Caravans and Creatures!

One of the perks of reaching retirement (apart from aching joints and high blood pressure, not to mention sagging skin, a widening girth and several visits to the loo during the night), is the fact that we can head off on a mid week break out of season, thereby avoiding school holidays! So, seeing that the weather was perfect and the timing was right, we decided to pack a few essentials, load the dog and head off for a few days in Gemsquash our trusty old caravan! Why Gemsquash you ask? Because she is a real gem, but a bit of a squash with the 3 of us on the bed. We did take Alfie's bed with us last time, but he prefers to guard us closely at night! So Rob surfed the net for small, out-of-the-way camping and caravan parks, and he came up with a winner! Situated just 6 kms from Montagu, it had everything.........and we were the only people there! For us that's a bonus!

Nearly there!

Now, if you are not a caravan person, you will not know what a challenge it is to put up a tent without stabbing someone or beating them to death with a tent peg! The poles take on a life of their own and the words 'Pass me a red going to blue with a leg on', or, 'I need an outside collapsable white to black and a four spider' can send you into a frenzy! Amazingly, we achieved near perfection and not a cross word between us! Alfie was no help at all, he lay in the car until we were finished and then came out to inspect.

Up and looking good!

Alfie directing operations from the car!

While we were braaing that eveing, we heard a cat but couldn't see one, until we looked up into the trees and saw eyes! The next thing the most beautiful spotted tabby had scrabbled down and was winding herself round our legs, keeping a wary eye on Alfie who wanted to play! Of course I had to feed her, luckily I had plenty of cat food for Alfie and he was quite happy to share. Once the cat had eaten, she returned to her tree and slept happily balanced in the fork, swaying gently in the breeze at least 6 meters above the ground! She gazed down at us and I was reminded of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland! She was still there in the morning and ready for breakfast!

The camp's Cheshire Cat

We realised that she had chosen her vantage point well, as during the morning she suddenly hurtled down the tree and pounced on a poor mouse that had chosen that time to run into her view.

High in the sky watching for mice.

The second night we were there we were sitting watching the fire (I find that mesmorising) when I saw movement on the ground. I first thought it was a mouse until it hopped and I then saw that it was a toad! The cat ignored it, but Alfie was quite interested in it as I gently persuaded it to go in the opposite direction, away from the fire. We were not able to identify the toad under torch light, but I believe that there are Western Leopard Toads in the area.

The toad, not sure what type though.

As the caravan park is part of a larger farm, we could hear horses, sheep, chickens and geese, as well as the odd baboon barking in the mountains at night. It made me wonder how many other little creatures were there and watching us from a distance!

Wine and braai, wonderful!

It was a magical few days and we shall definitely return........................