S1 - Ep 360 - Winburg - Incredible History with a Profound Sense of Connection!

[@thepenelopejones]

Eittel Guest farm Cottage - what a treasure!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed, it was a fantastic stay! 🚙🏡

[@thepenelopejones]

👌💯@@DustBugsTravel

[@stanleyrobson4622]

Bit late to the party I see. My Ouma Cronje's hometown. She was born there in 1914. She loved scaring us with her ghost and Anglo-Boer war stories of the region. Visited there once in the 90's. Awesome video. Awesome trip!

[@annawitter5161]

We always stopped at Winburg on the way to Kroonstad. The Voortrekker monument was a family icon. My brother and I would lie down in the middle and look up at the inside of the spires. What an amazing view! And then mother would complain because we got bird dingus all over our backs! It was a fave picnic spot...I can still taste that boerewors, hard boiled eggs, cheese and tomato sandwiches. And sweet black coffee and ginger nuts! A few times, I came across a flock of turkeys up there. Such a lovely friendly moon to guide you to your nest for the night. And what a charming stone cottage. My first thought was chapel. What a beautiful place to wake up in. Such a pity about the security fence, what a shame we have to live like that, hey. And wildlife in the form of ostrich and impala. And some stunning trees. A lovely beautiful town full of history. And that steeple in a distance....I feel a Moerdijk coming on! President Steyn se kerk! Awesome!!! What an entrance. I totally relate to those emotional moments, Sonja. Your videos are full of them for me. They grow even more precious as you get old.Hang on to them, they are treasure more valuable than silver or gold. What a pity you couldnt get to the monument. Signs of the times. We used to look across at that dam from the monument. And visit the lovely tiny cottage where pres. Steyn was born. And the museum. I have it all on video from 1993.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I didn't have the slightest thought that the Voortrekker Monument would be closed mid-morning on a Sunday. 🤷🏻‍♂️🏛️ Your memories of your family times there sound precious and priceless. It's awesome that you still have video footage of those outings. I didn't mind the electric fence too much, it was just incredible to wake up on a Free State farm again. 😍 The disappointment of the monument was quickly overcome by our visit to Rietfontein Dam, a stunning piece of paradise in the province which has my heart. 🚙🧡

[@PathFinderLegacy]

Hi Anna. I would like to get in contact with you regarding The Monument. We stayed at the monument for more than 20 years. My Father and Mother maintaind the premisses during that time. The dam is called the Rietfontein dam. The Turkeys were my dads. They were free raoming during the day. and came home at night.

[@annawitter5161]

@@PathFinderLegacy goodness me but the world is a small place! I had never seen turkeys up close before and were surprised at how huge they were.

[@leswalter7555]

Thanx again for a wonderful visit that brings many memories.. Like you I lived in Bloem for 17 years and never bothered to visit Winburg. Although I have had many a brannas and Coke in the hotel pub.. Also remember the Standard bank.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those sound like good memories of Winburg, albeit brief visits! 😁🥃 Thank you for exploring the town with us today, it's certainly an interesting place!

[@dw3725]

Thank you for sharing your adventures some really awesome places out there .

[@DustBugsTravel]

Our pleasure! Thank you for coming along on our travels. Winburg was exactly one of those awesome places! 🚙😁

[@KelvinNaidoo-h4t]

What a wonderful way to start one's day loved and enjoyed the ride ❤❤❤❤❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm so happy to hear that. We had a great time in Winburg too. 🚙😍

[@simonemason5352]

Really enjoyed Winburg. Pity couldn't go into that gorgeous church. Looking forward to your next series!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I know! I'm still curious to know why only the one was open for service that day. 🤷🏻‍♂️💒 Glad you enjoyed this trip. 🚙😁 We look forward to sharing the next one with you too.

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

Thank you so much for a fabulous series of videos. Safe travels and God bless you both for taking us on your trips. Looking forward to the next instalment.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You are most welcome! Thank you for always joining us as we explore the (mostly) lesser-known places. Sometimes when we get to a dubious spot on the road somewhere, I tell Sonia that, if you were there, you would agree with me that we'll be totally fine. The worry frown then slowly turns into a smile and she braves up. Other times, not so much .... ❤️🚙 We look forward to sharing our next adventure with you!

[@videopic1235]

Thank you for the trip through the Vrystaat… We really enjoyed it and did bring back some good memories… Drive safe🙏👍

[@carolmccorry3053]

Kurt's and Sonja, I have really enjoyed watching your travels. Thanks for sharing them, it is so wonderful to experience Africa from a personalised view. God bless you both for efforts. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for your kind comment and for joining us on this trip. 🚙😊 We're very happy to share our travels and believe in the joy of shared experiences. We look forward to taking you on the next trip with us. Look out for the first episode tomorrow afternoon 5pm South African time. 🤩

[@mariusroos]

The farm where you stayed over is so nice and reminded me about my farm days. The cottage is stunning and so ould - a rich history must be hidden there. The cattle and the Impala's were beautifull. The churches n Winburg is beautiful. 1899 quite many moons ago! The town really impressed me - the hotel (1857 wow) and town hall and the club wow! Sad that the Monument was closed. The whole time I was hoping for some drone footing and it s asif you heard me! Thanks Sonja I enjoyed to learn more of the history of the town. Amazing and incredible! Winburg is the town tht I will easily relocate to. I love the town and what it offers. Well done guys and thank you. I am looking forward to the next one.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You know farmlife much better than we do, it's just a different way of life and it was so great waking up just outside Winburg that Sunday morning. 😍🐂🦌 I couldn't believe that our stone cottage was built in 1809 already, a truly beautiful place! The Voortrekker Monument looks quite impressive from a distance, we would've loved to get closer to it. I'm just glad it's still there. 🏛️ I echo your feelings, I think I could live in Winburg too. It would be great for all provinces to be accessible in a day's drive from one's hometown. Thanks for coming along on this trip, I always enjoy your company! 🚙😁

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

Considering that extremely dark road and negotiating the water, I could feel your angst Sonia. It's so disconcerting when one doesn't know a place, but what a terrific spot to wake up on what looks like a freezing morning. That cold, I could feel from here but the stay was just beautiful.

[@DustBugsTravel]

The road was extremely dark and the pool looked extremely deep. You know my darling wife and roads, she gets very nervous sometimes. 🥰 It was FREEZING that morning, but I thought I'd let the frost do the talking. 🚙🥶

[@rwbt3326]

​@@DustBugsTravelThe platteland of the Free State certainly gets rather cold at night during winter ....have experienced -11 with not a drop of snow in sight.

[@PathFinderLegacy]

Thanks Dustbugs , for this series. Brandfort is my hometown, and Winburg my other Town. Great memories

[@DustBugsTravel]

And thank you for watching our videos of your two hometowns! 😍 I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed travelling with us! 🚙😁

[@PathFinderLegacy]

Next one is Senekal @@DustBugsTravel

[@johangouws8855]

The stone church is really beautiful. If you ever get to Heidelberg (Tvl) you should visit the Klipkerk, the inside as stunning as outside.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the info, I'll add Heidelberg to our list, which is growing by the hour! 😁 We just love stone churches and other buildings so much! 🏛️💒

[@ronnykenny3965]

Thank you Curtis & Sonja, my seat is booked for next trip( left Soutpan noe)😊. This was another amazing & interesting town . Was surprised to see no supermarkets. BTW, have you & Sonja ever gone to bed hungry because of no eateries or cafes being open? Hope not. I would be a very unhappy person 😅. Safe travels back home to your own bed & comforts 🥰🚗🚗🚗

[@DustBugsTravel]

You must've been super sad to leave Soutpan, I remember we were! 😞 Glad you joined us in Winburg. We could've easily missed any shops, we didn't specifically look for those, but I'm sure the townsfolk have places to shop. 🛒 The answer to your question is yes! We've gone to sleep hungry quite a few times, but mostly because we forget about food and then get stuck in a place without a shop or restaurant. We normally have snacks though, so we make do and, not being fine diners or picky eaters, that has never really bothered us much and we always catch up very quickly! 😁🍕🍔🌭🥪🥙

[@doraduplessis2727]

Your trips are getting better and better, with longer videos that we enjoy so much. If I counted correctly, then this last trip included 21 towns, 4 provinces, 3308 km, 7 days, and two lovely people.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm glad you think so! 🚙😁 And don't forget each and everyone of our viewers who we get to share our adventures with, we love it! 😍

[@InaBotha-zk8yo]

Hi you two! My laptop passed away this morning and I am joining you on wifeys tablet. Thank you for this amazing trip. Your farm stay over was fabulous with gravel road, an astonishing cottage and cuppas, all on a REAL farm! Winburg is so astonishing, I have no words. Sonia's history info invaluable. The drone view of the unexpected dam was beatiful as usual. This is one of the best trips, if not the best, I have had together with you. I don't know if I'll be ready for the very next trip, but I will definitely catch up.. Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Oh, no! Laptop issues are the worst! 😨 I hope you get it sorted soon. Thank you for nicking wife's tablet to comment, that means a lot to me! We also loved the Winburg experience, everything was awesome. I'm having a cuppa right now and raising my mug to say cheers and we hope you'll be back on board again soon! 🚙😁

[@RyanDH]

I kind of wished I went into Winburg on my last road trip, certainly has lots to see. I initially was going to go into Winburg, but then decided against and chose to go to the next town of Ventersburg instead because of the police museum. Ventersburg also has a great biltong shop called The Fat Butcher...

[@DustBugsTravel]

Super easy to get into Winburg, so certainly a possibility when you're on the N1 in that vicinity again! 🚙😁 We have yet to visit Ventersburg.

[@LaurikaBretherton]

thank you for showing all these old towns with so much history. all the old buildings and lovely churches. your channel is a little piece of history. so wonderful to see.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy the little tidbits of history we share. 🚙🏛️ History, amongst many other things, is definitely something we enjoy on our travels.

[@clayauslewis4236]

Another great video. Would have bypassed Winberg when we drove down the N1 from Johannesburg. You don't realise what delights you miss when taking the new freeways. Oh for the forgotten days of "motoring" versus modern driving. You're videos help bring those days back.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed! If you do decide to stop off at Winburg, try the Russian Footlongs at the place at the filling station on the other side of town. We bought them as a late breakfast as we were leaving and they were fantastic! 🌭 Safe travels when you do hit the road again in this beautiful country! 🚙🇿🇦

[@lulamantshephe5595]

I was about to say, never gave it a thought when I was on the NI from Joburg. I thought it was just one street 😃😃😃

[@clayauslewis4236]

@@DustBugsTravel Hopefully in 2024!

[@corrie6157]

As a child we enjoyed holidays like a long weekend at the Allemanskraal dam - there was some Rondawels which hold lovely memories with beautiful sunsets and late evenings around the fire - and the Willem Pretorius game reserve where we used to feed the monkeys on our left over fruit and vegetables before we left for home…. Thank you.

[@desh7120]

That was a wonderful farm stay! I’m not ready to leave, yet 😁 Such a neatly maintained and well laid out town. The churches were lovely to see - would have be so nice if you’d been able to enter the second one. Stunning design. The hotel was good to see and to hear your nostalgic memory, Sonia. I really enjoyed this super visit to the surprisingly delightful town of Winburg. Always love your drone footage 💕

[@DustBugsTravel]

Believe me, if we didn't have such a long drive ahead, we might've lingered a little longer too. But alas! 🤷🏻‍♂️🚙🛣️ I'm still puzzled about that gorgeous stone church not being open for service. It was a gorgeous building and we were fortunate to see quite a few in town. 😍💒🏛

[@desh7120]

@@DustBugsTravel You are amazing with the distances you cover - this was a mammoth trip!

[@AnikaVanWyk]

Hi you guys. Winburg was really a surprise. All the beautiful old buildings. We have the must beautiful country.😊😊

[@rosemarymoolman6765]

I really loved this whole trip and especially Winburg. There is just so much history in that area. The churches there are so beautiful. They carry their age with grace. I hope you had a good trip back to the Strand (one of my big memory towns). Thank you for the ride!

[@DustBugsTravel]

We loved Winburg too, it was fantastic from start to finish! 🚙😁 We did have a good trip home. It's always great on the road, but just as great to be back at home again! 🏡🤩 Thank you for joining us on this trip, we always appreciate your company.

[@irenemasterson146]

Brilliant footage of the Rietfontein Dam. Well done. Thank you once again for sharing. Enjoy your travels love travelling with you.

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys loved the drive in the dark brings back memories buildings on the farm stunning your accommodation top notch plenty of animals including dogs the town looked clean and tidy love the entrance to the DRF church plus the huge pipe organ. The original church massive and all stone 1889 stone mullion windows well deserved national monument charming story about Sonia farther love the hotel style great to see town hall intact the club with mock tudor beams amazing old properties library and postofice cute elephant fountain frying squad voortrekker monument unusual shaped structure. Gravel road never fails to surprise a big dam amazing footage shows how flat the land is stretching for miles nice designed building for Sap. Always love the voortrekker history barclays bank I call the houses with afrikaans houses the grave yard in town well kept little old bridge .a really interesting and historic town the first capital of the Free state in my mind its the spot on Afrikaans town so many things you can only see in SA just love the frontier vibe great video thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

The drive in the darkness to our cottage was quite the adventure, what with cattle and a very big puddle in the road that made even me look twice to be sure we'll get through it. 😨 I actually thought of you while sitting in front of the old Barclays Bank and wondered what you would think about that one! 😁🏦 The architecture of the stone church was magnificent with the other DR church also very beautiful. I also loved the organ pipes inside, I thought they were quite unusual and must produce an amazing sound. 💒🎹

[@moretlomokoena897]

I never realized this towns are so rich but only few people realize that, this town is beautiful indeed. Cant you make collection of churches and old buildings in one video or book. It will be fantastic to have summary of all in one place.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Editing three long-form videos a week, especially if they're as long as ours are, is an enormous job. I really don't have any spare time to extract footage of churches and other buildings from our videos to include in any other format. You'll just have to gradually work your way through the almost 500 videos on our channel. Enjoy! 🚙🏛💒

[@grantvergottini5612]

Greetings from San Diego, California. This is so cool. The town seems so deserted. My ancestors were among the founders of Winburg (and of the Orange Free State). From what I've been able to figure out, the original family property occupied what is now the right side of the hotel. I believe that Voortrekker Street was named Vergottini Street earlier.

[@nicoliroos4865]

Really interesting video, thanks! Never knew about the Voortrekker monument there , but was great to learn about it!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I must be honest and say I also never knew about the monument, I found the history behind it quite fascinating. It would've been the cherry on top to get close, but it was not meant to be this time around. 🤷🏻‍♂️ It was certainly impressive from a distance! 🏛️😍 Thank you for exploring Winburg with us!

[@PetroEngelbrecht-q9r]

On Sunday we left Bloemfontein to Johannesburg. Decided to detour into Winburg and Kroonstad. What a surprise to read on your channel you were ahead of us. Beautiful churches and those houses

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hope you had a good trip! This one was at the end of June / beginning of July already. I only edit when we return home, so our videos are always between one and six weeks behind our actual travel dates. 🚙😁

[@normawilson7941]

Love your show. Watching from Northern Ireland.

[@claviativdnwijk]

Beautifull

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you! 🚙👌🏻

[@nelsonchinasamy9857]

When you drive from Durban via Harrismith, Bethlehem and Senekal to join the N1 to Cape Town you have to pass Winburg. I did it many times between 2000 and 2006., always stopped there.

[@philyew3617]

Hi Curtis & Sonja, thanks for taking me along on this leg. I kept thinking I'm sure I know that town. Then you showed (sadly from a distance) the Voortrekker Monument... I have visited the town, And, the monument. It was back in March 2018 when I was in that area. I remember even then there was security at the monument, which sadly had been damaged by vandals. I hope they found the money to repair the damage because if you get up close it is quite spectacular. I remember talking to one of the security men for at least half an hour, he was absolutely steeped in the history, a great source of information. A nice town and those wide streets are amazing. I never saw the dam or the graveyard, both would have been interesting. Maybe I can plan my route to re-visit on my next trip in October.

[@DustBugsTravel]

That certainly sounds like a fantastic visit to the Voortrekker Monument. I was really bummed that we couldn't get in that Sunday, I never expected that. 🤷🏻‍♂️🏛️ Definitely check out the dam if you do visit Winburg again, it's pretty awesome too! 🚙🌊

[@doraduplessis2727]

Loved all the small towns you took us along, especially the ones in the Free State. Just one question: Why couldn't you use the drone to show us the Voortrekker monument? Or is it forbidden?

[@DustBugsTravel]

The drone is stashed away under my seat to avoid damage, so I don't always think of it. That's the answer here too. I simply didn't think to fly to the monument. 🤷🏻‍♂️🏛️ Sonia suggested it at the dam, so we did it there.

[@gordonthekiso4814]

I stopped at one of the garages on my way from Bloemfontein to Centurion this year the 1st of January. I saw a lot of Dutch parapet designs and I was so impressed but they need some restorations.

[@antonpotgieter]

Middag Curtis. Julle video is baie goed. Ons sien dinge wat ons nog nie gesien het nie. Julle het een ding gemis en dit is daar is n konsentrasiekamp begraafplaas in Winburg. Goeie werk. Hou so aan. Groete Anton.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We're never too concerned if we miss something in a town or place. It's simply impossible to visit every single place of interest in the time we have available to travel. Thank you for watching. 🚙😁

[@rwbt3326]

Bit of Movie trivia : Platteland which starred Steve Hofmeyr used Winburg in shoots.Did you ever see the mansion they filmed in ?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nope, I watched the film with Sonia a few years ago, but I had absolutely no idea that the movie was filmed in this area. I would've had no idea where to look for the house. 😁🎬

[@deonzar]

I wonder if I am correct but it seems to me that the small FreeState has more history per Hectare than any other province? I might be way off but sjoe I have seen now already such a lot of history since you crossed the border.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I think this particular part of the Free State is rich in especially Voortrekker history, but there are other parts of the country too where the history runs super deep. We're no history buffs, but love sharing stuff that we find cool and there was quite a lot of it in Winburg! 🚙😁

[@rodneyemmerich8828]

We recently passed through Winburg and the lasting impression was one of desperation and very subdued economic activity, clearly a town that has seen better days , quite sad actually 😢😢

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We had a totally different impression of the town. 🚙😊

[@nikkiviviers7978]

Baie dankie dat ek so saam met julle ons wonderlike mooie land kon deurkruis. My man het in die Kinderhuis in Winburg groot geword. Jammer dat julle dit nie kon wys nie. Sonja, ek het n foto van ons op die trappe van die ou N.G. Kerk. in 1979. Toe was die Hotel presies so. Met die breë straat. Baie spesiaal. Veilig ry terug huistoe

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's simply not possible to visit every single place in any town we visit, we're always tight on time because of the distances we cover. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Your pic at the Dutch Reformed Church sounds very special, I'm always happy to hear when folks treasure actual photo's like you obviously do. I'll make sure to tell Sonia about your comment and specifically the hotel back in 1979. Thank you for travelling with us. 🚙😁

[@neilarmitage6632]

I'm surprised Win burg still exists. Much has passed it by

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm surprised that you're surprised. It doesn't only still exist, it's a pretty, functioning town. 👌🏻

[@neilarmitage6632]

@@DustBugsTravel quite a few years ago like Warden, they were looking rundown

[@micheledonovan4225]

Have really enjoyed travelling virtually with you Has the car ever broken down or have you had any punctures ?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thankfully never broken down, but we have got stuck in the mud once (Episode 149) and have had two flat tyres (the first one on our very first trip in Episode 5). 🚙🤩

[@micheledonovan4225]

That is very good Considering the kilometres you have travelled

[@hannesvandermerwe1703]

wide street in Winburg to enable oxwagen to make a u tun

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed, we learnt that early on in our travels. We often call them wagon roads in our videos. 🚙😁

[@anicaferreira6072]

Die lekkerste plek om by te gaan eet en bly in Bougain villa dis my oom hulle se gastehuis in die hoofstaat bitter mooii jy sal nie spuit weer nie

[@DustBugsTravel]

Good to know, but we were totally happy to stay on the farm outside of town. We just love waking up on a farm sometimes. 😍🐂

[@anicaferreira6072]

Ekt groot geword in winburg mooiste dorp met so baie geskiedenis maar die dorp het baie agteruitgegaan

[@DustBugsTravel]

We thought a big part of the town still looks fantastic, it was a pleasure to see Winburg again after many years! 🚙😁

[@stevovooteng1420]

We're in winburg?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Correct. 🚙

[@gordonthekiso4814]

Hi, I would like to assist you with the restoration of architectural designs. I am a professional architectural designer registered with SACAP. Heritage buildings are what I like.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We're tourists who visited Winburg on one of our trips. We don't live in the town and are not involved in any restoration projects in town. You should contact the local authority and hopefully they can put you in touch with someone who could use your services. Good luck! 🏛️

[@teresagillmer9464]

There are also war graves of the British and a concentration camp

[@HennievanZyl-h8u]

Please do not go through Winburg now, not sure when you did this, not the same 😭🙏

[@DustBugsTravel]

We visited Winburg in July 2023. 🚙

[@anicaferreira6072]

Die klein olifantjie is n fontein dit is die middelpunt van die Vrystaat mens sal sien die gras is altyd groen om hom

[@DustBugsTravel]

We assumed that the elephant was a fountain at some point. My wife mentioned that the water was most probably spouting from its trunk. 🐘⛲ It was definitely not green in July when we were there and understandably so, being in the middle of winter.