We both feel that our decision to drive directly from Vredendal to Cape Town was the correct one. We have been able to empty the car of everything, ready for shipping back to the UK tomorrow, as well as enjoying a chance to visit places in Cape Town we were unable to look at when we arrived at the beginning of August.
The weather has remained overcast and with the top of Table Mountain shrouded in clouds there was no point in taking the cable car to the top. Still, we were able to use the car for one last drive round Cape Town. We looked at the Mount Nelson Hotel, a famous traditional hotel, then on to see the cable car station with great views over Cape Town and the harbour.
We then drove around Table mountain to visit the Rhodes Memorial, set in gardens on the slopes of the mountain. Rhodes died in 1902 and the memorial to him is a very gaunt looking affair. Great stone columns support a roof over the bust of Rhodes. The bust is only in sight when standing directly in front of the memorial, otherwise the columns hide it from view. Eight giant lions line the steps leading to the memorial and a very classical looking statute of a man on horseback is at the the foot of the steps.
We then took a short drive to the world famous botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch. We were delighted we decided to go there. The gardens are very beautiful, with every conceivable plant on display. The conservatory has a very informative display of desert and arid plants with detailed explanations of the how the plants have adapted to survive in very dry environments. It was good to learn the names of so many plants that we recognised from the tour.
We then had to head back to the hotel to get ready for the official finish at 3pm. When we arrived we met up with those who had stayed the previous night in Ceres, and for the next couple of hours the remainder of the cars finished the tour. At 3pm the cars lined up in order of their entry number. We went over the line, after the de Hullu's and Mark I'Anson and family in their Landcruiser. A band played as John Brown waved the finishing flag as each car crossed the line. Champagne flowed as everyone congratulated each other on successfully completing the tour. It was a great party as photos were taken of the participants and their cars.
The Finish on the Waterfront at Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Car No.1 crosses the finishing line
Antoine, Maria and Victor de Hullu
Car No.9
Jean Steinhauser and Anne Collard
Car No.23Jim, Leejun & Kaitlyn Taylor
The 'Advance' Car team, Arne and Ingbritt Hertz
Car No.22
John and Elaine Chambers
Car No. 4
Jim Carr and Helen Peacock
Celebrating the finish on top of the de Hullu's Landrover
Car No.8
Stuart and Sheri Jamieson
Car No.11
Michael Bernecker and Mara Schemmann
Car No.10
Geoffrey and Veronica Poxon
Two hours later and we were taken in two coaches to the end of tour party at Boschendale, a winery near Stellenbosch. John Brown spoke about the tour and then each participant was called up to collect their 'prize' for completing the tour; a beautifully carved giraffe for each woman and a rhinoceros for each man.
The evening finished with the music being turned up loud and dancing the night away. Tomorrow the car goes back to the car delivery depot, some thirty kms from Cape Town and then we fly back to the UK on the 8pm BA flight to Heathrow. All very sad.
Photos will be added very shortly after the return to London
The evening finished with the music being turned up loud and dancing the night away. Tomorrow the car goes back to the car delivery depot, some thirty kms from Cape Town and then we fly back to the UK on the 8pm BA flight to Heathrow. All very sad.
Photos will be added very shortly after the return to London
No comments:
Post a Comment