Page 22 - Cape-Camera-May-June-2021

May/June 2021 Cape Camera

Farms & local 'wild life'. Images by (from left) Jacoba van Zyl, Lesley Parolis, Kim Stevens
Stop signs admonishing you to Don’t Stop believing and Stop the Rhodes Information Society, but also rents out bicycles.
worrying confirm that Rhodes is no ordinary village. All of the villagers will, however, agree that David Walker is Mr
But make no mistake, this is no village lost in time. The excellent Rhodes. A former mayor, chair of the resident’s association and
internet connection enables seven residents to work remotely, prime promotor of Rhodes as a tourist destination, he is an
three of them relatively young people who recently relocated entertaining storyteller, chronicler and historian with a great
to Rhodes. sense of humour. As landlords of the Walkerbouts Inn, he and
One of them is Johann Swanepoel, who settled in Rhodes about his partner, Susan, have made a tremendous contribution to re-
three years ago after he was snowed-in during a motorbike trip. viving the fortunes of the village, which became almost derelict
He decided to stay and remotely work as website designer – and during the 1970’s.
about two years ago started a local craft brewery. For example, the Dirt Road Traders Wild Trout Festival, organ-
Apart from creating his own unique images, Johann also estab- ised by Dave, is an annual highlight on the fly fishing calendar
lished a Rhodes photographic club that has fourteen members which attracts about 40 to 50 fly fishers for five days of fishing
– no mean feat in a village of 35 residents! Trained as a micro- from across the country. In addition, the Wild Trout Associa-
biologist, Johann uses a microscope to create the most beau- tion (WTA) founded by Dave and two friends thirty years ago,
tiful macro photos from body parts of flies and mosquitos or is known to every serious fly fisher. The inn’s Thankshjalot pub
sugar cube slices, which have won him numerous photographic bears testimony to the patronage of some of the biggest names
awards. For example, his 400x enlargement of a fly larvae was in fly fishing, namely Tom Sutcliffe and Ed Herbst.
selected as an Olympus Photo of the Year.
It is, however, a village of contrasts. Along the tree-lined streets They created an unique partnership between the owners of
you might come across women from the neighbouring Zakhele land bordering 300km of streams and 100km still water. The
township carrying wood or water on their heads, or herders on organisation organises day tickets for fishers and gives about
horseback wrapped in traditional blankets accompanying their 70% of the rod fee to the riparian owner and only retains 30%
flocks of sheep or cattle. for admin costs. This enables landowners to develop, improve
Susan Kölz, the generous hostess of the Walkerbouts Inn, helped and make their streams, rivers and dams available to the public,
to organise a photoshoot of some of the 900-odd residents of while retaining autonomous control of their property.
Zakhele. We received a friendly welcome from residents, who In the village Susan and her quad bike is a familiar sight as she
without complaint patiently followed requests to look this side, keeps an eye on the cottages they rent to visitors or collect
please move here from a phalanx of photographers keen to cap- fresh produce for their substantial meals. Mostly homegrown
ture portraits that will not be found anywhere else. fresh and bottled vegetables and herbs from their own garden
feature in the substantial meals prepared by Chef Mari Small
For such a small village there are plenty of activities for residents. and other Walkerbouts staff. In the evenings the Thankshjalot
Between November and February on most Wednesdays locals Pub hums with activities of Fishermen and other Liars (accord-
get together for a Bring and Wine (sometimes more of a whine) ing to the Welcome sign in the inn’s foyer) swap tales.
in the park. And in February David Walker’s Stoepsit Fees encour-
ages locals to move from stoep to stoep to sample the wares Susan and Dave are much more than just owners and manag-
and fares produced by their talented neighbours. ers – they provide the kind of welcome that truly reflects the
meaning of the words hosts and guests. We were spoilt with
His sister Irene runs the Clay Café, where you can observe village generous lunch packs, maps and suggestions for the best pho-
life from the stoep while drinking coffee or a milkshake, and also tographic spots, and even arrangements with their friends on
buy pottery or learn to create your own. Versatile landscape art- farms to provide us access to their properties.
ist, lay botanist and veteran fly fishing guide, Tony Kietzmann
and his partner Gail Machanik sell their art, crafts and produce We left with the belief that we had made new friends and that
in the Rhodes Art Gallery and nursery. Margie Murray not only we would certainly pay them another visit. Kim Stevens is al-
sells fishing permits on behalf of the Wild Trout Association at ready planning another trip for the same time next year!

Autumn colours everywhere. Images by (from left) Marius Stockenström, Kim Stevens, Richard Goldschmidt

21 Cape Town Photographic Society