WEDNESDAY WALKS WITH PETER GIDDY TOUR GUIDING
For details and bookings:
peter.giddy@gmail.com
This trail is located on the Marine Drive -- Schoenmakers Kop. There are a number of variations and routes -- All of which are a pure delight for views and a bit of Port Elizabeth history.
On Wednesday 1st June we did the route called Borelli's Pass. Starting at the canon the trail meanders through Coastal Fynbos and dunes. Past the memorial site of the Sacramento Wreck and also visible from the trail is the actual cove where the Sacramento was beached in 1647.
Towards the end of the outgoing trail the Sardinia bay Lifesaving clubhouse is visible. The road access to the clubhouse has been closed by moving dunes and is now accessible along a walkway built for this purpose.
Our group stops at the clubhouse for a break and a snack before continuing along the beach and lower trail to return to the cars.
The walk today takes us about two and a half hours and is probably about 8km.
Here is some news of the hike:
The route was out along the "high road" with views of the trail below us. Paul explained where the wreck was beached and the circumstances surrounding it. And where we may still find Anchors. And the PORPHYRY stone brought from Macau, India. that was used in ballast.
Report on the walk by one of the hikers
Yesterday’s (Wednesday) walk on the Sacramento Trail was stunning. We had a group of around 20 walkers setting off. We were taken on “the scenic route” to Sardinia Bay. This is a route known as “Borelli’s Pass” & takes one on a winding path north of the normal trail route. One meanders through beautiful thickets of fynbos & you then emerge on the ridge high above the “cooking” route. It was a perfect day with a light offshore breeze blowing. Incredible views. We finally came out slightly west of the old Life-saving Club clubhouse, returning to Schoenies via the lower path. A most enjoyable excursion.
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| VIEWS FROM THE BORELLIS PASS SECTION OF THE SACRAMENTO TRAIL |
WE START AT THE CANON WHICH WAS SALVAGED FROM THE WRECK OF THE SACRAMENTO.
SACRAMENTO HIKING TRAIL -- SCHOENMAKERS KOP -- PORT ELIZABETH.
The following is a description of an alternative hiking trail on the Sacramento Trail
We start with the short climb and walk in an easterly direction just behind the houses along Rita's Walk. This is a delightful section that has been decorated by the home owners and should be walked at leisure to be able to appreciate the artwork and time spent on making this a special walk.
We then double back and walk along a jeep track towards the Sardinia Bay beach. This walk is known as Valeries Boulevard. Along the way we pass branches of this walk (Mike's Path and Edith's path) We are not certain but it may be that these two connect.
At Edith's path a number of the hikers turn back. We press on until we reach Borrelli's Pass where we turn left towards the ocean. It appears that this route is closed to horseback riding. This path takes the hiker to the top of the dunes that overlook the Sardinia Bay lifeguard clubhouse.
Up to this point we have been walking into a still westerly. We now have an ocean view and the wind is on our backs.
We make a short stop for a drink and snack before continuing our hike. We descend to the memorial of the wreck of the Sacremanto and then back to the parking area at Schoenmakerskop.
The walk, as we hiked, takes around 2 to 2.30 hours.
The Sacramento is a popular 8 km round trip coastal walk through the Schoenmakerskop-Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve and is accessed by traveling along Sardinia Bay Road.
The area offers attractive seascapes, landscapes and, depending on the season, some remarkable displays of dune vegetation and wild flowers. At Schoenmakerskop, a bronze cannon points towards the wreck site of the Portuguese galleon, Sacramento, which foundered on 30 June 1647.
The route continues past the Sacramento monument towards the far end of the sandy bay, aptly named Cannon Bay where the ruins of a mill, which used to crush sea shells.
HISTORY OF THE WRECK OF THE SACRAMENTO
The way the elegant Portuguese man o’ war called the Sacramento was shipwrecked off the shores near Port Elizabeth, the dramatic 1400km journey of survivors making their way north to a Mozambican port, and the subsequent discovery of the ship’s many cannon make for a stirring South African sea tale.
The Sacramento was the pride of the Portuguese fighting fleet in the 17th Century. She ran aground just off Schoenmakerskop outside Port Elizabeth on 30 June 1647 in foul weather. By the time she hit the rocky coastline, she had a badly damaged rudder and her sails were in tatters.
The legend of the wreck of the Sacramento has many dramatic parts, one of which is the march of the 72 survivors up the coast towards a port in Mozambique, from where they hoped to be transported back to Portugal.
The distance from Algoa Bay (site of the modern-day Port Elizabeth) to the haven in Mozambique was nearly 1400km. The Sacramento survivors stayed on the beach near the wreck site for 11 days before beginning their pathetic trudge up the coast. Along the way their numbers dwindled to 9 souls.
As they walked, they came across two other wreck sites of ill-fated Portuguese vessels: the Nossa Senhora de Belem and the Atalaya. More than four weeks into their trek, they met up with a large contingent of survivors of the wreck of the Atalaya. Eventually, 127 people from the wrecks of the Sacramento and Atalaya made it to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo).
The Sacramento, a highly prized man o’ war with 60 fixed cannon, was heavily loaded with a cargo of brass cannon destined for the Portuguese-held districts of India. In fact, one of the cannon carried an inscription from its maker (famous gunsmith Antonio Backer) bearing the name of Antonio Telesdemenez, the Portuguese governor of India at the time ..
The many cannon of the Sacramento lay undisturbed on the ocean bed for 330 years until most of them were salvaged in 1977. One brass cannon had been totally submerged under the sea sands and was brought up in perfect condition.
One of the original Sacramento guns stands at a special site on Schoenmakerskop, pointing out in the general direction of where the warship met her fate. A plaque briefly tells the story of the wreck of the Sacramento
SACRAMENTO HIKING TRAIL -- SCHOENMAKERS KOP -- PORT ELIZABETH.
The following is a description of an alternative hiking trail on the Sacramento Trail
We start with the short climb and walk in an easterly direction just behind the houses along Rita's Walk. This is a delightful section that has been decorated by the home owners and should be walked at leisure to be able to appreciate the artwork and time spent on making this a special walk.
We then double back and walk along a jeep track towards the Sardinia Bay beach. This walk is known as Valeries Boulevard. Along the way we pass branches of this walk (Mike's Path and Edith's path) We are not certain but it may be that these two connect.
At Edith's path a number of the hikers turn back. We press on until we reach Borrelli's Pass where we turn left towards the ocean. It appears that this route is closed to horseback riding. This path takes the hiker to the top of the dunes that overlook the Sardinia Bay lifeguard clubhouse.
Up to this point we have been walking into a still westerly. We now have an ocean view and the wind is on our backs.
We make a short stop for a drink and snack before continuing our hike. We descend to the memorial of the wreck of the Sacremanto and then back to the parking area at Schoenmakerskop.
The walk, as we hiked, takes around 2 to 2.30 hours.
The Sacramento is a popular 8 km round trip coastal walk through the Schoenmakerskop-Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve and is accessed by traveling along Sardinia Bay Road.
The area offers attractive seascapes, landscapes and, depending on the season, some remarkable displays of dune vegetation and wild flowers. At Schoenmakerskop, a bronze cannon points towards the wreck site of the Portuguese galleon, Sacramento, which foundered on 30 June 1647.
The route continues past the Sacramento monument towards the far end of the sandy bay, aptly named Cannon Bay where the ruins of a mill, which used to crush sea shells.
HISTORY OF THE WRECK OF THE SACRAMENTO
The way the elegant Portuguese man o’ war called the Sacramento was shipwrecked off the shores near Port Elizabeth, the dramatic 1400km journey of survivors making their way north to a Mozambican port, and the subsequent discovery of the ship’s many cannon make for a stirring South African sea tale.
The Sacramento was the pride of the Portuguese fighting fleet in the 17th Century. She ran aground just off Schoenmakerskop outside Port Elizabeth on 30 June 1647 in foul weather. By the time she hit the rocky coastline, she had a badly damaged rudder and her sails were in tatters.
The legend of the wreck of the Sacramento has many dramatic parts, one of which is the march of the 72 survivors up the coast towards a port in Mozambique, from where they hoped to be transported back to Portugal.
The distance from Algoa Bay (site of the modern-day Port Elizabeth) to the haven in Mozambique was nearly 1400km. The Sacramento survivors stayed on the beach near the wreck site for 11 days before beginning their pathetic trudge up the coast. Along the way their numbers dwindled to 9 souls.
As they walked, they came across two other wreck sites of ill-fated Portuguese vessels: the Nossa Senhora de Belem and the Atalaya. More than four weeks into their trek, they met up with a large contingent of survivors of the wreck of the Atalaya. Eventually, 127 people from the wrecks of the Sacramento and Atalaya made it to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo).
The Sacramento, a highly prized man o’ war with 60 fixed cannon, was heavily loaded with a cargo of brass cannon destined for the Portuguese-held districts of India. In fact, one of the cannon carried an inscription from its maker (famous gunsmith Antonio Backer) bearing the name of Antonio Telesdemenez, the Portuguese governor of India at the time ..
The many cannon of the Sacramento lay undisturbed on the ocean bed for 330 years until most of them were salvaged in 1977. One brass cannon had been totally submerged under the sea sands and was brought up in perfect condition.
One of the original Sacramento guns stands at a special site on Schoenmakerskop, pointing out in the general direction of where the warship met her fate. A plaque briefly tells the story of the wreck of the Sacramento
THE WALK IS EASY WITH GENTLE DUNES AND TOOK US AROUND 2.30 HOURS FOR THE 8KM
IN MEMORY OF PORT ELIZABETHEAN DAVID ALLEN AND DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE PORTUGESE GALLEON, SACRAMENTO, ON 30 JUNE 1647.
THE 72 SURVIVORS (AFTER STAYING ON THE BEACH FOR 11 DAYS) SET OUT TO WALK THE 1300KM TO MOZAMBIQUE.
9 PERSONS SURVIVED TO REACH DELAGOA BAY (LORENCO MARQUES / MAPUTO) BY 5 JANUARY 1648.
THIS CANON, LENGTH 469CM, MASS 2500KG, COVERS THE SITE OF THE WRECK. IT WAS CAST IN BRONZE BY BOCARRO IN THE PORTUGESE TERRITORY OF MACCO, CHINA IN 1640 AND IS ONE OF 40 SALVAGED BY DAVE ALLEN AND GERRY VAN NIEKERK IN 1977.
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