Cape Town and back again

We enjoyed staying with Sue and Steve which was our first visit to their home. They are excellent hosts and this was our first brekkie...



We all drove to Blouberg where there is a cafe with good food for brunch. The view of Table mountain is brilliant but it was too cold to sit outside


There was an amazing array of cakes and on the lower shelf is a chicken cheesecake which is served hot with a lovely broccoli salad


The waves were impressive but this part of the coast is known for the wind and its popular with Kite surfers


This Boaty McBoatface was sitting so high on the water it looked like it was resting on top


Stunning views


Family photos








That's it!


Woody and I had a stroll - Table Mountain dead ahead 


On the way home we passed the airport and raced a landing plane 


Hermanus sea views. I did see spray from Brydes whales and one Southern Right Whale flapping around but no photos


Sunset


Brekkie at the golf club. Really tasty and excellent value for money and the only people there!


We then walked around the golf
Course and met Miso


Enjoying the peace


And the springbok





Another day another ride





This time to Bredasdorp

And this candle and China shop - all helping local people have a fair income. Next time will go in the car


The rest of our family


Lunch at a farm stall on the way back



Looking from the stoep over vineyards and down to what would be a river had there been water


More adventures anon x

New Views

We went just a up the way to Voëlklip and with a super tasty deluxe sandwich we made our way up the zigzag path and down the path overlooking the three dams


Things are Looking up


Fantastic views from the top





Looking back at the path we had walked up


You can see this tiny post from the road and here's proof we got
There


This is looking towards Hermanus


Which way... next time I hope to walk the jeep track as the views should be fab. There is a hit up here you can stay in but you have to carry all your bedding and food up


Shortly after our arrival at the top we were  joined by this guy who is running his way round





We walked along the top and then down a ridge and then into the valley


The valley the other side had the three dams which used to provide Hermanus water but now only for the golf club


We have had time in Cape Town with friends... the view round to
Cape point was clear


For Nigel's birthday we had lunch at De Grendel's







I had the rock lobster






The amuse bouche 


I had springbok main and this delight for dessert


Woodys pud


It's also a wine making place - huge vats of the stuff though not working today


The clouds had cleared over towards Table Mountain 


Some photos of our (American) Mother's Day brunch coming up. No water here so it's all about the food! X

The pick of the bunch

So here are a few highlights from our time in South Africa

To start here is the kinky boot that was being worn due to an Achilles' tendon injury allegedly from just walking across the kitchen

However we later learned that there is an ingredient in some antibiotics that can cause tendon weakness and it usually happens 2 weeks after taking them so take note!

https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/news/20080708/fda-warning-cipro-may-rupture-tendons

Yum!!! Good for all kinds of tails

We had dinner at La Vierge with some of our Cape Town friends. Other Nigel is still talking about how good the steak was and Woody always maintains this is the best steak he's ever had in the world so there's always a minimum of 2 visits

Their food is not fine dining but always looks fabulous and so tasty

A trip out on the bike... the orange roads are dirt and the smiley faces let you know whether the map maker recommends the road as being scenic or not

This is Miss Willow who lives with Doris and Tokkie. She is full of mischief but has been quite poorly with a bad throat recently. She seems to be recovering well now and has delighted everyone on finding the murkiest black swamp to wallow in. Following a good wash she fluffed up most beautifully to about twice her normal size

Big rocks at the local spar... not much scale here but they are bigger than my mums but her's have more fruit in them

It's the Woody aisle!

A trip to Napier and the candle shop for gifts for friends here and to load up with to bring home for us. They are hand painted by Nobunto.http://www.nobunto.com/

We stopped at this farm stall to the delight of all as you can see

There's lots of signs about the place

Lots of signs

Every great love starts with a great story...

And a new friend. This one adored rubbing up against shoes. Hands free!

I was wondering where the loo was and then I found it...

Woody and I had a beer each but no alcohol in it apparently. All home made and tasty

Church at Volmoed with the favourite resident. He made friends during the peace and supervised the communion from the Altar

He jumped down from first floor to the ground and then walked up the tree trunk which is pretty vertical to this point

From there it was up to

The roof

And from there the negotiations began

You do want to come down and not sunbathe all day

And at last success!

More of the sun to come and we will be back for the English summer shortly 

Xxx