Vincent van Walt's
Travel Journal

Connection types and the Hex Quick Pin

There are straight threads and there are tapered threads, some are metric, some are imperial and some are bespoke to a particular manufacturer or organisation; the pitch of the thread can be all over the...

Coming of Age

Van Walt has just celebrated its 40th birthday.  It’s a milestone but one which came and went with little fanfare. Not because it’s unimportant but because we continue working to the core values that...

Van Walt Ireland

“When we are old and grey, what will we look back on and wish we did differently? What memories will we cherish, what choices (or lack thereof) will we regret?” (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Project Gotham

It is to my shame that I must confess that in the year prior to the pandemic I clocked up 116,000 airmiles. It would seem logical to assume that as a seasoned traveller a short hop to the south of Spain...

Of Data Collection and Procrastination

“Be wise to-day; ’tis madness to defer;

LevelSCOUT Four Years On

I’ve been reviewing  some LevelSCOUT pictures. Clearly I was trying to find the fusion of a jewel and elegance and "tough as old boots".  Hmmmm. Perhaps I didn't quite succeed but they reminded me...

Van Walt SA (Pty) Limited

The girl behind the Avis desk at Cape Town Airport sported intimidatingly large breasts and couldn’t find my reservation. It happens a lot; the not finding the reservation I mean. I am an Avis preferred...

Jaume Ampuy 1920-2019

It is with great sadness that I let you know that Jaume Ampuy died peacefully, today, Saturday 14th December 2019 at the age of 99 in Sant Cugat Hospital near Barcelona. His daughter Montse, grandson Miguel...

Travels with Tracey

The Nevada section of the interstate from Los Angeles to Las Vegas takes you through the Mojave Desert. It runs straight and is totally uninspiring and there’s little to recommend it apart from Peggy...

Castles in the Sand

Travelling with your children

I call it the stairway to hell but of course it isn’t. But I imagine it could be, long, bleak and foreboding but it only leads, after mile long travellators, to gates B at Heathrow’s terminal 2.

I’d pick more daisies

“When in Rome do as the Romans” is mostly a wise attitude and usually works well but I’d caution the traveller to be circumspect when applying this adage to culinary experiences. After a 14 hour...