Day 22: Top of Swartberg Pass

Photolog via your Driver:  

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Top of Swartburg Pass Link: http://bit.ly/2AsiqCZ

Milling at  the top of Swartburg

Looking South East

Video of Arrival On Top

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Day 21 Nav Log: Eastern Cape, Craddock

Waking In the quaint village of Craddock is like stepping 
back in time. Restored row houses, a true Victorian Hotel,
Jazz band on the porch, gin and tonic in pitchers, iron bedspreads. New Orleans amid the diamond hills?

Landscape yesterday semi desert, huge mesas in the distance, yuccas in bloom and high altitude passes. Our 
bumpy test was a military training area with the good name of Commando Drift. We are without an accurate GPS but rally on.

Huge and long day now as we head to the hills.
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Link to more related photos posted by Driver in yesterday’s Log

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Day 21: Umngazi Photolog via Your Driver

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Sunrise today

Lunch Stop

Our Room. We're staying in little houses you see in the picture. We estimate late 1800s. Destined for  raising, a woman bought them all and refurbished along with The Albert establishment.

This evenings dining venue

Downtown Cradock

The band has been playing for hours, the same tune. I think they are quitting soon

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Day 21 log- Full Nav Update: Umngazi Villas BFNW, SA

Confronted with the groaning board on offer in the Oyster Box breakfast garden, Nav could only do justice by concocting bizarre combinations..avocado croissants with Parma ham and Stilton, passion fruit smoothie and Waldorf salad.

We waddled to Fang, got the wrong turn of the day over with immediately and headed to the Dezzi Racetrack, a short 148 km down the N2. 

Dezzi is the real deal. A very pleasant, well designed road course with good elevation and tarmac. Each vehicle , rental trucks included, took two turns of two laps each. The three time Belgian world rally champ won the fuzzy dice with blistering times in his racing Porsche.

Laurie probably was fastest in the sedate class. Everyone enjoyed the romp on a good track.

The landscape, green, green hills, deep valleys and glimpses of far away pounding surf lured us to another diet buster, the beachside Blue Lagoon bar. Nav ate too much and fought off a gastric coma during the four hour run to Umngazi Villas by the Sea.

No real report could fail to mention the surreal trip through Flagstaff and yet, again words cannot convey the sheer magnitude of activity crammed onto and around the Flagstaff main drag, equal in mayhem to Bombay’s best efforts.

The trip from altitude down to sea level includes 133 turns, switchbacks and postcard views. So here we are,up a river by the sea, surf for music, ensconced in the very same cabin where Nelson Mandela slept. Maybe even the same bed. Or did he sleep in the one Laurie now uses?
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Please note some photos re-posted: photos in previous post select here

Sunset From Beach Bungalow

Video of Eagle Swoop at Umngazi

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Day 20: Dezzi Raceway & Lunch at Blue Lagoon Beach Bar

Dezzi Raceway action followed by Blue Lagoon Beach Bar
Nothing like a huge lunch before a four hour drive in traffic.
Breathtaking scenery. South Africa is stunning.
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Dezzi Raceway

Dezzi Raceway waiting to Run! 

Fang Log website for current updates 

Lunch Stop at Blue Lagoon Beach Bar

Lunch Stop at Blue Lagoon Beach Bar

Our Evening Bungalow View

Sunset from out Bungalow

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Day 19: Oyster Box Hotel on the waterfront

Culture shock for our battle scarred rally to confront a modern young city after weeks in the bush.The Oyster Box Hotel exudes old world class. Valet look one look at us and demanded drop cloths under our cars.

Finely decked out charming staff, many tempting restaurants and cozy rooms facing the surf and lighthouse. Cool rooftop bar is the place to be followed by a mean curry buffet.

Yesterday was not our shining moment. Fang performed beautifully, his wipers did not. Mathematical and technical troubles gave us less than happy results on the regularities. On the plus side, basket shopping was excellent and we did not get lost. But once.

Sadly, Bob and Joan have joined the rental car fleet. The Capri runs no more.

Another race track today, two days at a river resort and Cape Town soon.

The Austin F1 race worth a look. 
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The Oyster Box Hotel

Oyster Box Hotel exudes world class

Video from our hotel room

Off to the Races! 

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Day 18 PM log: Phinda Lodge Safari

Pam getting ready for safari and some great animal action videos below.   

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Cape Buffalo

Baby Hippo Playing with Adult

Hippos Playing

White dehorned Rhino

Bull Elephant

Pam washing windows for clear viewing

Posted in Rally Round Blog Post

End of Day 17 Results - Fang currently top of Leaderboard with #1

PDF Version Link Here

Pam Checking In

Fang on the Open Road

Courtesy of Rally Round Facebook post

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