To Our Champagne Valley Digs

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 30 Nov 2019 23:27
To Our Champagne Valley Digs
 
 
PB300002  PB300003
 
We left Richards Bay at eight thirty with our trip companions Trevor and Kimi (Slow Flight), en route to the Champagne Valley with stops at the battlegrounds of Isandhlwana and Rourke’s Drift. Soon out in the countryside we were to pass mile upon mile of eucalyptus forests and logging operations.
 
PB300009
 
An extensive area ready for planting eucalypts.
 
PB300010
 
Miles of rolling hills.
 
PB300004
 
PB300006  PB300007
 
We passed a main collection depot, logs ready for when ‘the big trucks’ come.
 
PB300013
 
Twenty-five minutes later, a village.
 
PB300014  PB300019
 
Sheep grazing on the side of the road and cows on the hill.
 
PB300020
 
Little villages dotted about.
 
PB300017  PB300018
 
A school and a water mill.
 
PB300024
 
We’ll stop for this chap then.........
 
PB300021  PB300023
 
PB300026
 
Mountains to our left and then miles of flat scrubland before things got very dry indeed.
 
PB300028
 
Over a hill we looked over our first destination - Isandhlwana.
 
PB300080
 
After exploring the battlefield I got the trio to pose, under what will now always be known as Pepe’s Tree.
 
PB300082
 
Just as we left the site a little kid jumped on a rock and cried out for his mum, a little way off.
 
PB300085
 
PB300089  PB300091
 
PB300092
 
Scenery along the way.
 
PB300093  PB300094
 
We passed a small village and saw a traditional prayer meeting, all were dressed in white in the middle of a white stone circle.
 
PB300095
 
PB300096  PB300097
 
Approaching Rourke’s Drift.
 
PC030237
 
Our digs in the Champagne Valley.
 
PC030235  PC030236
 
Inside, we were welcomed by the owners of River Crossing – Ernest and Michelle. Then the girls got down to unpacking all our kitchen stuff as the boys made short work of emptying the car.
 
PB300235  PB300232
 
To the left of the kitchen a double with en suite shower, to the right two singles with en suite shower. There was a little argy-bargy but as soon as Beds had staked his claim and the beds were pushed together, all was well.
 
DSCN0335
 
After settling our belongings and enjoying sweet and sour chicken, we took drinks to sit on the patio and take in our scenery. Even in the dull evening light we could see this was a place of beauty.
 
 DSCN0092  DSCN0101
 
A little chap on the roof was very proud of finding some nesting material but in the tree down the garden a big boy had the little ones scarpering to hide and take advantage of an early night, not that we did.......
 
DSCN0078
 
With darkness came the sight of farmland fires.
 
 
ALL IN ALL LOVELY SCENERY ALONG THE WAY
                     GREAT TO SEE INSIDE THE COUNTRY