It was bitterly cold when we woke up, with the thermometer showing -6. There was frost everywhere, even on Troopy's roof. We packed up as quickly as we could as it was going to be a long drive, probably to Queenstown. The trail runners got going at 7. It must have been quite bitter for them. We couldn't find anyone to pay so got going. We phoned later to explain what had happened and arranged to do a FTE payment.
We wanted to go to the Karkloof Falls, but at the turnoff there was a notice to say the viewpoint was closed. In Howick we filled up and got going on the long up and down road across the Natal Midlands, some of which featured in our Midlands Meander guide. We did not have time to really appreciate anything except the wonderful views of the Berg. But we did find the Picklepot Cafe where stopped for coffee and were welcomed by a couple of dogs, one a great Dane and a rather chatty owner. We grabbed a table in front of the fire. There was no one there when we got there, but soon people started to arrive, including a group of bikers. It was quite busy when we left. Took pictures of the tyres on a Landcruiser parked outside - Firestone Wilderness Jeep Service. Then it was on towards Underberg where there was also a coffee stop possibility, but we drove straight through. The route was very beautiful skirting the southern berg and all hills and valleys. We took a gravel short cut to Matatiele. It was 64 km of gravel, but it proved to be very good with hardly any corrugations. The winter landscape was exquisite. It is a important wetland area and most of the beautiful rivers that run through the Transkei and create the magic gorges and waterfalls have their source here. At Matatiele we stopped for lunch at the Wimpy which was quite civilized, but also the only choice. There was a very good looking coffee shop which was unfortunately closed on Sundays. Then it was the afternoon stretch with Queenstown the only possible overnight stop. Fortunately Marianne phoned ahead and booked into a guesthouse that she selected from Google. We drove through Mount Fletcher, Maclear which had a coffee shop, also closed, Ugie and then on to Queenstown. The road was in good condition and very scenic, with lots of hills and valleys and one stretch that had once again lots of wetlands with some quite big vleilands. The sun set about 60 km from Queenstown and we drove the last stretch in the dark. I had been dreading this, but the few drivers on the road were very sensible and there were also very few cows or other animals. Marianne thought she saw a dead cow that might have been hit by the bakkie stopped next to it, but everyone seemed relaxed. We turned onto the main road with a sigh of relief and were soon at Tranquil Lodge. It was fortunately on the correct side of town for us. It was also much smarter than we expected, spacious and well equipped. Marianne soon produced another of her miracles and after the usual umpteen trips to the car (a camper thing) we were warmly in bed by 22h30.

Geschreven door Leartravels