Day 1 - Home to Warmwaterberg

Guess what? It is raining in Warmwaterberg. We have arrived here and what has been threatening all day, has happened. It is a relief after all the hot weather we have been having.

I suppose we need to start this post from early this morning. We had only finished packing late last night so we hope we have not left anything behind. And by the way, we do have the kitchen sink, albeit a plastic one. For some reason I thought we would have less stuff to pack than the previous trip as we are only taking one 25 litre water bottle and one 20 litre diesel can instead of two of each but when we left the back was chock-a-block.  Now that is a weird word!  L:  Just before I get the blame, we are transporting 4 extra chairs, a tent and an umbrella and cooler box for Lyle’s family who are flying up to Amanzimtoti for SA Life Saving Champs.  We will be there to watch Heather and Lyle for 4 days from 21^st of March.  Also we brought a ground tent (besides the rooftop one) as we are camping a few times when we want to use the car to get around during the day so that will save Steve the extra “Zip and Flip” exercise of opening the rooftop tent…….so considerate.

We managed to only leave 20 minutes later than the 09H00 planned. And that was only because we had forgotten the spare car safe key. L:  I had my key Steve ;-)).  After filling up and pumping the tyres, we headed out. First day was only 300 kms as that is the way we plan so as not to spend the whole day driving, when that is possible. No rushing to get to our destination so that we can stop at the places we always mean to and never have. (while I am typing Lesley is running around chasing peacocks) L: not chasing – photographing, they have babies, what is a baby peacock called ??  Peahens, peacocks + …..?  There are hens and chickens and a rooster too so we are in for a noisy night (and dawn), and that is not just the biker boys!!!  They say here that they do not allow noise and have a cell number to call if anyone gets rowdy….just wonder if there would be signal, ha ha.

We hit our first road works stop/go just after the Rawsonville turnoff on the N1. After waiting for 10 minutes during which we got to meet all the neighbours, not one vehicle had come past from the opposite direction. So we jumped back in the bakkie, did a u-turn and took the Rawsonville turnoff. That way we could go the back way into Worcester and onto the road to Robertson where we hit some more road works. Fortunately at this one the wait was only a few minutes.

Lunch was at the Affieplaas coffee shop on the way into Robertson. Good food and very reasonable.  L:  We passed by the Wimpy where they had a Brake Fast, as Steve is a bit slow, but were very impressed at Affie’s…… S: The R62 is not a good road to travel for us as it gets a bit expensive. We cannot seem to drive through Montagu without stopping at the Montagu Dried Fruit and Nut factory shop. And on top of that there is a wine shop in the complex with good wines that are also reasonable.  L:  Steve was looking so much more relaxed in the fruit and nut shop  J, after visiting the wine shop……..

All along the R62 we have been buzzed by bikers barreling along to the buffalo rally in Mossel Bay. We also have some of them staying overnight with us at Warmwaterberg.

L:  So now, while I am typing, Steve is Flipping and Zipping to rig up the tent, I don’t want to get in his way or get wet, I will reserve that for when I have another swim in one of the 3 pools….cold, warm and oh, way too hot for my little butt.

With the rain and threat of more rain we decided to forgo the fire and braai and have supper in the restaurant. It was a pretty raucous affair as the bikers had found the bar which was in the restaurant and they were well into their brandy and cokes. Supper was really delicious and the mussels, calamri and lasagne could easily rival anywhere in Cape Town.

Fortunately the camping site was practically deserted so the noise from the merry bunch was a distant murmur that lulled us to sleep. The swim in the hot water and the glass of wine at dinner also helped the cause.

We awoke to a loud humming ..........................................

I wish somebody could tell me what time it is.

Blogging while it rains

Our playful alley cat. Luckily Lesley spotted the cat before we moved the car and it became a splat cat.

Did we mention there were peacocks about?

DITTO! Sorry Nicole and Heather.