Category: 2018

Our last day and did another walk to Sterkspruit falls, about an hour and a half round trip. Went to the Drakensburg Boys School Choir in the afternoon. Fabulous.

Our first real exercise today in 5 weeks. Walked up into the Little Berg from Monks Cowl, a short drive from our hotel and the entry point into the National Park. Paid our permit fees and did a 3 hour return walk to a rocky outcrop called the Sphinx, an elevation of 1000 feet above our starting point. Quite steep to begin with and got really puffed and hot. Realised quite quickly that of course we are at an elevation in the Champagne Valley of 1500 metres, so at altitude and too much breakfast!
Amazing views from the Sphinx that photos can’t do justice. Just spectacular landscape, no wonder that the Drakensburg is a World Heritage site.
Arrived back at the hotel at 1.30 and had a light lunch with sparkling water, a one off!
Sat around the pool in the afternoon. Somehow lost some good photos from my SD card when doing a download. Stupid boy.

Bit of a grey and misty morning so decided to head for the small town of Winterton about 25 K’s away. Passed a sign to a place called Ardmore and African Loom. Took a right and 5k’s down a dirt road there we were. Ardmore is a small self catering cottage complex with a weaving workshop and shop selling goods made very locally, all proceeds and profit going to help the local kids education and single family’s with HIV. Had an interesting chat with manager with regard to their funding and projects. Offered complimentary coffee and muffin in the garden.
Off again towards Winterton and passed a place weaving rugs. Lots of locally made rugs of all sizes and materials, wool, cotton, silk and leather. We now have even more luggage to bring home. The owners wife is Chinese and runs the restaurant at the side. Had a freshly made sushi lunch while our purchase was packed. Eventually got to Winterton, a typical one horse town. Didn’t stay long, the Spar didn’t have any tea we wanted. Still grey and misty on the high Berg.

Took a little road trip around the area visiting a few craft / curio shops. Went for a short trek in the forest around the the hotel in the afternoon. Baboons around one of the small dams. Misty over the Bergs most of the day but cleared out late evening. Quite spectacular.

All packed up for trip back to Jo’burg and had brekkie at the Village Cafe again.
Arrived Jo’burg on time at 3pm, said our good byes to L&M
Picked up our hire car and 100 metres from airport got stopped by police. Wanted to ticket us for stopping on side of road to set Sat Nav. 1000 rand ticket OR maybe do a deal. Gave him 200 rand and we were on our way. Crooked bastard, basic corruption.
Four hour trip to our hotel in the Drakensburg. Arrived at 8.30 and went straight into restaurant for dinner.

Last day in CT. Wandered around the V&A and did some last minute shopping. Met L& M at
Ferrymans for light lunch. Last supper at the Cod Father in Camps Bay.

Had a day out with old friends Dave and Renata. They collected us from the City and then travelled out to Wellington in the Wine Lands and visited a small independent distiller of grappa and brandy. Uplands has won many awards for their grappa and brandy. Bought a bottle of cask conditioned 10 year old brandy at a staggering 62 %.
Had lunch at Val de Charron vineyard known for it’s aged beef. A quick tasting at Schalk Bergers winery after lunch. Same family as the SA rugby player but actually his father runs the place. A little run down I feel. L&M out in the evening, we had egg on toast, great. Some bastard stole our hub caps.

Another day out to to the vineyards. Met Peter& Brigita, Cathy& Paul at Cavalli vineyard and Stud between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Lovely views once again and a super lunch. A serious amount of dieting and drying out required soon. A little retail therapy on the way at Gardens.

Trip to Kalk Bay and wandered around the harbour, galleries and shops. Light lunch in the Courtyard Cafe. Met up with Padouk’s Aunt and Uncle, Jane & Colin at Chapmans Peak Hotel in Hout Bay for dinner. Great prawns and oysters.

Great breakfast in The “Village Cafe” round the corner. L&M met friends for lunch and we went to Kirstenbosch Gardens. Proteas in bloom this time of year. Local Italienne for dinner called Villa 47. Absolutely fantastic food. Quality of food in Cape Town is unbelievable.

Trip to Hout Bay and visited the craft market and food hall in the morning. Lunch at Katima’s in Hout Bay. Great sushi, sashimi, Thai and Vietnamese food all served buffet style. Eat as much as you want. Tom Yum soup exceptional. Watched F1 Grand Prix in the evening. What a great race in the wet. Hamilton won

Lod and Em went off to see friends Peter & Brigita, Cathy & Paul. We wandered down to the V&A and  went to the Water Shed craft centre. Bought some bits and pieces. Next to the food hall next door. Lunch of 6 oysters  and hot smoked salmon washed down with a glass of Chenin. Watched England v South Africa rugby . Boys done good. Stuffed the Boks. Pasta and prawns at the cottage for dinner washed down with Kevin Arnold Shiraz from Waterford Estate what we bought yesterday after our tasting

Trip to the V&A in the morning for a wander. Light lunch at the Ferrymans. Beluga restaurant in the evening for sushi. Irene and Em had a pedicure.

Packed once again and now off to Cape Town for 9 days. Popped into Franschhoek on the way to arrange shipping of pictures. Went for lunch at Dornier wine estate between Stellenbosch and C T. Waterford wine estate next door so went for a tasting before lunch. Wine & chocolate tasting of two reds and a desert wine with accompanying chocolate. Lovely place.
Arrived at the cottage in the Waterkant about 4pm. Great views of Table Mountain from the roof terrace. Gourmet scrambled egg for supper.

Very relaxing day. Did the shops of Franschhoek Main Street in the morning. L&M and us bought some art each and will finalise payment and shipping in the morning. Back to the cottage for lunch and sunning ourselves around the pool in the afternoon. Botswana seems a world away now. Shame in some respects but the beautiful Wine Lands are something special. Dinner in Franschhoek in the evening.