Port Elizabeth of Yore: John Centlivres Chase – Father of the Eastern Cape

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Often spoken of as the “Father of the Eastern Cape,” John Centlivres Chase, friend and son-in-law of Frederik Korsten, one of Baillie’s Party aboard the Chapman, a Member of the Legislative Assembly, he was one of the most prominent and influential settlers of the early town of Port Elizabeth. 

Despite setting foot initially on the sands of Algoa Bay, Chase’s southern African odyssey would not begin in Port Elizabeth. But that is where it would end, after an adventure filled life during which he contributed substantially to the body of knowledge about his adopted homeland.

Unlike Korsten whose focus was as a trader and merchanting, Chase spent his remarkable talents, energy and vigorous intellect enhancing the colony and its people. He was also a strong proponent of Separatism.

Main picture: John Centlivres Chase

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Gallery of Andrew Royal’s photos of the 2013 Orange River Trip

By Dean McCleland in Hiking 0 Comment

All of these superb photos were taken by Andrew Royal, Malcolm Royal’s son and co-canoeist in the epic 2013 Orange River Trip where the pair managed to capsize on every rapid no matter how insignificant it was.

Of course they claim that rather than capsizing, they were deliberately bailing so as to cool off in the water.

Few of the other canoeists accepted this story but rather described the explanation as codswallop or something more uncouth.

I will let you be the judge of the veracity of that vignette.

 

Other Galleries of Stunning Photographs:

 

Photos taken at just the Right Moment

http://thecasualobserver.co.za/photos-taken-just-right-moment/

 

The World’s Most Beautiful Places

http://thecasualobserver.co.za/worlds-beautiful-places/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Back on the 2013 Orange River Canoe Jol

By Dean McCleland in Hiking 0 Comment

What a superb canoe trip! Personally I rate it as the best such excursion for a number of reasons especially for the personal gratification that the Cameron/McCleland team experienced in NEVER capsizing not even once during the five days much to certain attendees’ chagrin. As always, the main reason for such an agreeable trip was undoubtedly the camaraderie amongst all the guys. That factor alone is what indubitably makes Quo Vadis Hiking Club such an exceptional Club.

Notwithstanding that, it was not all beer and braais as we experienced two hard paddling days due to flat water and gusting head-winds but more on that later. At least we have a legitimate claim when we declare that it was not all plain sailing (sic) and that we had to do some exercise!

Amongst other things when one is paddling down the Orange, one has to learn a number of things apart from how to paddle – and rapidly. One also has to assimilate a new language, the unintelligible risible language of the Gariep River People. On previous excursions we had commenced learning the vocabulary. Everyday words such as sun and wind could not be uttered. There were Verboten! Banished from our lips. Instead they were replaced by the avant-garde words “spike” and “spoekasem”.

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