The one thing that I really struggle with at the Cape is the winter. So, it is becoming a habit now to set off in early June for warm Ballito followed by Kruger and then back to the Cape at the end of August.
Renette finds the long trip tedious so on 5th June I take off with the caravan in tow heading for my first stop – the beautiful Karoo National Park. I spend two nights here so on Friday, 6th I drive up early to the plateau above the camp and sit watching the beautiful daybreak unfold. There must be few places where one can enjoy such desolate tranquillity and I never miss the chance to linger up here for a while.
I thoroughly enjoy this stop-over in the Karoo and although it looks barren, there is always plenty of interest. On Saturday I begin the next leg of the trip – the 500kms to Bloemfontein. Leaving Beaufort West, I stop to take this view of the mountains within the Karoo National Park.
Threading my way through lines of heavy trucks, I make it to Bloem where I overnight at the very convenient and comfortable Reyneke Park. Sunday, 8th I set off at 4.00am and by 1pm I am at my destination, the pleasant Dolphin Holiday Resort in Ballito. So as to thaw out after the Cape, I immediately go down to the beach and drink in the KZN coastal winter.
On Tuesday, 11th Renette flies in from the Cape and we settle into this wonderful winter existence.
Now, there is no drama or crisis in this. Gareth (3rd son) and Sarah have been moving house in England and after aborting our proposed visit in May, they have asked us to come visit. With our ten year visas making travel so easy, we leave the caravan in Ballito and board an Ethiopian aircraft for a rather surprise nine day visit to England. Ethiopian planes are fine but Addis Abba is a seething mass of humanity, without the order of Dubai.
Landing at Heathrow on Friday, 28th we had the misfortune to rent a car from Europcar, whereby they upgraded my booked rental car to a top of the range Lexus – at six times the price. Beware you travellers, I have subsequently found that this is their standard tactic leaving people like me stressed and with a fight on one’s hands to try and recover the money taken from my bank account. So unexpected in England.
Gareth is now living in Chippenham, near Bath, in the west of England. And what a happy time spent in this most beautiful part of old England
Lacock
Whilst there, we take the opportunity to make a day visit down to Devon to visit Gareth’s in-laws, Gordon and Judy, at the picturesque Lynmouth.
Really, this old England is just so beautiful. The days fly by and soon we are boarding our flight home.
We actually fly back to Cape Town to tend to various domestic matters – straight into the teeth of the Cape winter. For the days I am there strong north-west winds and driving rain lash the Cape. On Saturday, 13th July I thankfully board a flight to Durban and make good my escape. Renette is going to flying direct to Skukuza on the 18th. With mid summer England temperatures of 15-20ºC, the Cape at 13ºC, it is such a relief to be back at Ballito with a mid winter 25ºC. Here I begin to pack up the caravan in preparation for the trip to Kruger beginning at 3am, Tuesday, 16th July.
6 Comments
Helena July 18, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Beautiful pics Fred. I can relate to the cold Cape weather and Renette not wanting to do the tedious long journeys. We met people at Champagne Castle in the Drakensburg mid winter last year and they said in comparison to the Cape, the Berg was mild. I might mention that the Berg was freezing.
Richard Grant July 20, 2024 at 1:17 am
We are here until 26th August so much more to come.
Colleen Richardson July 18, 2024 at 5:59 pm
Hello Fred
A beautiful set of photos and good news stories.
Appreciate receiving again.
Coll
Richard Grant July 20, 2024 at 1:16 am
A really special time Colleen.
Ann Gibson July 18, 2024 at 10:50 pm
So pleased you are back on line with your lovely photos.
Richard Grant July 20, 2024 at 1:15 am
So enjoying it here Ann.