We were woken up this morning at about two by the last of the lifesaving after party revelers going back to their hotel. After that it was difficult to get back to sleep. When we eventually got up it was to no electricity. Great, it was going to be fun carrying everything down from the third floor. Halfway through the process the electricity came on but neither of us wanted to chance the lift after that.
We took the N3 out of Durban and it was good to be on our way again. The first toll plaza we came to cost us R8 but the next one at Mooi River was going to be R35 so we took the off ramp and the alternate route. The first town we came to was Nottingham Road and there were these 3 old corrugated iron churches all on the same site. There was a church service in progress in the one.
We carried on along the R103 until we got to Winterton and found a guy selling ripe avocados. We had to stop and while Lesley was haggling with the guy, I got a frantic call from Heather who was standing at the check-in at the airport. They would not let her board without a copy of the credit card that I used to book her flight as well as my id. So we took a photo of both and sent them via BBM, MMS and WhatsApp. She had it within minutes and they allowed her through. Isn’t technology wonderful?
It was time for brunch at the Wimpy in Mooi River and we managed to buy some meat for the next 3 days at a butchery on the same site. We still got caught at Mooi River toll plaza as we took the on ramp onto the N3 but this time it was only R11. A little further on we turned off on the R74 and after passing Little Switzerland went up to the top of Oliviershoek Pass. The road here is terrible with huge potholes and some of the road disintegrating. At the top of the pass we turned off onto Retief pass and after 12 km reached our destination, Dumbe 2. This area is historic as it was the place where the voortrekkers such as Retief, Maritz, Uys, Potgieter and the rest crossed the Drakensberg on their way to the sea.
Dumbe is a cottage on the top of a mountain with one incredible view over the valleys below. The whole front of the cottage is just windows so that from anywhere inside you can see the view, even the bed and the bath (which has spa jets). There is nobody there when you arrive, you just walk in. If the comments book is anything to go by it seems to be a special place for a lot of people, as there have been quite a few proposals and anniversaries celebrated here.
Lesley: As well as honeymoons, and yes, Steve, you did it again, this is probably our best place ever, it is in the most exquisite site and the building is so tastefully constructed. There are a lot of little extras to make it special. Thanks, Steve :->
We also took a walk to some monuments in the area regarding the trek and women’s rights. L: There is a lovely bronze statue which from far looks like a real woman standing on the skyline. It is a reminder of the hardships these women went through.
We also saw a bird, which is a new one for us, I was fascinated by it – we think, from the bird books we consulted that it is an “Oostelike Rooipootvalk” ? Eastern RedClaw Falcon, not sure what it is in English, any ideas anyone. It is really small for a bird of prey only 30cm as an adult. (We have found out that it is called the Eastern Redfooted Kestrel in English)
This was a lovely evening where we enjoyed supper, an indoor fire and a Jacuzzi bath and a really comfortable bed (the one in Toti, was not so great)!! Night all. X
Farewell Toti
One of three corrugated iron churches
Hello stranger
View from our balcony
Dumbe chalet
A colourful couple
Bath with a view
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