What better weekend can there be than to spend 3 days at Kromrivier in the Cederberg. Well 5 Cape 4X4 members took up the invitation to spend a “rustige” week end camping in this most beautiful spot. The initial brief was that there will be no 4x4 trail and that we will just camp. Well, as per normal things do change, despite the brief!!

Edward and Marika and Edward’s dad Loydd , as well as Russell and family arrived on the Thursday night and set up the camp. Dick and myself arrived on Friday and Marius , with his brand new baby Land Rover arrived late on Friday and we were still waiting for Steve end Gina, who only arrived on Saturday morning. Nobody was phased about this intermittent arrival of the group and we got on with making huge fires, braaiing and drinking whatever we fancied. Loydd was never without the beer in the little leather holder around his neck.

Just after breakfast on Saturday morning Steve and Gina arrived safely after all the drama that he had with his nephew that had been in an accident. Clearly he needed a break and regardless of being tired and suffering from severe lack of sleep, he was in on the trip to Eselbank and the waterfall. Russell, with a roaring bakkie, no silencer as this went on the way to Kromrivier, Edward, Marius and Steve were off on this short trip to the waterfall and back. Marius had been muttering about wanting to go to Heuningvlei and a donkie car ride as well, but there was no fixed plan about this.

 

Dick and I had just aqquired our new roof top tent and the new awning had been fitted on the side of the Terracan and once we had set up camp, we were not too keen to pack it all up to go on the Waterfall trip, so we chose to go for a walk on the Saturday. Well we walked and got back to the camp and went for a shower and opened some wine and later lit the fire and still nobody back from the waterfall trip. Well eventually they arrived back, without Marius, as he was still on the slow ride with the new Landy. Now Russell was not only in a roaring vehicle, it was now also without a front left shock. Details of what exactly happened can be checked with him personally!!

 

Anyway, we had a huge braai on Saturday night, with lots of stories about the day’s trip and at least Marius got to see Heunigvlei, but no donkie car trip, for him the only way was in the new little baby Landy. I mean not even Oupa could join us on the week end, as Marius had to get to know his new toy in his own time! We braaied and kuiered and more braai and more kuier and then Russell ventures into making Ashley’s famous “creamed garlic” in the beer can on the fire with more butter than you’ll find in the best cholesterol diet. The first tin became “roasted garlic”, due to lack of competence of the cook, however Russell supervised the 2^nd tin himself and that was perfectly done. Well after all this cooking Russell never got to braaing. That was done on Sunday morning before we left. Then again, a man can braai when a man wants to!!

 

 

After breakfast we all packed up and somewhere mid morning we left. 

Well credit to Russell, that vehicle with no silencer and no shock went over all the passes in the Cederberg, the Gydo pass and just for good measure over Bainskloof as well. There was the odd bit of fortification ( it is the correct word, Marius) needed on the way to keep him going. The first stop was at the Cederberg lodge for coffee. Well in all honesty this was not the first time that I have seen coffee disguised in a brandy and coke, so no sweat. This is really a beautiful place in a beautiful setting. The next stop was in Prince Alfred Hamlet for pumping tyres and saying good bye to Steve and Gina who went home via Worcester. The rest of headed for Bainskloof, all this now in pouring rain. So much more reason to stop at the bush pub on the way  for what ever reason you wish. Well the reason was soon clear, lekker wine, cold beers, a few Klippies and coke and excellent left over Beef potjie and the best pizzas in a long way. By the time we got going the rain had stopped and the week end was effectively over. We said our good byes and we all headed off over the mountain and back to reality, what ever that might mean!!!

 

One reality I am certain of and that is that a week end in the mountains with a 4X4 and good company is the sort of reality I can get used to.

 

Regards

Caretha