S1 - Ep 394 - Bonnievale - Discovering the Only One of its Kind in the World!

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

What a sad, but inspiring tribute to the little girl...... And also that the place is kept so neat....And the friendly lady ,who lets visitors in to pay a quiet time there....❤🙏🙏

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was incredible that Mona opened the church up for us, we never thought that we would get inside! 💒 The building and the grounds are meticulously maintained, which was so heartwarming to see. The perfect tribute by a father to his late daughter. 🚙🌹

[@mariusroos]

Thank you for Bonnievale. A nice visit and wow the church is amazing. I love the area we currently exploring. Nice vegetation and a place one can live in. Thanks again and i will wait to be picked up for the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

That church was a special experience! 💒 You're right, the scenery in this part of the country is spectacular, especially the vegetation and mountains. Be ready for the next one! 🚙😁

[@tonynz9954]

My mouth was watering when I watched Curtis devour that fantastic Vetkoek filled with currie mince. It reminded me of the ones that the Tannies used to sell at the NG Kerk Fete in Despatch. You guys are torturing us showing such lekker kos !! Should have washed it down with a strawberry Steri milk or a Castle Lager. What a beautiful stone church Mr Rigg built for his deceased daughter. Even the roof was made of small stones. A very interesting history . The museum looked very interesting. I loved the model of the Voortrekker wagon. What a shame that yet another station is no more. Does not look like any trains run through there anymore. When you saw that river flooding in Bonnievale, it was only a few weeks later that Swellendam had bad floods. No potholes in Bonnievale . I also saw some women picking up rubbish on the side of the road. So nice to see the residents being proud of their town. Thanks both of you for another captivating visit.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you found Bonnievale as captivating as we did, it was a very interesting town to explore. That vetkoek was fantastic and hit the spot! 😁🍔 If I had washed it down with a beer, I would've had to take a nap right there for an hour or two! The stone church and the museum were two very interesting stops and rather emotional too. 💒🌹We were in Bonnievale on Thursday, 14 September 2023 and the big rains came over Heritage Day weekend, barely a week later! 😳🌧️ Thank you for visiting Bonnievale with us! 🚙

[@carolmccorry3053]

Amazing grace filled the church, the love of a child is beautiful. Loved it😊😊😊

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed, what a special story that is! I'm so glad you enjoyed it with us. 🚙😊

[@terrimeyer3815]

OH YOU GUYS, I got all tearful with the church for Mary. it really is stunning and the music you play in the churches gets me Curtis. I love the tune. We making vetkoek and mince tonight inspired by dustbugs. have a great week guys

[@DustBugsTravel]

That church got to me from the moment I heard the story, it's such a special place. It's good to hear that you were also touched by it. 💒 I hope your vetkoek and mince was stunning, the perfect meal for a lazy evening! 😁🍔

[@rosemarymoolman6765]

I loved the church and the story behind it. I was quite moved. That's so special. What a lovely little place.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, we were touched by the church and its story too. It was quite an experience to walk inside those four stone walls, built at the request of a child. 💒🌹 I'm happy to hear you enjoyed this special place too.

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Such a heartwarming story and place. Thank you to both of you.🙃🙏❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Heartwarming is a very good word to describe the story behind the church. 💒 Thank you for joining us in Bonnievale, I'm glad you enjoyed it too. 🚙😊

[@ronnykenny3965]

What an amazing trip with so much history, most beautiful church I've ever seen. Thank you once again Dustbugs. Wish I was a bird with human capabilities 😄 I'd be flying in & out of these little towns taking it all in . Vetkoek looked yummy 🚗🚗🚗

[@DustBugsTravel]

It really was a super special church. The story and the beautiful architecture, inside and out. 💒 I wish we were birds too, now that the distances are getting so much longer to get to the places we haven't been to yet. 🐦 The vetkoek was yummy, always a favourite of ours! 🍔 I'm glad you enjoyed this trip to Bonnievale! 🚙😁

[@annawitter5161]

Visited Bonnievale quite a bit on family outings when I was little, but never really explored. My hubby used to drink Tim Jan for an upset stomach. I did but only once! Explosive diarrhea! I think there must be aloe in somewhere. Enjoyed seeing the station. Always a bit sad though. I remember stopping at a cheese factory and buying some very yummy cheese. Lovely wines to be got here too. Love the history lesson and the sad tale of Mary Rigg. The church is lovely and how fortunate you could see inside. Enjoyed this tour of a lovely and very special place.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We saw several cheese and wine places and signs in and around town, but we weren't in the market for either that day. 🧀🍷 There was definitely a drawing or picture of an aloe on the TimJan building, so I would assume it is one of the main ingredients. I've never tried it before. The church built for Myrtle Rigg was for sure one of the most special buildings I've been inside. The love for the little girl was almost tangible there. 💒🌹 I'm glad you got to explore Bonnievale with us. 🚙😊

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! This town shows that it doesn't have to be centuries old to have a history. The museum is quite overwhelming. That Rigg guy really made his mark on the beautiful valley. The unique Myrtle Rigg Church building and its history moved my heart. Your exploration of the town, leading to the flooded road was quite interesting showing the remains of earlier flooding. Like all the WC towns you took me to, Bonnievale is now also on my wish list, even if only to buy that vetkoek! Thank you for taking me along. I'm ready for the next trip! Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those were the best R20 vetkoek we've ever had, you won't be sorry! 😁🍔 Bonnievale is steeped in history with many interesting things. The museum was surprising and filled with artefacts and stories of the area and well worth a visit. The Myrtle Rigg Church got to us like few things before and it was an honour to be able to walk inside that sacred building, dedicated to a late daughter. 💒🌹 The river was flowing rapidly over that road, it actually looked quite menacing! 😳 Happy planning for your upcoming road trip to our beautiful province! 🚙😁

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys small town with amazing stories. Spot on with the 50s church Sonia a centre piece of the town. Lovely to see people picking up litter!!! I'm going to look for Tim Jan tonic sounds good 👍 you got the station name sign and proof one train line is still working. I love how you can just drive up to the river in town and it's flooded the forde crazy. The museum was indeed and the story will it the model wagon has given me a idea 💡. You both certainly enjoyed your lunch the Riggs family have certainly put their mark on the town but the the little Norman church was definitely a one off and so nice of the lady to open up for you. An emotional video that put a lump in my thoat .thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was cool to find the old station with its nameboads, we immediately get excited at the glimpse of anything station-related! 😁🛤️ That river was flowing strongly over that road and that was even before the big rains came! 😳 I'm glad you were inspired by the little wagon, I also thought it was super cool and a perfect little replica. To have been able to get inside that stone church, was no doubt the highlight of our visit to Bonnievale. We had lumps in our throats too, don't you worry! Thanks for coming along, see you soon again! 🚙😁

[@chauke-org]

Thanks guys, recently moved here because of this video

[@philyew3617]

Simply Beautiful Thanks for sharing.

[@ElmaStolk-wh7xs]

That fruit trees without leaves you saw in the main road are persimmons.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Appreciate the info. 👌🏻🌳

[@samanthashepheard]

I love these farming towns, they have such deep history, with happy and sad stories. I really loved the museum and that old grammar phone, you don't see them anywhere such a rare find. Would of loved to of heard how it played but I understand because of copyright you could let us hear. So sad about the little girl and her dad it seemed they had a very strong bond and loved each other. At least she is happy in the arms of Jesus ❤, just as many other little children who lost their lives esp during the war. What a beautiful church built for her on her request, one can't help but feel really emotional. You absolutely get the sense of love between them

[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

Lovely church.

[@davidwilliamson2115]

Divine Intervention there

[@xmc7189]

The railways became something of the past now sad to see these stations so deserted

[@RickSanchez-py7yk]

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you

[@Cape_Town_7655]

tim jan was in anvil road krugersdorp medical alcole drink never tasted it but say it heals

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the info. 👍🏻

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Goedemiddag, zo ik ben weer ‘aan boord’ na een mooie Frankrijk reis en wat zorg nachtdiensten. En wat een mooie aflevering om de draad met jullie mee reizen weer op te pakken! Direct een spoorlijn oversteken en een station met zelfs 2 bewaarde naamborden. Maar waarschijnlijk geen treinverkeer meer ondanks het hoopgevende stopbord bij de railcrossing. Wat ziet deze plaats er goed verzorgd uit, qua wegen, huizen, winkels en zelfs een geweldig klein familie museum met Oom Paul aan de muur en volgens mij zag ik in een flits oogde welbekende tekening van de brede & smalle weg van Matteüs. Hoe mooi dat de meeste huizen hier geen torenhoge muren en stroomdraden nodig hebben ter beveiliging van lijf en goederen. Dat zegt denk ik wel iets over het leefklimaat hier. Dat broodje wat je eet Curtis ziet er verdraaid lekker uit, al heb ik geen idee wat het is, hoe het smaakt en of je die warm of koud eet. Het kerkje …. ‘So sad’ & ‘so gorgeous’ is jullie beider goede samenvatting van dit unieke monument. Het plafond is werkelijk uniek en alles zo sereen binnen. In combinatie met de muziek kwam dit beeld wel even binnen … gezien de vele beelden van kwetsbare kinderen die we nu dagelijks te zien krijgen vanuit Israël / Gaza. Heerlijk dus dat jullie meteen daarna in een soort Laurel & Hardy scène terecht kwamen in die Korte Straat 😄. Humor makes the world go around! ☀️ als ook de DustBugs wat blijkt uit de sympathie die jullie onderweg ontmoeten en dat bijvoorbeeld kerkdeuren doet openen

[@DustBugsTravel]

Your France trip sounds stunning and I'm sure you're all rested out and ready to virtually explore places in our beautiful country again! 🚙🇿🇦 Bonnievale was a great stop for us and very interesting. The vetkoek we had for lunch, is a traditional South African delicacy, eaten warm and made up of fried dough which is crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, filled with all kinds of savoury fillings, in our case curry mince. 😁🍔 The stone church had one of the most special stories we've come across and it was an honour to visit. 💒🌹

[@MariaanPretorius-e4h]

😊

[@ElmaStolk-wh7xs]

I was living in Swellendam for twenty years and now living not far from you

[@DustBugsTravel]

Cool! We live in a beautiful province! 😍

[@davidwilliamson2115]

keep condiments in the cooler box

[@DustBugsTravel]

Always have them on board, but never use them. 🧂

[@aislingbooks]

Such a touching story of the little girl, Mary Myrtle of Bonnievale. I glimpsed a plaque in the church dedicated to Marvel, Gladys and Mary, wondering about the connection, mostly because I've never seen another woman than my own mother named Marvel. I tried Googling it out of curiosity but didn't come up with anything. Oh well

[@DustBugsTravel]

I read that the two first-born daughters of the Riggs died before their respective first birthdays and I know one of them was called Gladys. so I would imagine Marvel was Mary's other sister. I didn't dig very deep though, but that's my theory anyway. 🙂

[@aislingbooks]

Oh right. That does make sense. Infant motality was common in the olden days. Thanks

[@kennethdshort]

I need to stay in Kort street , it would be tongue in cheek considering I am tall 1.89m My surname is Short so it would be quite funny.

[@davidwilliamson2115]

Always carry in your car three lunch boxes 1 for plastic spoons 1 for napkins and 1 for a Sauce Susan take extra napkins and sauses for these boxes as you take with you orders

[@AvrilMorris-w1i]

Why do we never see the lady? Why can't she manage stairs?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sonia isn't keen on being filmed and I'll respect her decision until she hopefully changes her mind one day. 🥰 She had three major knee surgeries and have difficulty navigating stairs.

[@jan-johannes-bosman]

These videos show the sad state of SA's rail infrastructure which was the backbone of public transportation. The real burden evident in the rest of the country's road infrastructure. I still remember there was an annual competition for the town with the most well kept station.🥲

[@DustBugsTravel]

While we will always be excited to happen upon an old station, we're also extremely saddened by the demise of the railway system and the widespread and utter destruction of the facilities. The extensive network of railway lines bears testimony to the once-great railway industry of our country. 🛤️😥