Beach Run Event at Hougham Park
26 February 2023 - Paul Foster
On Sunday, February 26, 2023, the LROC PE Chapter hosted a Beach Run event for their enthusiastic club members. Nine Land Rover vehicles and their owners met at around 9 in the morning in Port Elizabeth and took a short drive to Hougham Park, a public park located in the suburb of Walmer. The park is a popular spot for picnics, jogging, and dog-walking, and features a large pond, a playground, and a walking trail that circles the perimeter of the park. In its history the area also hand an abalone farm, but unfortunately the buildings and area have fallen into disarray and is now predominantly used for shore fishing.
The original farm that makes up a portion of Hougham Park was originally called Samson's Kraal and was owned by T.I. Ferreira. The U-shaped core of the homestead has been dated back to 1817. Hougham Hudson bought it from the Ferreiras in the 1830s and renamed it Hougham Park. It was the main residence of Hougham Hudson, Resident Magistrate of Port Elizabeth in 1828 and of Uitenhage in 1832. It appears from records and the graves in the graveyard, that there have been only three families owning the farm since that date - the Hudsons for 60 - 70 years, the Denfords and the Crews family from 1945 - 2007. Evidence has been found of Stone Age peoples on the farm in the form of stone implements.
After arriving at Hougham Park, the convoy stopped to enjoy a quick cup of coffee before pushing through on a sandy track of around 3 km between the bush and sand dunes until they arrived just above the high-water mark. Driving on the beach is no longer permissible, but the spot at which the convoy arrived overlooked the exquisite bay and Bird Island.
Bird Island is a small island located off the coast of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, within the Greater Addo National Park. The island is known for its large population of seabirds, particularly African penguins and Cape gannets. In addition to the birds, Bird Island is also home to a small colony of Cape fur seals, and there are several shipwrecks off the coast that provide a popular spot for scuba diving. Bird Island is a unique and important ecological site within the Greater Addo National Park, which boasts the Big 7, including the Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale in addition to the big 5 game.
At the Beach Run event, LROC PE Chapter members put up their awnings and braaied meat packs while enjoying the remarkable friendships that are made through owning a Land Rover. As with all good things, time marched on swiftly, and with the winds picking up, it was time for those there to bid farewell and head home. While it was a really relaxed and short outing, it was just what the doctor ordered to get the year going.
The Beach Run event hosted by the LROC PE Chapter at Hougham Park was a fun-filled day of exploring and enjoying nature with like-minded Land Rover enthusiasts. The event provided a glimpse into the enjoyment that can be had with good friends, amazing vehicles and spectacular surroundings.
