Merweville Outing

- Barbara Gorniak –

A hardy group left early on a very cold, wet and drizzly morning for the usually hot and dusty Merweville. Seven steamed-up cars full of well-wrapped people on this unlikely Karoo expedition snaked out of town and made a first stop at Prins Albertwegstasie, where Outa Lappies currently lives. He welcomed the unexpected visit, an old man full of beans and wisdom as ever. Making "iets uit niets", his fascinating, recognisable pieces of art were quickly exchanged for some of our cash.

Next stop was the fossil site at Jakkalsfontein where the road had been washed away and couldn’t be navigated, a bit of a disappointment, but there was a lot more on the day’s agenda.

Net buite Merweville lê die Engelsman in sy graf wat perfek onderhou word deur die inwoners van die dorp. Hy was ene Walter Oliphant Arnot, 'n tragiese figuur wat teen die einde van die Boere Oorlog in 1902 om onverklaarbare motiewe sy eie lewe geneem het, in omstandighede wat tot vandag toe nog almal se verbeelding en simpatie aangryp.
Die indrukwekkende donkergrysklip Merweville NG Kerk wat in 1914-16 gebou is, oorheers sonder enige twyfel die dorpie. Die skuins teatervloer met 1500 sitplekke, en baie houtwerk is voorwaar iets om te sien.

Tee en warm tuisgebakte skons het vir al die vekluimde besoekers by Merwe Villa ons deeglik gelawe, saam met die warm gasvryheid van Hetta de Villiers. Ons moet seker nog ‘n hele ent draf om daardie lekker dik room en konfyt af te oefen.

Die CreaKoupprojek is die 'baba' van 'n boervrou, Krissie Esterhuyse, uit die distrik. Sy staan een week per maand af om agt jong ongetroude ma's naald-werk, kralewerk en die bemarking daarvan te leer om hulle so te bemagtig. Die omset het `n lekker hupstootjie gekry tydens ons besoek.

Gardening is only attempted by the very brave and dedicated in this extreme arid and hot climate, but that is exactly what is to be found at the 'fantasy garden'. Succulents, wood, stones and painted rocks were something to behold in a most unusual of gardens. A massive ancient fig tree and huge tortoises were a total surprise to most of us. Then, just a stones throw away is a building called 'The Smallest Gallery on Earth', decorated with squashed and rusted jam tins and a gate to match.
After this, we drove out to Ongeluksfontein to see one of only a very few corbelled houses that have been built on the vlaktes of the Koup. These, all-stone dwellings, and ‘chaff-houses’ (kafhokke) are normally a feature of the Nuweveld around Loxton, Fraserburg, Williston and Carnarvon.

Back on the stoeps of Merwe Villa the picnics came out and we had a lot to talk about before returning home, through a once drought- stricken Karoo which is thankfully slowly reviving after the rains of the last months.