RUNNING IN RIEBEEK KASTEEL WITH NICKY AND MICHAEL -- JULY 2016

RUNNING IN RIEBEEK KASTEEL WITH NICKY AND MICHAEL -- JULY 2016

Wednesday 13th July

CAPE DUTCH STYLE HOMES FLANK US TO THE LEFT
I am still very stiff and sore from our Knysna 21 on Saturday.  But at the urging of Michael and Nicky I agree to an early morning run.

We do the perimeter in a clockwise direction -- up through the Vinyards and then left towards the R46. We are running in an early morning sun on this winters day.  It is already warm at 7am.
We run towards the Bothmaskloofpas.  Past the Vinyards on our left and right. All these vines are bare of leaves at this time of year. 

 NICKY AND MICHEAL SHADOWED BY RIEBEEKS KASTEELBERG

 EARLY MORNING LABOURERS ON THE TRACTOR AS THEY DO THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE OF THE VINYARDS

ARUM LILLIES GROWING WILD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
We pass workers walking to their place of work.  The dam is on our left hand side.
And all the time the Kasteelberg is in front of us.

Nicky and Michael are much stronger than I am and I am constantly having to catch up...  We turn back into the village past the Olive and Wine farms.  And then along the main entrance road that also leads to Riebeek West. Past the old Church on the right and then, and the newly built doctors rooms we turn right downhill.
This is a dirt road and we continue winding our way down until we reach the Graveyard. Cross Riebeek Street and finally back to Nicky's House which is on the Riebeek Cellars road.

 THE ENTRANCE TO RIEBEEK KASTEEL OR VALLEY.  LOCALS LIKE TO REFER TO THE TOWN AS "OUR VALLEY".

 NICKY IS WEARING A BRAND NEW OUTFIT THAT JACQUI BOUGHT FOR HER.  KASTEELBERG IN THE BACK

FINAL LITTLE STRETCH OF ROAD BEFORE WE ARE HOME
Nicky estimates 6km
My legs are tired and sore.  It will take some time before I am back to running strongly again. Tomorrow we leave for Port Elizabeth and back to my running routine with the MPRG

Peter Giddy
13.7.2016

 BOTHMASKLOOF ROAD IS AHEAD

 RIEBEEK KASTEEL IS HIDDEN ON THE R46 JUST 10KM FROM HERMON AND 20KM FROM MALMESBURY.

 A MAGIC PLACE -- UNKNOWN TO MANY BUT LOVED BY THOSE WHO LIVE HERE.

 AND IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN.  DISCOVERED BY PIETER CRUYTHOFF IN 1661 . HE CALLED THE MOUNTAIN RIEBEEKS KASTEEL TO HONOUR THEIR LEADER JAN VAN RIEBEEK -- THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE CAPE COLONY.

SO MANY ROADS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE NAMED AFTER THIS MAN.