Camping With a Wet Dog!

From the title you would be right in deducing what we were doing last week, and what the weather was like!!

Rob heard about a Caravan and Camping park on a citrus farm between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam, inland about 150 km from us. So, being up for a camping challenge, we looked at the website and I decided to send off an enquiry. Having a 'No Pets' policy, I was a little concerned that they would simply say 'Sorry'. But, they had obviously heard about Alfie and realised that he was famous enough to grace their property, so they came back and said that he would be welcome! Now that last sentence is not strictly true (you may have gathered that), but they do relax their No Pet rule midweek and out of season.....

So, we booked a site and also booked our wonderful cat-sitter, and on Monday morning we set off. Not as early as we had planned because Eskom decided to switch off the power for a while and I had a washing machine full of towels! Eventually all was well and off we went.

After a few hold-ups (holds-up, holds-ups hold-up) at the STOP/GO roadworks between Velddrif and Piketberg, we arrived at the camp. We booked in and went off to find our allocated site, number 28 with parking on number 27! This had been pre-booked for us because I asked for a shady site overlooking the dam so we could sit and birdwatch.

The dam with waterlilies. 

The entire camp was empty and we drove past beautiful grassed stands with shady trees and a spotless ablution block until we found 27 and 28..........with a tent, a couple of elderly people nicely settled in chairs refusing to look at us, and their towing vehicle parked on the adjacent stand. Our stands! Refusing to move, they insisted that they were told to park anywhere except numbers 24 and 25. (They lied!) So, after much difficulty in the space he had, Rob turned the car and caravan around and we humped off to find another site!

Beautiful site number 18!!

And we found a beauty! Actually much nicer than 28, and right next to the ablution block, with a wonderful view of the stunning mountains, shade and plenty of bird life, so we really owe the 'squatters' a vote of thanks!

The view from the tent.

And Alfie found a 'tennis ball tree'!

He stared at the tree for ages!

Monday was hot! After we had organised our site, we showered and braaied and sat outside watching the sun set and the moon rise. We expected lots of mozzies and bugs but there were none! We sat with our solar lights well into the evening......and also watched the clouds roll in and during the night we had a humdinger of a thunder storm that turned Alfie into a quivering, shivering, shaking heap. Tucked into Rob's armpit he lay terrified until morning.

Alfie on the bed.......going nowhere slowly! Or fast!

And we had rain!

On Tuesday we just meandered into Citrusdal to find a butcher and some chops for our braai. Well, quick change of plan as there was no butcher to be seen, so off to the local SPAR where I found some fair looking chops, pork wors and of course chips! On the way back to camp we stopped at a little roadside cafe and met Bergie the cat! He is safely harnessed with a long rope so that he can wander around the garden but never stray on to the busy N7 that runs past the door!

Bergie the cat!

And we had rain!

Who stole the mountain?

Wednesday we decided to do a meander along the back roads into the countryside. I cannot describe the beauty of that part of the world. Photos don't do it justice. The mountains, the rock formations, the fields of citrus and rooibos, giving way to potatoes, the sandy roads, everything just mixes together and comes out perfectly.

A 'Wow' moment.

Every few minutes we were saying 'Wow, this is beautiful/stunning/amazing' and no words were enough! We finally drove in a huge circle and ended back at camp in time for lunch.

Masterchef quality!!!!

Avacado Ritz! Not too shabby hey?

And we had rain!

Thursday was misty, damp and chilly so we decided to go for a drive along the back route to Clanwilliam. There is a huge dam there and because the wall has been raised to catch more water, the road has been re-routed for the last twenty or so kms. However, the dam is standing at a pitiful 9% of its capacity, so everyone is desperate for rain. It was pouring over the surrounding mountains in the catchment area, so let's hope it finds its way into the big hole!

But I am digressing again. The road we travelled was even more spectacular that the one we had followed on Wednesday. There were several types of indigenous protea bushes growing wild and jumbled among other shrubs as far as the eye could see. Some of the proteas were in bud, but the real show will happen in spring. Can't wait to go back and see the show.

Those are all various proteas.

We drove into Clanwilliam and found a lovely nursery/shop/teagarden and had a toasted sarmie and a cup of coffee to gird our loins for the trip back!

There was a resident cat here too!

By the time we got back to camp it was raining! And cold. So on with the fleeces and socks.
Sadly no braai for supper. Instead we sat in the caravan that was dry and cosy and ate a pasta supper. Then we sat and read while Alfie did his best to pretend he didn't need to have a wee at all!

And then we heard a noise outside.
A rustling in Alfie's food bowl.
And we saw this beautiful animal.

Our night visitor.

A genet. Such beautiful marking.

We were so very privileged to see it and Alfie was very happy to share his supper with it.

And it rained..........