Last day in the USA. This time a road trip from Philly to NYC to see The Lion King on Broadway! Just some snaps from the car and a walk around Time Square. Winter skies.
Wanderings Day 10
Tag Archives: travel memories
Wanderings Day 9
Today’s wander is remembering back to a cold, crisp January day when my darling cousin and I boarded a train bound for the nation’s capital, Washington DC. After arriving at Union Station we then clambered aboard an open top tourist bus and spent the day being extremely touristy. The open top bus was an interesting choice given the temperature that day. I was also reading Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol at the time which lent an interesting perspective to our wanderings.
Wanderings Day 8
Just so you don’t think I am completely one dimensional, today’s wandering is taking us away from Africa!
I was fortunate enough to spend some months in Philadelphia a few years ago. Time spent with very special family.
Such a different travel experience for this Southern Hemisphere girl. It started as I arrived with an incredible snowstorm that turned the world white. Completely ill equipped I still ventured out from my hotel room the next day to walk the snow still streets of Philly. I finished off that day’s adventure at the sports bar next to the hotel enjoying a philly cheesesteak sandwich and watching a Philadelphia Eagles game on the big screen.
Lots to see and do and, of course, so much significant history to soak up. I loved the vibe of Philly much more than any of the other US cities I have visited…. Home of The Roots, a long time favourite of mine.
The big snows came and went all the months of my stay. I got very good at snow angels and finally got a decent pair of boots for snow days.
I loved the glimpses of wildlife even in the suburbs – deer, owls, red cardinals and turkey vultures.
Wanderings Day 7
So we are back on the Panorama Route headed towards one of my most favourite places on earth.
Many happy childhood memories spent driving this route. Our end destination today, Hoedspruit, holds a particularly special place in my heart.
Wind your way along the R532 which hugs the edge of the escarpment. Definitely a stop at the Three Rondavels lookout for photos of these iconic mountains and into the Blyde River Canyon below. Mariepskop in the distance.
The R532 meets up with the R36 at the Abel Erasmus Pass. This pass takes you through the last of the mountains past interesting vegetation and rock formations. As you are nearing the J G Strydom tunnel there’s a pretty waterfall if you know where to look amongst the cliffs. Peregrine Falcon breeding spot apparently?
The other side of the tunnel you will start a sharp descent into the lowveld of the Limpopo Province, the Olifants River to your left. You gain a different perspective of those same mountains and cliffs of the escarpment from below.
Drive past the game farms and citrus orchards until you get to Hoedspruit. So much to see and do in this area. I highly recommend staying for a while.
One particular recommendation is a tour around the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre…. And yes, that is a pic of the famous Stoffel, the honey badger Houdini.
Wanderings Day 6
Today’s wandering takes us to the other side of South Africa. To Mpumalanga.
Near Ohrigstad there’s a pass that winds up towards the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment – Robbers Pass. At the top of this pass there is a forestry track off to the left, hard to spot unless you’ve been there before. Bump along this track through the pine plantation for a short way until you turn a bend and the whole valley stretches before you. You have arrived at Themeda Hills Mountain Camp.
Now I don’t know if it still operates anymore, but this spot has to be one of Mpumalanga’s best kept secrets. My family have been visiting for years. I can’t remember who found it first, but I definitely associate trips to Themeda with my Grandad Jim.
Eight little stone rondavels perch on the edge of the world here with simply spectacular views. At a fairly decent altitude there is a distinct alpine tinge to the air and vegetation and the sometimes moody cloud. Rondavel 8 is the best. I saw my first African Crowned Eagle here.
Words and photos do not do the magic of this pure space justice.
After losing yourself on top of the world for a little while, time to join reality again. Down the other side of Robbers Pass you will come to Pilgrims Rest. Two options from here.
First, the road less travelled. A dirt road the follows the Blyde River from its source near Pilgrims Rest as it ambles and meanders its way toward Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
The second option is the more popular R533 to Graskop. A stop at Harrie’s Pancakes before finding the R532 which will start you on the Panorama Route through the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve with lots of scenic stops like God’s Window, Lisbon and Berlin Falls along the way.
More of this Panorama Route tomorrow…