Beez Neez now Chy Whella - To Larry and Marlo

To Larry and Marlo

Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Thu 9 Jan 2020 23:47

To Larry and Marlo

We set off with Patricia and Allen (Nauti Nauti) at nine thirty for our road trip to Mossel Bay to see Larry and Marlo. So very kind of Rod and Mary to let us use their car. We planned a steady pace, Bear at the wheel, with a couple of stops as suggested by Larry.....

.”.....Over the mountains is Riviersonderend, on the left after the fuel station is 'die ou meul bakkery' fantastic pies. Around halfway is the Town of Swellendam, on the other side are 2 eateries that do the most amazing 'roesterkoek' try bacon and egg, bacon and cheese or whatever, see you drive safe”.

Not far into our journey we saw a ship on the side of the road ???? not what we expected to see, but on looking it up on Mr Google, it belongs to a film studio where the ship was used during the filming of Black Sails. On we went.

Leaving Cape Town behind.

We were soon out in the countryside with a mountain range away to our left. Then came farmland, olive groves and then vineyards.

Our first stop was at the bakery. Bear chose a pie that was filled with huge chunks of tender beef, heavy to hold, but surrounded by the lightest pastry. The rest of us chose cakey things, cappuccino's to finish.

The cakes in the display looked delicious as well as being good. We bought a variety of pies as a gift to our hosts and on we went.

Back on the N2.

More farmland until we reached the olive groves – babies trees under the cover of shades.

We found our next stop and loved the sign and brooms at the entrance.

We bimbled past an amazing sponge cake and settled in the eatery that Larry suggested.

The cheerful waitress explained what a roosterkoek was - a grill cake made of simple balls of dough cooked on a grid over coals, served hot and used as a traditional braai accompaniment. Pronounced roor-stir-cook – the r’s have significant rolling of course. Patricia and Allen would share, Bear ordered his own but I went for bacon and feta salad.

Bear’s roosterkoek lunch and half way to show the delicious filling. On we went.

Our next stop was at a Garden Centre I had researched on line in order to buy Marlo some plants that would ride on the back floor between my legs. Very helpful suggestions from my fellow passengers to purchase ‘spiky things’, thank you and growling...... The grounds were beautifully kept and the need for me to feel the sod was quite big.

It was lovely to bimble about the displays although one resident wasn’t a bit pleased to see us.

Without too much help from the others I chose my favourites – Aeonium Schwarzkopf. Protea ‘Shady Lady’ as it seemed appropriate coming from me and my favourite grass, Black Dragon – ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens.

Loved this garden ornament and for the first time in ages I actually miss having my own little plot to furtle in. Right leg in the car, the two bigger plants in between legs, left leg in, grass in boot and off we went to find a supermarket.

Final stop with the reverse of left leg out, plants, right leg, shopping done, back in for the final time. So pleased the boot is filled with light stuff. Off we went on our final leg of the journey.

Yay, we can see the sea.

At four thirty we had the band together. Allen, Larry, Bear, Patricia and Marlo holding shady lady.

By six minutes past five we were sitting in what would become very familiar placings over the next few days. Note frangipani flowers arranged around the table (young guests did it the day before for us). A few more grey hairs but remarkably unchanged in the last seven years since we had fun together.

Lovely view from the kitchen window.

Allen all set..... Marlo with Madagascan rum complete with vanilla pods and somehow we managed to lay the table.

Girls talk around the table whilst the boys talk around the braai.

And what an excellent braai it was.

Cakes to follow (no calories of course....) and much imbibing. The bottle of Amarula disappeared, we think by evaporation, as did several bottles of wine, to say we partied like teenagers..........