THE CITROEN NORTH SOUTH RUN

By Carl Mouton

Our trip started on 10 July 2013.

Ernie Young accompanied me on the trip. I collected him at 6.15 and then proceeded to Maytime

Store where we were joined by Reg Taylor in his 2CV.

We proceeded to Hilton

above Pietermaritzburg

where we stopped at the

Shell garage to await the

arrival of Konni and Kathy

Hoferichter and their son Nic.

Later Avril Leahy arrived and

yet later Gavin and Lindy

Walker. This was the Natal

Group that completed the trip

together. There were in total

4 x 2CV and 1 x Mehari

(Which is derivative of the

2CV, has the same engine

but a fibre glass Jeep type

body)

We headed northwards on

the N3 with a break at the One stop Garage near Escourt and then proceeded past Colenso on the

old main road and stopped for brunch at the Wimpy at Ladysmith. We then proceeded via Glencoe to

Newcastle and on to Volksrust where we stopped for a rest and a bite. We then proceeded through

Amersfoort to Ermelo. We clocked in to Elna’s Guest house, where we spent a pleasant night. For

supper we went to the local Spur. We were all struck by the excellence of the décor. For myself, Ernie

and Reg we covered in excess of 500km on this day.

The next day 11th we proceeded on the N11 through Hendrina to Middelburg where we waited for a

while for some of the members to catch up. Gavin had taken an alternative route to us, led by his

GPS. We proceeded further north on the N11 stopping

once for fuel and biltong and then past the Loskop dam

where we had a rest. The route took us past Grobelaarsdal

and Marble Hall and on to Polokwane. At times this route

was very interesting and as we got further north the

agriculture became more intense. At one stage near

Polokwane we passed a farm with some old vehicles

standing around, everyone came to a stop and we spent

some time looking at them amongst which was an early

Landover as well as an early 1950’s Saab.

We got to Polokwane around 3 pm after filling the tanks and booked in to the Pietersburg Lodge

where we spent the night. We all then went to a shopping centre to get provisions for our later 3 day

stay at Tshipese. Here we met up with the Gauteng and Polokwane contingent of the raid, it consisted

of 6 x DS, 3 x 2CV and 1 x CX. Later that evening a visit had been arranged to the Model Car

Museum which turned out to be very interesting. The value of the models ran in to several million

Rand. We then proceeded to the Golden Pillow Restaurant for supper which turned out to be a very

pleasant occasion. We had a pleasant nights rest.

The next morning, the 12th , we awoke to a very cloudy and rainy morning, after breakfast, we left

Polokwane at 9 am and headed north up the N1, we encountered some heavy rain in places but that

soon cleared and became a beautiful day. Along the way we stopped at the La La Panzi Hotel to see

the museum related to the Anglo Boer War. Very interesting!!. There was a book available that had

recorded some of the atrocities committed by the British forces. Soon after we had passed Makhado

(Louis Trichard) we turned off the Pass to go to the Eco Products – Baobab Shop. The lecture about

the Baobab and products made from it and its seeds, was very interesting and most bought some of

the products that were available.

We then moved on over the Pass and through the Verwoerd tunnels en route to the Tshipese Resort.

All the 2CV’s were in there element through the passes, they felt so at home travelling on these

winding roads. On route Nic van Niekerk a member from Polokwane arranged a bush veld braai, it

was enjoyed by all. It was at this stage the Reg’s

2Cv grew some horns (see picture) We then

booked in to the Chalets. The bookings had been

messed up and instead of a double room for Reg

and Vivi and two single rooms for Ernie and me;

the two of us had to share a room. Reg had even

phoned to assure that the booking was understood

but even that did not help. We later found out that

some members were booked into 2 bedroom

Chalets on their own. Snoring was the order of the

night!!!! We had supper in the Chalet.

The next morning, Saturday the 13th, soon after 5 30 we headed down to the hot spring pool where

we spent an hour or more in the gloriously hot water. I tried the Rheumatism pool but that was so hot

that I could hardly keep my foot in the water.

Later the morning, around 10 o’clock, we headed off to visit the largest Baobab tree in the world. The

roads were atrocious, badly corrugated and with serious potholes. The tree was absolutely enormous.

There was a guide there, called Simon who took great pleasure in showing us various features that

the tree or the bark had formed over the years. He had quite a vivid imagination and it caused many

laughs. We had picnic lunch there sitting in groups around the tree and there were some interesting

stories swapped.

After lunch we went to see the Baobab tree forest but on the way back Steve took a wrong turn and

we went for a long drive over those terrible gravel roads, eventually landing back at the forest and

then followed another longer road back to the Resort. We got back rather worn out but the cars must

have felt worse!

That night a special dinner was arranged and some other activities like an Auction of handbooks and

other memorabilia. Later some of the party stayed on to dance and enjoy themselves. There was a

competition for the best dancing shoes and guess who won the first price, Reg with his painted gum

boots.

Sunday 14th which happened to be Bastille Day, we once again visited the pool and enjoyed the hot

water, after which we all gathered and moved on to visit the next venue which was the de Wet portion

of the Popalin Ranch.

We had lunch there which was very nice and we also visited the Limpopo River which is our Northern

border to form the real start of the North-South run. I made sure that I got to the water’s edge, the

actual start of the ‘North-South Run’

Monday 15th we departed on the ‘great trek’ south via Tzaneen to Magoebaskloof. The scenery was

spectacular and the roads unbelievably steep at times. We headed up the pass sometimes in first

gear if one was held up by another vehicle and eventually near the top we turned right to arrive at the

Cheerio Lodge. Here we realised that we were back on the Highveld and that it was winter ! Once

again the booking was messed up and Ernie and I had to share the same minute bedroom,

fortunately in separate beds. We had supper at the restaurant on the farm right next door. That night

it frosted so heavily that one could only just see that colour of the cars on the sides. They were

completely white and we had to scrape the ice off the windscreens. The next night Reg gave me

some plastic bags to cover the windscreen and the back window.

The next day, Tuesday 16th, some of us headed to a citrus packing factory beyond Tzaneen. That

turned out to be an absolutely amazing experience. The season lasts 6 months and at least twenty

two thousand boxes of Oranges are packed each day all for Export. Each box contains at least 20

oranges so imagine the volume! The whole plant is completely computerised which allows each

orange to be photographed over 30 times to make sure that it is perfect!!!! The oranges are all sized

into over 36 different sizes. The plant is also linked to a computer so that if there is any problem, no

matter how small then the plant is stopped! Each orange is hand packed into the boxes. Any Orange

that has the slightest blemish or spot is rejected and sent to another plant for juicing. This was an

amazing experience. All the cars that visited were given a box of Oranges as a gift.

On the way back to the Lodge we turned off the main road and went up another hill to a Restaurant

overlooking the massive Tea Plantations where we had lunch. On the way back to the Lodge, part

way up the Pass we took a detour to see the Magoebaskloof falls, after which we tackled the steep

Pass again up to the Lodge. What a climb!!!

That evening we all gathered at one of the Chalets and shared snacks and stories and then got to bed

reasonably early. I was glad the next day that we had protected our cars from the frost.

The 17th Wednesday we made our way towards Nelspruit, once again travelling through the most

spectacular scenery. We stopped to look at the Blyderivier Canyon and later stopped at Graskop for

lunch. We took the side roads towards Rosehaugh and later towards Montrose on the N4 which we

followed till we got to the road that turned off to the left to Kaapsehoop. There we checked in to the

Kaapsehoop Gastehuis, a really nice well-appointed place. We were more than they could

accommodate so some of us were housed in nearby houses.

A few of us went walk about and eventually met in one of the local Pubs. Thys Eloff, a friend of mine

who settled in Lydenberg some years earlier, joined us there for a drink and as usual there were lots

of stories and lots of mirth. Supper was at the Lodge and was very good. Ernie and I had separate

rooms again which was nice. The house we were housed in had 5 bedrooms, so we had a wide

choice.

Thursday 18th we left early and proceeded to Barberton to enable Ernie to look at the town and take a

few photos for his friend Cynthia who had gone to School there. The short cut to Barberton from

Kaapsehoop was really bad so we took the longer road via Nelspruit which was tar all the way. Reg

was adventurous took the short cut on dirt muddy roads through plantations and later told us that it

was really bad.

We now made our way to Badplaas. Here we stopped for something to eat and as I made my way to

an area where I could turn, the little car bottomed on a culvert and the arm that sets the height of the

car came loose which meant that we had to find a way to fix that to enable me to travel further. We

had a bite to eat and some Coffee and then took the car over to the Garage over the way, where

there was no Mechanic. We found a bolt at the adjoining shop, jacked up the car with some difficulty

and with 10 washers to take up the slack between the bolt and the hole in the suspension rod, we

managed to fix the problem and re adjusted the car to the correct height. Problem solved. It turned

out that the bolt in the suspension had worn very badly during the car’s previous life as a Safari car.

Earlier in the trip, on the way down the Pass near Louis Trichard we heard a loud bang. We thought it

was a stone that had hit the chassis. When the car scraped on the concrete it bent the holder and the

remainder of the old bolt fell out.

We made our way to Piet Retief where we were booked in to the Palm Court Lodge. It was nice

accommodation and we had separate rooms again. After we had settled in we walked in the very cold

air to a nearby Lodge where the rest of the

group were booked in, had a few drinks and

then went to the Mama Mia restaurant for a

pleasant supper. We all had a good sleep that

night.

Friday 19th July. We were going to leave at 7

am to get home early but Nick wanted to see

some old cars. They belonged to Paul

Mouton a distant relative of mine and he

agreed that his youngest son Paul could

show us the cars at 8 o’clock as he was

away. We went there and he had a

magnificent collection of about 15 cars, some

very old. Next Paul offered to take us to the

other collection of cars owned by the local Baker, Thys Botha. We first went to his home were there

were about 10 of his best cars in very good condition, after which we went to a shed some distance

away where the rest of his 54 cars were housed, some absolute classics even though they were

mostly unrestored.

We made our way homewards via Paul Pietersburg and Vryheid to Dundee where we tried to have

lunch at the Royal Hotel. It was a vestige of its former self and they could not help us, so we back

tracked to the Talana Museum where we had a pleasant lunch. Mandela birthday celebrations were in

full swing in the town and there was loud music blaring in the town and Horses and cart’s and Horses

all over the show. After filling with Petrol we headed home via Ladysmith, Colenso and then on to the

N4 Highway heading home. The last stop was at the One Stop Shell Garage where we all said

goodbye.

Reg, Vivi, Ernie and I headed home. The other 3 cars would turn off at Howick where Avril would give

back the one spare wheel that was lent to her because two of the rims of her car had been seriously

damaged by potholes. All of us showed some minor damage to our wheel rims.

Ernie and I got home between 6 30 and quarter to 7. That brought to the end of an absolutely

amazing, interesting wonderful trip. Ernie could not believe how well the little car did and kept on

remarking about that. He said that he was amazed at the way it coped not only with some of the

terrible roads but also generally. Ernie turned out to be an absolute joy to have around, I thoroughly

enjoyed his company and I am very glad that he came with me on the trip.

For me the whole trip brought back many, many memories from the past, some as far back as 1953

when I toured all those areas in my little Fiat 500 with my late uncle.

Carl Mouton. 20/07/2013.

Distance Travelled 3082 Kilometres

Fuel consumed 188.439

Fuel Consumption 6.064 litres/100 kilometres