Natal North Coast by Car, Train, Bus, and lots of Walking.

As a treat for our visitor from Germany — a friend met by Younger Daughter many years ago when they were both on a working ‘holiday’ (ha ha) as chambermaids, waitresses etc at Inversnaid Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland, we took a tourist trip on our own steam (petrol) to Durban Station, and then employed train, bus, and a goodly walk from the bus to Salt Rock Hotel where we lunched. The kids swam, but the wind was howling so the rest of us abstained. 

As a summary, a pleasant enough outing, but one that does not measure up to those starting in the Midlands or going inland or south.Here is the gallery:

Durban Station is a mixture of a dungeon, a tunnel, and something out of a horror movie.

The route goes directly behind Moses Mabhida Stadium, giving a close-up view from a new angle.

Crossing the Umgeni River north of Durban.

Then one sees some temples, lots of shacks and factories, and quantities of artistically strewn litter.

There are a few areas where Nature is left to look quite pleasant.

These are mainly where the sugar cane farms reign supreme.

When the scenes out of the windows are uninspiring, one can always turn to what is on telly – train tracks ahead or behind.

The bridge over the line provides some of the best views of the trip.

Note that in the whole trip, not a glimpse of sea is seen on the scene. Only ponds or streams known as rivers locally.

A walk to join the buses, which were crammed to the rooftops. Our bus gave up on the way back when it failed to summit a hill, and had to choose a less steep route.

The beach at last, which has crowds braving the gale at the mouth of a ‘river’. A good walk still awaited us to the hotel.

At the hotel, some rather pleasant rock pools with walls that break the considerable force of those waves. Wait for it …

… thar she blows!

And another view of the rock pools. A delight in perfect weather, as we can attest.

© 27th December Colonialist