Seeking the Perfect Light: karoo

Wednesday, 3 September 2014

The Great TREK - #15

July the 15^th- Beginning of the 5^thLeg

Because we ran out of food in Tankwa Karoo national Park and there was no shop nearby (except for another treacherous 70km Gravel road), I decided, brokenhearted, to leave this beautiful day after a small breakfast that was cereals, little milk and rusks, and start our 5th leg of our journey.

We had to travel 140km of gravel and dirt road due south until we leave the National park and get the R355 "normal" road again.

Now my son is starting to get hungry so decided to stop at Ceres for an early lunch (12h00) for us is early. He wanted a nice big fat steak so the best and quickest choice was the Rocky River Spur.

After lunch and more relaxed, there was only 140km to our final destination and the start of the 5th leg, that is at the in-laws in Cape Town passing Malmesbury before catching up with the National Road (N7) again the comes all the way from Namíbia (the one we took before).

Ceres, named after the goddess of fertility for good reason, lies tucked away in a valley surrounded by the mountains of the Boland, accessed only via mountain passes that are breathtaking, particularly Theronsberg Pass through the fothills of the Hex River mountains.

Tankwa Karoo

Our Lodge

The pool must be great to be used in summer

Going South

In the middle of nowhere

Outside the shop

Friendly lady from the shop

Historic Memorabilia

Interesting

The concept of burglar bars at this shop

Ceres

Scenic landscape

My son on top of a cliff overlooking the valley

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

The Great TREK - #14

July the 14^th- Our 4^thLeg

We arrived at our fabulous lodge in Tankwa Karoo National Park at about 16h00 as, once again, the road was a bad gravel road for about 100km. But the lodge made up for it. We will be staying here for two nights.

Until the main gate of the Park the road was great and scenic passing Calvinia with the biggest post box in the World.

When we checked in, we asked if there was a shop for us to buy some food, as we were very low on all food, and to my Surprise they informed us that the nearest shop was 70km to the North (Were we came from on the bad gravel road). I decided not to go and see how the boy will cope with only milk .

No Electricity, just good old firewood, and paraffin lamps to light the lodge.

The Lodge was just perfect with all the luxuries we needed Except, well, electricity, but then again we are doing our 11300 km TREK so, this is perfect,with no neighbors in sight, just beautiful landscape all around you.

What peaceful night we had. The crystal clear sky was just perfect for star gazing and some night photography.

Beacause we ran out of food we could only stay for one night (should of been 2), so we had to check-out and start our 5th Leg. How sad for both of us.

Tankwa Karoo National Park is a Scientific National Park in South Africa. The park lies about 70 km due west of Sutherland near the border of the Northern Cape and Western Cape, in one of the most arid regions of South Africa, with areas receiving less than 100 mm of average annual precipitation.

Tankwa-s area has been increased from an initial 260 to 1436 km². It is bounded on the east by the Roggeveld Mountains, on the west by the Cederberg, to the north by the Kouebokkeveld Monutains and to the south by the scattered foothills of the Koedoesberge and klein Roggeveld monutians.