Fi went out this morning and left all of us behind, which we thought was pretty rude. We sat and had breakfast with the children and her husband; then we mostly watched DVDs. All of a sudden at 1pm she came rushing back...and seemed quite upset that everyone was still in their pyjamas! She made everyone hurry up and get dressed...she kept saying we were going to be late....late for what? I sure hoped we were going with!
Next thing we were all buckled up in the car and off down the road. Past Zandsptuit again, past Muldersdrift... along the Krugersdorp highway... the same man selling mechanical dogs at the traffic lights...hmmm, we have already seen all of this...
But then, instead of going up the hill to Krugersdorp we turned right, and kept on driving. Through the Cradle of Humankind (Declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, this 500km2 area on the western edge of Johannesburg is the scene of numerous internationally celebrated archaeological discoveries. Among these is the famous "Mrs Ples", a four-million-old, ape-like human skeleton discovered by Dr Robert Broom in 1947. This area has yielded the most conclusive evidence anywhere in the world as to our human origins.
In addition to its archaeological interest, the area also boasts a wealth of small nature reserves, battlefields, archaeological sites and country restaurants.) And this was pretty much what it looked like:
One "kopjie" (little hill) after another...
After what seemed like hours of driving (it wasn't really, just 45 minutes - we had just never been to the place before and the map we had was REALLY not to scale) we started seeing a different part of the Witwatersberg (white waters mountains - Johannesburg is built on the Witwatersrand - the White Water's Ridge)
And then, a break in the mountains...
THEN, looking up to the top of a kopjie, we found what we were looking for!
If an eagle were to fly over the Witwatersberg with the mighty Magaliesberg to the West, it would see an old English blockhouse defending the break in the mountains which de la Rey and his men named ‘Hekpoort’.
Barton’s Folly is an English Blockhouse built during the Boer War (1899 – 1902) referred to by the locals as the ‘English War of Aggression’. Barton’s instruction was to build a fort to separate the Boer Commandos in the Brits area from the Witwatersrand. There is some confusion relating to the name: firstly it is argued that the fort did not succeed in its aim – a folly; but more likely because it differed from the typical two storied blockhouses of the time and was therefore something ‘foolish in design’ or something other than what it appeared to be.
Barton was a career soldier who served in the Gold Coast, the Zulu War of 1876, Egypt and China. Having been wounded at the Tugela River, he was transferred to Krugersdorp and had to face the military genius of de Wet and de la Rey.
Far from the cool meadows of England, he built the fort and one can easily imagine him standing on top of the hill staring at the distant Magaliesburg and thinking of home.
This is his monument – BARTON’S FOLLY.
We were so busy looking at the fort that we missed the turnoff! According to the map there was a second entrance so we had a look for it, in hindsight we should have done a u-turn and gone back...
We ended up driving along a dirt road that was rather overgrown and at one point we had to pass a low lying thorn tree that scratched the whole side of the car...ouch!!!!!
Finally though, we arrived at the restaurant. We said happy birthday to the birthday "girl" (31!), gave her her gifts and climbed down to the river where the children were fishing for crabs (luckily the crabs were too fast for them!)
Cassiopeia wanted to go for a little swim but the water was freezing. It wasn't very full either as it doesn't rain in winter here.
Fiona and I weren't feeling brave enough to get any closer, when all of a sudden a strong gust of wind blew me right into the water! I am very, very light, which Fi says is wonderful for posting but not so wonderful for posing! Just as well my glasses are kept in place by an elastic band...losing them would have been a disaster!
Fortunately Fi rescued me and took me back up to the bathroom for a wash.
The other two sat and waited while I was dried off... it smelled so nice in there! There was a scented candle burning...
On the way out of the bathroom we spotted this pretty tea set...Fi has a thing for old tea sets, even though she doesn't drink tea.
We had a little sit down on a chair by the fire place, I wanted it lit because I was feeling a bit cold! It only got lit just before we left.
Just above the fire place was a photo of the fort (or blockhouse). I wanted to go up and see it myself but there was fat chance of Fi climbing up the hill with us.
We passed the cakes on the way out to get some sun... looks yummy!
Fi popped us on this pillar so we could warm up in the sun. The fort is at the top of the hill behind us but you can't really see it from this angle....
Man! Another gust of wind sent me overboard again! Fi said I need a weight round my neck not a tag!
The other two had a ride on a pony, I wasn't taking any chances, that's for bloody sure!
They found some balancing poles and persuaded me to have a try .
I was understandably reluctant at first, but they weren't very high.
The birthday girl's husband was teasing Fi about taking photo's of toys. Next thing she said him, 'just hold this one up nice and high so I can get a photo of the mountain in the background!' Without thinking, he did, and then she said 'well now you are part of it all!" Ha ha ha..she is so naughty!!!
Then it was time for tea so we all trooped inside and had sandwiches and cake. Scrumptious! The restaurant has a thatch roof, this is what it looked like from inside.
One of the dad's said he would take the children up the hill to see the fort. I desperately wanted to see it, so did Fi's children... so her husband took them (Natalie went on his shoulders...all the way up and all the way down!!!!) And much to everyone's shock...Fi took us up! Remember she was dressed for a party and not mountaineering... and this is what the first bit of the climb looked like!!!
But up we went...over the rocks with nothing to hold onto: Fi, her dodgy knees, three ToyVoyagers in her hand and a camera...
The door was firmly locked, so we could not get in.
The view from up here was spectacular...
You can just see the roof of the restaurant from up here.
We peeked through this window and we could see why the door was locked, no floor, with a very deep bottom and the place was full of rubble... not safe at all. Luckily I never fell in this time because no one was going in after me, that's for sure. It would have been tickets for me.
And for those people who read this and know Fi (and her penchant for flat surfaces), and don't actually believe she climbed all the way up...
We, and Fi's knees, were quite glad to get back and have a drink and a sit down.
Well, it was getting late, the sun was starting to set and it was time to head home.
As we got in the car, little Nats said 'well that was such a nice party" and we all agreed with her. Then the camera battery went flat, so that was that!
