Easter Monday

Had a perfect wake-up call again with coffee in bed from Hubby. The weather was back to overcast and chilly again. After having our cuppa we chilled watching TV before Hubby made our breakfast. I fed the dogs and made a second cuppa which I had while sitting working on the computer. Hubby left soon after to go into the workshop and Diane and I got ready to go on a hike as even though it was overcast the clouds were high. We left just after half ten discussing on the way which hiking trail to follow. The last time we were there we had been given a booklet for the Cheetah Trail which is 4.5kms long and there were points of interest all along it so we decided to go round twice to get a good mileage in.We set out just after eleven passing the old farmhouse first. The pioneer house was built in 1845 (one of the oldest in Gauteng) by Jan Gabriel Marais who farmed there with his wife and eight children. As was the practice in those days a short distance from the homestead is the cemetery where they are buried. After stopping at the cemetery we carried on with the trail passing an old Cheesewood Tree which is reputed to have medicinal properties used to treat fevers and stomach complaints. Further up the trial is a stone-walled site dating back to the late Iron Age. We looked over the site (which was rather overgrown with grass after all the rain we have had) and took pics before carrying on with the trail which climbed steadily up. There were a lot of people out enjoying the day and the Trail. By now the effects of the climb were starting to be felt and whenever we passed a point of interest we stopped to admire the view and take a pic. Point 6 was not a place to admire as the view was across to Joburg where the pollution hung over the city in a dark cloud. We were really enjoying our hike with all the places of interest along the way and were glad we had decided to take the shorter, historical route. We passed through a section full of Protea bushes which unfortunately weren’t in flower yet. The Highveld Protea or Suikerbos is very common in the reserve and this is what gave the mountain range running through the reserve and the reserve itself it’s name. By now thunder had started to rumble in the distance and before we got much further the rain started. Luckily it was fairly light rain and we just continued with our walk after putting the camera away into the back-pack. Our shoulders got wet and the trail became slippery. Once we reached the end of the trail the rain had stopped but the clouds were still very low so we went to the parking area to snack on the biscuits we had taken with before doing any more hiking. No sooner had we reached there when the heavens opened and the rain bucketed down. We sheltered under some carports and ate our biscuits watching people coming in soaked after being caught out in the open. When the rain eased off we went back to the car ready to leave as it was not an option to go slipping and sliding through the mud along the Trail. We were driving out to the gate when we decided that seeing as it was not even one o’clock instead of going home we would drive through the reserve and out the Kareekloof gate. I did a u-turn and went back on the tourist route first doing the loop around the top and back through to the parking area again. We were on the road back passing the spot where we had been rescued on our first hike there when we were waved down by two Grannies who begged for a lift. They had been caught in the rain and were walking along the road to avoid the muddy paths. Further along the road were more people hoping for a lift who were shocked to see their Grannies waving and smiling at them. The Grannies wanted to be dropped at the parking area so they could get their car and go back and pick up the rest of their group. Diane and I had a good laugh at them and wished them luck when we dropped them off before going back up the tourist route. The grass was very long and it was not easy to spot anything. We were having a moan about the lack of wildlife when we rounded a corner and there in front of us was something running along the road. At first I thought it was a dog but when it realized we were there and dived off into the long grass I noticed a long bushy tail. There were a lot of birds everywhere and at one point a group of francolins ran along the road in front of us before also disappearing into the grass. We were climbing higher into the mountain range when we noticed a large flock of birds circling and stopped to look through the binoculars. While we were stopped we heard the bellowing of some animal in the distance. It really sounded as if it was in agony. We tried to see if there was anything where the birds were circling but the grass was too high so we carried on driving through some beautiful scenery with vegetation ranging from grassland to thickly wooded areas and in one spot a mass of aloe plants. Another stunning view was the Sedevan Dam where we stopped to take more pics. It was driving through another grassland area that we at last saw some bokkies and wildebees. There were three large groups close together and a little further on were a couple of zebra. Our day was made and we were happy to leave after that. It was after half two by the time we drove out the Kareekloof gate and it wasn’t long before we got home where we chilled with a cappuccino before doing anything. Hubby arrived home soon after and no sooner was he home than the rain started and it turned really cold. It rained for most of the evening with periods of heavy rain alternating with very light drizzle. We chilled in front of the TV watching ` Numbers’ after which we had our Milo and I did the blog. It must just be posted and the pics checked to see what can be included after which I’m off to bed.
Cheers. Hope you had a Great Easter Weekend and have a Good Week.