The weather was perfect. The first leg of the tour started at the Outeniqua Railway Museum where guests boarded the Power Van for an hour's ride to the Topping where they disembarked to listen to speakers who recalled incredible engineering feats performed by Henry Fancourt White and the hardships 250 convicts had endured while physically building the Montagu Pass. It was completed within three years.
Anecdotes were shared about ghosts, love stories, suicides and the colourful cha-racters who frequented the pass in days gone by.
Two mini-buses, sponsored by Tours for South Africa, ferried guests down the winding road, while regular sign posts indicated where various happenings had occurred during the construction and later use of the Montagu Pass. They stopped at the old toll house.
Here potbrood and a capful of witblits set the mood while Gerda Stols, chairperson of the Friends of the Toll House, explained future plans for the old historical gem and Anneke Oosthuizen related historical details about the toll house.
Charlie Westman, the committee's project leader and grandson of the second last toll keeper, Charles Westman, shared some family history with the guests.
Next stop was Leila's Eatery, just past Fancourt, where traditional boeremusiek was provided by the hugely talented group, Vernon se Boereorkes. Ina de Kock, whose famliy owned the almost 200-year-old homestead, shared some family history while a traditional patatdis (sweet potato dish) was savoured, followed by traditional koeksisters and coffee.
The party then moved on to Kosie Lampbrecht's old car museum, a few hundred metres from Leila's, where his 30 plus immaculately kept ‘old girls’ were on display to be admired for their elaborate chrome finishes, badges, real leather upholstery and elaborate designs of the past. Kosie managed to gather 15 drivers on this special day to ferry the enthralled guests to their original departure point, the Outeniqua Railway Museum.
It is envisaged to make this a regular event to generate funds for the Friends of the Toll House and George Geranium Society, both organisations working relentlessly to prepare for George's bicentennial celebrations next year. Any financial support or additional volunteers will be much appreciated as these are privately driven projects by a handful of civic-minded citizens.
The organisers wish to thank thefollowing businesses and persons for their generous sponsorships and support: Tours for South Africa, Vernon's Boereorkes, Sanitec Toilet Hire, Leading Edge Sign Makers, Leading Edge Trailer Hire,
South Cape Joinery, Davkor Computers and Plotters, Leila's Eatery, Kosie Lampbrecht and his 15 drivers, Noel Shaw, Eddie and Derrick Julie, Ina de Kock and Anneke Oosthuizen.
Photos and article by Ken Gie.
Gerda Stols, chairperson of the Friends of the Toll House, Eddie and Derrick Julie who re-enacted the part of convicts who worked under harsh conditions during the construction of the Montagu Pass, and Charlie Westman, whose grandfather was the second last toll keeper.
Vernon's Boereorkes entertained the guests at Leila's Eatery.
