At the Annual Tour to Kleinplasie there were a number of raffle prizes after supper. The wife and I bought one raffle ticket. We won a gift voucher for the Dros – at Oudtshoorn. There was NO way I am driving all the way back to Oudtshoorn for a “lunch ticket”. Chris and Belinda Dunn won a weekend at Kleinplasie. After the prize giving I went over to Chris and Belinda to give them the meal voucher for when they did make use of their weekend at Kleinplasie. I was totally speechless when Belinda looked at me and indicated that their schedule would not allow them to come back, and she proceeded to give me the prize of a weekend at Kleinplasie. A few minutes later I had also received a Spur meal voucher and a voucher to go feed elephants.
Keisie, en route to KOO Valley
We then invited my mom and a friend along for the weekend. On Friday 16 November we left Bellville and drove to De Doorns to pick up my mom’s friend. A few kilometers further we turned right to go through the KOO valley. What a ride!! Who’s in for a 400 km round trip on 16 or 17 December (all tar)?
Stall outside Oudtshoorn - READ notice
Montaque, onto Barrydale for some light liquid refreshment. It was just after 6:00 pm when we drove into Oudtshoorn. It was not long before the braai fires were burning high.
Three BABIES, with their trainer
Saturday morning the older ladies were treated to coffee in bed. It took more than gentle persuasion to convince these two ladies to leave their normal coffee and toast for a full buffet breakfast. Again, Kleinplasie outdid itself with a perfect buffet.
Greta playing with a gentle giant
Shortly after, the wife and I left to go to Buffelsdrift to feed the elephants. Buffelsdrift has only been around for a few years. It is 7 km out of Oudtshoorn, in the direction of the caves. A few years ago they bought three orphaned baby elephants, which are now about 5 years old. They are basically 6-foot toddlers. The single word that best describe them – playful. They each eat about 150 kg of food per day. For these feeding sessions buckets with little pieces of fruit and vegetables are used. The pieces are about the size of a medium apple that has been cut into 8 pieces. When you hold out your hand with a piece of this food, the elephant picks it up very gently with its trunk. If you hold your fist closed and say “open – open”, the elephant lifts its trunk high and opens its mouth, you can then put the food directly onto its tongue. There is just no way that I can explain to you the joy of playing with these giant baby elephants. If you are ever in the region – it is absolutely worth doing. There is a short section with very loose surface – no good for on road bikes. Just leave your bike at the gate, at security, and walk in, it is well worth it!!
Latest poster in our braai-room :)
We had lunch with the one voucher, and then moved to the other establishment for desert. The ladies rested while we had an afternoon swim. Almost forgot to tell you, the weather was perfect. No wind and the temperature stayed below 30. What a perfect day.
Todlers at play
Just as I thought it could not get any better, a group of Ulysis riders pulled in. I spotted 2 V-stroms, I think all the other bikes were BMW’s. Even a proper RT – see below.
What a beautiful bike.
On Sunday morning my mom was not very happy when I brought her coffee in bed – just after 5:00. By 6:00 we were well on our way to Sedgefield. At Sedgefield I walked down to the beach with my mom’s friend. Her late husband used to fish. You could see the emotions on her face. After coffee at my aunt’s in Sedgefield we turned back towards the Cape. Fortunately we were stopped at the roadwork outside Wilderness – probably the best forced stop ever.
Best Stop-Go, ever
One more coffee in Swellendam, at my mom’s aunt. 82 years old and she is still living alone in a big house, just as young as Cheezy. Spring in the step and still completely “with it”. We then headed back to Suurbraak and Barrydale to go to Country Pumpkin to test the rumors of their Sunday roast. Perfect. Yes, the “camera-man” in Barrydale even works on Sundays.
Barrydale's "camera man". :(
Back through the KOO valley towards De Doorns. After a quick cool-drink we headed back home. To everybody that had some part in putting this “vouchered” weekend together, THANK YOU. Greta and myself enjoyed it. There is no way that I can explain to you what this meant to these two widows.