The Cederburg and a special horse show

Last weekend was a holiday weekend - we had Monday off for Human Rights Day.

Thinking it would be starting to cool down pleasantly, we had booked a weekend at The Baths near Citrusdal, a small resort build around natural hot springs at the southern foot of the Cederburg natural wilderness mountain range. Our route took us directly up the N7, the road that runs all the way up the west coast of SA to Namibia. We left CT around 3pm, with the thermometer reading 31C, and the temperature just rose steadily throughout the 3 hours drive. By the time we got to The Baths about 6pm, we had seen 37C, some preparation for the 42C we would encounter in Citrusdal the next day. We had a self catering chalet - basic but fine, once we had cleared out the huge (though harmless) rain spiders.

As a result of the heat, the hiking we had planned went out of the window! We spent most of Saturday oscilating between the hot and cold pools at the resort, and decided on Sunday that an air conditioned car was probably the best place to be, so set out to explore the region. The Cederburg is really beautiful - a vast wilderness, with a central spine of mountains crafted into unbelievable shapes by wind, rain (and snow in winter). The area has been inhabited for thousands of years and we headed out on rutted dirt tracks to reach one of the famous sites of San rock art. After nearly two hours of jolting along we finally got there, our little Hyundai performing brilliantly. The rock art was in a series of caves, and we stayed for ages exploring the cool interiors.

On Monday we left after a final swim and set out for CT, with the intention of calling in at Durbanville on the way home for the Harvest Festival celebrations at the local wine farms. We had intended to go to 3 or 4 farms, but ended up staying the whole afternoon at Altydgedacht, a wine producer we weren't familiar with beforehand, but that had a lovely relaxed vibe and lots of activities for everyone plus some very chilled live music. We even had a go at grape stomping - treading the grapes with our bare feet as in the old days.

And so back home for the start of a new week - a 4,30am start for me on Tuesday to fly to Joburg, and a 3 day school camp for Lottie up the West Coast. By all accounts she had a great time with lots of fun activities, though not a lot of sleep.

This weekend we had two fun activities. On Saturday we went to see Cirque de Soleil at GrandWest Arena. Amazing acrobatics, mime, juggling, bike riding. And today the absolute highlight (as far as the girls were concerned!), the Alassio Horse Show. Not quite Olympia, but the first show the girls have been involved with, and a really lovely morning in the sunshine. Libby came away with a 1st and 2nd place rosette for best walk and best trot, (age 9 and under), Lottie with a third in the best walk (age 10 and over) class, and a place in the best trot class.

Later we had friends over for a braai and chilled out in the ongoing heat.

Only one more week of term to go and then we're off for a week's holiday to Kruger and Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga in the north west of the country. I've worked non stop in March, so can't wait!

Finally, a photo to amuse those of us who have endured the Kipper, Biff and Chip Oxford Reading Tree schemes at school. The scheme is alive and kicking in South Africa too - but this time in Afrikaans. Oh the agony!

Writing this tonight with half an eye on the TV, watching the images from the Japanese earthquake and Tsunami, and feeling as if I'm not really comprehending what I'm seeing. There's nothing sensible I can say, so I've decided just to upload some images from the last few weeks for us to look back on once we're home.

Firstly, from the trip Neil and I took to Robben Island showing the gateway to that horrible place and the (surely ironic) statement that the mission is to 'Serve with Pride'. The photograph of the written board shows an old menu from the 1970's demonstrating that 'Coloureds' had better rations vs 'Bantus' or the indigenous black population. Whilst the Coloureds got bread, jam and soup, black prisoners largely existed on mealie (corn).
Robben Island has always been a place of imprisonment, long before the Apartheid government saw its potential. Originally a leper colony, it is now a National Monument and hosts a population of 100 or so. There is still a functioning primary school, attended by island children, and interestingly about 15 pupils from the mainland who take the 30 minutes ferry ride across the bay every morning, in all weathers. No idea why!

This is Simon's Town, just outside Cape Town on the way to Cape Point. Lottie's class learned about the history of Simon's Town last year and visited the statue of Just Nuisance, the famous dog who became a recognised member of the SA Navy during the war.

Cape Point, and the Kalk Bay Mountains. Yes, we do walk the girls hard - almost every weekend we drag them out to climb a mountain or slog along a dusty track. They complain, but enjoy it really. And there's usually a good meal at the end of it - as here at Jonkershuis at the Groot Constantia wine estate. Neil and I felt it would be rude to leave without a little wine tasting......

And walking on Table Mountain, with those stunning views. Libby clearly expresses her feelings at the end of that particular walk!

Two weekends ago we explored Constantia, a wealthy and beautiful southern suburb of CT. Quite reminiscent of Surrey in lots of ways (!) - huge houses with acres of grounds, swimming pools and stables and leafy green lanes. The girls talked horses (their total obsession), the entire way. The highlight of the three hour walk for them was stepping off the bridleways to let immaculate horses and riders pass. It all reminded me most of a walk I did with Pippa, Harry and the girls a while ago around Ashford Hill, through the water meadows and down hidden byways. A bit bizarre for the southernmost tip of Africa.

A trip to the seaside and the waterslides at Muizenberg. Very definitely a throw back from the 1970s, with only three slides, but Lottie and Elizabeth love it.

And finally two little girls doing what they love most - riding at Alassio in Wynberg. Alassio is a sanctuary for rescue horses, and a pretty special, if very chaotic place. Lottie and Elizabeth ride amongst the vines and down to a river where the horses can drink and everyone cools off in the shade. The last few weeks have been almost unbearable to watch though, as the girls get into jodphurs, boots and hats as the thermometer hits the high 30s.

It has been stifling as you can see, but since I got back from a brief trip to Chester last week (big European workshop, quick chance to see Mum and Dad), there has been a hint of autumn in the air. Not so much in the temperatures - forecast to be back into the low 30s again by the end of the week, and the sun is still really hot. But the mornings and evenings are cooler and darker than they were only a couple of weeks ago. And today I noticed that the sun is clearly lower in the sky now. We used to struggle to find any shade at all on our deck, and lunchtimes outside were a challenge to escape the burning sun. Now half the deck is in shade, even at midday. The mountain is as stunning as ever though!