…..And then we went to “The Hell”.

On Monday morning we set off from Prince Albert after breakfast at the Lazy Lizard and refueling and getting the required bit of Karoo lamb. All this has to be paid in cash as most places in the town do not take any cards. I had run out of cash by this time and much against my financial good sense, decided to go and draw some money at the local ATM, which is an ABSA one (I am a FNB lady). There was a queue of half the town’s population outside the ATM all waiting to draw money, but the ATM was dry. No money in the machine at all and no refilling as yet as they were waiting for the cash to arrive! Luckily Dick had cash, so breakfast was on him.

Once we left the town we headed out on the Swartberg Pass towards Gamkaskloof, otherwise known as “The Hell”. It was just before 12 noon and the temp was 8 degrees  and there was frost/ice all the way along the road. It is a 2 and a half hour drive from Prince Albert and about 57 km in total. It is beautiful country. The mountains are high and it is green as they have had a well above average rainfall this winter. The road literally goes into the mountains and eventually you are within sight of the camping ground and still about 4 km away and all that is between you and the campsite is the road DOWN and down it is, with many twists and turns and hairpin bends and beautiful Karoo plants all the way down. We stopped at the top for a picture and walked a little way down and on our way back I picked up a R100 note just off the side of the road. We have now called that the R100 turn!!It is more than I have ever won on the Lotto, with no ticket!!!

The road into "The Hell"

Mountains and more mountains.

The road DOWN.

We arrived at the camp at about 2pm and drove to the end of the road, which is another 10 to 12 km away just to investigate and see what all the SanParks houses and developments look like. There are quite a few of the Old “Kloofer “cottages that they have restored and that one can stay in. I would imagine that it is quite popular in the warmer part of the year. We got back to our site later and put up our camp. It was COLD and the Rain was threatening and we had just got it all up and the rain started, soft and soaking and continuous. In fact it rained the whole night, but luckily we were warm and dry in our tent and our gazebo.

This morning it cleared and we went for a long walk up the pass. There are so many plants and after the rains of this winter I am sure the spring flowers are going to be magnificent. We might just be back in September again.

Tomorrow morning we are off to Gamkaberg, near Calitzdorp for 2 nights and then only one night left at Cloetehuis at Matjiesvlei and then home and the new reality!!