Two tours meet at Ebenezer in the Karoo

Posted on 23 March 2009

The fact that we were so comfortable in the warm beds provided by our most generous hosts, Graham and Michele Hobson, made the wake up call for 07:00 extremely difficult. We were to be meeting two fellow travelers, a French couple, who were hiking (not hitching) from Cape Point to Jerusalem.

We arrived at Blake and Pippa Hobson’s farm only to be treated to a healthy Karoo breakfast and the fine company of Guillaume (pronounced William) and Enola, who made us unbelievably jealous with their stories of following the Grootrivier gorge from Cambria in the Baviaanskloof to the Grootrivierpoort, where we followed the same route all the way hearing of the two crazy French hikers from the locals.

They surprised us and our hosts when we heard that they only carry one liter of water each and no food supplies. They rely on eating when food is available and use water from dams and water tanks when they find them.

They went four days without food in the Grootrivier gorge. Extreme living aside, they are two of the most interesting and humble people. We enjoyed our first rest day with them and our hosts, the Hobsons.

Lunchtime was a treat. Beer and lunch while watching the Sharks give the Aussie Western Force team a hiding. The Aussies should know that pink does not belong a rugby field!

Our interesting day ended with a lovely game drive and sundowners on the dam of Graham and Michele’s beautiful farm Ebenezer, home of the magnificent Stone Cottage guest house.

The most perfect hosts and friends made through sheer luck and coincidence.

It was difficult leaving the next morning because Josh, the border collie child of our hosts, kept trying to bite our tyres as we rode off. Well trained on Grahams behalf.

We cycled out to Pearston, 30km from Ebenezer where we were invited for lunch by Karin Oosthuizen, the owner of the most interesting pub I have ever seen. The idea of breakages are clearly out of the window here, the crockery are all tin, which gave rise to the unique name Blik-sm’s Lekker.

As unique as the name are the owners. They invited us on a Sunday when they were closed, fed us and treated us, not as the two strangers which we were, but as long lost friends.

We were shown Karin’s precious pets. Two pythons. One a four meter monster, the other an albino python three meters long. Scary little moment having them draped over your shoulders, feeling them gently squeezing as the glide down your body. You want to smile but at the same time you scared witless.

Our cycle out to the Cradock road was with heavy legs after our afternoon “kuier” with the Oosthuizens.

After a wild camp near the Swaershoek pass we reached Cradock this afternoon. Once again we have been blessed with good people and a place to rest.






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