Milton Shorr hitchhiking all the way to Springfontein and Bloemfontein.Photo: Supplied


Ending a journey that started 20 years ago in a cemetry in the Free State, Cape Town actor and writer Milton Schorr hitchhiked all the way to Springfontein to return a wreath.

Schorr wrote his second novel, A Man of the Road, last year and decided the time had come to return a wreath that he borrowed from a grave two decades ago.

“I was travelling on the N1 and decided to go and explore. I came upon the grave of an unknown English soldier who died during the Anglo Boer War,” Schorr explains.

“I felt so at peace in that graveyard, at the grave of someone who died in an unknown country. I decided to borrow the rusted wire wreath and use it as a symbol of my work and of who I am.”

This past weekend, the time came to return the wreath.

“I have hitchhiked since I was a teenager in the West Coast. Since then I hitchhiked through Southern Africa, all the way to the Victoria Falls, across Europe and Australia,” he told a group who attended a book launch organised on the spur of the moment by local writer Igno van Niekerk at the Greenside Nursery on Monday (10/10).

Igno and Milton met a few years ago at the Richmond Boekbedonnerd Festival. When Igno saw that Milton was planning to hitchhike to Springfontein, he contacted him.

“Come all the way to Bloem and tell people about your books,” Igno invited.

Schorr’s first book, Strange Fish, was named best novel at the Richmond Festival.

“I have been writing for theatre and television all my life as well as doing sportswriting and travel writing,” Schorr said on Monday.

“Four years ago I decided to do what I love most – to write stories about people. Stories give us the possibility to be part of someone else’s adventure.”

A Man of the Road is comprised of fiction and elements of Schorr’s many adventures and the people he met along the road.

His journey to return the wreath began on Friday (07/10) when his wife dropped him off next to the N1, near Brackenfell.

“Life is like hitchhiking – you never know who will cross your path. These days, most people expect money when they give you a lift. Then it is just a transaction. But I meet amazing people on my journeys. With each person I meet, I get a snapshot into their life.”

He reached Springfontein on Saturday late afternoon. Thanks to detailed notes that he took years ago, he found the grave of the unknown soldier.

“I returned the wreath and thanked him for the use of it. Then I slept right there in the graveyard.”

  • Igno drove Schorr back to Springfontein on Tuesday, from where he took up hitchhiking back to Cape Town. Schorr played small parts in international films like Tomb Raider and Redeeming Love, both filmed in Cape Town.) Visit Schorr’s Instagram to see more about his journey.) Stand a chance to win a signed copy of A Man of the Road by visiting the Bloemnuus Facebook page and giving the entry about Milton Schorr a like.

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