rivergorge,willrevealbotanicalwonders
likethestone-mimickingHaworthiabayeri,
almostinvisibleto thenakedeye,andthe
clambering,ivy-leafedpelargoniumswiththeir
astonishinglydelicateflowers.Willieruns
a FacebookpagecalledWillieLovesDeRust,
wherehepromoteshisvillage“probono,just
forthehellofit andbecauseI lovethisplace
somuch”.
Uptheroadis KarooRouge,ownedbythe
exoticLoraineBurger,whofavoursinteresting
hats.Hershopstocksa bitofeverythingfrom
theplatteland,Karoosheepskinslippersin
particular.
Rightnextdooris anothershop,bearing
thejauntynameof‘GestewelenGespoor- OwnedbyJanVenterendieMavansy
Kinders’.If you’relookingforsomethingto
buythemanin thefamily,thisseemsto bethe
spot.Especiallyif he’sin needofa bottleof
beardoilora handmadeknife.
Acrosstheroadis theHousemartinGuest
Lodge,alsoownedbyJanVenterendieMa
vansyKinders,Theresa.Janis a bitofa force
ofNature,a rugbymanto hisroots,andhe
comeswiththeobligatorycrockedkneefrom
a tacklemanyerasago.
TheirlaststopbeforeDeRustwasa decade
ABOVE LEFT: Resident Alan Tonkin at the old mill on the outskirts of the village. ABOVE RIGHT: Soan Jacobs and Niekie Eksteen on the stoep of the Vilage Trading Post, their
restaurant-shop with the Big Rooster outside. BELOW LEFT: Willie Immelman among some of his favourite pelargoniums in a little gully outside De Rust. BELOW CENTRE: Hidden
in the river gorges and hilltops around De Rust are various hardy, wild pelargoniums. BELOW RIGHT: Dexter the Housemartin terrier is a member of the welcoming committee.
http://www.countrylife.co.za 021 September 2019