Simonskloof Mountain Retreat

So the advert said to phone ahead of time to check the status of the road... we didn't phone! It wasn't raining or anything drastic like that but as it turned out the road was already drastic.  I think the van 'shat' itself...

heading up and over

snake slithering away... away is good!

Obviously at first it all seemed normal dirt road but that very suddenly changed to a 4X4 trail that our van had never seen the likes of.  Looking back on it we probably should have unhitched the car. 10kms of treacherous road lay ahead of us... a car passed us by and asked rather surprisingly if we were indeed going to Simonskloof to which we very nervously nodded while balancing 3 wheels on a rocky ridge, to let them pass.



We must of looked a sight because they gave a very reassuring smile and wished us good luck! Anyways after some very hairy and scary situations and over an hour we finally got to civilization... the car that passed us! We met up with the owners of the place and their dogs (there's always dogs LOL) and we were so exhausted by the time camp was finally set up but we still got a braai going. There's nothing like chilling out next to a roaring fire at sunset... anywhere in South Africa.

Did we have a rude awakening awaiting us?... OH YES! I know I sound melodramatic but for me... it was a fairly traumatic experience.  We were shown the ablutions, most days a cold water shower until Andrew managed to get the donkey geyser running long enough for at least 2 of us - now the shower with a view I can handle, really not a problem compared with the 'long-drop' with a view! Andrew says it was a respectable long-drop but to be honest I did not feel very respectable sitting there with the flies buzzing around my head waiting for me to lift my booty. Oh no... it was awful!!

No not a long-drop... waiting for shower water to heat up!

We all got through it and by the end of the 4 days and I promised that never again will I take a flushing toilet for granted. So I will say no more about that matter and move on!

However the rest of the time was amazing - totally isolated... and freakin' HOT!!

The vast expanse of the place and the rawness - obviously no electricity or cellphone activity, I couldn't believe we didn't make it on the 2 'deep-cycle' batteries connected to the 60W solar panel. By the last day our fridge had drained the last little smidge of energy from it's cells. The cats had a ball too and loved every second of it, every day they came home with something dead.

All around us were wild fruit trees, bursting with the ripening fruits of pears, apples, cherries and apricots, even pomegranets! Incredible... just up the path was this small little dam where no fishing was permitted but that didn't stop Erin with her fishing net.  These bluegills had no idea that humans could be threatening..., she must have caught hundreds with her net but obviously let them all go.

While we were chilling on the floating jetty a little snake swam towards us and of course I freaked out, if only for a second until I realised how small he was 30cm. LOL!  Everyday our site was visited by this massive tortoise together with his friends, so we left out our peels for him which they loved.




We had a very cool time but did not escape unscathed, as all around the camp were these magnificent old oak trees, of which one was 200 years old, but they spent the time raining their sap all over our stuff! At least it wasn't too difficult to wash off ;-}

So we learn't something the hard way, don't park under or anywhere near oak trees!

Back on the road we drove separately and somehow the drive back to the tar road did not seem half as bad or treacherous - I think we just needed a little taming.

So the 'stupid bitch' Garmin was set for Witsand...