Planning 

Good planning is crucial when undertaking a trip , a great deal of thought needs to be put into play to ensure success. We recently met at the local rugby club to plan our next two trips . These are not simply spur of the moment expeditions especially if the trip is long and may require an overnight stopover.

We do benefit from having two drivers so we are able to swop over should someone tire and need to nap.Distance is a key consideration as this  determines our departure time.Breakfast and lunch are eaten en route usually at one of the larger fuel stations.Speed limits are monitored as we do not want to pick up any fines.Regular stops also ensure that the drivers are fresh and able to stretch their legs.

Onboard navigation makes a breeze of any trip but this is also backed up with a trusty Garmin as we have sometimes picked up discrepancies that could add a few Km to a trip. Or take you on the road less travelled. The next two trips will require a local guide, in each case to benefit from their specialist knowledge which enhances the experience.This also allows one to concentrate on photography.

Packing is a bit of an art as one does tend to overpack, however backup trousers and shirts always come in handy as does spare underclothing and shoes.A windbreaker is always useful as one never knows when to expect rain or cool weather.

I always pack and lay my kit out on the bed and then I  check if I have overdone it.Technical trousers are great as they can be rinsed in the shower and hung out to dry.

Shoes go into plastic bags and are packed at the base of the bag that I intend using, my toiletry bag is generally the last thing I pack with a towel followed with chargers and electrical stuff on the top. Chargers and cables are the first things that one needs to lay out as they are so often forgotten.

Key to planning is research, it’s always worthwhile to know what to see and do in an area even if is a simple day trip. Eating is important as well so one needs to see what is available in a particular area.Google is an invaluable resource to check and area out and may also take you to area based websites.

I have a few checklists but prefer the method of laying stuff out on the bed to be sure that I have sufficient clothing and shoes to cater for any eventuality.

Then I pack my toiletries ensuring that I have soap , shampoo and toothpaste.I also pack an extra unused toothbrush in case someone forgot one ( also never forget a hairbrush and nail clippers ).En route we collect leaflets which I keep in a box for future trips and to use as reference material , even to assist friends if needs be.All reference material fits into a folder that even has place for a map. This is generally kept in one of the pouches behind the front seats for easy access.

Groceries we generally buy on reaching our destination unless we take  a fridge along , salads do not travel well so we add in fruit, cheese and tomatoes that are more robust. The fridge is packed in a fashion that does not allow stuff to roll around and cause damage.

I take extra knife and fork sets as a precaution in case there is no cutlery.These do not take up much space but have proven to be invaluable on trips.

It is amazing what you find out there, with our rich history there is so much to see and many of the eateries would delight even a devout epicurean, much to see and so much to do.

We have eaten our way through numerous culinary delights and have rarely been disappointed

And then we have Sebastian our wingman, he is great and finding the best biltong no matter where we stop and he is not afraid to share it.

The beauty of a good road trip is that although you plan the route you are amazed at what you find as you move from “dorp to dorp” especially in the smaller towns.And look out for the cemeteries they have a good deal to reveal.

One can only take so much stuff as there are cameras, drones, tools and recovery equipment that are part of a trip, at the end of the day it all fits in and it is secured in the boot as we travel.

On the photographic note a good solid tripod is essential especially for long exposures under low light conditions.You can also lie on your belly and support the camera with your elbows – not ideal with a longer focal length lens .Or in dusty, muddy conditions. But it works a treat.

What is sad is that from area to area the focus on history is only revealed on arrival, but there is still a good deal of interest everywhere. You merely have to look around and Google or Waze will reveal all.

Our next few trips will reveal some local destinations close to Johannesburg and then some very special battlefields – looking forward to sharing them and the resultant articles and pictures. These are really a part of South African history at it’s best.