Hiking, Eating and Drinking

As I sit on our balcony overlooking the hamlet of MacGregor, near the wine producing region of Roberson, I sip on a local Chardonnay. Crisp, fruity and chilled. MMMmmmm. I have found a new friend and contemplate never going back to our standard plonque ever again. It is unbelievable how much we are taken advantage of when it comes to the cost of a good bottle of wine. R10 rand is the equivalent of $1. Zoom in on the pic and you do the math. Keep in mind these are restaurant prices as well.

 

 

Yesterday was a travel day and the day before we found solitude in the town of Knysna. However we did a day trip into the Stormy River area where a National Park by the name of Tsitsikamma exists. Should anyone be fortunate enough to venture here, I highly recommend booking in advance, one of the self catering beach cottages on site. Absolutely stunning views of the surrounding Indian Ocean and the waves breaking upon the sea reefs. (Peter and Murray are you paying attention?)We embarked on a 6.4 km hike which took us the better part of four hours to complete and ended up at a breathtaking waterfall cascading into the ocean. Fabulous experience as evidenced by the following video. Without a doubt we both agreed it was one of the most challenging hikes we had ever experienced but also one of the most rewarding. See video



 By sheer luck yesterday, we happened upon the best accommodation we have experienced in SA, and we have found some wonderful places. Just magical, looking out over the vineyards to the valley below and this “guest house” is just a treasure. And did I mention the wine and food was absolutely the best!!

 

 

 

And then there was the drive back to Cape Town through the mountains and a visit to Table Mountain. In a word WOW!! And the most perfect day to visit. Again WOW!! See video



 



Well this will be my last entry for this blog. We are back in Cape Town for our flight out tomorrow. I would like to thank everyone for following (my statistics show about 80 regular followers) and your encouragement over the past six weeks. I thoroughly enjoy putting these things together and look forward to the next trip in the not too distant future. As I always say "you have to go home if you want to come back". Only a 12,758 km return flight awaits us. Jambo!!

Cape Point, Kirstenbosch and Stellenbosch

The third leg of our journey will be a discovery of South Africa by car. After our return to Cape Town following our discovery of Victoria Falls it was a car rental and back to the wrong side of the road. I carefully navigated roundabouts, staying in left lanes while turning right with my white knuckled navigator being very encouraging and not too much of an alarmist.

The first destination of choice was the drive down the west coast of the cape towards Cape Point, better known as Cape of Good Hope.  This National Park is a destination to many but having arrived early enough we were able to escape the hordes and really appreciate the natural beauty before us. For me it was not only arriving at a place known through the ages because of the numerous shipwrecks but it is the place of passage between east and west. We were able to hike to the most southern part of the continent, where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean. It really was quite inspiring and the weather was spectacular once again. See the following video



 

Editor's Note: Officially the line separating the Atlantic and Indian Oceans is along the meridian of 20 degrees east, to the south of Cape Agulhas, though the currents of the two are constanly changing and do converge at the most northern point of Cape Point on occassion. 

 



 

 

Our trip up the western route of the coast was also most intriguing and the views were spectacular. We both agreed that it was similar to the Big Sur in California which was evidenced by me having to stop every 15 minutes for yet another picture of the beaches, surf and spectacular cliffs which we got so perilously close to.

We decided on Jennifer’s birthday to take a trip to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. The purpose was twofold. One, for our own self indulgence but also to commemorate the passing of a dear friend who had passed away while we had been travelling. We did a short memorial tribute for Maureen as we knew on that day there was to a memorial service held back home in her honour.  Should you like to review it click on the following

 

 

 

We probably spent about five hours there and covered half of the property. We could have spent another five hours easily and a return visit would definitely be in order, except for the fact of having to cover so much more territory in what is turning out to be one of the most outstanding countries I have every visited, provided you overlook the apartheid, economic and racial issues.

Our first venture into the wine region and more specifically the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek was wonderful. It was recommended we take a guided wine tasting tour. (Highly recommended to have someone else do the driving) Four vineyards, five tastings per vineyard and a five course lunch with wine parings left us somewhat out of our comfort zone by the time we got back. It was an early night to say the least J The following day was a drive through the Helshoogte Pass and lunch at yet still another vineyard. Eating fine food, magnificently presented and drinking wine on a daily basis seems to be the local mantra of choice.

 



Mosi-oa-Tunya

Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Clouds That Thunder”  is the way Victoria Falls was described by the indigenous people. The roar of the Zambia River breaking over the expansive rocky cliff sides, cascading to the river far below is both deafening and transfixing. You can’t escape from getting wet because of the rising spray and constant blowing of the Zimbabwe tropical winds. Even more so when it rains such as it does periodically like today. It is difficult to take photos as you almost always seem to be engulfed in a cloud of spray. However it does not take away from the majesty and magnitude of one of the world heritage sites. Another truly grand experience which God has seen fit to let us partake in, and which Dr. Livingston, while performing his missionary work, discovered in the early 1900’s.



The bridge which was constructed in the mid 30’s to connect northern and southern Rhodesia under the visionary guidance of Cecil Rhodes, is equally as impressive to the engineering skills of the day. We walked across the bridge, entering into Zambia at the half way mark to watch the thrill seekers, jump with a leap of faith that the bungee cord would hold. I cringe and utter a silent moan as the fool hearty take the plunge. Not all have survived, as evidenced by one of the cords which looks rather frayed.

 

Poverty is rampant. Humanity is constantly looking for handouts to feed both themselves and their families. The corrupt government here is primarily responsible, for at one time this fertile land was considered the breadbasket of Africa.  I now see how it is both easy to persuade and recruit young men into crime or terrorism, when the promise of a full belly and purpose in life is more fulfilling, than what they now have to look forward to.