Friday 9 June 2017

Day 43: Rhodes to Bloemfontein

Bad weather is forecast for most of the country over the next few days, with massive storms hitting the Cape today. Snow is forecast in this region in the next day or so.

We decided to cut our holiday short because we are really missing the kids (wink face) and Robs has arrived home for mid-year break.  Also we don’t relish the idea of being stuck in the snow for the next week or two. Apparently when it snows here there is little chance of getting out on these roads.

We woke up to blistering winds and puffs of clouds overhead.  The plan was to take the scenic route of Lundean’s Nek Pass, along the Lesotho border. As we drove along the road back to Barkly East we watched the cold front roll in over the mountains and the high winds were buffeting the car. At the cross roads to the pass Gray said he wasn't happy with the conditions and was going to chicken out – sanity prevailed, I was seriously happy with this decision. 

We then headed into Barkly East, passed Lady Grey and took the Maloti Route through Herschell, Sterkspruit and stopped for a leg stretch outside Zastron, the wind was still pumping. In this part of the world we normally stop over in Smithfield but all the B & B’s were booked up, so we continued through Reddersburg and onto Bloemfontein. Due to road works we were directed through the city center and then 35 km out to De Orde Kraal Country Estate, our stop over for the night

Gray is an amazing travel agent and 99% of the time he gets it right but OMG, he requested cottage 10, check out this room !!!
By day and...
... by night.

The main house, was built sometime in the 1800’s and houses various lounges and dining rooms. This was decorated very tastefully, with a lot of the original furniture.

Dinner was a 5 course taste menu. It was really delicious. 


It was with great sadness that I heard about the sudden death of one of my old pupils today. My thoughts are with the Vermaak family, may Liam Rest In Peace. 

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