Days 271 to 280 Diary Index
Days 291 to 300 
After the usual get up routine and a spot of washing, we all went for a walk along the nearby beach. We couldn't see a great deal as there was a thick white fog everywhere, which limited the visibility to 50-100m. Once back at the campsite we chatted until it was time to go for Christmas lunch. We then all jumped in the hired camper and drove down the road to the restaurant. On entering they told us that lunch wouldn't be served until later, as they had not received enough bookings for the earlier slot. Disgruntled we left and decided that we would drive over to Boulders Beach to see the Penguins to kill time. Once we got there it appeared that plenty of other people had had the same idea and the place was packed. We couldn't find anywhere to park the camper, so we continued down the road to the Cape Peninsular. We entered the park and drove down to the end car park. We then walked up the hill to the view point at the base of the light house. Mum was finding it hard going in the heat, and rewarded her self and us with a ice cream on return to the car park. We then took the short dive round the corner to the Cape of Good Hope, stayed for a little while, got a couple of pictures and then set off on the drive back. Along the way we spotted a Sculpture garden and stopped to have a look around. A lot of the work was very impressive, with the amount of detail and the various artistic poses of animals and people. We eventually got back to the restaurant and sat down to dinner. The service was terrible and we were served our starts after we got started on the main course. But it was good food even if it was a bit cold. We made the best of it and while we where eating the courier from Arab Emirates calls to say that Mum and Dads luggage had arrived and ask when we would like it delivered. We then drove back to the campsite and not long after courier arrived with Mum and Dads luggage. After Mum unpacked the bag I was given my presents and stocking. So we sat there, with me unwrapping presents, drinking wine and chatting until late.
We left the campsite and drove into Cape Town via Chapman's Peak. The views all the way along where great, with deep blue ocean meeting white sandy bays, with mountains lurking in the background. We dropped Mum at the V&A Water Front complex so she could have a look around and do some shopping, while me and Dad walked up Table Mountain. Once through the city center and parked up near the lower cable station, we set off. We took one of the many trails that lead to the start of the main path to the top. It was a steep twisting climb, and Dad was breathing hard and having to stop regularly. But the old timer trudged on to the top with no problems. Even with the lack of breath he still found time to bewilder passing walkers with cheery comments. It took us 1h45min to get to the top, and once there we sat down and enjoyed and well earned lunch, while admiring the view. We then took a slow walk to the upper cable car station, where we had arranged to meet Mum. We had to wait quite a while as the cable cars were very busy, but Mum appeared eventually. We then went for a walk around the top of the mountain looking at the views and taking pictures, before returning to the bottom in the cable car. We drove back to the campsite, but decide to go down the road for a drink. Just as we stopped Verena ranamg, so I chatted to her for a while, before joining my parents for a beer. Once back at camp we had some dinner and spent the evening sipping wine and chatting the night away.
Once we were up and about, we drove down the road to the Long Beach Mall. There I spent an hour in the internet cafe, while Mum and Dad wandered around the place. We then met for lunch at a coffee shop, before doing some food shopping in the super market attached to the mall. We then drove over to Fish Hoek and parked up next to one of the beaches. Me and Dad went swimming in the chilly water, while Mum relaxed on the beach. When me and Dad were also back on the beach a very large pod of Dolphins passed back and forth across the mouth of the bay. There must have been a couple of hundred in total, and it looked like they were rounding up schools of fish, by working in small groups and driving them toward the beach. We then drove back to the campsite and spent the evening relaxing, chatting and enjoying a nice dinner.
After a relaxed breakfast, we packed up and left Imhoff caravan park and drove to Somerset West. As we had arrange to meet a couple of friends of my parents, Dick and July, who live there over the northern hemispheres winter months. As arranged we met at one of the local petrol stations and then we were lead back to there house. Once there we relaxed and chatted in the back garden, over tea and cakes. It was only a shame that we couldn't stay longer, as we had to get back on the road and rack up some miles to make the planned campsite for the night at Mossel Bay. So we drove back to the N2 and followed it northeast for some 6 hours to get there. Unfortunately when we arrived in the town it was soon obvious that all the campsites were packed to capacity and there was no more space. One of the guards on the gate of a campsite told us about some other places a bit further along the coast in the direction of Hartenboss. So we headed out of town and in that direction. But the first place we came across was also full. The next place was a bit hard to find but once there they had just enough space to squeeze us in. It was really busy as well and not really a nice place. As it was set in amongst a new development of beach side hotels and holiday complex's some of which were still being built. But it was late in the day and it was some where to stay and sleep.
After a quick breakfast we were soon on the road and back on the N2. The first stop was at Buffalo Bay but all the campsites there were full, so we headed onto Knysna, but it was same story there. So we carried on driving and along the way stopped in a town to do some shopping. It was at that point Dad pointed out that my brake lights were not working. The problem was quickly traced to the switch above the brake peddle. But there was not a whole lot I could do about it there and then so I decided to just drive on and we would sort it out at the campsite. After a few more K's down the road I spotted a sign for a campsite set back off the road down a dirt tack. So we drove down to check it out. It was called Southern Comfort and was a nice place set on top of a hill at the edge of a pine forest. We arranged to stay and set camp. As it was only mid afternoon, me and Dad went off for a walk round their 4x4 track. Once back I set to on the problem with the brake light switch. Which turned out to be a case of some melted wires. The evening was spent relaxing, having dinner and enjoying a few of the local beers.
We were up bright and early and soon packed up and back on the road. A few hours of driving and we had arrived at Jeffrey's Bay, the world famous surf spot. After spending some time in one the local supermarkets, we headed down to the beach to check out the surf and have some lunch. Like on my last visit the surf was flat, but it was still a nice place to have lunch before moving on. A few more hours drive down the road and we arrived at Colchester caravan park, which we had book in advance and where hoping to stay a few days at. Once booked in and parked up, it quickly became apparent that they had been some what generous with the description of their facilities. Me and Dad went for a long walk down along the river toward the sea. Along the way we discovered that there was a lot more of the caravan park further along the river, which was quite busy with many people fishing and people playing with their boats. Along the way we got some great views of un-spoilt dunes on the opposite bank of the river, which stretched all the way to the sea. We didn't actually reach the sea before turning back, as it was still quite some way further on and it was getting late. So we headed back the way we came. After describing what we had seen to Mum she was interested to have a look as well. So I took her along the route we had been in the Landy before returning to our pitch in the main part of the caravan park. Over dinner that night it was unanimously decided that this was not the place we want to stay at for New Years Eve, because of the shear lack of any atmosphere and bugger all to do. So after a phone call to check they had space, it was decided that we would drive onto Hogsback to following day and stay at the Away With The Fairies Backpackers there.
It was a cold dreary morning and as we got ready to leave, it started to rain. We had planned on popping in a spending a couple of hours in a near by nature reserve, but because of the rain it had ruined the chances of seeing any of the animals. So we got straight onto the road and started the drive toward Hogsback. We went a different way to the way I had approached it before. The road was smaller and more hilly but there was some nice views of far off mountains along the way. Eventually we reached the junction at which we turned to drive toward the mountains and wound our way along the valley and up the pass to Hogsback village. The last kilometer or so before the village the road turns back to dirt, and so we had to take it slowly because of the campervan. But none the less we were soon at the Away With the Fairies Backpackers. It took a bit of maneuvering to get the vehicles in the camp ground and level. Once we were in position it was still only mid afternoon. So me and Dad went for a walk in the surrounding forest, following a route shown on a map we were given. I was a little hard finding the start of the trail as someone had recently built a fence across the access track. It was a pleasant walk through the forest and we pasted a nice waterfall that must have been 10m high and a couple of massive old trees. Toward the end of our walk it started to rain again, which didn't matter until the last section where we had to push through the bushes to get in the backpackers garden, were the trail ended. But after a cup of tea we were warmed up again. I then popped down the road to use the internet for a short while. On returning it was not long before we had made ourselves comfy in the bar as it was still rainy and misty out side. Us and all the other people who were staying at the backpackers had signed up for dinner. So there was many people there and it was a bit of squeeze to fit everyone in the bar. The meal was great and the beer was soon flowing, and as the tables were being cleared, so the locals from the village started turning up and the place was soon heaving with people. Some how, amongst the chaos a band managed to come in and set up and we were then entertained by a couple of different acts until late. But the fun didn't stop there, in fact it didn't stop at all, as we partied right through the night and on until dawn.
It was around 6 a clock when I wandered into the garden to watch the fuzzy glow of dawn brighten the misty gloom. This was also the point I stopped drinking as I had drunk myself sober. So I went and had a shower and got some breakfast down me. When Mum and Dad surfaced I wished them a happy new year and went to chill out and read in the backpacker lounge. It was not long before Mum came in and said that they wanted to move on today, because there was not a lot to do here in the rain. This turned out to be easier said than done as the campsite area had turned to mush with all the rain. The campervan couldn't get enough grip and I had to winch it up the slope to the car park area. Surprisingly it then drove up the muddy track out of the backpackers with out a problem. It continued to rain all the rest of the day as we drove back toward the coast and onto Arena caravan park near Cinsta. We felt a bit gulity for bothering the guy on his day off, but he was nice enough to book us in and some us where we could park without a grumble. As soon as the campervan drove onto the grass it sunk in the mud. I just managed to park the Landy on a concrete plate form, to keep it from sinking in over night. Dad then made the best of the quiet river and done a spot of fishing. But the only thing he court was a tiny fish about 5cm long, which got thrown back. During which we got chatting to another family who were staying near by, and learnt about there stay there over the last few days. That evening was spent hiding in the campervan having dinner and watching a movie on the laptop.
On waking I was met by the realization that it had rained all night and was still raining. Which had only made the ground even more water logged. Over breakfast we decide that we would spend the day driving toward the Drakenberg mountains and the Lesotho border. First job of the day was to get the campervan out of the mud for the second time in two days. But before Mum and Dad were ready to move the campervan a South African guys approached me and ask if I could tow him out of the car park. So I quickly went and done this and then took up position to winch the campervan out. I took a little while as we had to reposition the winch cable a couple of times to move the vehicle in the right direction, but it was eventually winched back onto the drive way running through the caravan park. We then drove back to the N2 and followed it northeast to Umata and onto Kokstad. It was foggy and rainy all the way and on a few occasions we had to slow, swerve or stop because because donkeys, cows and sheep were wandering about in the road. Not to mention some of the local drivers who didn't seam to have a clue at how to drive in these conditions. We then turned off onto the R617 toward Underberg and stopped around 10Km short, to stay at the Dragons Rest caravan park. After arranging to stay we found a nice spot and set camp. This time on firm hard ground. Before the light faded the clouds cleared briefly and we got a great view of the Drakenberg mountains in the orange glow of the setting sun. After dinner we settled down to watch a DVD on the laptop, but the weather had other ideas, as a massive thunderstorm blew in. With lighting and thunder cracking right over head in was an impressive site. By the time we went to bed everything had quieted down, which was just as well.
That morning we decided that we would go for a day trip up the Sani Pass and into Lesotho. After making Dad a comfy spot in the back using my matrices we set off. As we appoach the start of the pass the clouds start to clear and the sun comes out. We were soon able to see all the way along the valley, and stopped many times to take pictures of the great views. Just before the pass started to climb in earnest we arrived at the South African border post. I was a low key affair with just one small building set to the side of the dirt track. We presented our passports at the window and got them stamped without a fuss. We were soon back on our way, but this time slower, as the piste was getting ever more rough and steep. Toward the later stages of the pass the piste climbs in tight switch backs, which were best negotiated in low range gears, but other than some careful driving it was straight forward. As we crested the last climb, we were greeted by the sight of the Sani Pass Lodge and border post. We first stopped at the border post to get the passports stamped, before setting off for a small drive along the piste's of Lesotho. Along the way we stopped to stick a Jersey Land Rover Owners Club sticker on the Sani Pass sign, and taking a photo as proof. In the hope of starting a tradition of putting the stickers in interesting places we take our Landy's. Also along this drive we passed lots of traditional looking huts and people wandering about with their cattle. The views of the area and the surrounding mountains were stunning, with a cold fresh look to the colours. You could see by the landscape that it was one of those places where the weather could turn quickly and be very harsh. Thankfully today was sunny and clear. After reaching the top of the next pass we turned around and drove back to the Sani Pass Lodge. There we enjoyed a cool drink and eventually, after a long wait, lunch. By this time it was mid afternoon and we jumped back int the Landy for the return trip down the pass. Again the low gears made driving the steep, tight upper second easy and we descended slow but steadily without problem. As we rejoined the tarmac at the bottom we noticed some dark looming clouds and it was not long before it was raining heavily. As we reached the edge of Underberg this suddenly turned to big (3-5cm dia.) hail stones. They were hitting the Landy so hard I had to pull off the road and hide the vehicle under a over hanging tree. We sat there with the engine running for 5 minutes or so until it subsided enough to see where to drive. As we drove into the town center we saw many cars with their windows smashed and completely covered in big dents. On getting back to the campsite we found that the whole left hand side of the campervan had been repeatedly dented, lights smashed and vents broken. We were not the only ones as nearly every vehicle and trailer in the place had suffered some sort of damage. Other Land Rover Defender was extensively damaged, with large dents in the wings, bonnet and doors. It had been and eventful day and so we spent the evening just relaxing and having dinner.
Days 271 to 280 Diary Index
Days 291 to 300