Hello All.
And I am back.
Still exhausted.
What a trip.
I have decided I am too old to drive nearly 8ookms in one day.
I think I will have to break my posts into one day at a time.
Or I shall bore you to tears.
And me too.
Saturday was my first day.
It started badly.
I got up at five and had a shower.
Made coffee.
And finished my packing.
And the power went off.
I got into the car and the battery was dead.
The guy who delivers the paper chose the wrong time to ask for a Xmas bonus.
He was roped into pushing my car up the slope and into the road.
I got the car started but then it started screeching at me.
Very loudly.
I turned to come back home but then the noise stopped so I turned again and headed out.
I will be having some very strong words with the mechanic who serviced my car the other day, and put in a new fan belt.
He obviously did not get the tension right.
Hence the flat battery….I think… the battery was very old.
I reached the main road out of town to discover thick mist.
Not my favourite way to travel.
Fortunately, the mist lifted after about fifteen minutes.
There are two main ways to get down to Cape Town.
The most popular being the Garden Route.
On this road you pass many towns.
And holiday resorts for the rich and famous.
And the traffic was horrific.
I realised I was going to spending a large part of the trip riding in the shoulder and letting all the expensive cars go by.
So I opted for the alternative route.
This route is called the Langkloof and goes inland between incredible range of mountains.
It has it upside and it’s downsides.
The upside is there is very little traffic.
And it is so beautiful.
The downside it is a bit longer and there are no gas stations.
Which means no convenient toilets.
Oh boy.
I had to stop the car and open both the side doors.
And squat.
Something I haven’t done since I was a kid.
But, when you have to go you have to go!
Ok…this post is getting too long and I am not half way through.
More tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
Sounds like a tough beginning to your “relaxing” get-a-way.
By: nrhatch on December 23, 2013
at 5:24 pm
Hi NR…it got better and worse!!!
By: granny1947 on December 23, 2013
at 7:25 pm
Squatting is quite comfortable.if I need to go I balance on the edge of the car.Quite an eventful start to your trip but electric, car, and screeching brakes should be the three things happening at the same time.They always go in 3’s.Am looking forward to next enthralling episodeits like a soap opera…just take care.
Happy Christmas
By: misswhiplash on December 23, 2013
at 5:58 pm
The same to you my friend, have a wonderful Xmas.
By: granny1947 on December 23, 2013
at 7:24 pm
oh yeah way to go squatting…lol… what beautiful views.
By: floweringermany on December 23, 2013
at 9:43 pm
Hi Flowering…the views were breath taking…I much prefer the inland route.
By: granny1947 on December 24, 2013
at 7:04 am
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!
Beautiful scenery (I mean the hills!)
By: barb19 on December 23, 2013
at 9:55 pm
Of course you meant the hills Barb. 🙂
By: granny1947 on December 24, 2013
at 7:04 am
It was a most discouraging start – glad you’re back safely, anyway.
The way those mountains fold reminds me of Meiringspoort.
By: colonialist on December 23, 2013
at 11:10 pm
Thanks Col….on the way back I went through five major passes…it slowed me down but they were wonderful.
By: granny1947 on December 24, 2013
at 7:05 am
I remember as a child SO looking forward to and enjoying the passes!
By: colonialist on December 24, 2013
at 9:44 am
The power went off three times while I was reading this, but I think I get the gist – you’re going away for Christmas – have a lovely time. We’re having a violent gale.
By: http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com on December 24, 2013
at 12:13 am
Hi Viv…nope I am back already…I have been watching the storms on the news…not good…hope you are alright.
By: granny1947 on December 24, 2013
at 7:10 am
Welcome back!
By: jmgoyder on December 24, 2013
at 2:39 am
Thanks JM….at least I now have things to talk about.
By: granny1947 on December 24, 2013
at 7:07 am
We rural girls know how to pull out the tricks when necessary! So! You came back… 😀 (Couldn’t resist. You can hit me the next time we have tea!)
By: souldipper on December 24, 2013
at 6:43 am
If Jasmine wasn’t here it would have been really hard to leave…damn I love Cape Town and now I am going to miss my kids even more.
By: granny1947 on December 24, 2013
at 7:08 am
It’s beautiful there Granny. Looks like you enjoyed it too much. 😀
Have fun and big hugs to you and Jasmine. 😀 xxx
By: Sonel on December 24, 2013
at 8:25 am
Thanks Sonel…a big Christmas hug to you too.
By: granny1947 on December 25, 2013
at 9:10 am
Thanks Granny. 😀 *hugs* to you and Jasmine. xxx
By: Sonel on December 25, 2013
at 10:07 am