MGA 70th ANNIVERSARY TOUR TO CRADOCK
- MGCCSC
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Monday morning 12th May 2025, the start of a beautiful autumn day arrived crisp and clear, saw the South Cape contingent in their MGA’s lining up at the Quays. The tour to celebrate the MGA 70th Anniversary would take the group via George, Uniondale and Aberdeen before checking into the KarooPark guest house in Graaf Reinet for an overnight stop.
Uniondale was the first stop, with a mandatory fill up and recording of distance travelled and quantity of fuel used. Each centre participated in an Economy Run, the results to be announced once we had arrived in Cradock.
After the early start, the African Aloe Café in Uniondale served up a great breakfast, ensuring sustenance for the next leg. On to Aberdeen and a stop at the Camdebo Padstal, more to eat, then on to Graaf Reinet. All the cars performed relatively well with no major issues.
On Tuesday morning it was off to the Valley of Desolation; the road to the top provided some challenges but we all made it. Clive Holliday popped a radiator hose, but with the vast array of spares provided by Ricky Cooper, carried by Jill & Peter in the support vehicle, it was a matter of minutes before the hose was replaced, and we were all mobile again.
A lovely drive from Graaf Reinet to the Tuishuise & Victorian Manor in Cradock where we were to spend the next few days meeting up with fellow MGA owners from around the country.
The programme for Cradock included a trip to the Mountain Zebra National Park and a township tour, the latter being a trip to the Cradock 4 memorial and a talk by the wife of Rev Calata, one of the 4, who were killed during the apartheid era.
The theme of Boer & Brit had been set for the dinner/dance on the final night, and as always, a festive occasion. The next morning was one of goodbyes and on the road again for the journey home. While a few of our group decided to drive straight home, the majority were to spend the
Friday night at the Assegaaibosch Country Lodge in Kareedouw. A welcome stop after an extremely hot day.
After a good night’s sleep, and breakfast under the belt, we set off for home; other than a flat tyre, on Allan’s MGA the trip was incident free.
Trips like this one, with the knowledge that there is a backup vehicle and trailer and years of experience in the members around you led by Ricky Cooper, provide a great deal of comfort and put the finishing touches to another well organised event and itinerary; the latter being the benefit of hard work by the organising committee and closer to home Bruce Henderson and Sanet Koster, they all deserve a huge THANK YOU.
Check out the gallery on the website for a selection of pictures taken on the trip by Ian Henderson, many thanks Ian for your contribution.
