Updating Traveling and Holidays

12-05-2011

Traveling and Holidays / Midlands Meander

A wonderful, exciting, glorious day.

"Karkloof Canopy Tours"

We started off looking for a map of the Midlands Meander and eventually bought one from the War Museum in Howick. And then off to Karkloof.

We were under the impression that Karkloof was the name of the Canopy Tour Company but it is a Reserve with waterfalls and the second largest indigenous forest in South Africa.  Off we set for our 10 am reservation. At this time of the year everything is very quiet here and we were the only two people on the 10 am tour. Got helmeted and harnessed up and off on the 4X4 up the mountain to the first platform of the Canopy Tour which is 1800 meters above sea level. 8 rides later and 35 m above the tree tops, we zipped and sped through the forest. Amazing and exhilarating. A fabulous experience.

The Midlands Meander now is another story. Our choices of places to visit were the wrought iron, potter and glass works. Well a bit of miss information on the dealers part. It should have read the scrap yard because there was only a load of old rusted junk available at an unbelievable cost. Broken, old used pottery and a glass works that we could not find. Are there really people out there that buy this stuff and if you are not open or do not exist any more, get off the map. There were a few antique dealers though that were worth it and at Old Balgowan Winery we bought some good sherry and cheeses.

"The Scrapyard"

Now something really worthwhile is found at the most southern part of the Meander. It is the Zulu Quilt Crafters. It is a Rotary project and the local women make these quilts. Amazing quilts. Right up my alley with this quilting bee that has bitten. I can’t wait to get started on my first project.

All in all the scenery made for for anything else that went down this afternoon. We still had loads of fun.

Tonight we went to the “Corner Post Pub and Diner” and I think Gordon Ramsay would have approved of the menu. I ordered “ Dargle Duck Breast with Beetroot, Watercress and Salsa Verde” and Richard the ”Crisp Belly of Pork with Carrot Puree” – so does that sound delicious? Half way through our meal we changed plates and could not decide which was best. Good service and linen napkins. That’s how you enjoy a good meal.

Tomorrow we will be leaving but we have only good memories of Howick and the Midlands Meander.

11-05-2011
The Start Of our Holiday  

Our Beautiful Country

We have been waiting for this break for quite some time and as usual we were running around getting the last minute chores done. I have had a bee in my bonnet the last few days making inquiries about quilting and so I spent too much time with that yesterday and all of a sudden I realized the day was gone.

After supper I was absolutely exhausted and there was no way I had the energy or the inclination to pack. Richard still watched some TV but I could not even register.

So this morning of course it was a rush to pack but it was all done and off we went – not before I went in search of a car charger for my computer.

We decided about a month ago that we wanted to go down to the Natal coast but since we have never been to the Midlands Meander we thought we would do a few days there on the way down.

"68 on Main"

We ambled along the N3 highway just enjoying the drive and commented on how we always want to holiday abroad when our own country has the most glorious scenery. Just have a look at it.

We love the kind of holiday where you just follow your nose, so off we went.

Now we have a Tom-tom and the idea is not to get lost. Not that we ever really do, but just in case. You see when your children are married and you now start enjoying life on your own, your kids think that you age quickly and need assistance – hence the Tom-tom, courtesy of our son.

"Nutmeg Guest House"

We set our navigator to take the Curry’s Post turn off, which is the start of the Meander and 50 meters off the highway we entered the forested roads which can only be described as enchanting. We could have stayed on the highway but do yourself a favour and explore these little side roads, they are beautiful.

Dinner was at “68 on Main”.  A house built in 1869 by the carpenter of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and converted a few years back into a restaurant. Does anyone know why Queen Victoria’s carpenter was here in the first place and why did he build a house? Is this true or is it a myth?

Tonight we will over night at the Nutmeg Guest House in Howick.  Pretty cool don’t you think.