S1 - Ep 416 - Sterkstroom!
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Our visit to Sterkstroom was a delightful experience, starting with a scenic and enjoyable long drive from Thomas River on a beautiful morning. As we entered the town, a majestic old steam locomotive welcomed us proudly by the roadside, setting the tone for our exploration. After driving down the main road, we had the privilege of entering the stunning Dutch Reformed Church, and later, while navigating the town's streets, we stumbled upon the school. The principal warmly welcomed us and generously gave us a tour of the school, adding a personal touch to our visit. Sterkstroom surprised us in the best way possible, even the seemingly inactive museum turned out to be an unexpected gem. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #easterncape #sterkstroom #thomasriver
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Great to see such a dedicated headmaster with such passion for his school!
Indeed, he is the perfect person at the perfect time for that job. 🎓👌🏻
I my bleeding heart! In snot en trane here! A cousin sent me this - I live in Wales now. I grew up in Bailey- my late Dad was the last Station Master there! Those steps- have photos of him at work! I could see so much of what you showed back in 1969-1976! Wow! My childhood was simply magical there! How do I contact you to tell you more, please? Thank you
Although it wasn't our intention to make anyone sad with our video, your memories sound like mostly good ones. 😊 How special that your dad was the last Station Master at Bailey. You're welcome to contact us by email at dustbugs1@gmail.com and we'll respond between work and travel commitments. Thank you for watching our video of your old hometown! 🚙😍
Wat 'n pragtige omgewing! Die kerk en kerkhoffie skoon en netjies gehou deur mense wat omgee...!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤
I'm glad you liked Sterkstroom, we did too. I was in luck to be able to get access to the Dutch Reformed Church and it was special to put pics to the names on two of the gravestones. 💒🏛️
I am proud that we have a head master that have a vision.
You can be very proud of him and of your school. We were happy to visit. 🎓
We had a fantastic railway system, and I suppose some of them would have had to be retired. 🙃. Take care, and thank you.🙏❤
You're putting it way too mildly. Retiring railway stations is one thing, letting the extensive infrastructure go to total ruin by lack of maintenance, neglect and ultimately destruction is an absolute disgrace! 🤷🏻♂️🛤️
@@DustBugsTravel that is so, couldn't agree more. Makes one feel sick.🙃🤢🎶🎶
@@DustBugsTravel❤
Hi you two! Thank you for another fascinating trip to the quiet and peaceful Sterkstroom! The surrounds are becoming a little "Karroo-ish" as you travel North, but very beautiful nevertheless. What a majestic loco! That dem Sterkstroom Station seems to be at most only a train stop these days. The DRC building is very beautiful, both inside and out. Pity that the old Reformed Church didn't make it. Of everything I saw in the town, the school impressed me most. Taking into account the years since it had been established, it is clear that education has been a focal point in the settlement from its earliest days. The principal who is there now is just the man to take it further. I hope the rest of the town will also receive much needed attention. Thank you again for showing us these gems in our beloved country. I'll be hitching a ride on the next trip again!
Keep safe!
We don't mind any landscape becoming more Karoo-ish, that's just fine with us! 🚙😁 It was sad to see the Reformed Church, but at least the building is being put to good use. 💒 The school Principal is definitely passionate and enthusiastic about his school and it was fantastic to see! I do hope with you that the rest of Sterkstroom will be uplifted somehow. 🇿🇦😍
Dustbug, the Station forman is the person controlling the trains coming and going to the station. This was my work for 35 years. Later the trains were controlled from one central office in big towns and Cities via remote control. Luckily I decided to move on.😢 Cheers Strand, your home town. ❤ love you guys.
Greetings to you in beautiful Strand! That sounds like quite a heavy responsiblity! So if the Station Foreman messed up, there would be mayhem on the tracks. 🛤️😨 You must have pretty awesome memories of your 35 years of service. Thanks for sharing that with us, we had no idea! 🚙🚉
Wat 'n fantastiese ervaring was dit om na al die jare weer my geboorteplek op dié wyse te besoek. Ek was in 1948 daar in matriek. Thank you very much for this commendable video which brings back wonderful memories.
Thank you for your very kind comment. 😊 It was our pleasure to visit your birthtown and it's heartwarming to read that you enjoyed our video. We appreciate you coming back to Sterkstroom with the two of us, a town which you no doubt have many special memories of.
Hi Curtis Sonia and Dusty, a huge shout-out to Principal Swartz, what an exemplary educator!! Once again fascinating town, safe journey ❤❤
Yes, the Principal is so passionate about their school and its students. It was fascinating talking to him and getting a glimpse into his vision for the future of the school and the town. 🎓🤩 I'm glad you enjoyed our visit to Sterkstroom!
Pragtig! Ek het daar op 'n plaas groot geword. In die koshuis gebly en skool gegaan van Sub A tot St5. Die stasie se regte afdraai was voor die trein soos jy die dorp inkom. Goeie herinneringe, baie dankie!! Ek is bly om te sien dat die skool en biblioteek albei herstel is.
I'm glad that you were reminded of good times in Sterkstroom. We were just too happy to get to the station, so didn't really care about taking the correct road. 😁🛤️ Thank you for watching our video of a town you must've known very well at one point, I appreciate that. 🚙👍🏻
Thanks for accepting one of my requests.
We visited Sterkstroom a few weeks before your request already, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise for you. 🚙😁
It fascinates me Curtis how you always manage to find your way into a church. Lovely little town sterkstroom.❤🎉❤
Mr. Swartz is very passionate about his work, I am taken by his personality. This school deserves partnerships to that will bring activities designed to empower young ones to participate in the global stage one day. Thank you for a great video.
Interesting and friendly little town, and a very old station.....gone to ruins...sad.
Yup, two sad stations in this episode in fact. 😥🛤️ We did meet friendly folks in Sterkstroom and that goes a long way in any place.
This is so beautiful, I am from Sterkstroom went to John Voster School now known as Sterkstroom school the new apostolic church it 2min away from my home and I worked at the Museum, I Love this so much guys thanks for making being homesick better ❤️❤️
Been watching your channel for awhile now and hardly miss a video. I hardly ever comment on YT videos but thought to let you know that the thing I appreciate most about you both is the positive attitude. We all know many small towns in our country are in rough shape, yet you go out of your way to be as fair as possible by pointing out the good things about these small towns rather than only focusing on the bad (which is all too familiar to most of us). I've even been surprised by many towns you've been to (thinking of KWT/Qonce and Stutterheim specifically) which I'd assumed were in a bad way but were pleasantly neat and tidy. Keep up the good work and know that I'll be along for the ride!
Brings lots of good memories. Grew up in Sterkstroom and went to scholl there
As long as they are good memories, I'm happy! Thank you for visiting your old hometown with us. 🚙😍
Just sitting watching this episode now from the uk. My dad always said that the steam locomotives working the sterkstroom to McLear line were some of the best photographic opportunities in the world. He has somewhere got a sound recording of the locomotives working that railway line in the early 80s.
Its a strange feeling watching this knowing that his presence was there in the areas you visited 38 years ago ❤
Thanks again guys. Much love from me in the uk
How special that we could visit the remains of the Sterkstroom Station for you and show you the place where it sounds like your dad spent a fair bit of time. 🚂😍 I so wish that those photographic opportunities still existed, I would've been happy to bring some of those images to you too! Thank you so much for sharing that special story with us. 🚙😊
@DustBugsTravel I don't really have the words to show my appreciation to you guys but thank you so much ❤️
Hi…that’s my hometown. One of the smalltowns established by the Dutch people
Hellooo again, loved Sterkstroom it seems such a quiet little town, so peaceful. Thank you for the trip❤
I'm so happy you came along! 🚙🤩 It is a peaceful and quiet town and we had fun exploring the place.
Thankyou for your visit to Sterkstroom and your interesting and positive commentary. I grew up there in the mid fifties to early sixties, a little different then but have fond memories of the town.
I appreciate your kind comment, thank you. 🚙😊 I can only imagine the special memories you have of your old hometown. 😍 I have no trouble believing that it's a completely different place in 2023.
It looks scary be careful guys😮
I have no idea what you're talking about and what looked scary on this trip. 🚙🤷🏻♂️ But we're always careful, regardless.
Wow my home can't believe really
I love the Locos. This one is beautiful 😅
I am amazed. Such a nice town and so quiet. The churches are nice to see and the school rocks. What apleasant head master doing such a very humble job even to feed the learners. I l9ved this video. Thank you and till the next one my seat booked
I also enjoyed, as always, seeing the church buildings and thankfully saw some in good shape still. 💒 The Principal clearly has a vision for the school and the town and would very much like to see it prosper once more. Thank you so much for enjoying these small places with us and realising that each one has something special to offer. We're just too happy to share. 🚙😁
Hi guys the drive in with the mist amazing Bailey station the house with the great orning fantastic I read in the comments that a viewer lived there and now lives in Wales wow what a difference!!!plus the motorbike stuck in the air .entering sterkstroom the big old steam train was great nature takes over with bee hive .the main road was quiet and slightly down at heal but the old buildings make up for it the sheep in town cute .the DRF church was again a beacon of light the lady was kind to let you in I noticed the stamped tin ceiling on the ceiling I believe they are only in SA. The pulpit was something else love it and the lovely lace everywhere the organ made in Hull ( only 8 miles away from my birthplace. I have a ancestor who was a Showman from Hull who won the Victoria Cross in ww1 ) small towns always friendly the guy opened the museum for you the animals were brilliant especially the Quaga the amount of shoe lasts there must have been a cobblers in town back in the day .the old Reformed church and the history was interesting. It's sad about the station but atleast the tracks are being used I wonder who Demsey was the Irish get everywhere lol .how fantastic Sonia could identify the New Apostolic church. What a inspiring and friendly guy the headmaster was his school is a credit to him clean tidy and well ordered how kind to give you a tour . Sterkstroom was a lovely friendly place horses in the garden and a guard pig !!! The sap cells looked grim .the hospital opened 24 hours is great. Loved the video and saw my little bakkie. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one
So you went to Sterkstroom in your bakkie to check out the pulpit, the stamped ceilings and the organ from Hull in the D.R. Church, I love that! 💒🔔🎹 The Bailey station building was clearly a fantastic structure at one point, if the steps and the foundation are anything to go by. I still think that quagga was a real one at some point or the sculptor is a World Champion at sculpting, one of the two! 🦓
My dad went to school there in 1942. The Odendaal family part of the Wentzels from Tylden Between Queenstown and Cathcart.
The country could do with more headmasters like that. Looks like in some places things are starting to look up. Nice to find reasons to hope.
The Principal is for sure a beacon of hope in this small town. It was a pleasure to meet him and have him show us around their school. 🎓📚
Since you are visiting small places, have you ever visited Darling?
We visit big and small settlements, villages, towns and cities. 🚙😁 We have visited Darling, shortly after we started our channel, in Episodes 48 and 49 if you want to check them out. Our channel has evolved somewhat since then and we didn't explore in-depth like we do today, but it was fun visiting Darling.
Sterkstroom thankyou brought back many memories. Still the quiet town. Other places of interest Molteno, Dordrecht, Indwe, Elliot. Would love to see that
I'm always happy when our videos remind our viewers of memories they have of a certain place. Thank you for visiting Sterkstroom with us! 🚙😁
My neighbors ❤❤❤❤
Lucky you! 🚙😁
That school, it takes me back to Petrus !Ganeb Secondary School in Uis, Namibia (where I had taught Maths and Science). Except the school you had toured has windows and doors and it wasn't set on fire, twice. 😮
So your job as an educator became an even more difficult one. 😏 One of the things I will never understand about this culture of destruction we find ourselves in today, is that school buildings whose sole purpose it is to educate and better lives, are destroyed because of discontentment about whatever matter. This school in Sterkstroom also burnt down, once in 2018. 😡
@@DustBugsTravel yup
My pa was Stasievoorman op Lower Incline Sterkstroom skool gegaan gebly in koshuis ds v vuuren was die ds
Hou van julle program, net jammer dit is in engels
Miskien moet jy hulle vra of jy 'n paar episodes kan vertolk en ... (jammer) "overdub", soos wat die Afrikaanse TV kanaal in die ou daë gemaak het met internasioenale programme wat hulle ingevoer it. "Maak van hulle _Tatord_ 'n _Derrick_ " vir die mense.
(Ek kan nie namens hulle praat nie, maar sou dink dis minstens 'n oorweging dat buitelanders 'n Afrikaanse reeks nie sou kon verstaan, nie, en, derhalwe, die "Engelse klankbaan". Daar's ook die klein saakie van die feit dat hierdie familie half-Engels is?)
Nietemin, ek hoor jou. Baie van hierdie plekkies is "sterk Afrikaans", and dit sou lekker gewees het dat dit stukkies van hulle hede en verlede wat hier "gered word" (ek will iets anders sê, maar kan nie daaraan vasvat nie) nie in "die dorpie se moedertaal" behou word nie.
@user-cl4in8if2w Although I am fully-bilingual, I was born in an English family and English is my first language. I would very much like for my elderly mother, as well as our friends and family abroad, to also follow along on our travels. 🚙😁
@sicko_the_ew Any Afrikaans-speaking person is free to spend the money and the time to visit this and many other small towns like we are doing and tell their stories. 🤷🏻♂️ In my view, the language doensn't matter, the fact that someone takes the time to document these places and their stories, is what matters.
Na vele intense werkdagen en een erg druk weekend heb ik eindelijk tijd om weer bij te kijken. En val meteen met mijn neus in de boter. Prachtig die oude locomotief, hopelijk zorgt het prikkeldraad er omheen voor het behoud ervan. Het Bailey station, wonderlijk dat het verwijsbord langs de weg er nog staat terwijl alles kapot is maar de bult van steentjes waarover de rails ligt bijna erop lijkt te duiden dat er nog wel treinen rijden … Klopt het dat je boven de 50 jaar wat sentimenteler wordt? Althans mij bekroop een gevoel van ontroering tijdens de toer door de kerk, het unieke orgel in de hoek, de duidelijk toewijding van de gelovigen (van weleer) voor de inrichting en in mijn eigen taal, zover verwijderd van Nederland, de tekst ‘heilig heilig heilig is de Heere’ 🥲. Creatief dat je de foto’s van de mannen laat zien gelijk met de gedenktekens! Dat brengt de geschiedenis nog meer tot leven. Als ook het museum in Sterkstroom, komisch die combinatie van oude jurken tot vintage computers en zelfs een ezel met zebra gestreepte poten 😅. Sterke stroom wens ik Zuid-Afrika uiteraard sowieso toe als alternatief voor de loadshedding 😊. Rond de 39 minuten ineens een huis met meerdere zonnecollectoren in de tuin, dat verwachtte ik even niet gezien de staat van de eerder getoonde huizen. Het Sterkstroom station, oef wat een treurnis … met hoop op een voorbij rijdende trein! Werden we toch allen even op het verkeerde been gezet door het geluid als ware het trein stoomfluit 🚂 Last but not least: alle lof voor dhr Swartz, wat een parel onder mensheid!!! ❤
It sounds like you had a rough few days. I hope there was a little fun in there too somewhere. 🥳 Those heaps of gravel on either side of the train line also made me think that the line is already operational again or there are plans to make them so, which would be fantastic news! 🤩🛤️ I still feel the donkey with striped legs was a real one back in the day! 😁🦓 I'm glad you enjoyed Sterkstroom!