Well, we arrived back safely from CT on Friday — we just missed demonstrations blocking traffic there. We drove up the coast to see the penguin colony at Rocky Point (the same one where a leopard killed dozens of the sweetie pies a few months earlier), and then on to Hermanus, driven by a rumor that whales had been spotted the day before. Alas, that was fake news! Then over hill and dale to get back to the N2 homeward. Monday, we got in the car again (what were we thinking?!?) and drove back to Stillbaai to feed and pet the eels — this time, the eels were really willing to be stroked, and did I tell you how soft they are? Back to the Inverroche gin distillery, of course, for more amber gin. I cannot tell you how GOOD this gin is, just lovely with some ice cubes and a twist of orange –or add just a bit of really good tonic. Ahhhhhh.
We are planning a gin tasting party for sometime in the near future, though I’m not sure we’ll make it before we go to the Kruger and Laird returns home. Our friend Noekie had shoulder surgery while we were away in Cape Town and yesterday morning, her leg was swollen to about twice its normal size — she had seven blood clots! So she’s back in the hospital. Doesn’t put us in the party mood.
On Sunday, Laird, Marita, Cilla and I went to friends for a lovely, lovely braai — the yummiest steak I’ve had in a long time, and the best way ever to cook sweet potatoes, putting them in pastry like breakfast rolls. Marita knows how, so I’ll have to get her to tell me. Loret and Helmein were Noekie’s and my cruising companions on the Rhine last year — what wonderful ladies they are — and their husbands are swell also. We keep meeting the best people here in SA!
Today, off to Bottlierskop, a game reserve, for lunch with Cilla. Venison carpachio, venison skewers on a bed of veggies and some swell drink called Just Jinger or something like that. I think it was vodka, Pimms #1, ginger liquer (never heard of that), ginger, ginger ale, cucumber, et al — whatever it was, it was delicious, and so refreshing although it sounds kinda horrible doesn’t it? We didn’t go on a game drive, Cilla’s back would not have withstood the whipsawing around in a game drive truck, so all we saw was one Kudu (I think we had its companion for lunch) and some red buck. Oh, we did see lots of cows. Farm workers were moving two big bunches of young cows, maybe yearlings?, down the middle of the road and we were swarmed. It was heavenly! All those soulful eyes, beautiful hides, I wanted to reach out and pet but thought starting a stampede might not be the best move in a foreign country. I also thought about asking the workers if they thought of themselves as cowboys, but abstained from that as well.
So, get along little doggie (is that the correct spelling for that?) — I’m heading for the barn. Laird might come along later and add to this, but he’s already asleep, I think. As Noekie says, “Sweet dreams, don’t let the bees bite!”
lairdandjonelle 
Leave a comment