Back then from a lovely, restful weekend away in Koringberg. A little town miles from anywhere (although still very convenient for the N7), overlooking the rolling Swartland countryside. As the name suggests, its history is very much an Afrikaans settlement, based on the wheat farming in the local area. The huge, out-of-place grain silos and the NG church with its wheat-ear weathervane being the only two notable buildings emphasising its origin.
We stayed here, and made full use of the pool, the spacious wood-fired hot tub, and the huge braai areas. Wine, fresh bread and chocolates on arrival, a friendly host, firewood for days: everything we needed right there. The property is right on the edge of town and literally on the fields, with – as the name suggests – incredible views east towards the Groot Winterhoek mountains and beyond that onto the Koue Bokkeveld.
When we’re away, we usually do things, and I sometimes feel like we are missing out if we don’t try to experience everything that a place has to offer, but since there was really not much to do here, there was no guilty feeling when sneaking away for an afternoon nap, or lazing around doing nothing.
And that was great at the end of a long, hard year.
But I still managed a nice run around the place before the heat of the day kicked in – a red and white blur in likely the only Sheffield United shirt Koringberg has ever seen – and then a couple of walks with the camera and some playtime with the nifty fifty.
This clearly isn’t the place to come to if you are after pubs and clubs, nightlife and music until all hours. But if you’ve done enough of that in your life and you want a change of pace to something more tranquil for a few days: it’s perfection.
The weather was rather more breezy than we were expecting, but every bit as hot, and we were very glad of the air-conditioning in each of the bedrooms. But that heat, together with the rich, golden fields and orange earth made for some lovely contrasting warm colours against the always blue skies.
And now? Back to reality for a few days before we head off again for a few days, but this time as part of a large group of friends, which will likely be equal parts fun and chaos. Not quite the peace and restfulness of Koringberg then…