Time out with the girls...

Once a year, our book club makes a plan to get away for a weekend. We normally pick a self-catering spot that's close to the beach and that has decent facilties. Generally, we're not out in the sticks and try stick fairly close to town. Because of Jake, I always only join the girls for one of the two nights, normally the first. Besides anything, I don't think my liver could cope with longer...

This year, we picked a spot out in Citrusdal, called Waterfall Farm . Citrusdal is 170km North of Cape Town, so it's a bit of a drive, especially after work and espeically with the outrageously high temperatures (over 40 deg C on Friday and Saturday) we had over the weekend. Jo drove through with me, so we left just before 4. It was really nice to have some time with her. And I just have to say - thank goodness for airconditioning in my car!!! I think we'd have melted without it!

Citrusdal is at the foot of the Cedarberg Mountains and inland, so the temperatures there were even warmer then those in Cape Town. Unfortunately, our accommodation did not come with a crystal clear blue swimming pool, however the girls very kindly gave Jo and I the only room with an airconditioner in it - what a relief!!

On Friday night, we had delicious lightly curried pasta with a Caprese Salad. We added chicken and bacon to our pasta and served it warm - it was really delicious. I try not to drink too much these days and, while I did take wine with me, I stuck to the Woolworths extra light shandies. They're less then 0.5% alcohol and are super refreshing - it was just too hot for wine!

After a delicious fried breakfast on Saturday morning, we headed off to the waterfall and rock pools for a swim. It was about a 20 - 25 minute light hike, but in the heat, we were all desperate to get in the cool water when we got there. We spent about 2 hours lazing around and enjoying the water, before heading back to the house (soaking wet to help keep cool on the trip back) for a light lunch. By the time it came for me to leave on Saturday afternoon, I was exhausted, but it was a good tired. Since I was driving back into town alone, I left well before sunset and was home just before 6pm. It was a fabulous break and I really enjoyed the time with the girls.

I'll end off with lots of pictures...

The view from the covered patio...

The patio...Sunset over the orchards...

One of our pets...View of the house (on the left), braai area and covered patio...Orchards...This was our swimming pool. The water was clean, they filled it when we got there. Despite the heat, we didn't use it...Getting ready to go out to the waterfalls...The view en route the waterfalls...

A bunch of hot and bothered girls....

The first little waterfall...The main waterfall...They had this nifty little shade thing on the beach at the waterfalls. It felt like we were on a deserted island...The water was really refreshing (cold), fresh from the mountains...But we all got in and sat chatting while we cooled off...These last pictures were taken on my way home. This is the dirt road leading to Waterfall Farm - I must be honest, I was a bit nervous of having Jo in the car with them bumps...This is the river that feeds the waterfall...Just past this river, about 20 baboons ran across the road. After living on a farm where our rubbish was raided, the vineyards ripped apart and my precious dogs were attacked (not seriously), I don't like baboons...These are the fields in Piketberg - I love their honey colour. Not the greatest photo, but I was driving at the time...Another fire wrecking havoc in our mountains...

And then I was home. Safely.

XXX