The Velddrif hustle - Boats, bazaars and bokkoms

Since Rob and Maria Kirsten picked unassuming Velddrif on the West Coast as their new home 17 years ago, they've built their own house and established a number of successful businesses.

- CARLA REDELINGHUYS

When you've W driven across the narrow Carinus Bridge spanning the Berg River, that's when you know you've arrived in Velddrif. And you'll soon understand why: the confusing stop-street-slash-faux-circle situation where nobody really knows what they're supposed to do or which way to go aptly reflects the contrasting nature of this West Coast town.

This is a place where you'll still find kids participating in volkspele at a popular hotel on a Saturday afternoon, but it's also where a local dentist has orange dreadlocks and looks like he'd be more at home at AfrikaBurn than with a dentist's drill in his hand.

And it is home to Rob and Maria Kirsten, who, at first glance, are the antithesis of what you'd expect a couple living in a small West Coast town to look like. Seeing Rob for the first time, you'd be forgiven if your thoughts immediately turned to Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones - Keith in a bandana with sunflowers, a tie-dyed vest and barely-there swimming briefs. But whereas the legendary rock 'n' roll guitarist would probably be swigging a bottle of Jack Daniels at 4 in the afternoon, Rob is sipping on a Black Label and listening to David Gray when, on a Friday afternoon, I walk into the rustic braai area adjacent to the couple's house. He has an infectious smile, and a face lined by life, laughter and the sun.

"I grew up in Melkbos, in 5th Avenue, with my dad. I've always loved that town. But it's sad - he had to move away because the rates and taxes became unaffordable; at that stage, my sister and I couldn't help out. So we sold the house," he says in response to my complaint that the journey to Velddrif from Melkbos had been slow-going because of heavy traffic.