We decided on the spur of the moment to take off for the weekend.  We love Robertson for the bass fishing and bird watching opportunities.  Over the years we have stayed at a few places but Retreat Cottage is one of our favourites.  This time we decided to go to a place we haven’t been to for a number of years – Good Hope Olive and Wine Farm.  We first stayed at their Mountain Cottages which had a ‘loo with a view’. We got to know the owner, Shirlee but she has since sold and we wanted to stay at the Fishing Cottages which are somewhat more rustic but attractive as they are right on the Bass Dam.

I phoned to book at lunch time and by 3 o’clock we were packed on the road with very little packed in the way of self-catering!  So after checking in we headed to the town of Robertson for dinner.   The Bourbon Restaurant came highly recommended and we were not disappointed.  It had a varied menu. Earl settled for Lamb Shank and I had a sort of Pitta filled with delicious middle eastern vegetables served with tzatziki.

Our accommodation was rustic but comfortable.  The stone floors meant did nothing for warmth but we had a heater and wonderful electric blankets.  Between the two semi-detatched huts there was indoor/outdoor kitchen – wonderfully equipped and perfect for our needs.  The Dam Cottages would be perfect for a group of friends who wanted to share some time together.

The view of the dam was fabulous.  We were the only guests on the farm this being very low season.  In summer and on long weekends it is hard to get accommodation in the Robertson area.

Good Hope Farm is a working farm and one wakes to sound  turkeys gobbling and cocks crowing.  There are pigs and sheep and horses too.

 

Earl threw in a line or two but the aim was to do a bit of bird watching.  There were a few birds like coots, herons, Egyptian Geese and darters on the dam. On Sunday morning we were amused to see a heron give way to the superior claim to the float to a darter.

The area is good for all the Karoo specials.  I was hoping to find the Karoo Robin and I was in luck.  The pale chanting goshawk is also common in the area.  Here are some birds that we had fun finding.

 

 

Hereunder some photographs of the beautiful scenery – the mountains stood out clearly and  we were stunned by the stunning autumn colours of the vines and trees. The Elgin area displayed some beautiful trees in their rustic apparel.