size. 

 

The theatre complex officially opens today (Thursday 18 June) and those who have never had an Imax 3D experience before is truly in for a treat.  In the last week or so I have seen a lot of people ask on Facebook what the cost of tickets are.  The cost is R110 for adults and R75 for kids.  Ster-Kinekor club members will pay R55 on Tuesdays while Discovery Vitality members with a Ster-Kinekor movie card will pay R66 any day.  Edgars Club members pay R71.50.  I already hear people moan about the cost of the tickets, but I'm sure those moaning are the same ones who always moan that there is nothing to do in Port Elizabeth and that nothing ever comes to the city.  It's probably also people who have at some stage or another paid R750 to see an international act and traveled to Cape Town to go and watch them, paid R450 to watch a rugby test, thinks nothing to pay R130 for a bottle of brandy or go and sit in the Spur at least once a month forking out R500 or R600.  Yes, it may be a little steep in a lot of people's language, but it's a treat like all of the above examples so there is no excuse to moan about the price.  So now that we have that out the way, treat yourself and go and experience movies like they should be experienced.  In 3D on an Imax screen.  

 

Disclosure: We attended the Imax grand opening as guests of Ster-Kinekor.  I received no further remuneration, wasn't asked to write a positive post and keep full editorial control.