Post 35 Build it Journey

Blog Post 35

I was up early and having a great cappuccino prepared by my incomparable host Ralph Stevens by 6 30 am and again it was another great chat about various adventures by the both of us. I then reluctantly left the Steven’s beautiful farm and headed to Ladybrand where I was much cheered by more amazing scenery.

I met with Gert du Toit who very patiently went through his listing with me. It was a good meeting with the wi-fi lasting just long enough for me to complete my visit. It failed literally as I was finishing up. It was then a long drive to Bloemfontein where things started to go a little bit awry.

First up was my Google Maps on my phone not wanting to work and Bloemfontein is a big city where people can’t just point to the Build It which is on the next street down in a small country town. After much consternation and ugly threats made to my phone and this particular app it reluctantly started working again and I was pointed to the Dan Pienaar Build It which I found on arrival had left the Build It group and was now another hardware store.

I then headed to the Mangaung Build It and my Google maps app in a pique of recalcitrant surliness at my earlier foul language decided to take me on a 16 km tour of the nearby township to get to the next Build It store. It was a difficult drive and I was very pleased to arrive at the extremely neat and tidy Mangaung Build It. Heine Fourie the store manager was extremely busy but still spared me some time for which I am very grateful.

I then was told that I had missed stores in Botchabelo (spelling) which was 50 kms back towards Ladybrand. You can imagine my amusement at  hearing this. After a few phone calls I eventually got the cell phone number of the owner of what I was told were three Build It stores in this area. Not being on my map or on my Build It list I was aghast at my inefficiency and clumsiness (not to mention time wasting) at missing these stores. I decided to spend the night in Bloem and right wrongs the following day.

This is when things really started to get tough as I drove around quite lost trying to find digs and eventually victuals to fortify myself against what was fast becoming a seriously sinking mood. I went to two guesthouses both of which stand in line for worst accommodation on tour and I just could not find a way to stay in either of them.

But then a bolt of wonderful light from above as I eventually got hold of the three supposed Build It stores 50 kms back who told me that they were not Build It stores at all but I was very welcome to come visit. I thanked him profusely, declined politely, pointed my car south and headed out of town as fast as I could.

I was extremely tired by this time but decided to use the few remaining hours of light to make some distance to my next store. Now being in the Karoo the stores are at times hundreds of kilometres apart.

After quite some time I came upon police who had barricaded the N1 and I was diverted off the freeway as there had been a big chemical truck that overturned and completely blocked South Africa’s main highway. I was most put out by this already having had quite a day already and so I suddenly found myself on a tiny country road heading towards Bethuli. A small town in the Karoo near the Gariep Dam that I had never been too and never heard of before. More of that adventure tomorrow.

Just to finish off I saw or experienced the most strange weather or geographical phenomenon today. As I was heading from Ladybrand to Bloemfontein there was what can be best described as a sand storm. The whole sky turned a dull brown and also dropped a few thousand feet until I felt that the sky was just a few feet above me and was thick with brown Karoo dust and sand. It was the most unbelievable and surreal experience. Then just to add another weird and wonderful dimension it started to drizzle lightly and I swear the rain was made of a very fine dusty paste. Every time my windscreen wipers went across the side of my front window would be a muddy line where the wiper completed its arc. I even got out the car once to take in my surroundings and to try and make sense of what I was witnessing when I was driving. It really was an experience and I actually don’t really know how to explain it. Surreal was a word I think I used before and is most apt.

I also drove 33 kms in a straight line today. The big, wide, open amazing Karoo.