Windy Weekend Weather Wolseley
It’s often hard to believe there was a life before a disaster. Fortunately, there was. Our memories eventually remember only the good things in life, as bad thoughts are laid to rest along the wayside. And then life goes on, and soon we say, “Life is good”!
Before the great debacle and the failure of my Code 10 Heavy Duty licence, I did have a life and a wonderful weekend to boot. This time, Butch and I went off solo to spend the weekend on a farm sandwiched between Tulbagh and Wolseley. Right on our doorstep, you might think. That’s exactly why we went—a short drive for a short weekend.
We had made a reservation at the Fynbos Guest Farm and Animal Sanctuary a few weeks ago. On Friday afternoon, we were packed and ready to leave within minutes. We have fine-tuned our preparations for going away, and now it literally takes a few minutes to pack and go. This weekend was also the time to try out our new E-bikes. Really exciting. Our batteries were charged, we had helmets, and we could lock them up overnight.
Getting the bikes into the Honey Badger took a bit of elbow grease; we removed the front wheels. We lifted them into the cabin to stow them, as our bicycle rack, which will be mounted on the spare wheel brackets, has to be custom-built and is still being made by the very passionate welder extraordinaire, Xandre Harmse, who knows exactly what we need, as he’s also a mountain bike cyclist.
Once we’d got everything sorted, with the bikes secure and padded so they wouldn’t be damaged or damage the Badger’s interior, we were off. I must've drifted off for a few minutes, lulled to sleep by the vehicle’s gentle roll, and woke up as we turned off the R43.
Our site was large and very secluded at the end of the short road. Surrounded by trees and an interesting rock-and-log wall, we had privacy and a very effective windbreak. We needed it, as the wind picked up in the afternoon and didn’t let up all weekend. I was not bothered by the swishing and swaying trees and found the sound rather therapeutic. At night, I slid our windows back and relished the cool breeze that washed over my legs. A natural air conditioner filtered through the pine needles.
Fynbos Guest Farm has many amazing attributes. Two that immediately spring to mind are Peter and Maurice, the owners, who have dedicated themselves to this labour of love. The work that has gone into producing the gardens, campsites, cottages, stalls, paddocks, and enclosures must've been painstaking, arduous, and back-breaking. Their team, without whom the project would never have come to fruition, is fantastic and gets all the credit they readily admit they deserve.
All the animals on the farm are rescued and have a tale to tell. Here, all animals are safe, loved and cared for. From the alpacas and the smallest muddle of Guinea pigs to the beautiful Zebras who were part of the Quagga breeding programme, there are exotic peacocks, common geese, black-faced swans, ostriches, emus, huge mountain tortoises, a pen full of woolly sheep with curly horns, llamas, goats and springbok, to name but a few species to enjoy. Children are welcome to touch and feed the animals and are encouraged to get to know them (supervised, of course) in a safe environment. We hope our grandchildren can experience something like this too.
For the energetic, there are two walks in the Renosterveld, or, like us, one could take the dirt road and get a good workout while enjoying the majesty of the mountains and beautiful farms along the way. As it was our first time out on our bikes, I was a little cautious, so I didn’t go hell for leather on the downhills; I took my time and gripped the brakes. I have an excellent recollection of childhood scuffs and remember how agonising a grass burn or a bleeding knee can be.
There are 10 campsites, and for the wild at heart who like a bit of luxury, there are furnished tents too! Our campsite was serviced daily, with clean, well-maintained facilities. A tap with water at the sites would have made a stay more comfortable, but fortunately we were self-contained, so although inconvenient, it didn’t bother us unduly. The built-in braai was great and drew like a charm.
The communal ablutions are nicely furnished and well appointed. I turned on the hot water tap and initially thought I was off to a good start, as I’d delayed my shower until we’d had our ride and breakfast. As luck would have it, someone else decided this was a good time too, and whoop-de-doo went the water pressure to a trickle. I shall leave it at that. Later, Peter, unknowingly, made up for all that when he dropped by in the late afternoon and presented us with a freshly baked, piping hot loaf of bread! Heaven.
As the sun went down, we set off to explore, taking our cameras with us. With wildlife, a beautiful mountain range, and some Renosterveld, who could resist a long lens and some animal portraiture? Nearby, you can visit, making this trip a perfect weekend getaway. The magnificent Peacock was displaying his plumage to impress the peahen, who was unconcerned as he trilled, turning and whirling to show off his fan and tail feathers. Not since India have we enjoyed this mating dance as he ruffled his feathers. She kept her pose, giving him the cold shoulder.
The tranquil meditation room, with its beautiful mosaic floor and seating area, is a balm for the soul. I sat for a few minutes until it was time to head down the path to find Bully & Koos on the R46, a rustic bistro on the adjoining property. We made a reservation for Sunday lunch. We had our own beautiful bread and condiments, and Chicken Espadillas was waiting. After supper, we slipped off to bed and watched a film on the iPad.
Baby Driver! An excellent film, not about a baby but about a young man called Baby. I download films from Netflix before we go away, and I must say this one was a winner. Lovely foot-tapping music, dance, a sprinkling of love, a good story in which you like a villain, a very clever plot and an excellent cast.
We were told the best time to photograph the Zebras would be at feeding time on Sunday morning. We didn’t mind and enjoyed a very pleasant hour with Peter and Maurice, learning about their travels, their love of animals, and their rescue project. We took some photographs, and I’m really excited to see what I captured. The mountainous backdrop will be magnificent and set the animals off beautifully. Old MacDonald would've loved this farm. E-I-E-I-O
We set off on our bikes, and this time I had more confidence and reached 18 km/h on the downhill (yes, we have a speedometer). Our bikes are pedal-assist, but our years of spinning classes have paid off, so we used the battery only on very tough hills. We really enjoyed this first weekend of riding and look forward to many more. Hopefully, next time we'll have our bike racks.
I used our outdoor shower, and what a pleasant experience it was. Hot water, nature, and the great outdoors, all screened to protect us from the wind, which still gusted relentlessly. We give our shower 10/10. We should use it more often.
Lunch at Bully & Koos was an interesting experience. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by the number of vehicles, and even cyclists, stopping at the bistro-style restaurant. Set in an old farmhouse on the busy R44, the venue draws motorists who stop to buy bread or a cupcake, pick up a takeaway coffee, or stretch their legs and enjoy a quick designer hamburger. A steady stream of patrons kept us busy. I presume the freshly baked daily bread must have an excellent reputation. As we arrived, a batch of nutty black bread was lifted from the oven, and we couldn’t resist. It was beautiful. We had ours at home for supper. Our server was charming and offered sound recommendations. We have been told that the breakfasts are to die for. We'll look forward to another adventure.
We enjoyed a lovely, leisurely luncheon, and then it was my turn to drive after I’d completed a check of the vehicle as prescribed by the traffic department's driving test, which I’d take the next day. I wish I’d been as relaxed.
While we had our supper, we reminisced about our super-relaxed weekend and wondered when the next one would be. Not for very long, I think. I haven't mentioned many of the extras a visitor can enjoy; I'll leave those for you to discover. You won't be disappointed. Do visit Fynbos Guest Farm and Animal Sanctuary’s website and consider it an excellent choice for a weekend away. I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed.
http://www.fynbosguestfarm.co.za/camping.html
Bully & Koos on the R44 is a good pit stop on your way to the West Coast if you’re from our neck of the woods. If you’re from there, it’s just about time for tea and cake (freshly baked daily and delicious). Guests often walk from Fynbos Guest Farm, enjoying the short walk. Peter or Maurice will make reservations on request.
https://www.bullykoos.com/restaurant
P.S. The wind brought much-needed relief to many parts of South Africa, including the Boland, where soft, soaking showers fell, pleasing farmers. Drought-ridden places like Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, which are experiencing unprecedented drought, have reported their first showers. So, blow Sou'easter, blow. I doubt it was responsible for the tornado in the Midlands, KZN.
Before the great debacle and the failure of my Code 10 Heavy Duty licence, I did have a life and a wonderful weekend to boot. This time, Butch and I went off solo to spend the weekend on a farm sandwiched between Tulbagh and Wolseley. Right on our doorstep, you might think. That’s exactly why we went—a short drive for a short weekend.
We had made a reservation at the Fynbos Guest Farm and Animal Sanctuary a few weeks ago. On Friday afternoon, we were packed and ready to leave within minutes. We have fine-tuned our preparations for going away, and now it literally takes a few minutes to pack and go. This weekend was also the time to try out our new E-bikes. Really exciting. Our batteries were charged, we had helmets, and we could lock them up overnight.
Getting the bikes into the Honey Badger took a bit of elbow grease; we removed the front wheels. We lifted them into the cabin to stow them, as our bicycle rack, which will be mounted on the spare wheel brackets, has to be custom-built and is still being made by the very passionate welder extraordinaire, Xandre Harmse, who knows exactly what we need, as he’s also a mountain bike cyclist.
Once we’d got everything sorted, with the bikes secure and padded so they wouldn’t be damaged or damage the Badger’s interior, we were off. I must've drifted off for a few minutes, lulled to sleep by the vehicle’s gentle roll, and woke up as we turned off the R43.
Our site was large and very secluded at the end of the short road. Surrounded by trees and an interesting rock-and-log wall, we had privacy and a very effective windbreak. We needed it, as the wind picked up in the afternoon and didn’t let up all weekend. I was not bothered by the swishing and swaying trees and found the sound rather therapeutic. At night, I slid our windows back and relished the cool breeze that washed over my legs. A natural air conditioner filtered through the pine needles.
Fynbos Guest Farm has many amazing attributes. Two that immediately spring to mind are Peter and Maurice, the owners, who have dedicated themselves to this labour of love. The work that has gone into producing the gardens, campsites, cottages, stalls, paddocks, and enclosures must've been painstaking, arduous, and back-breaking. Their team, without whom the project would never have come to fruition, is fantastic and gets all the credit they readily admit they deserve.
All the animals on the farm are rescued and have a tale to tell. Here, all animals are safe, loved and cared for. From the alpacas and the smallest muddle of Guinea pigs to the beautiful Zebras who were part of the Quagga breeding programme, there are exotic peacocks, common geese, black-faced swans, ostriches, emus, huge mountain tortoises, a pen full of woolly sheep with curly horns, llamas, goats and springbok, to name but a few species to enjoy. Children are welcome to touch and feed the animals and are encouraged to get to know them (supervised, of course) in a safe environment. We hope our grandchildren can experience something like this too.
For the energetic, there are two walks in the Renosterveld, or, like us, one could take the dirt road and get a good workout while enjoying the majesty of the mountains and beautiful farms along the way. As it was our first time out on our bikes, I was a little cautious, so I didn’t go hell for leather on the downhills; I took my time and gripped the brakes. I have an excellent recollection of childhood scuffs and remember how agonising a grass burn or a bleeding knee can be.
There are 10 campsites, and for the wild at heart who like a bit of luxury, there are furnished tents too! Our campsite was serviced daily, with clean, well-maintained facilities. A tap with water at the sites would have made a stay more comfortable, but fortunately we were self-contained, so although inconvenient, it didn’t bother us unduly. The built-in braai was great and drew like a charm.
The communal ablutions are nicely furnished and well appointed. I turned on the hot water tap and initially thought I was off to a good start, as I’d delayed my shower until we’d had our ride and breakfast. As luck would have it, someone else decided this was a good time too, and whoop-de-doo went the water pressure to a trickle. I shall leave it at that. Later, Peter, unknowingly, made up for all that when he dropped by in the late afternoon and presented us with a freshly baked, piping hot loaf of bread! Heaven.
As the sun went down, we set off to explore, taking our cameras with us. With wildlife, a beautiful mountain range, and some Renosterveld, who could resist a long lens and some animal portraiture? Nearby, you can visit, making this trip a perfect weekend getaway. The magnificent Peacock was displaying his plumage to impress the peahen, who was unconcerned as he trilled, turning and whirling to show off his fan and tail feathers. Not since India have we enjoyed this mating dance as he ruffled his feathers. She kept her pose, giving him the cold shoulder.
The tranquil meditation room, with its beautiful mosaic floor and seating area, is a balm for the soul. I sat for a few minutes until it was time to head down the path to find Bully & Koos on the R46, a rustic bistro on the adjoining property. We made a reservation for Sunday lunch. We had our own beautiful bread and condiments, and Chicken Espadillas was waiting. After supper, we slipped off to bed and watched a film on the iPad.
Baby Driver! An excellent film, not about a baby but about a young man called Baby. I download films from Netflix before we go away, and I must say this one was a winner. Lovely foot-tapping music, dance, a sprinkling of love, a good story in which you like a villain, a very clever plot and an excellent cast.
We were told the best time to photograph the Zebras would be at feeding time on Sunday morning. We didn’t mind and enjoyed a very pleasant hour with Peter and Maurice, learning about their travels, their love of animals, and their rescue project. We took some photographs, and I’m really excited to see what I captured. The mountainous backdrop will be magnificent and set the animals off beautifully. Old MacDonald would've loved this farm. E-I-E-I-O
We set off on our bikes, and this time I had more confidence and reached 18 km/h on the downhill (yes, we have a speedometer). Our bikes are pedal-assist, but our years of spinning classes have paid off, so we used the battery only on very tough hills. We really enjoyed this first weekend of riding and look forward to many more. Hopefully, next time we'll have our bike racks.
I used our outdoor shower, and what a pleasant experience it was. Hot water, nature, and the great outdoors, all screened to protect us from the wind, which still gusted relentlessly. We give our shower 10/10. We should use it more often.
Lunch at Bully & Koos was an interesting experience. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by the number of vehicles, and even cyclists, stopping at the bistro-style restaurant. Set in an old farmhouse on the busy R44, the venue draws motorists who stop to buy bread or a cupcake, pick up a takeaway coffee, or stretch their legs and enjoy a quick designer hamburger. A steady stream of patrons kept us busy. I presume the freshly baked daily bread must have an excellent reputation. As we arrived, a batch of nutty black bread was lifted from the oven, and we couldn’t resist. It was beautiful. We had ours at home for supper. Our server was charming and offered sound recommendations. We have been told that the breakfasts are to die for. We'll look forward to another adventure.
We enjoyed a lovely, leisurely luncheon, and then it was my turn to drive after I’d completed a check of the vehicle as prescribed by the traffic department's driving test, which I’d take the next day. I wish I’d been as relaxed.
While we had our supper, we reminisced about our super-relaxed weekend and wondered when the next one would be. Not for very long, I think. I haven't mentioned many of the extras a visitor can enjoy; I'll leave those for you to discover. You won't be disappointed. Do visit Fynbos Guest Farm and Animal Sanctuary’s website and consider it an excellent choice for a weekend away. I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed.
http://www.fynbosguestfarm.co.za/camping.html
Bully & Koos on the R44 is a good pit stop on your way to the West Coast if you’re from our neck of the woods. If you’re from there, it’s just about time for tea and cake (freshly baked daily and delicious). Guests often walk from Fynbos Guest Farm, enjoying the short walk. Peter or Maurice will make reservations on request.
https://www.bullykoos.com/restaurant
P.S. The wind brought much-needed relief to many parts of South Africa, including the Boland, where soft, soaking showers fell, pleasing farmers. Drought-ridden places like Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, which are experiencing unprecedented drought, have reported their first showers. So, blow Sou'easter, blow. I doubt it was responsible for the tornado in the Midlands, KZN.
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