their welcome note, owners Calla and Orla du
Toit, say we are welcome to swim in and go for
a paddle. We continue up - a steady incline but
not too challenging. As we approach the top,
we see a large cross we noticed illuminated
the previous evening while stargazing. It was
a little too soon to head back so we pressed
on, past the cross, down the dale and climbed
further. After about 5km, we stopped for our
coffee break our legs dangling akimbo over
the village of Tulbagh.
There are jars of home-baked rusks and
biscuits in the cottage and a flask for just such
an occasion. There too are elegant plastic wine
glasses to take along to a picnic by the dam
or to enjoy a bottle of wine in the hot tub.
It felt as if we were on top of the world. We
could see the snow-topped mountains and the
beautiful valley beneath. In the far distance,
a hint of Table Mountain which is, I’m told,
visible, on a clearer day.
At the site of the cross we decided to walk
off-path to explore the very top of the peak for
360 degree views. And, on the way down, we
explored a cave created by a rocky outcrop.
Look out for the Protea Nana, elegantly
described in Afrikaans as a Skaamblom, a shy
blossom on account of its hanging head which
hides its true beauty. I’d not seen this before.
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
51