JohnsonsTouring

(Andrew) June 2011: We got through Erin's exams pretty well, whilst getting the towbar fitted to the motorhome and A-frame to the Citigolf. That was some brainstrain as the original guys I went to couldn't get the A-frame after they said they could so I had  to go find one elsewhere. Then it wasn't fitted correctly so off I went back to the original fitter to get it correctly installed on the golf.. In the meantime, Sarita was organising new curtains and cushion covers for the van as well as getting the first booking at OuSkip in Melkbos sorted, as she was on a Bee keeping course for the first week of July, as well as doing most of the organising for this adventure: while I sat and played with my computer, she sat planning until late most nights in june. There was wiring problems in the van that needed fixing (coz I caused an electrical fire in there) as well as all the batteries needed replacing. Thats 2 deep cycle and a truck battery..not a pleasant and cost efficient discovery. I got all the wiring installed for Playstation, DSTV & TV myself. That was  quite a mission. I still wanted to install extra speakers, good thing I didn’t; the tv speakers work fine here in the van.  OuSkip is a very nice caravan park, the ablutions were very clean and tidy with plenty high pressure hot water. We battled to get dstv on the 1st site were on so asked to move.. Got the tv sorted 5minutes before the 1^st Super15 semi final..good news. We left Melkbos on Saturday 9July and drove north on the N7 to Citrusdal. There was roadworks going over the Piekenierskloof Pass on the way of the stop&go variety. Erin got some cool photos from up there... Arrived on Saturday afternoon and booked in at Citrus Creek camp spot; The Baths are fully booked, they say.. We'll see if we go there to see the hot springs..we didnt go see the hot springs but did try again..no luck. Citrus Creek is a nice enough spot except that the main road into town is quite close to it, like outside the fence behind some reeds. The views are quite cool and we can see snow on a mountain top from here but the weather is warm enough to be in shorts with no shirt..I dig this heh heh... It's Sunday afternoon now and we all way relaxed now we gonna braai. Way cool. That went very well, wors and chops and roasted veg..mmmm. The weathers still holding so this is pleasant.. Monday..uneventful day did some washing and decided to wash the car. Hmmm, frowned the caravan park management, this old lady started telling us about her backlog of water and electricity bills.. We obviously major league apologised and begged forgiveness, contrite people that we are..lol and offered her the deposit money 40bucks of the bathroom keys as compensation..this place is a hoot.. Coincidentally, we had no hot showers tonight. Tomorrow we heading up to Clanwilliam dam about 60km away and gonna hang around there for about 1week. Gonna try some fishing, looking forward to that….  So we got here pretty cool and alright its a peaceful place at the moment but it is the middle of winter after all.. The weather is lekker warm all day but its gettin chilly as soon as the sun goes behind the hill. Spent the day fishing didnt get scat..all's good. Erin learnt to cast and she has really taken to this fishing thing..way cool. Time to braai for dinner..pork today havent had for a while. Maybe one day we can have fish.. Well, it’s a week later, Monday 18^th July, we have moved on to Bulshoek Dam Resort about 25km north of Clanwilliam on the Klawer road – its dirt… everything rattled and shook along the way. We didn’t hook the car up for this trip as it was so short, so Sarita drove behind us. The cats are doing pretty well-they are adjusting nicely to the camping and all the spots they are checking out. Right now, they are just sleeping in the van on Erins bed. Speaking of Erin, school started today, so Sarita and Erin are schooling now while I do this.. Still no fish, but this place looks infinitely better for fishing than Clanwilliam Dam, also waaaaay cheaper. Its very rustic here and black as pitch at night coz there are no lights around here except ours. We are the only campers here at the moment so its way quiet. I think we should stay here till summer, its so warm in the day – im getting a tan. Had loads of washing to do this morning.. what a mission. The dstv has been working fine; we got a satellite finder instrument which beeps its head off when you acquire the satellite signal. Piece of old takkie….. I am now my own installer-I never have to pay one of those dudes again who act like they are the only ones who can install these things. We are seriously thinking of staying here for 2 weeks. At R35 each a day, this is pretty economical…. Millions of farm cats to freak our cats out..lol. Catch up later.. This giant farm dog has just attacked one of these farm cats. Hectic, it looks like he is quite broken around the hips, but he got up and moved away when I tried to pick him up. The farmer’s wife told us that he is trained to fight leopards..say no more except that he is a beautiful dog…  next day-the cat is still alive.. the weather is a bit cooler, got jeans on today. The fishing sucks eggs..