Snappy Marty

This was our cottage, closest to the main building of the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel, Babylonstoren Road, Franschhoek, South Africa.

Ca. 1600's Garden Cottages were recently torn down to the foundations. They salvaged all the shutters & hardware & rebuilt from the original plans. The window & shutter mechanisms were really intricately, cleverly done forged iron work.

I tried the strawberry.

Breakfast at the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

Mediterranean water buffalo milk products from the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel dairy.

In addition to helping oneself at this spread,…

…a person could order eggs. etc.

Here’s that delicious “melt in your mouth smoked salmon trout” again.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

En route to Stellenbosch we noticed where most of the workers lived up the hill.

Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch's Town Hall. It is South Africa’s second oldest town hall.

As we drove down to False Bay we could see downtown Cape Town.

Just an aside, note the left arrow pointing to Robbin Island where Nelson Mandela & many others were imprisoned until the 1990’s.

I had read that Hermanus was a wonderful destination for whale watching. Too bad Google was not correct in the timing. We missed the migration season by a few months. We would have to revise our plans.

The west coast of False Bay on the right.

The R 44 along Kogelburg Nature Preserve & False Bay.

Bikini Beach? “…this small, sandy beach dotted with rocks is popular for surfing.”

Looking across False Bay to the Cape of Good Hope.

Approaching Pringle Bay.

“,,,the Hangklip (hanging rock) that leans out to sea and marks the eastern end of False Bay. The Hangklip Mountain at 484m above sea level is packed with numerous natural caves, and was once a refuge for bandits and slaves escaping their Dutch masters…”

Pringle Bay “…and surrounds are part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Heritage Site.”

And unless baboon proofed, the “…many…houses in the small community that are only used as holiday houses by their owners.” may be shared with Cape chacma baboons.

We were all ready for a coffee.

There was an isolated art gallery & coffee shop along the way. It was closed.

This sculpture can be yours for R 365, 268 (VAT Inclusive). That’s about $23,000 not including the Pringle Bay setting.

Howie got a workout pushing me around Harold Porter National Botanical Garden “…situated in the centre of the coastal fynbos where the flora is at its richest.”

Once again, from the wheelchair, I was at a nice level to photograph the flora.

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden.

Common Pagoda or rooistompie in Afrikaans.

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden.

Featherhead Hardleaf is a flowering shrub native to South Africa.

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden.

Housing for the workers of Kleinmond.

Kleinmond under the Hottentots-Holland Mountain Catchment Area.

Nope, no whales to be seen at this time of the year.

Howie suggested that we forget Hermanus, cute as it might be & return inland on the R44.

We had no idea of the landscapes we would drive through on the return to Franschoek.

Singleton’s Sweiswerke “…is a metal-working and welding company in” Botriver

R43 at Bot River.

Sheep on the R43.

Recently harvested wheel fields where we had spotted a family of the national bird of South Africa, the blue crane. See: Birds of Southern Africa - November 2025

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On the regional R43.

On the R43.

Coming up on the Theewaterskloof Dam.

Howie said that the smoke in the distance is from a fire that may soon endanger settled areas. I don’t know the final result.

The Theewaterskloof Dam looks huge but Howie said it’s very shallow & provides over 40% of Cape Town’s water. In early 2018 “…the dam was again approaching critically low level, resulting in water consumption being limited to only 50 litres per person per day, and plans for a possible ‘Day Zero’ in April 2018 when Cape Town's municipal water supply was predicted to be shut off.” Luckily “As a result of good rains in the winters of 2019 and 2020, the Theewaterskloof water level reached 100% in October 2020.”

Mt. Eland ? in the background.

We were about to drive through the FRANSCHHOEKPAS - Franschhoek Pass.

Ahead, the Three Waters Nature Preserve.

FRANSCHHOEKPAS - Franschhoek Pass is on the regional road R45.

“Franschhoek Pass is also called Lambrechts Road, though - more poetically - a hundred and fifty years ago it was known as Olifantshoek (‘Elephants Corner’) after the now mythical herds of elephant which once roamed these valleys and mountains. This long, steep and dramatic pass with its variety of scenery was South Africa's first properly engineered road. During weekends city folk stream to the pass on bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, cars and SUV's to enjoy it's sheer magnificence.”

In 1823 a new pass was constructed “…using troops of the Royal African Corps. it was completed in 1825 costing £8,000.

After falling into disrepair in 1930 it was rebuilt in 1933 and again in 1963 when the road was tarred." 736 m (2,415 ft)

Protea is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes.

The FRANSCHHOEKPAS - Franschhoek Pass.

The species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region.

The FRANSCHHOEKPAS - Franschhoek Pass.

Two years ago there was a season's worth of rain in one day. creating these "Wash-aways" (mudslides).

The FRANSCHHOEKPAS - Franschhoek Pass.

Me & my trucks…

“SINOTRUK is a high-end brand of trucks …, a collaboration between SINOTRUK and a German company. Sinotruk, has vehicle and component factories in eight provinces across China. Our facilities include Asia's longest vehicle assembly line, a body ABB robot digital welding line, the industry's largest 5,000-ton intelligent and digital stamping line, and an engine automation production line.”

The world seems to be getting things done without the USA.

The FRANSCHHOEKPAS - Franschhoek Pass.

Seen from descending the pass, Franschhoek, Afrikaans for "French Corner" “…is one of the oldest towns in South Africa. It was formerly known as Oliphants hoek (as there were vast groups of elephants roaming the valley).”

One of our many stops for construction during our descent from the FRANSCHHOEKPAS Franschhoek Pass.

The ca. 1945 “… Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek…is dedicated to the cultural influences that Huguenots have brought to the Cape Colony (and ultimately the whole of South Africa) after their immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries. These French and Belgian Protestants were fleeing violent religious persecution, especially in Roman Catholic France.” “In 1688, almost 300 French Huguenots arrived at the Cape of Good Hope by ship and were given the Franschhoek Valley to settle.”

Hey Joe Brewing Co. in Franschhoek.

Howie knew that I liked beer & vintage cars. By eliminating Hermanus, he managed to slip in beer & cars…

“Imported directly from Belgium,…The elegant centerpiece of the brewery is its 1961 copper brewhouse, one of only three ‘De Halve Maan’ brewhouses ever made.” https://heyjoebrewery.com/

Franschhoek.

Before we arrived, I visited the website & was thirsting for the Belgian Dubbel &/or Stout. Too bad it was springtime here so no winter brews were available.

Hey Joe Brewing Co. in Franschhoek.

But cricket was in season!

Hey Joe Brewing Co. in Franschhoek.

Lunch & beer at Hey Joe Brewing Co. in Franschhoek..

Can you tell which brews I liked…

…and didn’t like?

Hey Joe Brewing Co. in Franschhoek.

Howie managed to get us to the L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek before it closed for the day. We had the place to ourselves.

I could use that tricycle.

Once again being in a wheelchair had its advantages. I could stand up as needed though.

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

A 1974 passion project of billionaire Dr. Anton Rupert; The Rembrandt Group, a South African tobacco and industrial conglomerate. His son Johann Rupert, bought “…the collection his father started and in 2004 relocated it to L’Ormarins Estate in Franschhoek."

All the automobiles are driven regularly on a track on the grounds.

“LORRAINE- 1911 DIETRICH CONVERTIBLE

COMPANY'S ORIGINS DATE BACK TO DE DIETRICH IN 1896

FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINE IS TWO TWIN-CYLINDERS IN LINE CARDAN-SHAFT DRIVE TO REAR WHEELS

CAR WAS A WEDDING GIFT TO A KEEN SAFARI HUNTER

PATENTED BOA CONSTRICTOR HORN ON FRONT MUDGUARD”

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

“TRIUMPH MODEL H 1917

TRIUMPH WENT INTO MOTORISED CYCLES IN 1902 WITH THEIR FIRST MOTORCYCLE FITTINGLY LABELLED NO.1

THE MODEL H FIRST PRODUCED IN 1915, WAS SELECTED BY THE DISPATCH RIDERS DURING THE WAR

ALMOST 30 000 MODEL H MOTORCYCLES WERE PRODUCED DURING WW1, PRODUCTION CONTINUED UNTIL 1923 BY WHICH TIME 57 000 MOTORCYCLES HAD BEEN MADE 45-50 Km/H”

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

In the middle, a MGA similar to my red one. On the right is a Karmann-Ghia. Both Nomi & I owned Karmann Ghias at one time.

Little green car on the left is adorable & a featherweight. One like that rolled over my foot in a crosswalk in 1967 Munich. I didn’t feel a thing.

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

I had an MG TD like this one in British Racing Green with tan interior.

I never saw so many MGs togethr before in a museum. They also had a MG TF, a TC & a B.

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

“PROTEA 1957

PROTEA WAS THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN PRODUCTION CAR….

…20 CARS WERE MANUFACTURED, THE ORIGINAL 14 WITH FORD 100E RUNNING GEAR. THIS CAR IS CHASSIS NO.4

LADDER-FRAME CHASSIS, GLASS FIBRE BODY

MYERS AND JOHN MASON-GORDON WON THE 6-HOUR ENDURANCE RACE AT THE ROY HESKETH CIRCUIT IN 1959 3 SPEED & 136 km/h

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

“MG B ROADSTER 1973 (roadster=two seater convertible)

FIRST MG SPORTS CAR TO HAVE MONOCOQUE CONSTRUCTION

ONE OF THE WORLD'S FIRST CARS TO HAVE 'CRUMPLE ZONES' FOR ACCIDENT IMPACT PROTECTION

BMC SERIES ENGINE'S ORIGINS DATE BACK TO 1967

TWIN SEMI SU CARBURETORS 4 spd 170 km/h”

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

"2021 GRENADIER VS PT-2B-005

"The toughest terrain in all weather conditions."

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

This was always my favorite style of racing car. It would take up too much room in our garage.

“LDS-CLIMAX CHASSIS #10 1965

BUILT BY SOUTH AFRICAN LOUIS DOUGLAS SERRURIER

CHASSIS #10 WAS THE LAST TO BE BUILT AND IS AN AUTHORISED COPY OF THE BRABHAM BT11 F1 CAR

RACED BY SAM TINGLE IN 30 EVENTS FROM Nov 1965 TO JAN 1968

INCLUDING THREE SA GRANDS PRIX, SCORING TWO OUTRIGHT WINS AND 17

FURTHER PODIUM PLACES

COVENTRY-CLIMAX INDY 500/FORMULA”

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

MARCH 78 B

FITTED WITH FORD BDA ENGINE, HEWLAND FT200 GEARBOX IAN SCHECKTER WON THE 1978 SA FORMULA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP IN THIS CAR.

ONLY 19 78B'S WERE PRODUCED

240 Km/H

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II Touring Spyder.

This is the one that I wanted to drive home.

L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

This was a wonderful van to tour in.

As needed we used my California DMV Disabled placard along with the South African one Howie had brought along.

Outside L'Ormarins Motor Museum in Franschhoek.

Christmas tree sourced with local vegetation.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

“A feast of La Dolce Vita! In the Old Bakery, we serve our food family style – guests dish up for themselves…

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

…from wooden boards placed on their table while sipping on wine and enjoying the lively atmosphere.”

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

“Scrumptious Italian-inspired meals are served in the Old Baker... The four-course set menu starts with an antipasti and salad offering, homemade pasta followed by moreish wood-fired pizza, to be enjoyed to your heart's content We round off the meal with a delicious dolce.”

Too much food for us!

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

But the next morning we had room for breakfast…

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

…the day of our departure.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

Nomi noticed this unusual hose holder in the breakfast garden.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

Always plenty of alcohol available at the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel. This was in the library off the reception area.

This sign photo was taken near the Cape of Good Hope. It was not until the last day in Africa & at the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel that we met a tortoise.

On the road by our cottage.

“The angulate tortoise is a species of tortoise found in dry areas and coastal scrub vegetation in South Africa…

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

…It is the only living member of the genus.”

I had to have an animal before the end & this Angulate tortoise obliged.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

From here, I walked over to the Garden Restaurant & then returned. We were “killing time” until Howie picked us up for drive to the Cape Town International Airport.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.

“At the rear of the garden, tucked away between the oak trees, the Greenhouse offers a wonderful refreshment station to guests after a walk through the garden. All our food is served picnic-style, highlighting fresh and seasonal ingredients inspired by the garden.”

I sat down in my swim suit covered by a bathrobe. Nomi was embarrassed.

A lager from the Cape Brewing Company, made with crystal-clear Paarl mountain water.

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel.