Underneath the bridge

A couple of years ago I got to walk underneath the Van Stadens Bridge for the first time while following one of the trails in the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve in search of a Geocache.  A couple of days ago I saw a friend post a similar picture and I decided to go and dig this photo out to post again.  Not the usual view of the bridge, is it? 

The Swartkops N2 bridge

The N2 bridge running over the Swartkops River at Bluewater Bay

Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve bridge view

When you're walking along the trails in the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve you get to see glimpses and different angles of the Van Stadens Bridge all the time.  The bridge, over which the N2 highway crosses, was opened on 11 November 1971.  The bridge used to be a notorious suicide spot until barriers were set up all along the side of the bridge a couple of years ago. 

The Van Stadens Gorge

Looking down the zig zagging Van Stadens River gorge towards the N2 Van Stadens Bridge while hiking in the Wildflower Reserve yesterday

Swartkops Bridge

Looking up at the N2 bridge over the Swartkops River from the river mouth

Spotlight on the Mackay Bridge

The Colchester area east of Port Elizabeth was a very busy spot in the mid 1800 and early 1900s, as it had the only pont over the Sundays River on the main road between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. The original pont was washed away in 1874 and a second one in 1875. A bridge was commissioned in 1884 and opened on 5th March 1895. It was called the Mackay Bidge, in honour of John Mackay who's efforts resulted in its construction. This bridge was constructed entirely of steel and iron brought all the way from Sheffield in England. Due to the elements taking its toll on it, the road across the bridge was closed to traffic a couple of years ago although it can still be accessed on foot.

Van Stadens Proteas

Pin-Cushion Proteas growing on the slopes of the Van Stadens gorge

Flashback to the Apple Express

I received this breathtaking picture of the Apple Express crossing over the Van Stadens Railway Bridge, the highest narrow gauge railway bridge in the world, from fellow Geocacher Graham Chrich yesterday.  Graham was in the Van Stadens area for the Rhino Run last weekend and decided to do a couple of Geocaches located in the area.  Looking for info on the gorge he came across a post of mine about the railway bridge and it reminded him of a trip they took as a family on the Apple Express when it was still running.  As usual the train stopped short of the bridge allowing passengers to walk across before following.  This was when he took this picture.  How we all long for the Apple Express steam train to run again.   

Water under the bridge at the dip

During the recent heavy rains the 3rd Avenue Dip was closed a couple of times again.  After it opened up Drama Princess asked if we could stop down at the bottom because she wanted to see the water.  The Baakens River was still flowing strong and water was gushing through the pipes under the road.

Looking down the river from the bridge

Brickmakerskloof bridge

After the flooding that took place in 2006, the old bridge at the bottom of Brickmakerskloof was washed away.  After what felt like years (perhaps it was), work started on the new bridge.  Visiting Bridge Street Brewery for the launch of Travel Massive last week I snapped this pic of the "new" bridge.  Long not new anymore, one can see how the vegetation has established itself around it again.

Railway bridge at Melon

After yesterday's picture of the Apple Express narrow gauge line I decided to post another picture featuring the line.  After the line leaves Loerie it heads towards Jeffreys Bay across the lover Gamtoos Valley plains.  Not far outside of Loerie the line crosses over the Loerie Spruit (a tributary of the Gamtoos River) before passing through Melon Station.  There's just something about these old railway and road bridges, isn't there?

Bulk River bridge

If you drive along the Elands River Road you pass over two rivers with dams visible on your left (if you are traveling westwards).  The Bulk River and Sand River dams both formed part of Port Elizabeth's early water supply and dates back to the early 1900's.  Both rivers are tributaries of the Elands River which in turn at its concourse with the Kwazunga River forms the Swartkops River.  I got to do a short kloofing expedition up the Bulk River as far as the dam (something you need a permit for so don't all rush out there now) on Saturday afternoon and how I wish I could take my camera with.  You will have to settle for a pic of the Theo Crous Bridge over the river though.

St Georges Bridge

Probably one of my favorite spots in St Georges Park.  The railway sleeper bridge near the Pearson Conservatory.  I should look under it one day to see if there is a troll that lives there.

Swartkops bridge

I'm sure most PE people have driven along the N2 across the Swartkops River Bridge, but I often wonder who have seen the bridge from another angle.  This view is from the Fortress Observation Post you see on the land side when crossing the bridge.

Looking down the railway bridge

Standing in the middle of the Van Stadens Narrow Gauge Railway Bridge I snapped this picture looking down through a gap in the bridge

Van Stadens protea

The Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve just west of Port Elizabeth is probably the best spot around the city to see a wide range of protea species grow in the wild.  The reserve offers visitors two different trail options with a couple of stunning view sights over the Van Stadens gorge.  South Africa's national flower, the King Protea, is amongst the flowers that can be seen in the reserve.

The old Gamtoos Bridge

Today's post is slightly outside the borders of Nelson Mandela Bay, but the Gamtoos area is very much part of the metro even if its only through close association.  When the first Dutch trekboers got to the Gamtoos River in the latter part of the 1700's, they had to move upstream to find a suitable spot to cross the river.  Later a pontoon was used roughly where the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel is today.  There was a call for a causeway to be erected and the present bridge on the old road was decided on.  The bridge was completed and opened on the 3rd December 1895 at a cost of £20,000.

Van Stadens railway bridge - the highest narrow gauge bridge in the world

When the Apple Express used to run (and lets hope it will be running again some time) it always stopped at the Van Stadens Railway Bridge to allow passengers to walk across the bridge if they wanted to get photos of the train crossing it.  I decided to drive out to Van Stadens to look for two Geocaches at the bridge and got to visit it for the first time in over ten years.  The Van Stadens Railway Bridge is the second highest railway bridge in South Africa and the highest narrow gauge bridge in the world.  Construction on the bridge was completed in 1905.  The bridge is 156 meters in length and 77 meters high.

 

 

 

One Van Stadens Bridge seen from another Van Stadens Bridge

Most people driving along the N2 over the Van Stadens Bridge west of Port Elizabeth have seen the Van Stadens Railway Bridge (the higherst narrow gauge railway bridge in the world) higher up in the gorge in the distance.  On a geocaching outing the other day I visited the railway bridge for the first time in ages and got to take a picture of what the Van Stadens Bridge looks like from the railway bridge's side.

Bridge series #6 - N2 over Swartkops

This is the last of the posts in the bridges of Port Elizabeth series.  It shows the N2 where it crosses over the Swartkops River at Amsterdamhoek just before Bluewater Bay.  Very busy on top, nice and peaceful underneath.