Friday 8 Nov 2013

L:  OPPAK!!  - So our holiday has come to an end and we need to pack up (oppak in Afrikaans) and head home.  I went outside to see what birds I could find for the last day, I so enjoy being out in the fresh air, early in the morning with the birds, but I must say 5.30am being woken up with the starling babies is still not fun. 

We are both feeling the effects of the bites we received down at the river last night, not sure if it was mosquitoes or miggies, but now as I write this – Saturday 2pm we have used anti-histamine tablets and lots of cream plus white vinegar and they are still driving us crazy.

S:  It is amazing how much we had unpacked from the car in the 2 days that we were there and now had to put back into the bakkie.  L: Most of it was to sort and also we bought cheese and wine, extra, to take home. 

On the way out we stopped in at the Tim Jan shop again to buy the “Wonder Juice” natural tonic made from 100% aloe and grape juice to cure all sorts of ailments, since we had spoken about it.  L:  (Wonder – how anyone can swallow it!!)  S:  Once you have had one shot of it, all you have to do is have it up on the shelf and when you feel down or ill you only have to look at it to feel better.......

From the Main Road we turned off down to cross the Breede River to visit the Bonnievale River Lodge camp site to have a look as Lesley’s sister, Linda and brother-in-law, Tony, really enjoy this place and have been here a few times.   We crossed the Breede River over a causeway with the water just over the bridge and turned up into the camp site.  We asked the owners if we could have a look around.  It is, indeed, a lovely location, right next to the river with lots of grass and shade and many facilities. 

The short road from Bonnievale to Robertson must be one of the most beautiful drives you could take at this time of the year.  The road is lined with white and pink roses and other colourful flowers for kilometer after kilometer.  This is also complimented by the many trees also displaying various shades of green.  It was nice to trundled along at 80km/hour on a beautiful spring day, watching the countryside go by.

Before long we were in Worcester and stopping outside my sister, Sharon’s house and enjoying coffee and cupcakes.  We spent a few hours there catching up and seeing her travel photos.

We then headed home and arrived to see our two daughters (and a hamster) who had missed us so much.  We wonder why.....It must have been tough for them doing all their own cooking, cleaning and washing......!!  Just wait until we are away on our long trip (Cape Town to Cairo to London) for over 6 months.  It was lovely to be home and to catch up with the girls and all their news, even though Lesley had kept touch via social networking. 

Some stats – for our 3 weeks away.

We did 2 760 kms at a moving average of 46km/hour and an overall average of 34 kms/hour (L:  So you can see- we went nowhere, fast!!)

Our maximum speed was 121km/hour and we spent 59 hours and 52 minutes in the car, driving.

L:  So this was a real test of how we will be doing our long trip and we tried and tested a lot of what Steve, and I, had done in preparation for spending up to 6 months away, living in and out (and on top!!) of the car.

S:  We averaged 7, 7kms/litre of fuel – with the bakkie so heavily laden and our rooftop tent which does not help the consumption too much.

S + L:  We have had an amazing trip, once again, and really enjoyed sharing it with you all, our family and friends.  Thanks so much for taking the time to read, comment and share our blog.

Until the next time..........Keep well.  J)