EXPLORING FRONTIER COUNTRY and other areas.

[steamtrainfan]

Nice touch to the capuccino (N.B. how it is spelled )

Thanks Lisbeth.

Catching up again Awesome that you were able to meet up with a good friend after so many years Great tidal pools which would be fantastic for kids Valley of desolation Amazing views, but I’m afraid of heights, so would probably be crawling around on top Beautiful old church

A road trip of note

Welcome back B.C.

Thanks for the comments - just love the one about you being scared of heights.

Wow! Thanks for that, stf! Autumn coming here too...our trees just lose their leaves, end of story! leachy is a Bethesda fan, big time!Wonder how long one sits on a stoep there without cellphone...who "discourages" it?

If they see with a celphone attaché to your ear you get "Bethesda" glare.

Is that a Rolo next to your coffee? The latter looks delicious, btw. Love the old road signs! Shame that everything has to be new and looking fashionable these days.

It sure is a Rolo Mel. This village has really withstood the ravages of progress.

[steamtrainfan]

03 MAY 2015 - DAY 18 - NIEU BETHESDA TO GARIEP DAM - PART 3/4


A lovely windmill, mountain and farm animals scene.



Driving across Gariep Dam wall.



The single lane bridge below the dam wall.



The view from the above bridge. Would not feel so safe if the dam was overflowing.



We then went off to find the historical bridges a short distance further downstream at Norvals Pont. Please bear with us as we give another history lesson but we find it very interesting.

Norval's Pont was established in 1848 when a Scot named Norval built a ferry at this point.

On 17 December 1890 the ferry was replaced by an impressive rail bridge when the railway line from Colesberg Junction to Bloemfontein was opened. It was considered to be the best bridge in all of South Africa, about 500m long, with 11 huge columns of solid concrete. The bridge sections were all made in “kit form” in Britain and shipped out much like meccano.

Norval's Pont was an important railway stop for passengers travelling to Bloemfontein and the Witwatersrand goldfields. On 1 November Boer forces from the Orange Free State captured the town and held it until 3 March 1900 when they began to retreat. In the process they dynamited the bridge over the Orange River.

The dynamiting of the first higher railway bridge by the Burgher Forces of Gen. De Villiers, was largely ineffective as the British forces merely had to hoist the blown out sections back into place, pop in a few new bolts and the railway was once again operational in fairly short order.

The present railway bridge was erected in 1904 and the upstream bridge strengthened and revamped for road vehicles that no longer had the use of the last Glasgow Pont.

Here is a view of the two bridges. I had to scramble up a steep bushy slope to get this photo and got back to the car a bit bloody but well satisfied.

On the left is the old railway bridge now the road bridge with the newer railway bridge on the right. Both bridges are still in use today.



As is usual we did not consider a visit to an old bridge complete unless we had also driven across it.



Part 4/4 to follow.

[Alf]

I love those old bridges

[steamtrainfan]

I love those old bridges

Thanks Alf. We are so pleased to learn that there are other folk who also have a passion for them.

[nan]

very impressive old bridges

[steamtrainfan]

very impressive old bridges

Hi nan. We have missed you for a while but are so pleased you are back.

[Alf]

Me in construction steamtrainfan. Structures like that always get my attention and into trouble because SO will always say me on holiday not at work when i stop and stare

[Lisbeth]

I am not in construction, but those bridges are so different from the ones we have here

[Mel]

I'm more into landscape than bridges but the first is certainly pretty again!

[steamtrainfan]

Me in construction steamtrainfan. Structures like that always get my attention and into trouble because SO will always say me on holiday not at work when i stop and stare

Well said Alf.

I am not in construction, but those bridges are so different from the ones we have here

I'm more into landscape than bridges but the first is certainly pretty again!

Thanks Mel. I try to keep all types of folk happy.