Day 177 – Trippin’

I’ve headed off North East (I can’t really go very far South West from here anyway) where I am staying on a farm near the Foot of the Mountain. The family and the beagle are at home looking after each other, and I’m sure they’ll miss me but I fully plan to come back soon.

I’m writing this from home because as ever, I’m not sure what the coverage will be like out there (Vodacom says 4G, but Vodacom isn’t always as truthful as it could be), so this is one of a few pre-written posts on here just in case. Maybe I’ll add to them, maybe I won’t (I actually have no idea).

We’re away celebrating the birthday of a friend, and all sorts of (Covid-safe) activities have been planned, so look out on Instagram for those. And look out for incoming drone photos as well, now that Florence has a fixed eye.

If you’re reading this, I’m already part way through a blogging free weekend so I guess that I’ll see you on the other side.

Day 107 – A year ago

Things have changed a bit recently, haven’t they?

A year ago, we were here, watching this:

As part of this.

The longer this sorry situation goes on, the more frustrating I am finding it and the more I am realising that there is likely to be no quick fix to any of it.

It’s also made me realise that I need to put dates on my blog posts again…

I miss the old life – like the stuff above.

About next week

BEAGLESITTER REBOOKED!

It’s road trip time, and there’s a busy weekend between us and it, with birthday parties at opposite ends of the age scale. And those will be a lot of fun, not least because a lot of planning and organisation has gone into them, but there’s still loads to sort out before we head off out and about, around the Western Cape. A scary amount.

(And then don’t even mention the punishing 5 day trip up North the following week, which makes this road trip look like a quick visit to the local shops.)

But I’m looking forward to next week. I’m not taking a laptop, so expect
a) some pre-written posts, plus whatever else I get the chance to fit in.
b) the occasional unedited photo, and
c) plenty of instagramming.

I know for a fact that there will be a couple of days where I won’t have wifi or cell signal, but I can’t imagine that there will be a lot in many of the deliberately chosen, sparsely populated dorpies and nature reserves we’re planning to visit.

Night skies? Hopefully.
Freezing temperatures? Obviously.
Some proper family time? Surely, yes.

Bring it on.

Road Trip pics

As Gwede “Uncle Gweezy” Mantashe confirms that there are no plans for the ANC to recall President Jacob Zuma and the Rand responds with a now customary gravity-inspired trip downwards, I’m still enjoying the memory of a great trip back from Agulhas yesterday.

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Not the quickest journey back. In fact, at 8½ hours, definitely the longest. But definitely one of the most interesting too. Dirt roads, ostriches, tortoises, places that Google Maps hasn’t even heard of, two lighthouses (one of which we got all to ourselves) and some uitstekende scenery.

There are photos, obviously – I’ve put them in with all the weekend stuff here. But all in all, it was just great spending some time with my Dad and having the chance to see a few places that we didn’t even know we’d be passing.

Did I mention that we had a whole lighthouse to ourselves as well?