Day 20: Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, Sept 16

Day 20: Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, Sept 16

QOTD:

I know that their strugglin' over there

Ain't gonna free me,

But we all need to be strugglin'

If we're gonna be free.

Don't you wanna be free?

Weather: high 70s in Joburg and rising; Hoedspruit hot in early afternoon at airport, cooling in afternoon

Town Lodge

Weaverbird nests

Oliveheaded Weaverbird

Breakfast at Town Lodge, another buffet with pretty much the usual except here you have to give a token to the hot dish cook. THB and DB go for the cold buffet (THB did not keep the token) and THB finally tries one of those mini-Danish choco swirls; good news is THB did not try them earlier or we would be talking letting out the belt two notches. Decaf was Nescafe crystals brought to table in a bowl along with a teapot full of hot water. Included in package.

If you want your pudding with breakfast

Took the shuttle back to the airport; for the four of us, round trip, it was over $100 {ed. note: not clear afterwards if we only paid $50, which is a lot more reasonable for 4 people round trip}. We have no idea why it was so much, and we’re surprised the shuttle driver last night had not told us about the charge. Even more amazing, the person at the front desk this morning said a cab would be the same. The Town Lodge is somewhere around 2 miles from the airport, maybe less. This trip rivals Knockin’ on Heavens Door at Victoria Falls for $$/mile.

Nuclear power plant near the airport

It's very hazy out, the flight is a bit bumpy from thermals, and fortunately we arrive early.

THB ordered the Asian Veg meal

Philippino Mix = Asian Veg

The entire meal

Hoedspruit inside the box

Hoedspruit airport

M&D about to meet D's half-bro

D’s half-brother T is there with his wife T to greet us. Budget Rental goes smoothly, and about ⅓ hour drive to Blue Cottages, T&T’s B&B. 

Brown Cottages?

More like it!

Lovely cottage, set in an oasis with hazy views of the mountains around Blyde Canyon. There’s plenty of water, big reservoirs and enough rain in winter (or is it summer, THB is very confused on the various seasons and has been for quite a while...sorry, should’ve confessed on day 6).

T has several pet birds

Cottages set down a road about ¼ mile; at the road are a restaurant and cafe and gallery full of African items for sale (well, DUH!, it’s a STORE). Alongside the road back to the cottages is a grapefruit orchard, this area is loaded with citrus and avocado (avo’s) orchards. The house where meals are taken has got a big portico where you can get wifi except THB can’t (another mark against the Chromebook?).

A mid-afternoon snack at the restaurant at end of the road. THB and DB share excellent smoked trout pate, THB and M share excellent chocolate cake, THB has his own terrific iced tea which is strongly citrus.

Another weaverbird next

A dip in the pool (lovely), a rest up, then T&T host the four of us for dinner. {ed. note: turns out THB and DB were not hosted, dinners were extra for us, free for D & M, which was fine with us).

THB making sure he is at least one arm's length away

Pan fried trout, potato wedges, veggies, brownie with ice cream and a large glass of white wine, served outside, and joined by Adolf, a young farmer who has been lodging in one of the cottages for the last 6 months. Dinner is excellent and much reminiscing by T&T and D&M.

Two sisters have adopted THB and DB

The stars are glorious: Southern Cross and the Milky Way. Early to bed, tomorrow is going to be another challenge: nothing is planned, we’ll be lounging around.