We left Graaff-Reinet and headed off to Cradock along some real back roads, needless to say all on gravel. It was evident from the road that we travelled on that there has been lots of rain in the area and indeed we had some rain on the way to Cradock. The scenery was and is still absolutely awesome. We have taken many pictures and I am really going to make a serious attempt to add some going forward.
As it was cold and rainy and we were in search of more airtime for the laptops, we decided to head into Cradock first for a cup of coffee. Well we then got the data bundle and then we decided that we need something to warm the inner us, so we stopped off for a bottle of that and then we were off to Mountain Zebra. It was sort of misty rain and cold, but we set up and made a fire and got going. We are getting really good at that. Lovely campsite and beautiful surroundings, with mountains every where.
The first day here we decided not to ride anywhere, so we walked up the "koppie" behind the campsite to see what we could see. Well, the "koppie" was quite high and we could see a lot and far across the mountains and valleys.The walk is about an hour and a half, including all the stops to look at birds, look them up in the Sasol bird book, agree on what we saw and then to tick it off as positively identified. One also has to look at all the Golden Orb web spider nests and this and that and take the odd picture. All these things take a lot of time. We just chilled for the rest of the day and watched the new crowd arrive late afternoon and how they set up camp and all the interesting/strange things that people bring along. I am sure others look at us and think the same.
Yesterday we headed off into the park to do some dedicated game viewing . It was a beautiful day with clear skies and this scenery that just goes on and on and on. The park is very varied in terrain and it is literally up the mountain and down into the valley. On the plains we saw big herds of Springbok and Red Hartebeest and strangely enough, lots of Mountain Zebra!
Also lots of baby Springbokkies. They are still light coloured and nearly sort of grey/beige. Real "Ag, shame" moments. We got a fright when a little bokkie ran out of the veld right towards the car and then off on the road. Shame, man, where was his mommy? Down the passes and into the valley there are dams and we saw terrapins at 2 dams and at one dam 2big ones each with a small one, like a baby. We spent at least 10 minutes watching a group of Ground squirrels and their antics. They are so busy and on the go all the time and so alert. Would have given a lot to have some of those working for me! Rare characteristics in many humans these days, say no more!!
Anyway after having done several "loops" we headed back into Cradock for another IT related issue. All this goes way past me, so I just go for the ride and enjoy the scenery. While Dick went to sort the data issue out, I popped into the Dept of Labour to check on my UIF application. Interesting experience. Register with your ID and wait. Luckily only 4 people ahead of me on the waiting room. Interesting observation in the waiting room is the photo of our current President, with the Photo of a previous one behind him, but the only thing visible of the previous President is the hair. Well now I know what Mr Zuma will look like with hair. Within an hour I am into the only operating "cubicle". The person in the other one has a notice up on the swingdoor to say that "busy with back up administrative duties". I heard a bit of casual conversation going on, but who am I to say what "back up and admin" means in this world. Needless to say the application is still drifting in cyber space, regardless of the fact that the last words to me in the Bellville office was:' The application is correct and I can check at any office in SA, etc, etc. Well back to Gin and Tonic and a Burger for lunch in the local, very old Victoria Manor Hotel.The hotel owns a whole street of restores houses which is part of their accommodation offer. They call it "Tuishuise", ever so "oulik".
The park has several game viewing "loops", amongst other three 4x4 only loops. Well we did them all and let me tell you they are true to their word when they say 4x4 only. These routes mainly take you up a mountain, which does not look all that formidable from the bottom, but once you are on it and you are heading up, you know that this is not the N1 between Bellville and Cape Town. Once you are on the top you sort of get lulled into a false sense of security. You are surrounded by these grassland, covered in purple Karoo Irisses, herds of Zebra, Springbok and who ever chose to be there at the time. We stop and look at birds and follow that identifying process again and we look for the elusive Cheetah and the we generally forget that what goes up must go down and then suddenly you are no longer on the level. Oh, boy and then we are heading down. All I can say, is every time I was so glad my mother was not in the car. Luckily the Terracan is true to its name. It can cover the earth. Exciting times. It is to me amazing that you can do these proper 4x4 routes in the parks, at no cost and on your own, what a joy.
Our two specials for today was the Rock Monitor Lizard which we saw on the way up one of these roads. He was just doing what he does best and that was lying in the middle of the road. He reluctantly moved of, flicking tongue and all when we approached and the Black Rhino we saw on the way back to the camp.
What can I say, I mean how terrible can life be. You pitch your camp, you make your food, you sleep in your tent, you get up and you pack up and you see the amazing country that we live in and then you find home again for the night. I love it. We stop and shop in new places, we chat to new people in the campsites and you hear different stories all the time.
Tomorrow we are off to Somerset East, another place where I have never been.
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