Robertson, Donkeys.......and Home!

The day we left Prince Albert was misty and wet! As we drove past the turn-off to the road that we had taken up the Swartberg Pass, my only thought was that no-one would be nuts enough to do it if they couldn't actually see where the road ended and the plunge began!

A misty moisty morning!

By the time we got to Klaarstroom we were feeling a little peckish, so we stopped for pies at 'Ant Dora's Spens'. Now, I am not sure whether Ant Dora was supposed to be Aunt Dora, but it didn't matter because the shop was an Aladdin's Cave! Basically everything in it had been made by the lady who owned the place. (I never did find out what her name was!) Everything from the most exquisite glassware, bead work, hand-made table cloths and napkins, place mats, mosaic work, jam, chutneys, marmalades, pottery, you name it, she made it!

A treasure trove!

And the pies were delicious! And yes, she made them too!

Full and satisfied we set off and left the rain behind us near Oudsthoorn. There we branched off and joined the N2 at Klein-Brak Rivier, drove as far as Albertinia and pulled into friends for the night. We had a lovely evening with them, a delicious braai for supper with plenty to wash it all down, and then hopped into the caravan which was parked in their garden for the night!

A view down river. Or up river........

The next morning it was onward to Robertson and once again, we fell in love with a town! We have been through Robertson many times, either on the way to somewhere, or on the way home from somewhere, but we have never stopped and explored and really got to know it. And we were very impressed!

The caravan park was beautiful and we chose a site right on the Breede River. In fact, it was so perfect that we extended our stay for an extra night! Trees for shade, the sound of the river and the bird life, grassed stands, spotless ablution facilities, everything we needed! And a washing machine! I have a little 'sputnik' washing 'machine' a little hand-turning job, but guess what? It was at home!

McGregor in the distance.

We drove the back route to McGregor, a little village about the size of Jacobsbaai and we visited the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary! At last! We had tried on a previous occasion when we were staying at Montagu, but it was closed. This time we chose the right day and the right time and it was open!
In the parking area is this ancient remains of a car.....same age as me! I sincerely hope that I have aged a little better! I feel about as rusty though!

Rust in Peace!!

On the way to the office we saw a pile of memorial stones, each with the name of a beloved pet written on. There is also a basket of 'fresh' stones with a koki pen, and I wrote the names of Clyde and Daffy on one and added it to the pile. What a lovely idea. They were also erecting a huge tent ready for a St Francis of Assisi service where pets and their owners from every community are welcome.

Memorial stones, a name on every one.

What an amazing place! There are twenty donkeys that have been rescued or donated from various places throughout the country, and I got to hug about twelve of them! Sadly Alfie was not allowed to hug one, so he and Rob went to have an iced coffee while I happily dodged piles of mud and poo and kissed and scratched and tickled and breathed in their special scent and cooed!

A 'Bray' of donkeys!! 

Eeyore, the old man of the crowd, is over forty, while the others range from young to teenagers. At midday exactly, they all began to form an orderly queue and took themselves from the bottom paddock to the covered shelters in the top paddock. Apparently in summer they go there every day as it gets really hot, and the routine is so well established that they continue it right through the year! I had no choice but to follow them and say goodbye.

They all love to be scratched and stroked and hugged!

We stayed and had a delicious lunch of lasagne and sat and watched the birds, and every now and then a donkey brayed and was answered by a pal or two. I could have stayed on, but finally it was time to go.

Mist rising in the early morning, beautiful!

And then the next morning it was pack up again, tent down, fold the groundsheet, load the dog into the car and head home.

We had a wonderful two weeks and we felt that we could have extended our stay for at least another two weeks........

So, we'll have to do it again.

And again.