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Friday, February 21, 2020
Update 33
Now we're on the South African side of the Drakenburg Mtns and in Royal Natal National Park with breathtaking views all around us. We Hike along a river full of cascading waterfalls. A brilliantly covered quail strutted down the path in front of us while singing birds hid in the bushes and a tiny red deer rested quietly in the shade. After our picnic lunch, we drove up a rocky road often escorted by baboons.
Once we left the park, we again saw lots of cows, sheep, goats, healthy crops and small villages lined with vendor shacks full of traditional rondavels (traditional round homes built with clay/mud & grass roofs).
A couple easy driving days led us to Ballito & the long sandy beaches on the Indian Ocean.
Along the way, we've been staying at Airbnb's...each unique, comfortable & with friendly hosts. In Harrismith, we stayed in a family home filled with splendid antiques & family pictures. The owners had moved into the cottage in the back after their children left. It was a good thing we arrived early as the breakfast spread that was already in our gorgeous room was enough for supper & breakfast! Another night we stayed in Mooi River with Tamra & Angus on their 1200 acre farm where they raise Angus (really) cattle, horses, pigs & sheep. In their old farm house, we sat around their massive kitchen table discussing how milking has changed & crops. We learned we were seeing sugar beans not soy beans. Also heard more about the electricity issues...they call load sharing. Angus said all the coal is being shipped out to China and for some unknown reason, the govt is making it almost impossible to put up solar panels. Imagine in this country where they sun shines most the time! Angus & Tamra have traveled lots & we all agreed traveling was a mind-stretching experience. Tamra got excited when we asked for SA trace tips! In the a.m, she handed Rog a little notebook & the two of them spent probably 2 hours making plans. After corn mush, rusk & yogurt, Tamra located us on Facebook & we said our good byes. The airbnb we're in now is in Ballito & has 10 bedrooms. It's classy & drop dead fabulous villa with a long veranda over looking the ocean. Our host & hostess, Dominque & Luther are quite amazing treating us like family from the get-go. Pouring us drinks, offering food & telling us stories & jokes as we sit in lounge chaired on the veranda. The' s invited us to a braid tonight...how can we say no?? They are the South African version of Brian & Peggy Boyce!! He keeps everyone's glass full & she prepares scrumptious food & laughs at his jokes! We spent the a.m. on the beach & the p.m. by the pool that has umbrellas built right in on both ends. Life is good!!
Sent from my iPhone
Once we left the park, we again saw lots of cows, sheep, goats, healthy crops and small villages lined with vendor shacks full of traditional rondavels (traditional round homes built with clay/mud & grass roofs).
A couple easy driving days led us to Ballito & the long sandy beaches on the Indian Ocean.
Along the way, we've been staying at Airbnb's...each unique, comfortable & with friendly hosts. In Harrismith, we stayed in a family home filled with splendid antiques & family pictures. The owners had moved into the cottage in the back after their children left. It was a good thing we arrived early as the breakfast spread that was already in our gorgeous room was enough for supper & breakfast! Another night we stayed in Mooi River with Tamra & Angus on their 1200 acre farm where they raise Angus (really) cattle, horses, pigs & sheep. In their old farm house, we sat around their massive kitchen table discussing how milking has changed & crops. We learned we were seeing sugar beans not soy beans. Also heard more about the electricity issues...they call load sharing. Angus said all the coal is being shipped out to China and for some unknown reason, the govt is making it almost impossible to put up solar panels. Imagine in this country where they sun shines most the time! Angus & Tamra have traveled lots & we all agreed traveling was a mind-stretching experience. Tamra got excited when we asked for SA trace tips! In the a.m, she handed Rog a little notebook & the two of them spent probably 2 hours making plans. After corn mush, rusk & yogurt, Tamra located us on Facebook & we said our good byes. The airbnb we're in now is in Ballito & has 10 bedrooms. It's classy & drop dead fabulous villa with a long veranda over looking the ocean. Our host & hostess, Dominque & Luther are quite amazing treating us like family from the get-go. Pouring us drinks, offering food & telling us stories & jokes as we sit in lounge chaired on the veranda. The' s invited us to a braid tonight...how can we say no?? They are the South African version of Brian & Peggy Boyce!! He keeps everyone's glass full & she prepares scrumptious food & laughs at his jokes! We spent the a.m. on the beach & the p.m. by the pool that has umbrellas built right in on both ends. Life is good!!
Sent from my iPhone
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