Knysna and PE for TFG Man

The Chev Trailblazer came care of the local dealer - I was in the Merc SLK on the way to PE and had to do the story on the fly because of the funeral. Nice beast - bigger, better, more comfy than the ubiquitous Fortuner. Knysna produced its best and worst weather, thankfully in equal measure. The Turbine Hotel was a revelation, and I will return to the converted power station on Thesen Island.

PE was a bit of a surprise too - plenty going on, Stanley Street and all, new energy and a great little trend spot called Boomtown literally booming.

Many passes, exciting machinery

Various recent cars made their way up various amazing passes - the Mercedes-Benz CLA AMG45 did Michell's and Gydo passes, and the Audi R8 Spyder, on the way back from Kleinmond, was one of the first cars through the Franschhoek Pass after the hurricane that claimed a chunk of the road.

Interestingly the CLA actually felt faster, and on paper, believe it of not, there's not a lot in it. Fast Merc then. It was also incredible to drive - easy, satisfying and, I can't believe I'm writing this of a Merc, full of soul...

The Audi. Well it's an Audi, glorious, nuff said.

PE promenade

A story about a walk along the prom turned into an event; The Empress Tallowah, Rastafarian performance poet, just happened to be on the boardwalk...

Knysna, Port Elizabeth and the promenade

After AD's funeral, the world carries on, though it feels it shouldn't. Knysna for TFG Man, PE too, then a promenade story for High Life. Walk Summerstrand's length, see what you find. Hmmm.

Hanover and the Great Karoo

Back into the real karoo, though the turn-off to Victoria Wes and Loxton didn't happen due to time constraints. No matter; all that is visceral about Out There was out there. Tank refilled.  

F-Type Jaguar

The neighbourhood kids came round for this one - I wondered what it would take to finally get the locals out of their don't-knock-it's-not-polite reticence. And worthy it is too; howls like original sin, goes like souls fleeing Judgement Day. 

Track day A-Class AMG45

Round and round Kyalami, then over and under and through it for the Rally X. Yes the AMG45 is fast, yes it's expensive, no I didn't throw up.

Bloemfontein

Into the very cold, very cool Free State for a urban story on the capital. Good things happening - Naval Hill -  clouded by the Fidentia rogues ripping the heart out of Westdene and destroying a beautiful Mid-Century building. Criminal.

Carnarvon, Northern Cape, Fly-in

To Carnarvon for the Fly-in. The Opel OPC a real blast, shattering records at every turn...

Outside Carnarvon accommodation was at Osfontein, in a corbelled house circa 1850, restored by Stegman and Natasha Lubbe. An experience, - all stone - and because there's no wood to creak, quiet beyond belief. Bliss. The cold too was a joy, as was the storm that passed by, dark as death.

Citroen's DS3 Cabrio on June 6

Out at dawn with Citroen's sexy little DS3 Cabrio. The roof stuck, fully open, but nothing could take away from the fact that, truly, this is one fine beast. The powerful 1.6 turbo, not the baby. It made the  Lamborghini Gallardo seem like a dinosaur, difficult, unfriendly, singular and not in a good way.

Colours of Malaysia, May 2013

The trip, to see the Colours of Malaysia Festival in KL, also incorporated trips to Malaca, Penang and the interior. A brilliant visit, full of colour, spice and the kind of variety that I miss sometimes, being in Africa.

GL-Class, Karkloof Spa

After the rush job of the A-Class in the Berg, back to Durban for the launch of the GL, at the other end of the Mercedes lineup. A monster and not as comfy as the previous model.

Karkloof turned out to be nowhere near Karkloof, but near Pietermaritzburg instead, the personal playground of the  inventor of the wheelie bin axle. The GL was made to muscle up 4x4 tracks on slick roads tyres, presumably to show its mettle even under stressful circumstances. Stressful it was, though it managed, mostly. Silly idea. The afternoon and evening was taken up with small Thai people trampling over us.

Northern Drakensberg, A-Class

A rush job, no question, and as the road north got ever smaller, dumpier and rural, I suspected I'd never get to Royal Natal and back to Howick in a single day. Early flight too, so a long day. Worth it in the end though - the day stayed uncharacteristically sunny and the vistas opened up and stayed open. Thendele is the spot to be, bungalow 15, with its uninterrupted views across to Giant's Castle. Mahai was a bit of a shock - I thought it was far further south and realised I'd visited before with Martin Maree, in a fat snail of a rent-a-van for Getaway, many years ago. This job.

The A-Class is good to look at, solid, a decent drive but, well, truthfully ultimately dull. This job.

Southern Kruger, Jock Safari Lodge

A return to Southern Kruger and Jock Safari Lodge. The Volvo XC60 a great guide, the weather bombed but not too badly, and I truly loathe the N4.

Swartberg Pass, Prince Albert, Oudtshoorn

Wonderful to be back in the Karoo after the sogginess of KZN. Ideal weather for photography and the Subaru XV a surprisingly able companion up the pass. In Prince Albert The Karoo View neat, ordered and spacious, and in Oudtshoorn Jamstreet Farm full of imaginative touches. Inspiring trip.

Franschhoek Motor Museum

Johann Rupert's collection was all about the back halls; the front of house disappointing, antiseptic. Highlight was the Aston Martin DB2 Superleggera and King Farouk's Mercedes-Benz. Neither of which were for public viewing.

Sun City

The story was an update on the playground in the bush. Kerzner may have sold but it seems to be as before - lucrative and kitsch. new (to me) was the Zip Slide, great fun at 160km/hr down the mountain, face first. Also new, though less successful, is the Maze, concrete and hot, up a koppie, with a beer garden the other end.

Before, the launch of Miracle Rising in Johannesburg, the documentary on the years leading up to the transition to democracy. Surprisingly moving, though whether it was the film or seeing it with the assembled masses, not so sure. Di Data's place is all kinds of impressive - they really threw money at the launch. 

South Coast beaches story

Yes it rained again - all but one day - yes Margate sucks, no it's not the South of France. But Pumula Lodge Hotel is as good as ever, clean, efficient, old-school with its sectioned veggie dishes and a la carte four-course menu. The car, the B-Class, failed to live up to its colour and was less efficient than it should be. Ultimately yet more fuel to the fire that suggests KZN is not my favourite prt of the country.

Mercedes-Benz AMG track day, Kyalami

It was hot, Kyalami is a shadow of its former self and Jozi is, well, Jozi. Despite all this, good fun, a feast of all the AMG variants. I didn't drive, concentrating on the photography, as I'd just spent a week in the SL65 AMG, and how do you top that?