Road tripping!

We’ve just returned from a two-week road trip through some of the most beautiful parts of South Africa, including the Great Karoo, Little Karoo, the Overberg region of the Western Cape and the Cape winelands. We travelled about 3000km through spectacular scenery and stayed in beautiful places. What made the trip really special is that we visited a number of different farms along the way owned by friends and fellow Boran breeders. We were reminded how lucky we are to live in this beautiful country as we travelled into the wide open expanse of the Karoo and wound our way up and down mountain passes into the Cape, stopping along the way to take in the view and enjoy some fabulous home-grown hospitality. And if we didn’t know it already, it’s a fact that South Africans are a very friendly bunch and “boerekos” (traditional farm-style food) really is delicious! We also managed some quality time with family. My dad John, step-mother Barbara and brother Johnny met Livia for the first time when we spent a weekend with them in Struisbaai. The following weekend, the other side of the family congregated for my step-father Charles’ birthday in a very special place in the Overberg called Halfaampieskraal. Livia was a little star in her car seat and grew in front of our eyes from newborn to baby as she hit the 3 month mark. How time is flying! Herewith some of the scenic shots from the journey taken by Quentin.

The Great Karoo between Beaufort West and Prince Albert.

In and around Prince Albert.

The spectacular Swartberg Pass.

Sheep grazing in the rolling hills of the Overberg and the beach at Struisbaai.

The view from Brenaissance Wine and Stud in Stellenbosch.

The farm Halfaampieskraal near Bredasdorp in the Overberg.

Scenes along the Route 62 between Barrydale and Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo.

Our last night at Grootfontein farm near Colesberg.

Late-Summer Garden

There are signs all about that the seasons are starting to turn. Work on the farm started half an hour later today signalling the end of the busy summer period. The wild peach trees alongside the road are almost depleted of their fruit thanks to passing cars with plastic bags at the ready. Soon a sea of cosmos will bring shades of pastel to the landscape. I am more aware than ever of the subtle changes in light and temperature being awake a few times through the night feeding little Livia. In the garden, the fading agapanthus have been replaced by bright orange wands of crocosmia and the odd flowering clivia. Similarly, the spectacular pink Pride of India and bright red Bottlebrush tree add a splash of colour.  There may still be many glorious sunny days before the winter chill sets in, but it’s only a matter of time before the leaves on the poplar tree at the bottom of the garden and the virginia creeper in the courtyard turn auburn and start to fall.