When Craig (777) posted a thread to ask for a gentle/short ride to get back into the saddle I had to respond – it’s part of the Gunda Service!!
. . . and I also wanted to re-visit the farm that MadDog and I visited in this thread.
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=123220.0
After that ride, and with a bit of help from TrevorB, I managed to track the farmer down to ask permission to visit again – which was kindly given – along with a whole lot of fascinating information about the history of the farm.
Isn’t it amazing how you can just ride down a road and not really see anything, but with a bit of history and context you realize that you missed so much?
On the first visit with MadDog it was, “Hey – look there is an old house, and some rocks!”, but now, on the second visit it all just meant so much more.
The first thing I learned from the farmer was that the ruins of the original “Boer” settler homestead still exist in the garden of the “new” old homestead, and I think we found it.
The strangler figs have now colonized the place.
The farmer said you could still see the old gun-slits. I think these are them.
Old out-buildings.
The “new” homestead. Still standing and remarkably un-vandalised, although it has been deserted for a few years now. Sad to see it going to seed.
This house was built by an interesting guy called Samaki Salmon. I found this in a web search:-
“CAPTAIN R J D "samaki" SALMON:- killed 4000 elephants! He was a New Zealander, born in 1888. In 1911, he came to Mombasa, aged 18, off to Uganda as a coffee planter. (Samaki means FISH). As senior Game Ranger, he shot elephants for wrecking cultivation. He retired in 1948 due to ill health. He served as white hunters to the Royals visiting Uganda. The Africans loved "Bwana Samaki". In 1931, he married Celia de Groot (South African) and had a daughter- Charmain. He looked after Lake George and Edward National Parks. After retirement, he took his family to live in Natal. On 23.9.1952, he suddenly died on his farm, at the age of 64."
The house was built by one of the German builders from the Wartburg area - hence the German architecture
Overlooking the Mqeku Gorge – The grass recently burned
A warm welcome from one of the newer members of the GundaGunda muffin and Cappuccino club.
We went looking for the eels in the river. We found this little pond at the top of the waterfall, but no eels. They must be at the bottom.
Anyone missing a shoe or a sock? We found them.
The little pool at the top of the small waterfall.
And then back to the bikes for home.
Thanks to 777 for coming along – I really enjoyed it, and thanks for helping lift my bike after the two “side stand incidents”
. . . and I also wanted to re-visit the farm that MadDog and I visited in this thread.
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=123220.0
After that ride, and with a bit of help from TrevorB, I managed to track the farmer down to ask permission to visit again – which was kindly given – along with a whole lot of fascinating information about the history of the farm.
Isn’t it amazing how you can just ride down a road and not really see anything, but with a bit of history and context you realize that you missed so much?
On the first visit with MadDog it was, “Hey – look there is an old house, and some rocks!”, but now, on the second visit it all just meant so much more.
The first thing I learned from the farmer was that the ruins of the original “Boer” settler homestead still exist in the garden of the “new” old homestead, and I think we found it.
The strangler figs have now colonized the place.
The farmer said you could still see the old gun-slits. I think these are them.
Old out-buildings.
The “new” homestead. Still standing and remarkably un-vandalised, although it has been deserted for a few years now. Sad to see it going to seed.
This house was built by an interesting guy called Samaki Salmon. I found this in a web search:-
“CAPTAIN R J D "samaki" SALMON:- killed 4000 elephants! He was a New Zealander, born in 1888. In 1911, he came to Mombasa, aged 18, off to Uganda as a coffee planter. (Samaki means FISH). As senior Game Ranger, he shot elephants for wrecking cultivation. He retired in 1948 due to ill health. He served as white hunters to the Royals visiting Uganda. The Africans loved "Bwana Samaki". In 1931, he married Celia de Groot (South African) and had a daughter- Charmain. He looked after Lake George and Edward National Parks. After retirement, he took his family to live in Natal. On 23.9.1952, he suddenly died on his farm, at the age of 64."
The house was built by one of the German builders from the Wartburg area - hence the German architecture
Overlooking the Mqeku Gorge – The grass recently burned
A warm welcome from one of the newer members of the GundaGunda muffin and Cappuccino club.
We went looking for the eels in the river. We found this little pond at the top of the waterfall, but no eels. They must be at the bottom.
Anyone missing a shoe or a sock? We found them.
The little pool at the top of the small waterfall.
And then back to the bikes for home.
Thanks to 777 for coming along – I really enjoyed it, and thanks for helping lift my bike after the two “side stand incidents”
