We all have these photos … throwback photos!
It’s described as ‘nostalgia-inducing pictures … from a different era of your life”.
Every Thursday we will throw a few photos of ‘way back when’ on our blog. Why on a Thursday? Because it’s just a day away from the weekend … and we love weekends!
You are welcome to join in or just enjoy the photos (#TB Thursday).
May/June 2016 – West Coast and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, South Africa
Those of you who read last week’s TB Thursday post will remember that we drove a very rough road to reach our final destination on our first 4×4 trip with our Suzuki Jimny.
After almost 7 hours and 150km (90 miles) on one of the roughest roads yet, we drove into Eksteensfontein – sweaty and full of dust.
A dusty, but also welcoming sight of Eksteensfontein
Our final destination was still 41km (25 miles) away. Another mountain pass on a dirt road was ahead of us … and the sun was setting.
The sun was setting
We were very pleased that the pass was in relatively good driving condition. The interesting part of this pass is the rock cairns on either side of the road. Legend has it that travellers passing through this ‘hellish’ place must stop and build a pile of stones, otherwise your journey will not go well. There was no time to test the truth of this legend, for we had to push on before the sun went down.
Rock cairns
In the final few minutes before sunset, we reached large rocks next to the road, known as petroglyphs (rock engravings). It’s believed to have been created by San people several thousand years ago.
Rocks with petroglyphs
In the last few kilometers the landscape suddenly changed from barren and dry to green farm fields. We realised it was because we were now back along the Orange River and therefore not far from The Growcery, our final destination.
From dry landscapes to green farm fields
Just as the sun was setting, we drove into The Growcery. This is a river camp and turned out to be a true oasis after our last few days in the wilderness.
The Growcery
You can either camp or stay in their ‘Chic Shacks’. Our bodies were tired after the long day on the road and our choice fell on a comfortable bed in one of the shacks. After enjoying a drink at the bar, we made our last big fire on this trip.
Chic Shack
A cocktail and last fire on the trip
Well rested the next morning, we got up and saw a glorious sunrise. After a week it was wonderful to enjoy hot water in the shower again. Even though the bathrooms at The Growcery are rustic, I loved them!
Sunrise at The Growcery
Rustic bathroom
Unique shower
After we packed up, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by The Growcery. We took a final stroll through their green garden, before leaving for our 680km (422 miles) journey back home.
At the breakfast table
Orange River at The Growcery
We drove to Vioolsdrift, the border post between South Africa and Namibia. We wished we had more time … a trip to the beautiful Namibia would have been wonderful. But we had to turn south to head back to Cape Town.
Vioolsdrift, South African border post
Back on tarmac, with one last look at the lovely ‘koppies’ (hills) of Namaqualand
Our first 4×4 adventure in our Jimny in 2016 exceeded our expectations. Since then, we’ve enjoyed many road trips in the Jimny … but we always think back to the first time with fond memories.
Dusty, but safe at home
Wet and Dusty Roads 
I’ve seen bathrooms like that on the Camino. HAHA
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Oh, that’s funny Carl 😁. I think my strangest bathroom on a Camino, was in Caminha on the Portuguese Camino … one shower cubicle with three shower heads (thankfully it was only women)! It’s the fastest I’ve ever showered in my life!
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Is dit nie fantasties hoe groen dit daar langs die rivier is nie! Lewensaar in die Woestyn!
Ek is nou nuuskierig. Hoe groot is Eksteensfontein? Ek het al soveel mooi fotos gesien wat daar geneem is en die mense lyk so warm en gasvry!
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‘n Mens kan amper nie glo hoe skielik die area in groen landerye verander het nie – jy’s reg dat die Oranjerivier ‘n lewensaar in die woestyn is (dis nou mooi gestel)!
Eksteensfontein is ‘n baie klein dorpie met meestal Nama’s wat daar bly. Maar ek het al gehoor daar is eko toerisme akkommodasie beskikbaar en blykbaar bak die vrouens ook roosterbrood wat hulle te koop aanbied as mens daar deurry. Die inwoners is beslis baie vriendelik … almal het gewaai toe ons daar deurgery het. Vier jaar later het ons weer daar deurgery, maar hierdie keer het ons gestop en met die mense gesels en dit was baie gesellige gesprekke 😉.
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Dit klink na my soort plek!
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That was a long rough ride for those petroglyphs but you made it.
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Yes, it took us almost a thousand years just to get there … or that’s how it felt 😅.
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🤣🩵
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Sounds like a grueling trip at times, but so worth the effort. I love the rustic shower; is that firewood stacked around it? If so, that’s a very clever idea! Lovely throwback Corna!
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It is not firewood, but pieces of stones from the area. However, we saw a similar shower on another trip that did come packed with firewood – so, you’re not wrong that it can be done 😉. Thanks for stopping by Tricia, enjoy your day.
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Very creative! I hope you have a nice evening!
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Adored the rustic bathrooms of the Growcerry Corna and the mini watering can for the cocktails was both apt and fun. It’s interesting how the landscape suddenly became more fertile as you approached the river. I can imagine that your car needed a good clean after driving so long on dirt roads!
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It’s amazing how the river can affect the nearby area, right? The Growcery is in so many ways a beautiful river camp Marion. From their unusual accommodation, vegetable gardens and those unique showers – it was so nice, we visited them again a few times after this. Oh yes, the mini watering can made me laugh – it was so original! We had to wash our car a few times to get rid of all the dirt … for weeks afterwards dust was still coming out of the air vents!
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That was a tough drive for only one night! You must have been desperate for that cocktail! There were rustic showers on my camping trip, but they worked well. Hot water heated by the sun! And seeing San paintings was a highlight of the trip. Have you been up to Namibia since?
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I can say with certainty that it was the best cocktail of the trip! The water of The Growcery’s showers was also warmed by the sun … there is more than enough sun near Vioolsdrift for this purpose 🌞. No, we have planned to go to Namibia so many times and then every time something happened. I hope there will be an opportunity for such a trip in the near future!
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Corna, ek wonder nou skielik. Die dorre wêreld waar julle was, raak dit nie tog aan iets in jou siel nie? Ek kyk so na jou fotos. Soms het mens die dor plekke nodig voor die groen weer intree.
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Weet jy Una, sonder om nou te filosofies te raak, waardeer mens moes die goeie tye in jou lewe nadat jy deur moeilike omstandighede moes beur. Dis altyd hoe ek daaraan dink wanneer ons deur hierdie wêreld ry 🙂. Maar in die dorre wêreld is daar weer geleentheid om stil te raak en kop skoon te maak … so elkeen van hierdie landskappe het sy voordeel.
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Wow, what a wild ride and what a unique mountain desert wilderness of great beauty, Corna! Well worth enduring the sweat and dust. I love your campsite and the simple amenities – trips and places like these let you unplug from everything and dive into being one with your surroundings. We often take a lot of things for granted and we don’t appreciate the things we have even more. Our world is structured in a way that we expect certain things that our ancestors could only dream of to be given to us by default. The more often we see the things around us – the more they become invisible to us. And camping serves as a great reminder that one must not take anything in life for granted because… Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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It’s definitely a unique area – wilderness and dry at times, but the moment one gets close to the river, the landscape changes to this green and lush paradise. People often ask us why we love to camp and all the things you mentioned here, is exactly why we go camping. Once we’re back home again, we appreciate our comfortable bed and running (hot) water in the shower. Thanks for stopping by Aiva, have a nice day 🌸.
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I know what you mean, Corna. We just returned home from a 12-day camping trip around Wales with our girls and upon returning home I saw it in a new light. I felt rich knowing that I have so many amenities and benefits in my daily life, many of which I took for granted before. xx
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Oh wow, a 12-day camping trip … awesome! I am sure you are all well rested. Enjoy all your ‘luxuries’ back home 😉.
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7 hours on a rough road can seriously wear you out. It was brave of you to continue especially with the sun going down but having a goal in sight is a good motivator! Such a lovely oasis after the dust and desert. I imagine the shower felt luxurious. Are those logs of wood surrounding it? Like your pink toenails! And the watering can cocktail!
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We don’t like driving in the dark … and especially not a dirt road (much less one we’ve never driven before). So it was a great relief to arrive at The Growcery just before sunset. It looks like wood, right? But it’s actually stones that are found in that area – quite clever! Oh, I loved the watering can cocktail – it brought a smile to my face every time I took a sip 🙂.
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What a shower! I can’t believe you lasted so long on that road, it sounds a horrible drive – but worth it for those lovely views 🙂
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It was a wild ride and our bodies were quite sore after 8 bumpy hours on the road … but that shower made me forget everything very soon 😉. And the contrasting views – it would be hard to find that anywhere else in our country.
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I’m glad your Jimny survived the rough roads and served you well on many other trips. I love outdoor showers like that one. Seems more natural.
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That little 4×4 has proven itself time and time again. There is a saying, “The Jimny doesn’t go fast, but can go anywhere” 😁. I agree with you John, those showers are what one would call a “luxury nature shower”! Great to hear from you again.
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You had me at petroglyphs, but I am fangirling over the cocktail in the watering can! Too cute. What a wonderful place the Growcery appers to be. We would enjoy staying there too and trying out that awesome shower.
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That cocktail in the mini watering can was just the perfect end to a rough day! We liked The Growcery so much that we went back twice. It’s hot-hot during summer and winters are mild … my kinda place, love it!
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Wat ‘n ongelooflike plek Corna! Daai pad was darem erg. Dis so groen daar op daardie plaas. So pragtig!
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Ja, ek dink dit was een van die rofste paaie wat ons nog gery het! Maar die goeie nuus is dat jy amper al die pad teerpad kan ry tot by The Growcery. Dis ongeveer 20km grondpad vanaf Vioolsdrift tot daar (en nie ‘n onbegaanbare pad nie) … so, mens hoef nie noodwendig die rowwe paaie te ry om tot daar te kom nie!
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Dit is baie goeie nuus! 😀 Maar dan ook weer mis mens al die mooi!
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That’s a long drive! Glad to hear that the pass was relatively easy to drive through. It’s wild to see the contrast between the barren landscape and lush greenery from the farm fields.
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It was a LONG day on a rough road! Because the road was unknown to us, we didn’t know what lay ahead … the sudden appearance of the green farmlands was a big surprise. It was quite a challenge to get to our destination, but we’re glad we pushed through – it was definitely worth it.
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The roads are quite rough and wow what a dramatic change of scenery as you approached the Orange River. That’s a very unique cocktail container! What cocktails did you have served in a watering can? The shower is awesome, love the green canopy above. The Growcery certainly delivered and provided much needed rest. Namibia is high on our list, perhaps we’ll meet there one day. Wishing you both a lovely weekend!
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We were very tired after this challenging ride. But then, the scenery makes you tolerate the rough roads (sort of) 😉. I can’t remember what cocktail it was (probably a mojito because I like that) – I just remember it was good! The Growcery is our happy place along the banks of the Orange River. Oh yes, wouldn’t it be great to see each other in Namibia … you never know!
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Very cool!
The rustic shower reminds me of so many the same while trekking – if there was a shower. 😉
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Haha, yes when you are wild camping for a few days, a shower like this one is a luxury – 5 star 😀.
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