Category: this is south africa

Saturday’s detour

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We might have been caught up in the traffic after the accident on the Houw Hoek Pass – hell, we might even have been the accident on the Houw Hoek Pass – were it not for a stop off at friends in Hermanus on the way back from Agulhas on Saturday. And it was while we were leaving that tourist-infested, currently whale-free utopia that we checked Google Maps and found that there were 75 minute delays on the otherwise 75 minute N2 journey home.

No thanks.

Google suggested an alternative route, basically avoiding any delay, and who are we to disagree with Google? We jumped at the chance, even when it took us off the R43 out of Hermanus, onto the R44 towards Kleinmond and then immediately off that too.

Onto a dirt road. A steep, windy, narrow dirt road; decidedly old Transkei, and quite a challenge in a heavily laden 2 wheel drive SUV.

The road does show on Google Maps, but only just (you have to look closely), so I’ve marked the two ends of it with red dots for you, together with (for non locals) a black arrows showing the route we’d usually have taken, and a red line where the accident was blocking the road.

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If you want to do it the other way, simply turn south off the N2 at the Peregrine Farmstall – and keep going.
The thing is, not only was this a bit of fun – a mountain pass adventure in the (mostly) rather mild Western Cape – it also gave us this view of the valley as we crested the top:

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My Goodness. I had no idea that such a place even existed.

But this is Elgin Valley – apple country. Sadly, all too often only observed through the car windows of those flying by, off to the more established tourist areas out East. Look at what we’re missing. We visited the other side of the N2 when we went quad biking just before Christmas, but that was Grabouw – much more rugged and piney. Nowhere near as lush and green as this little oasis.

It’s only an hour out from Cape Town as well, so I can definitely see some more research being done, and a decent day spent out exploring this place this year. I like apples.

UPDATE: Here’s a full guide to the Highlands Pass.

Stoked

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There will be better photos taken of Newlands Cricket Ground, but there will be few better days for visiting teams than this.

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England piled the pressure on to SA with Ben Stokes lashing the ball all over Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, as beautifully documented by Brian Micklethwait.
And that view, via England’s Barmy Army Twitter feed. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the view might only be improved by the removal of that factory behind the scoreboard. Until, that is, you learn that the ‘factory’ is actually a brewery, producing about a million litres of beer a day. And suddenly everything makes sense.

Because hey, we get thirsty in the heat.

P.S. I didn’t get tickets for the Test because of family stuff, but I have secured a few for me and the smaller 6000s to get to the T20 in February.

Current Affairs

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It’s actually quite hard to blog when you’re not watching the news, reading the twitter or doing anything except planning your next week off work. Thus, I don’t have any incisive insight into the current state of affairs in SA or the world in general, because I actually don’t know what that state of affairs is right now. Look, based on previous experience of these sort of things, it’s probably not great. But if you were here for that sort of cutting edge opinion, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed. (Spoiler: you were going to be sorely disappointed anyway.)

Instead, I bring you a photo of a butterfly (I’m no expert, but I think that this one is an Acraea horta), taken this morning while walking the beagle (us, not the butterfly) in Newlands Forest.

It was a nice walk in the shade of the trees, and we all had fun. The beagle was less impressed when it got bathed when we got home, but cheered up a bit when it got fed. It’s worth remembering that a beagle’s favourite food is anything.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent preparing for a trip down to Agulhas for New Year, during which time you can probably expect shorter, photo-filled posts on here, increased Instagram activity and the already bulging Summer 2015 album on Flickr to swell even further. I’m determined to relax, drink beer, walk on the beach and listen to some music – sometimes all at the same time – while I’m down south.

Come live vicariously through 6000 miles…

P.S. The game last night finished 4-0. I was finished long before then though.

Quads

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Nope. No new arrivals Chez 6000. Certainly not twins of twins. *shudders a little at the thought*

We did go quadbiking though, in Grabouw.

And the we went for lunch. Also in Grabouw.

Grabouw itself doesn’t really have a lot going for it. However, the quadbiking and restaurant facilities in the surrounds are nothing short of excellent.

I can totally recommend both of our stops today, which you can view by clicking the links above.

Photos? Flickr.

Greek Letters

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More holiday. More wine.

Back onto the Constantia Wine Route, with the intentions of getting to High and Beau, before lunch at Glen. The latter, we achieved by booking a table there a couple of weeks back. The former, we managed by starting there. But, as previously with attempted wine route planning, we failed to make out second port of call simply by enjoying the first place too much, and staying there.

We’ve done it before, back in 2013, just after I’d mashed my ankle. Again – a quick visit to High Constantia for a quick Groupon pairing, led to us staying for several (or more) hours and having to order pizza on the way home. It was a memorable visit for us, and, it seemed, for the staff, who remembered us from almost 3 years ago. I’m aware that this isn’t necessarily a good thing. But they are evidently non-judgmental, being friendly, chatty, knowledgeable and ever patient with us non fundis. Their MCC is magnificent, and there’s always their HUGE Bordeaux blend – Sebastian – to look forward to at the end of the proceedings.

This (purely ornamental) vine also makes shapes like the Greek alphabet. What’s not to like?

The tranquility of High Constantia sets it aside from all the other Constantia vineyards. I’m putting it firmly in my 6000 recommends category. Wander through their working cellar, out onto the stoop and watch the birds in their small garden while you enjoy tasting 7 or more wines for R50. The prices are high (no pun intended), but the wine is genuinely world class. It’s worth treating yourself every two and half years. Or maybe more often, given that the 2007 Sebastian is out any time now and is supposedly incredible.

Then it was up the road for lunch at Constantia Glen – platters, rosé and some Five. Superb, as expected. And then, back to Eagle’s Nest for the kids to run off some frustration and play in the stream there. After last time (when this got me into trouble with them), I let Mrs 6000 do the talking, and I also sat out on the tasting. It was a world away from the near silence of High Constantia and the elegant Constantia Glen, but they’re certainly not struggling for business.

More photos have been dropped into this set on Flickr, and it looks like tomorrow, when we’re… er… visiting another wine region, there may be even more.
I’m sure you, just like me, can hardly contain your excitement.