The last night.

Aloes in Bloom

Here we are tonight at Matjiesvlei on the very last night of our holiday. It is with mixed feelings that I write this, as it means the end of the holiday and the beginning of another phase of our lives and obviously all the uncertainty that goes with that, however it does not prevent us from enjoying the holiday to the very end.

We left Gamkasberg this morning in mist so thick that you could not see more than 5 meters and it was freezing cold. Well, as always there is never a day not to find something to do to fit the conditions and so we were off to Calitzsdorp, about 33 km away and the first stop was Calitzdorp Cellars and we tasted the Port. Lovely Port and a friendly lady to assist. From there we went to De Krans, also well known for the Port, tasted some more, bought some more and generally felt that we were in the process to beat off the cold. We also stopped off at Boplaas, also a well known Port producer, but left without being tempted to buy as there were so many people and no real attention to customers.

We headed off into the town, parked the car and walked. What a lovely town Calitzdorp is. Lots of old houses and restores buildings, but without the intrusion of the well known estate agents. There are lovely restaurants and we went to The Dorpshuis for lunch and had Lambs liver and mash. Where on earth do you still find that on a menu, other than in the Karoo. It was lovely. When we went to the restaurant for lunch the mist was still thick and we were still freezing. An hour and a half later we emerged into blazing sunlight and it was warm and clear. It is amazing to me that it can change so rapidly. Suddenly the whole town looked differently and brighter and we set off onto another photo journey.

Our last stay of the holiday is at a really special place. It is the Cloete Huis on the Matjiesvlei  Guest farm and thanks to my brother Bert and his wife for introducing us to this wonderful place. It is just across the mountains from Gamkasklooof, where we had spent 2 nights earlier this week and it is beautiful. The Aloes are in bloom and it is special. There is an article on the 4X4 route on the farm in the latest copy of the Drive Out magazine.

Cloete Huis

Our little house is so special. There is no electricity, only oil lamps and a fire place. Luckily there is a gas greaser, as I have become a bit anti cold water showers.  We said that tonight is a slow merge into home comports again. Sleeping in a proper bed, using real towels and have a bathroom and a loo under the same roof!!We had hardly got here and we were joined by a Jack Russell who just came along, wagged  his tail and made himself at home on the stoep with us. When we came into the house he trotted off to where ever his home is. He looked a lot like our own Jack Russell and we wondered if he was not an off spring of Butchie, Bert’s dog, who has visited here often!!!

Now we are sitting by the fire, the last of our lamb is in a Potjie on the gas stove and we are enjoying some of the best Shiraz of the area. What a way to spend the last day of a holiday. Tomorrow we head off home and our own bed and our dog and cat and the pool and the garden and the taxman!!!

The Mountains towards the Huis River Pass.