Had some problems yesterday afternoon with a faulty condensor (not even 4 weeks old) on the Squareback, thanks to Bugger and JohnHoffe for their kind offers to help - but luckily I could solve the problem myself (by putting the OLD condesor back last night).
Armed with a thermos flask with hot coffee and some cheesebuns, the Khaki Cruiser and I braved a terrible storm here in Johannesburg when we hit the road to Mpumalanga for work just before 5 this morning. The N12 was no joke - pitch dark, with heavy rainfall and wind, with just an occasional lightning strike to illuminate the area.
The weather only started clearing once we got to the Machadorp turnoff - a terrible road with enormous pot holes, all the way to Lydenburg, the place of our first appointment. Arrived there at half past 8 and finished just before 10 when we took the Long Tom Pass on the Sabie/Nelspruit Road.
Stopped for a few pics at the Long Tom Monument, and arrived in Nelspruit just before 12. Spent the remainder of the day there with another 3 appointments, and got back home about an hour ago. Total distance driven for the day: 790km. Thanks Old Girl for bringing us safely home!
Some more info on the Long Tom Cannon Monument - interesting reading, if you are interested?
Long Tom Cannon Monument
This replica of a Creusot siege cannon stands 21 km from Sabie on the Lydenburg Road (R37). The monument marks the spot where, from 8 to 11 September 1900, two of these cannons were use for the last time by the Boer commandos against the British army. These cannons - with their long barrels - were nicknamed the "Long Toms" by the British forces.
In April 1897 South Africa purchased four of these cannons with 8 800 shells. The cannons were stationed at the four forts around the City of Pretoria. During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) these cannons were used by the Boer commandos as field guns against the British army.
The British tried hard to neutralise these dreaded, formidable weapons and the Boer forces were determined that these cannons should not fall into British hands. So, when the shells had been used up, the Boers destroyed the cannons.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Schneider et Cie, Le Creusot, France
Gun barrel length: 4.2 metres (13 feet 11 inches)
Gun barrel mass: 2 500 kg (5 512 lb)
Gun barrel calibre: 155 mm (6¼ inches)
Striking distance: 9 km (5½ miles)
Shell types: Grenade, Shrapnel and Grape-Shot
Shell mass: 40.6 kg (90 lb)
Total mass: 6 250 kg (13 800 lb)
Total length: 7.5 m (24 feet 7 inches)
Drawn by: 16 oxen
This monument was erected in 1984 by the Long Tom-Rapportryers of Sabie, in collaboration with the FAK, the Federasie van Rapportryerskorpse and Mondi Timber, who provided the site
