S1 - Ep 273 - Groblershoop - This Village is the Gateway to the Green Kalahari!

Our next stop was Groblershoop which is a small village situated about 2km west of the Orange River on the N10 and known as the gateway to the Green Kalahari. We’ve never heard of Groblershoop before and we were very surprised to learn that that the Orange River Wine Cellars is the largest co-operative cellars in Africa and the second largest in the world. It was very interesting to see how the irrigation canals worked and supplied the farmers with water. We enjoyed our visit to Groblershoop. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #northerncape #groblershoop #putsonderwater
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[@munesumangava9751]

Wow! The Orange river! Majestic 🙌 Wouldn’t mind standing at that bridge just watching it flow by!!

[@mrstukutela5126]

When I see all these place names on the map I just want to explore. I like the "out of the way" places that one seldom or never sees. Your tours are the perfect answers for those of us who cannot get around.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm glad to hear you also enjoy the places one so often only hears about, but never gets to visit. It was a pleasure having you on board as we explored Groblershoop and we hope to do the same with many more places! 😁🚙

[@munesumangava9751]

Lovely blue sky spotted with white clouds! What a pretty picture👌👌👌

[@fwdadventuresza254]

A beautiful, thriving town... Thanks for the ride along 😉🤙🏻

[@DustBugsTravel]

We appreciate you joining us again! 😁🚙

[@vkaitakirwa]

Learnt the correct pronunciation of ‘hoop’ . Thanks for another excellent trip.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for joining us on our visit to Groblershoop 🚙

[@flodillon991]

Just loved those canals with the water for the wine farmers excellent. The mighty Orange river its no wonder they call it that so fitting and so beautiful. The schools were lovely to see. Thank you so much for this episode.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for coming along to Groblershoop with us! I was just as fascinated with those water canals, so interesting! We just love the Orange River too and never tired of crossing it! 🤩🌊

[@annawitter5161]

I think those small classrooms get very very hot in the summer. That is such a beautiful church, pity you couldnt get in. But I can understand they want to keep it looking good. 32 degrees is fine as long as the car has air con. The River Resort looks like a lovely place to stay. I would like to stay there and pay a few visits to Orange River cellars. Really enjoyed the beautiful clouds. Hope the shoe held together. Otherwise it would have to feel a heel!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm sure those little classrooms must have temperature control of some kind, they were just so cute! That church was locked up so tightly, there was no way that we could get in there. I thought it was a very interesting design and would've loved to see it up close. 💒 I am happy to report that the shoe did indeed hold together! 😁🥾

[@adriaanmcdonald3116]

I reallllyyyy reeeaaallyyy enjoy these videos... you have a unique trademark in your videos that makes it special. Just wish I can see your wife. I am burning to know.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoy our videos so much! 😁🚙 My wife isn't keen on being filmed and, until she hopefully changes her mind one day, I'll respect that and her voice will just have to do! 🥰

[@daniellewotherspoon6252]

@@DustBugsTravel I was also wondering why she doesnt explore with you when you get out of the car

[@DustBugsTravel]

@@daniellewotherspoon6252 My wife has had serious knee issues since 2017 and three failed surgeries since, so we try and protect her knees as much as possible. Any uneven surfaces, stairs and such are almost impossible for her to navigate and the places I explore on foot, are exactly like that. Because we're very often in small and remote places without advanced medical facilities, I prefer to keep her safe and pain-free. 🥰🚙

[@sandragrobler2957]

Spanish moss - great song! That shoe added lots of "flavour" to this episode.😄Keep fixing it!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the tunes too! I've been fixing this particular pair of boots for almost ten years now and will continue doing so! 😁🥾 I have several back-up pairs too, but none of them feels quite like this one does. Luckily it was all good after the glue we picked up in Groblershoop and I was good to go again! Thank you for visiting Groblershoop with us! 🚙🍇

[@sandragrobler2957]

@@DustBugsTravel Oh it's such a joy - thank YOU two!

[@deonzar]

All I can say is...please remember to pack a second pair of shoes next time... 🙂..and thanx for taking us to Groblershoop.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I did amend our packing list, but only to include glue, which I normally remember, but Murphy had other plans! 😁🥾 I've fixed this particular pair of hiking boots so often over the years and this is the first time I didn't have glue nearby. The time is approaching when I'll have to replace them and I'm not keen to do that. The back-up pairs at home just don't match up either, so I'll keep on gluing for now! 🚙🤣

[@deonzar]

@@DustBugsTravel Funnily enough on my long overlanding trips it was also the left foot...the clutch foot heel that came loose. Just think how many times you use that foot...

[@terrimeyer3815]

The amount of information you present is really wonderful. Ive learned so much watching your videos....thank you. I love this green Kalahari I knew nothing about. So happy 😊😊😊😊 safe travels U2

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much, I'm always happy to hear that you enjoy watching our videos. and the info we provide. There is usually so much to share that we can't help ourselves! 🤣 I was also interested to read that Groblershoop is known as the gateway to the Green Kalahari. It was certainly green enough with all those vineyards around and I know you love it when it's green! Great to have you on board! 🚙🍇

[@ronnykenny3965]

Thank you for an amazing trip, was very relaxing, the highlight of my day 🙏

[@ronnykenny3965]

And then last night I dreamt I was walking around a huge shopping mall with one shoe on my foot & one broken shoe in my hand 😂

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed our video, thank you! We find the town an interesting and busy little place. 🚙🍇 I love that you dreamt you had one broken shoe, fortunately for you it was only a dream! We appreciate you sharing that with us! 🥾🤣 Luckily my shoe held together with the glue I bought in Groblershoop, so all good again after that!

[@stuff0music]

A little bit of fun Groblershoop trivia of 50 years ago. I visited there a few times and had to get across the river by pont as the bridge apparently washed away a few years prior. Anyway the fun part is that the first building you got to of the pont was the Groblershoop Hotel. Their specialty at the bar was Dop en Dam. The dop part was brandy and the dam part was water scooped out of the Orange river in a bucket and placed on the counter. It seems a lot more modern now. I walked around the town once (early 1970’s) and found a old non functional garage with glas oil bottles as well as workshop manuals for old model T Fords and similar models. One of the cars inside was a 1936 model and also a Model A Ford. I often think what happened to all that treasure.

[@frederikbrits9559]

Groblershoop named after minster of Water Affairs Piet Grobler (grandchild of Paul Kruger) in the cabinet of Genl Hertzog. "Boegoeberg se dam is 'n lekker dam"......welknown Afrikaans folk song

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the info! 👌🏻

[@1812nico]

Hi you two. Thank you for taking me along to Groblershoop on such a beautiful day. The town looks excellent. Makes one realize what water and wine can do! I was impressed that they obviously have much interest in education, with those 3 neat schools. One can also see the "green" of the Green Kalahari showing through in town. I am looking forward to the next trip. Hope you will then have both feet properly shoed! Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was indeed a beautiful day with beautiful blue skies and just the most beautiful clouds scattered about! 🤩☁️ Both feet were property shoed by the end of our visit to Groblershoop and I could happily walk about again without having to drag one foot around. 🥾🤣 I'm glad you enjoyed Groblershoop with us, we look forward to picking you up again tomorrow for the next place! I'm sure you'll enjoy that one too! 😁🚙

[@munesumangava9751]

Beautiful church👌

[@mariusroos]

Thanks guys for Groblershoop. Very nice town and alive. Must be the wine farming keeping them alive. Interesting facts about the town. Well done again like always. I enjoyed it so much

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm happy that you enjoyed our visit to Groblershoop. The vineyards certainly play a huge role in the existence of the town, a busy little place. 🚙🍇

[@BrendonSchaferCT]

I ate some export grapes last week in Stellies. Not sure what the origin of the grapes were. The guys I was with kept joking about 'here's your apple', or 'kry jou waatlemoen' or something along those lines. Yes. They were huge and quite chewy, if that is the right description. Thanks for showing Groblershoop. Enjoy the 40C on Saturday. Hope you can swim somewhere at least, or the aircon is good.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hope your grapes were good too and not only big and chewy! I remember us buying export grapes about two years ago outside Robertson. While they were very good, I've eaten similar quality from our local supermarkets. They were much bigger than we get in the shops though, but that was about the only difference. Oh, and they were twice the price! 😁🍇 The predicted 40C the next day was actually not bad at all. No swimming, but the aircon did a splendid job! 🚙👌🏻

[@henniejansenvanrensburg287]

Good day Thank you for your trips I thoroughly enjoy travelling along with you both but would really love to see a bit of your companion as she has such a good sense of humor and would really like to put a face to her voice👌👍

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, it's great to hear that you enjoy our videos, we certainly appreciate you watching them! 😁🚙 My companion, also known as my wife, isn't keen on being filmed and, until she hopefully changes her mind one day, I'll respect that and her voice will just have to do. She does indeed have an excellent sense of humour and you'll very often hear chuckles and laughter too! 🥰

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys more education for me start of the green karoe this town seems to like schools three in such a small place. I did notice in the primary school my favourite little datsun bakkie. The canal and sluice shows the amount of water in the area a God send to the farmers. Well kept churches the modern one with roof to the ground handy for putting up antennas no ladder needed. When you see the size of the vineyards you can see why it is a record holder great crossing the Orange River the herb shop was different love the old farm implements thanks for a great video cheerio till the next one. Pity they don't make sandals on the side of the road anymore

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for coming to Groblershoop with us! 😁🚙 I was quite interested to read that it's the gateway to the Green Kalahari, it's certainly green enough there! 🌳💚 I love that you thought of the church roof in a completely different way, tying in with your own experiences in the past. And of course the Datsun bakkie in the school grounds! Groblershoop sounds like a place you may have to visit one day! 🤩 I would've absolutely bought a pair of sandals next to the road if I saw something like that around, they would've sure come in handy, but fortunately my shoe was all good after the Groblershoop glue! 🥾👌🏻

[@elroyclaassen1613]

We are watching from the first episode, We enjoy your travel program and when are you going to visit Kareedouw on the R62 Lang kloof. That would be very nice 🙂

[@annawitter5161]

I would also love to see Lange Kloof

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy our videos. 😁🚙 We appreciate the suggestion too. The route for our next route has been finalised, so I hope you enjoy all the new places we get to visit!

[@elroyclaassen1613]

We will thank you 😁

[@marciovries7102]

This is my home town

[@DustBugsTravel]

You're fortunate to live in the beautiful Northern Cape province. 🚙🍇

[@cryze2169]

I actually live about 15km outside of groblershoop xD

[@davidhoatson6983]

Good day I'm farming in the kalahari and those are not replicas they are used for taking water out of the ground lots of them all over the farms here.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for clarifying that. 👌🏻 I just loved seeing them, but wasn't sure if they were indeed still functional.

[@margaretpautz843]

Hi .. I’m busy watching this episode - was just wondering- how much do you guys spend on petrol on every trip you make ? From the time you leave home to the time you get back home …

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hope you enjoyed our visit to Groblershoop. 😁🚙 Our fuel bill ultimately depends on how far we travel from home in Strand, but nowadays that it's further and fuel prices are crazy, approximate R4k per trip.

[@munesumangava9751]

How green is the school grounds hey!!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed! It shows just how life-giving water is. These folks are virtually on the banks of the Orange River! 🌳🌊

[@frederikbrits9559]

First white farmers settled in the 1870's.....

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the info! 🧑🏻‍🌾

[@blairgowrieforestrailwayan2786]

Groblershoop! You really are detting around, the best with the worst. This is not one of the best towns, most of it looking very filthy with the amount of rubbish lying around.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Groblershoop can certainly do with a cleanup operation. 🗑️ We choose to show each place we get to visit as realistically as we can and exactly as we find it, not only the beautiful, clean and pristine. 🚙😁