Cape Agulhas to Wilderness

On our way to Agulhas we passed through plains, plains and more plains.All of the crops had just been gathered in and we presume it is all cereals. When we got to Bredasdorpwe saw huge grain silo's, never seen any so huge. About 30 in a cluster and in the area we saw about 5 lots of these.We think this must be the bread basket of S.A.
Friday
On our way to Calitzdorp we had to travel through the Tradouw Pass. Built by Thomas Bain between 1869-1873. You can't help wondering how????It follows the river for parts and then through sheer mountains.
When we got to Calitzdorp we turned off the main road onto dirt roads for 19 klmsto our next destination....the Retreat at Groenfontein. We stopped to take photo's of weaver bird nests, tortoises crossing the road (yes you read that correctly....tortoises!!)We went over lots of fords that are dry at this time of the year and the into the Retreat. What a wonderful place.We first had a swim to cool off. Set in a beautiful garden. They had a devastating fire last month, all the mountains around them are black! It must have been terrifying. It only stopped when the wind changed, and that was just behind their two bungalows in the grounds....a matter of yards from the house.
We had drinks on the lawn with all the other guests and then we all had dinner together on the stoep (veranda). 4 S.A. 8 English,2 Dutch,2 Germans and our hosts, Grant, Marie & Millicent, all at one big table. We had Ostrich liver pate topped with smoked ostrich, we both liked it. We have passed lots of Ostrich farms on our travels, but this is the first time we have tried it.
Theo....we had the most enormous spider on our bathroom door!!! It was the size of my outstretched hand and they said her name was Henrietta!! and that she was harmless. She was gone in the morning ( I hope I slept with my mouth closed!!)
After a lovely walk around the gardens we set of on the dirt road again, this time for 37klms, on route to the Swatberg Pass. We have been through some spectacular passes so far, but nothing prepared us for this one!! 27 Klms of dirt road windin up and around the mountain to 1583 mtrs! Amazimgly spectacular. John was kn....(tired) when he got down the other side. Hurray..we are on tarmac roads, through some more scenic low passes to Oudshoorn, There is a Harley rally this week-end...500 + bikes.6/7 couples are staying at the Gum Tree Lodge with us.
We have baby owls in the tree outside our room!I have never seen baby owls in the wild. They are beautiful. Hettie, our host, raised them from chicks when their mother was killed by a car.
I had Springbok loin for dinner, it was fabulous.
Sunday Feb 14th
Our biker friends had decorated all the tables with hearts and flowers for Valentines day. They looked beautiful.We had a drive around Coudshoor and then headed to the coast to Mossel Bay.This is a big milk producing area and Nestle have a big processing plant here. Had a wonderful walk along the beach and then set of for our next destination Wilderness. The Wilderness Lodge is set high amonst the trees with fab views of the sea below. We had a lovely walk & paddle, then sat on the beach for half an hour before going looking for some dinner.
I am up to date now!!
Love and kisses to all xxxxx