We had so
much fun camping at the West Cape Tractor & Engine Club Annual Show in
Malmesbury recently that when another opportunity to camp, combined with a
Vintage Road Run was suggested, it met with enthusiastic support!
The Road Run
was organised by Canzius and Rykie Swart of Khomeesdrif Caravan and Camping
Site, a few kilometres east of Riviersonderend, in collaboration with Edu Roux
of the Villiersdorp Tractor & Engine Club, for Saturday 13th September. The
central location was also convenient for members of the Bredasdorp
Club, who turned out in force. It was unfortunate that the Breede River
members were unable to attend. The occasion was organised as a fund-raiser for
the Riviersonderend and Greyton NGK congregations.
Khomeesdrif is
situated on the southern banks of the Riviersonderend and has about 30 stands
and well appointed ablution facilities. There is one Chalet which was booked by
the Committee of the Villiersdorp Club!
Loading facilities are on the farm next door, at a suitable height for an 8-ton lorry. Members started arriving and setting up on Friday afternoon.
The picture
above shows Eniel's Chev with passengers as we approached The Oaks, which in
the last six years has been superbly and accurately restored and is now
considered the most authentic Cape Dutch homestead, including encircling
wall, outside the immediate Cape Town area.
After
breakfast...... we hardly needed any more feeding till supper time!
We were
privileged to meet owner and restorer Gert Ehlers, who told us this farm is
said to have been the first in South Africa to use a metal mouldboard plough!
During the restoration, all plaster was removed from the buildings to find the
exact positions and sizes of the original doors and windows, which were
reinstated.
..... and the
Mill (right, below). Unfortunately there was no milling machinery and it wasn't
possible to reinstate the mill stream. The building on the left was the first
outpost of the Genadendal Moravian mission which predates the Homestead.
Lunch of
lasagne and green salad was served in the Church Hall, after which we relaxed
under the trees next to the church:
On the way
back, some of us stopped off at Het Ziekenhuis which I had read about in
Burrows' Overberg Outspan. He describes it as small but I was expecting
something more than an (active!) beehive!
The orchards
are planted on slopes where baboons need a walking stick! 12 (newer!) tractors
and spray machines are needed to keep the trees pest and disease free!
The event was
a huge success, with 26 vintage vehicles, including two classic cars, two
lorries and a Jeep. The remaining tractors included a McCormick:
...two Lanzes, this one needing vigorous effort to start,
.....the other starts electrically and makes wonderful smoke-rings
I think we
certainly livened things up at Khomeesdrif and we hope their fundraisers were a
success after all the effort which was put in, we certainly enjoyed the
experience and hope to make it a regular event on our calendar! It looked as though the wives, girlfriends and children
enjoyed the experience, some of the children only came in from swimming in time
for dinner! It was great meeting and spending leisure time with them all :-)
Andy Selfe
14th
September '14
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