December 7th

I awoke having one of the best night's sleep I've had in quite awhile. The stream was very therapeutic! We were both trying to remember the last time we “camped” by water. It took us a bit. Anyway, we readied in our shower! (I told you glamping!!) We went to breakfast. It was buffet style. There was a cereal/yogurt section with the juices (mango, guava, and orange); then the warmers with homemade beef sausages in a chutney, shoulder bacon (sliced ham), and over easy eggs; and then the cold cuts, cheese, condiments, and fruit/veggies. It was a very nice spread, and we did not overeat. We went back to our “tent”, loaded up,  and checked out. This place was last minute booking for Jeff, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.  

We now went north to Cango Caves (we saw Baboons on the side of the road – the biggest group we had seen). Arriving just before 1000 for the ten o'clock tour. Our tour was split in half due to half wanting an English tour, the other being German (which actually surprised me). Anyway, the tour commenced we were guided through two big rooms and couple other areas. There were some big 'chandeliers', 'organ pipe', great stalactites and stalagmites – as well as columns, were they meet. It was a spectacular cave, and we enjoyed it. We could not remember being in a cave in Africa – so we had to go! We felt blessed we did go! The tour lasted one hour and our guide gave us a tip for a brandy tasting for us, well me, anyhow! Yeah, for Paula!! Leaving the caves we head back onto Route 62.

So we did go to the recommended brandy vineyard, Boplaas, in the next town, Calitzdorp. We found the tasting room, and I started – they had Port so I went all out and did a port and brandy tasting. I tried three ports, the third one was Porto quality, but was very expensive. Then I did one brandy – she started me at the 12 yr old one and that was it! We bought a bottle of this. So Jeff has a rum and I have a brandy to take to India. So any further tastings will be for wine. We paid up and head on. The terrain is very much like 'brush country' of SW Texas – close to Big Bend area. Still a bunch of mountains and so dry. There are quite a few Game Reserves, or Nature Reserves. We kept on driving.

We drove on to Barrydale. Here Jeff had booked us a place that has a washer. It's a last, must thing to do before we leave South Africa. We arrived and Ian, the host, met us, but his wife and the hostess, Ella showed us the room and actually called restaurants for lamb inquires for us for our dinner. (We did not have lunch – except dried fruit.) We were ready to eat! She found a place. We quick put in our load of laundry and unloaded more. They have three big dogs, so we also had some pet therapy! The clothes were done within 30 minutes, and we hung them on the clothes rack to dry. Now we went to dinner. It was at Flambe at MUD(Questions??). Anyway, we showed up and they were expecting us. Jeff had cumin lamb – marinated in a red wine and coriander, sauteed with onion in a red wine reduction, spooned over their home-made pasta ribbons (which are flat 1.5 inch wide noodles). I had pan seared beef fillet with a port, red wine and brandy reduction topped with mushrooms over mashed potatoes. Both entrees were served with whole four inch tender carrots, and a kind of salty-sour brined julienned cucumber. We had a Cherry Choc Merlot. Another fine meal, probably our second best (first being last evening). I guess we are going out with a bang!

Then we went back to our Booking.com place. Gathered most of our laundry (some still damp), it has been warm here today, like 93 degrees. We both went and petted their horses – they have three. Horses are such beautiful creatures. Anyway, we gathered rest of our laundry and then I blogged as Jeff read. We had some gouda cheese with mustard seed and a Chenin Blanc. What a 'Loverly' day!!