Is there a fountain/spring

[Michael Alexander]

When I was much younger, I remember a group of us walked across that landbridge that was in the middle of the salt pan, what was this road used for? And is there really a spring in the middle? I have a vague memory of water, black in colour, bubling out of it! Anyone?

???

[Nicky Hodge]

Hi Mike, I don't know about your spring, but I can recall a "Bottomless" water filled hole near the beach turnoff ( on the right hand side ). It was known as the '' German Well " when we were kids. We would spend hours throwing stones into it.

[Michael Alexander]

Nicky. now I'm interested, could you be more specific? is it near the road? is it part of a salt pan? Unbeknown to a lot Of Oranjemunders today, there is at least 3 underground streams that flow under the town from north to south, they feed into the pan, through seepage.... as kids we used to press the hosepipe into the earth and it went down, and the down, and then down, more than 3 metres at least, it never stopped and the water never came ot the top of the hole.....

:o

[Nicky Hodge]

Mike, it was situated on the right hand side of the road near the beach turnoff heading towards the bridge. It was in a little way from the road, before you got to the turnoff. Another way to describe it's location would be to say that it's just left of the famous chevron sign. You have a pic of it on the site. You turn left at the T - Junction coming from the beach side. It was then on the left hand side of the road, a little way in. Not sure how far in, as the memory is vague. There was always an algae bloom on the surface as well.

[Michael Alexander]

I think I must take my girls and the dog for a walk around the area.... there's a lot pans, but i do remember seeing a spot that was dense with different types of plants.....

:)

[Andrew Darné]

@Mike, did you ever find the bottomless well?
Is it not perhaps the "oasis" with the bath under the tree... along the water line (north side of swartkops road)?

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

You've just pricked my memory Nicky......I remember that.....now.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Hi all

My research for the new book has shown that Giel Louw had a farm on the north bank of the river at a spot called 'Sandkraal'.  This was just down from Swartkops and just up from the present day golf course.  There was a freshwater spring there called Sandkraal - hence the farm name. 
Ruening and Klinghardt used to meet there during their explorations through the Sperrgebiet. Approx position was 28° 35' 33.85" S, 16° 27' 17.84" E.
Does this sound like the spot?

There was also a spring called 'Angwigarub' which was about 5 klicks upstream of Swartkops.



Malcom

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

LOL  I realy don't understand all that latitude stuff but Nicky's discription is exactly where I remember it to be. Sort of ..if you were walking to the beach you would cut the corner at the TJunction and walk through the desert quite a way in. I remember us doing that.

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Same here Diana, been there many a time, not sure how fresh the water was.

[Alfred Boehme]

Malcom, I took the honers and Google your spot

[SandyB]

To be honest lots of  underground  water around O'M ... the  salt pans  were not only fed  by sea seepage ,, the story of the orange river  with  50 + %  being underground ...

[Alfred Boehme]

I got three springs in my garden when I open the tap water comes out

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

.....but I know the one Nicky's talking about..so there.  Then again I thought MR Borchards was the GM......    .. Lourensford Shiraz..very good.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Hey Alfred

What is that green spot just to the north of the place marker?  Perhaps its there?

Malcolm