Highlights of Plettenberg Bay

2018-10-07 | puppy1952

Yes we visited the kids in Plettenberg Bay just two weeks ago but you can’t do a trip to Knysna without popping in for a short visit to the kids who are just an hour away!

The Earl only booked till Tuesday morning at Monks, forgetting that there was still the competition prize-giving we could have gone to. We tried to get the extra night but due to school holidays and another upcoming fishing event the campsite was fully booked. So we packed up early and made our way to Plett. It was not the most pleasant pack up as it decided to rain. Luckily we got done before it really poured! It continued on and off all of Tuesday but the rest of the time we had great weather.

On Wednesday morning we were enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio when we spotted a para-glider flying over the farm. I wanted to take a photo but by the time I stirred myself to fetch the camera, The Earl, – said – Hey – he’s coming down!

Not my photo – but he looked like this – Thank you Google

The para-glider disappeared behind the pine trees about 4 km away but still on the farm. “We’ve got to go and rescue him!” yelled the Earl. Ooooh – how exciting – an adventure. He, Lauren and I rushed to the Everest and made our way gingerly along the rough farm roads. “I know exactly where he landed,” The Earl assured us ” But keep your eyes open – he must have seen the road from the air and will make his way toward it.”

Because of the terrain it was slow going with the Everest in 4X4 mode for most of the way. Finally we turned onto the field where we thought he’d landed. and sure enough a surprised young man with a large back pack appeared from behind the trees.

And yes he was pleased to see us. He was trying to fly to Uniondale but the thermals let him down and he had to land. There were two others with him but they landed many miles further away. We took him to the launch site where his car was parked. His friends had already been to collect theirs. Andries was most grateful that we had come to fetch him – it would have taken him a very long time to walk to the farm and then to the launch site.

The Launch Site

This is what you launch yourself into

Awesome

He was very interesting to talk to and offered us all a free tandem flight whenever we wanted to have such an adventure. Not me thanks, Andries – but perhaps my four grandkids will do it during the Christmas Holidays!

On Thursday Lauren’s old high school friend, Saskia came to visit. She and her family were camping at Keurboom’s. She brought her 10-year-old with her while her hubby and older son were playing golf. Simon and Josh hit it off straight away and went off to fish in one of the dams while Lauren, Saskia and I went for a walk on the farm.

If you look carefully you will see the fishing boys – Grandpa was not far away – Boys of all ages love to fish!

The Road less travelled – downhill to the dam – uphill back to the farm!

Saskia and Lauren

It was an awesome visit but home was calling and on Friday morning we headed back to our Struisbaai. We are now preparing for The Great Trek to Namibia at the end of this month!

Catching Up With The Family

2018-06-04 | puppy1952

On Friday after enjoying a delicious breakfast at our favourite coffee shop, The Earl said, “I feel like going off somewhere for the weekend.”

“Where do you want to go?” I asked. It was cold and I didn’t relish a caravan excursion.

“To the kids in Plettenberg Bay!” came his reply. Well – why not! It’s a whole six weeks since we saw them last. And the novelty of having them only five hours away hasn’t yet worn off!

So we rushed home, phoned our son-in-law, packed a bag and hit the road at 10:30 am!

The drive from Struisbaai to Plett is an easy one. There is very little traffic and the roads are in good condition. But when we passed through George there was a congestion. What could be wrong? The Earl began to get anxious as the traffic police were not handling the situation very well. The road was blocked and the two officers didn’t seem to know what to do. They were letting a few cars through and only when we got close to them were we told that if we were going further than Victoria Bay we wouldn’t be able to get through. A truck had lost it’s load of beer on the pass. Sooo we had to turn around and take the narrow, windy Seven Passes Road. At one point there was a single lane bridge to cross and this caused a huge congestion. It took us two extra hours to get to our kids. But such is life and it was all part of the adventure. Imagine if we’d been in a hurry! We still made it to Jubilee Farm by just after five pm.

Lauren was teaching when we called our son-in-law so she and Simon only found out we were coming at the end of the school day. Allan cooked us a delicious lamb curry and had a fire going. It was, to say the least, a happy reunion.

A warming curry for supper

Grandpa and Si in front of the fire – Gramps has the extra warmth of Roger round his neck

Saturday was a much warmer day. The sun shone, the sky was blue and there was not a breath of wind. I was delighted to find that yellow-billed ducks now visit the pond in front of the house.

This duck called out his joy with gleeful quacks

Cheddar the cat likes hunting in the long grass and reeds next to the dam

We took the family to town for lunch. The Table is a lovely Italian restaurant with seating outdoors.

The Dolphin Statue in Plettenberg Bay

Lauren and Allan at The Table

Lauren and Allan had delicious pizza, The Earl and I chicken and avo salad and Simon a Blue cheese salad. Desserts were Creme Brulet and Fruit on sticks dipped in dark Belgium Chocolate. Yum!

Our granddaughter, Shannon, who attends Glenwood House in George, was not home for the weekend as she had choir rehearsal all Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. So on Sunday we had a leisurely late breakfast and enjoyed the morning with the family before setting off to George. Shan was with family friends for the day and we visited her there before taking her back to school. It was lovely catching up with her and The Bakers. It was also lovely to see Shan’s school and to meet her roommate. I am so proud of my well-adjusted granddaughter. It wasn’t easy leaving her much loved St John’s in Pietermaritzburg at the end of last term. But after only five weeks she is fitting in so well at Glenwood. You go Shan, Girl!

Shan and her roommate, Onika

After dropping Shan we went to Great Brak to see more family – Diane and Carey who live on a small holding in the mountains called Rondomooi. For my overseas readers Rondomooi means All Around Beautiful.

And all around where they live is truly beautiful!

Carey has a workshop on the property where he builds Motor Homes. They also grow veggies and keep chickens. Diane is going to start an orchid nursery.

Eggs from the Free-Range Hens

Diane collecting eggs

Kitty keeping an eye on things

Lettuce growing like trees!

Carey showing me the garden

We spent a lovely evening and morning with Carey and Diane and at 11 this morning headed back to Struisbaai. We stopped in Swellendam to refuel with diesel and coffee!

It was a lovely sunny day and we even stopped to snap this lovely rock kestrel

IMG_6924_InPixio

What a lovely little get-away that was. When you retire you can do these spur of the moment things! How lucky we are!

Plettenberg Bay – More Exploring

2018-04-12 | puppy1952

The trouble with having gel nails is that when you’re away from your usual technician for any length of time you have to find someone else to fix them when they’re due for an upgrade! Google is a great help and this morning a quick search got me making an appointment at Divine Salon for 9:00 am. One hour later and I was very happy with the results.

Afterwards we decided to try one of the little coffee shops near Central Beach. The brekkie of scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes and avocado pear was lovely, the coffee was excellent and The Earl enjoyed his cappuccino.

We can highly recommend La Cafeteria

It has a great vibe, fun waitrons and today was a gorgeous day if you wanted to sit outdoors

Coffee is important – and ours was perfect

Afterwards we went exploring. There are two rivers that attract tourists to Plettenberg Bay – The Bitou and The Keurbooms. We drive past the former on the way to Jubilee farm so we decide to check out Keurbooms.

We found a lovely beach called Keurbooms Beach which has the famous Enrico Restaurant next to it. There is a boardwalk linking another beach on the right of the restaurant. I walked along the beach to the left and then we walked along the boardwalk to see the other secluded beach. Even though the weather was stunning today we only saw about five other people! I am sure it is very different in the summer season. There are some beautiful holiday homes overlooking the beaches.

Enrico’s Restaurant

The beach to the right

African Black Oyster-catchers on the beach

I was upset to see an oyster catcher’s foot caught in a tangle of fishing net and seaweed.

The Earl admiring the view

This is what he is looking at

The Beach on the other side of Enrico’s

After enjoying the beaches we headed to Keurboom’s River. If you’re into boating this is the place for you.

You can book a ferry trip or do a sun-downer cruise

Canoes can also be hired

There was a fair bit of activity on the river. There are houseboats, ferries, motorboats etc. It looked like a lot of fun.

On our way back to Jubilee we stopped to take photos of birds on the Bitou River.

Grey Heron

We watched a male pied kingfisher catch this fish and give it to his mate. She is about to swallow it.

A Jackal Buzzard refused to pose on the telephone wire but I got him in flight

Then he settled into a nearby tree.

It was indeed an interesting morning. Next time we come to Plettenberg Bay we will be a bit more informed about the best places to visit.

Plettenberg Bay – Our Kids’ New Home

2018-04-05 | puppy1952

A new chapter began in the lives of our middle daughter and son-in-law when they moved from their small holding in Kokstad to a farm in Plettenberg Bay just before the Easter Weekend. Leaving was a huge wrench as they’d had a very happy 20 years there. But things change and there comes a time when opportunity demands you move on. Allan has a new business venture, Lauren starts a new teaching job at Plett Primary, Simon will complete his Grade seven there and Shan starts at Glenwood House in George next term.

For us it means that visiting each other becomes a whole lot easier. A two day road trip has now been reduced to five hours!

So with caravan in tow (we plan to go to Addo afterwards) we departed from Struisbaai at 8:30, popped in to an appointment in Bredasdorp at 9, had breakfast and hit the road at 10:15. We made two half-hour stops en route and arrived at Jubilee Farm at 3:30! The added bonus is that we take in the beautiful Garden Route to get there. It was such a stress free trip.

Of course we kept in touch as we travelled and Simon was at the farm gate to greet us when we arrived. He ran ahead toward the house where the rest of the family were waiting. And wow – what a difference. Their home in Kokstad was lovely but very much smaller with its three bedrooms, one bathroom, small lounge/dining room and a very tiny kitchen. There was an outside office/flat and laundry and the garden was stunning but now they have five enormous bedrooms, three bathrooms – two of them en suite, a huge kitchen, walk-in pantry, scullery and laundry. The living area is open plan and has panoramic view across the valley and the huge double garage has a door leading into the house.

Lounge, Dining Room and kitchen have flow to each other but are still separate

View

Right in front of the house is a small dam where Simon fishes regularly. There are also several other big dams on the farm one of which is just a short walk away. All of them are stocked with bass and blue gill.

Simon is in his element

Right in front of the house

Lauren and I took a walk so see what the guys were catching

At the big dam

Grandfather in Heaven

Simon’s Bass from the bigger dam

Doggie heaven

Lauren doesn’t know herself in her new kitchen. And I had a wonderful time making the salads and dessert for their 20th anniversary dinner. Earlier in the day we’d all gone into town to shop. Lauren got prawns from Robberg Fine Foods, cooked them in garlic butter and served them on a bed of Basmati rice. Delicious.