Time to stop and smell the roses?
When a recent return trip to Johannesburg turned out
to be longer than expected, I decided it would be
a good idea to spend the night at The Grey’s Inn
in the once thriving town of Machadodorp.
This would not be my first visit
as my wife and I had discovered their coffee shop a few years ago.
Run by Mike Crawford and his parents,
it has become our Northern road trip tradition to stop over
for a coffee and perhaps even a slice of home made cake.
Mike, like me, enjoys re-purposing items.
This gearbox, which is currently a wall ornament,
is a prime example of that.
A working vice from an ox-wagon has pride of place
and is still being utilized on a daily basis.
There is also a range of old tools hanging on the wall.
There is a function room behind this reclaimed door.
Very much in the style of an old farm house,
the space is well utilized by the locals for a variety of celebrations.
The room that I stayed in is about to undergo a make over.
But is was more than sufficient for my needs.
And those very simple:
1) A comfortable bed…tick.
2) A hot shower…tick.
So with my boxes ticked, I was happy just to relax
before having a quick bite to eat for supper.
What is the one item that links EVERY small town in South Africa?
It has to be a pool table.
And the pub at The Grey’s Inn has several.
The interior of the Purple Orchid coffee shop at night.
It closes at 17h00, but the inter-leading door from
the bar at The Grey’s Inn was open,
hence me popping in to take a picture.
This is what rush hour traffic looks like in the main street!
The parade of heavy duty vehicles going through the town
has caused havoc on the road surfaces.
Hopefully the potholes and the destroyed tarmac will be repaired at some stage.
It had been a long day on the road for me,
so a quick walk to clear my head and stretch my legs
while watching the sunset over the far horizon.
Another drive to get me back home…
but that is for tomorrow.
To find out more about the accommodation, food
and their great hospitality, visit:
A big thank you to each of these brands
for coming on board.
This has been my constant travel companion
for the past several years.
It might look worn,
but that represents the kilometers/miles
we have shared together.
From Kilimanjaro to the beaches of India.
To coach trips across Europe and Vietnam
and to a variety of game lodges and road trip destinations
in South and Southern Africa.
BEST SUITCASE EVER!
Check out their Facebook page:
This torch has been turning heads!
The Olight SRS2UT Intimidator.
Marketed locally by:
https://torchsa.com/
My camera brand of choice for more than 4 decades!
When it is time to print out my special images,
this is the company that I rely on to do that.
Bush gear to make me blend in…
in comfort and style.
https://www.ruggedwear.co.za
I have worn the orange Veldskoen in the jungles of India
and on the beaches of Croatia.
Not to mention, many game reserves in Africa.
They are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes
that I have ever owned.
Now to try out the rest of the colours in the range.
When I get home. I rely on this ISP
to provide me with high speed fibre connectivity
to enable me to get my postings published in record time.
www.cisp.co.za
This Powerbank is my constant companion
while I am travelling.
It can do up to 4 full re-charges of my phone before
needing to be charged.
Supplied by…
When offered an option…
ALWAYS be Batman.
My constant travelling companion.
To find out more about the collectible Funko range of figurines,
visit:
I could not do without this awesome laptop bag from Solo.
Padded for protection and with enough pockets to keep
almost everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink in,
this is definitely an stylish addition to any business presentation.
Be it in the boardroom or the bush.
This bag can also be worn as a backpack.
There are straps in a hidden compartment that can be deployed
when you need both hands for other purposes.
To find out more about the stylish Solo range,
visit:
This locally made product was indispensable when using a long lens.
The ball and socket might look simple…and it is,
which is why it should be in the gear bag of every serious photographer.
This locally made, deceptively simple device is ideal
for tracking birds in flight or animals in motion.
The base can be used on a beanbag or a tripod,
with the ball being fitted to the camera.
The simplicity of the device allows to to move from supported
to hand held in a fluid motion.
There is also a version that can be used on a car window.
To see more about the product,
visit their Facebook page:
Or order directly from:
To see who else were winners in 2018, visit:
www.sablogawards.com
All images are the copyright property of
and may not be used without permission
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