8 Nov in Sabine

Today we will tour the area but first we will visit Vodafone for the umpteenth time as the Sim card/Stick on my computer would not connect and I do not know how to reprogram it.. After waiting 15 minutes the "Techy " found time to help me. After he reprogrammed it he walked me thru the procedure so if it happens again I can correct it. For that little bit of help it cost me 20.00.
While I was doing that Carroll visited with the Tourist info booth and got a map and direction. The young lady was most helpful and advised us were not to go or park in two of the small towns we were going to visit.
First we went to "Bridle Falls" ( doesn't every country have one ) . although it was 5 KM down a cobble stone road, we were advised it was a must see. Obviously, these folks have never see Niagra falls. When we got to the gate the Security said the cost was R5 ( about 50 cents ) . He advised me that my vehicle was safe with him. I ask how far to the Falls since it was all up hill and he said about 300 or400 M. About half way up to the Falls I realized the Security guard had skipped way too many "Math " classes. But we made it and it was a good test for Carroll's knees and they servived . From here we were directed to another MUST see Falls located at Lonely Creek. The cost to enter had now doubles to R10 ( little over a dollar ) . However the climb was shorter but the water was still on a downward path as expected. Now that is the end of anymore "Falls " unless we get to Victoria falls. I should mention that all these attraction have 5 or 6 hawkers with all their wares to sell.
Next we headed for an old Gold Mining town called Pilgrim's Rest, which was 30 KM away thru a narrow mountainous road but very picturest. This town is strictly a Tourist trap type town with many hawkers with booths along the only street in town. It actually has an uptown and Downtown but the sneery is all the same. The unemployed of i assume are many stand on the street to wave you in to a parking stall and then want to wash your car for R50. I told the guy who waved me in Not to touch my Vehicle. Little did I know he was deaf ( Ithink ) because , in my absence he did splash some water on my vehicle. But after a argument I did pay him R35 and of course he played his ( my children are starving ) card. anyhow we had lunch at local cafe and read about the History of the town from the menu. Then we walked the main street and Carroll bartered with the Hawkers and she managed to but some ZA junk.
After , we left Pilgrim's Rest and went to another small town but it is a type of town where everyone in the area buys their groceries and Sundry item so it had no significants for tourist. So we returned to our Camp site and jumped into the pool for an hour.
There was a middle age gent ( white of course ) in the pool and he was a wealth of knowledge about . One of the items of conversation we found interesting was about the logging in this area . There is a Huge logging industry in this area , albeit not in concert with the Tree Huggers. All the trees for hundreds of miles have been cut and replaced with a pine tree from MX, aptly named the Mexxican Pine. these trees are planted in rows exacting so far apart and they only take 12 years to mature. Unfortunately they take a large amount of water from the soil and the area hence the water table is sucked down. Also, and I must say amazing to me , is that no animal, bird or insect with go in the forest of the MX pine because it is not their nature habitant. He says the forest are erie quiet and the animals have moved to other areas which is their natural habitant.