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Passes, Poorts and Switchbacks. The Bain Legacy
July 25 @ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
We have all enjoyed the breathtaking views from the passes which enable us to travel over our spectacular mountains and into the beautiful valleys beyond .
But do we ever stop to think of the extraordinarily difficult journeys which faced our ancestors before these incredible gateways were built ?
Do we pause to acknowledge the foresight, planning and engineering which went into the construction process ?
Arguably the greatest of these road builders and engineers was Thomas Bain – probably the best known of the 19th century road makers who played such a major part in opening the hinterland of the Cape Colony .
Thomas Charles John Bain (not to be confused with artist and explorer Thomas Baines). and his father Andrew Geddes Bain perfected the technique of constructing dry stone retaining walls – many of considerable height and length. The roads they built are still standing and in use to this day.
Andrew was responsible for 7 major passes and Thomas for an incredible 26. These were all completed in the days before modern equipment .