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Bonnievale…

I love experiencing a town or region through the eyes of someone that is inspired by what they have lived. In Bonnievale we found such a person. Her life and imagery that is recounted by passionate words are enough to inspire a nation. She lights up the sky almost like the stars here in the darkness with absence of city lights…

The 160km between Belville and Bonnievale becomes a roadtrip as we drive through Worcester and Robertson on our way to a weekend of exploration and camping at Bonnievale River Lodge. In the dark we pitch our tent and then my fire making skills are put to the test with wood that could steam food, its that wet. When we find the light switch we are amazed by the highway of stars. Here in Bonnievale, away from the city lights there is a different world captured within the stars.

Morning breaks, a whole day of excitement lies before us. We take a slow stroll into the town that is showing off itself on this Saturday morning. A band is playing on one corner and everywhere someone is trying to sell something tasty. We find a market where we sit down to have some breakfast and soak up the beauty and heat of the morning.

Bonnievale has a great collection of wine farms and antique shops that can keep you busy for hours. Plus the town is so beautiful that you have to stop and stare every few minutes. Late the afternoon we find ourselves back at our camping site. Bonnivale Rover lodge is spectacular. It allows for canoe trips, fishing, mountain biking, hiking or just lazing around underneath the enormous trees to soak up the sound of river in the afternoon. It’s also more than just a camping site – with a log cabin, 4 sleeper house and cottage that could make winter weekends more bareable.

On sunday morning we decide to take the car and see what the surrounding area has to offer. we find ourselves on a dirt road that leaves you breathless because of its scenery. Because Bonnievale is so central it’s a short drive to Mcgreggor, Robertson, Ashton and Swellendam. Our road takes us to La Mont Cheese and wine farm just outside Ashton.

When the afternoon takes us back we decide to get onto that boat. Slowly we head off into the sunset. Fish jumping and the moon beginning to show itself… The water reflects a more beautiful version of our world… eventually our boat takes us back home. Another go at the fire, we’re getting better… or the wood is drying out…

A monday feeling wants to show its face but luckily the perfection and beauty of such a weekend, along with the lodge, we manage to latch onto the weekend feeling for a while longer.

Monday takes us back on a slow roadtrip… we want to prolong the weekend. We try and hide away from what the week wants to show us. We don’t want to give up the bliss and dreams of what has been shared.

In terms of writing this has been one of the most difficult experiences to put into words… how does one share something like this… I’m not sure. If you read this article… shut your eyes and imagine it to be 10x better than my words could ever describe.

on autumn days

Read this, close your eyes and see what i’m going to explain, you might just find that you have a smile on your face after you open those eyes again.

It’s chilly outside , there is a slight breeze but not enough to move your hair. The sun setting over Table Mountain created an orange glow that almost feels touchable. you breathe the fresh air after it has stopped raining moments ago. your lungs are full and your eyes open to the glow. you turn around and over the stellenbosch mountains are dark, thick rain clouds that are slowly moving towards you. the air is thick as you breath again. you can taste the rain in your mouth. you look up…

right above you the orange sky erupts with the dark gray clouds in mid air. they form the most beautiful dark orange and gray light you cannot separate the coming night from day anymore. look down towards the vineyards in front of you. they are coloured with autumn. various greens, browns and yellows. the orange light from the sun catches their leaves and they start burning with colour. they become alive in the late afternoon air.

two seasons have met each other right here on this spot. i have experience one coming in, the approaching winter, and the other, summer escaping to find its way back at some other time. but for now they are dancing mid air until winter will win this battle…

(i love cycling on days like these.

The Perfect Weekend…

This doesn’t happen all that often, a weekend where without planning it turns out to be perfect. one of those that you don’t want to stop. where everything slots into the right place and you cannot help but smile. you even sometimes catch an unaware smile around you lips and it makes you feel somewhat lighter, actually you feel like floating…

A weekend like this i suggest you share with someone, it would probably happen that it is shared mostly in silence but those silences are more powerful most of the time.

Early Saturday morning we set off to the Brackenfell train station ready for fun filled day of exploring Cape Town on Metro Rail. The train stops and we have to hurry in order to make it on time. if  one of us got lost or missed the door we would have no clue how to get back together. We laugh as the door almost closes on me, but we’re in. The train decides our journey.

At Cape Town station we get off to explore The Castle. we’re actually looking for the dungeonsbut we run into a cannon show in stead. the sound that this tiny piece of metal makes is amazing. it’s a perfect sound. it echoes throughout your body and fills up the empty cavities.

The train takes us further along the rail past Muizenberg, we stop at Kalk Bay hoping to explore all the antique shops. Old wooden furniture is a hobby. the stories and beauty of the intricate woodwork inspires a warm smile. Cape to Cuba presents us with a taste sensation that would leave anyone silent. you don’t want to miss any of the tastes that randomly show themselves…

We walk the peer and listen to the sound of water and wind. fisherman and children are chattering away in the background. everything becomes silent as we look out over False bay. There aren’t many things this beautiful.

the train takes us back towards Muizenberg where the precision of an old man fascinates us. Every movement is calculated. every breath a precise inhalation. he turn every page as if it consists of a whole new world that he needs to open with ritual. Muizenberg gives us something to drink and we watch couples walking with their dogs and surfers playing in the cold water. i try and open my eyes as wide as they could possibly go. i cannot miss anything. i need to save every detail of this moment. it is perfect and i don’t want it to stop.

The day takes us back home and tired the bed just helps the day become an impossible dream.

Early Sunday we meet each other outside Stellenbosch at Hillcrest Berry orchard. the view is spectacular. the morning sun is just enough to warm you and the golden sun shares its beauty with the autumn colours now in full bloom.

After brunch we all go to Franschoek and put our feetin the water by the Huguenot monument. The day is filled with autumn surprises, jazz, marimbas and wine tastings. all of this in the beautiful Franschoek. the beautiful town that hides between the mountains….

I cannot help but smile again… i want this memory to be hidden somewhere in my soul and use it whenever i stop believing in perfection. because sometimes it does happen…

Roadtrip: N1 to Cape Town in a new way…

So many times have i traveled the N1 from Johannesburg to Cape Town, yes sometimes it was a nice trip but the destinations was always the most important. Yesterday was different, a whole lot different and in a moment the long, straight, tiring road become something from a different world.

RoadTrip!!!

Early yesterday morning i left from Bothaville in the Free State quite early. the road ahead of me and the ipod playing at full blast. singing to the 90′s!! A roadtrip needs good music, that’s the most important aspect and from there on everything will just flow.

My first stop is in bloemfontein, here i meet Benjamin – he’s the petrol attendant and when i greet him on his name he smiles. a great big good morning! smile. and just here my day and his are a whole lot better. This is then step one of a better trip on the N1. meet at least one petrol attendant. i met a few and this mundane job has a bunch of really friendly people doing it.

after bloemfontein i decide not to take the obvious route, not to only stop at the usual colesberg, beaufort west, laingsburg and then Cape Town. i decide to skip the usual big petrol stations and actually go into the towns to get that cup of coffee and fill up the car. you’d be amazed at what you’d find.

on the N1 there are other towns, smaller ones that have great people and great places to sit and enjoy a cup. I meet people. i take a ride through the towns, it is going to take me the whole day anyway so what does an extra 10 minutes make.

There are towns such as Richmont that has huge libraries and the festival of words, every few kilometers there is something else to see. these towns are alive and they love sharing a smile topped with some conversation.

Younis was such a person. She serves me filter coffee in a plunger. enough coffee for three cups and she smiles. she’s been working here for 6 years and the loneliness of the road is taken away by her cheerful conversation.

I meet the toll road payment assistant, estelle, my card doesn’t work and she guides me to where i can draw cash. when i bring her a bottle of coke she smiles and for a moment we become best friends.

So next time on the highway choose to do it differently, choose to see some of the other towns and take it slow because at the end of the day you reach your destination so much more relaxed.

for a good road trip you need:

1. good music (i chose 90′s classics, always a winner)

2. stop at towns that you haven’t stopped at before, you don’t need to stop more often just new places.

3. make friends with a petrol attendant. they are interesting people, just imagine how many people the see and meet every day, they have some funny stories.

4. instead of just stopping and filling up. drive into the town and sit down for that coffee. the coffee is better and the conversation is great.

5. just take a ride through the town in which you stop. they’re small. it will take you 5 minutes. but these towns are so incredibly beautiful that you can’t miss it!!

Happy traveling!!