Up at 09h30, thinking of a cup of Java's finest, but guess what? It's still fuckin' raining and there's no fuckin' power in the flat...
Eskom is the local, privatised, power supplier to the entire country - basically another monopoly, like the phone company, Telkom - who, according to the local radio station news, "apparently" had a little bit of sabotage at their Koeberg Atomic Energy power plant just outside Cape Town. In their wisdom, and to somehow cover up their own ineptitude in not having a contingency plan, the powers that be have decided to punish the rest of the country by having what they call "load sharing" and shutting down various towns and cities along the coast at various intervals as determined by them, and giving their power to Cape Town. Note that it's called "load sharing" and not "power sharing", as I'm sure the ANC would take exception to that, seeing as they don't want to share power with anyone.
Anyway, the power's off and we're not having any coffee. Chances are that the entire Plett's going to be out...which, as we find out later, it is.
At about 11h30, we decide to go through to Knysna and see if the power's on there. Thankfully, it is, and we have a great coffee followed by a mediocre lunch of Angel Fish, Calamari and Chips (for me) and Butternut Soup and Health Bread (for Steph). Lunch is had at a place called "Paquita's" on the Knysna Heads, which is the entrance to the natural harbour that is responsible for Knysna's popularity. The Paquita was an old 19th century barque that came in carrying coal, but as she was leaving harbour a couple of months later after taking on some ballast for the return journey to the UK, floundered on the eastern side of the heads and sank. It was speculated that she was sunk on purpose by her Master, as a direct order from the owners to commit an insurance scam due to the age of the old girl.
We drive around Knysna for a couple of hours, stopping off at a stall alongside the highway renowned for their cheeses, and pick up some Gorgonzola and some-or-other Italian gouda-type stinky stuff. The Gorgonzola is the best ever...creamy and delicious, just great to take a bite out of and let it melt in your mouth...
We also stopped off at a lookout point on the western side of the Heads to take some pictures of the cliffs and just stand around enjoying the scenery.
On the way back to Plett we stop off at a timber yard to have a look at the various types of wood they sell to the public. We see a beautiful piece of Cape Beech, speckled like a thrush's breast and the colour of tanned leather. At a price of R2,500 for a three inch think, two metre length, we decide it can stay there a while longer. I wanted it for a bar counter at home, but at least I know how much I should be prepared to pay for a decent slab.
Coming into Plett, we decide to look for a little restaurant we were told about by Stan, but in the end we can't find it and, instead, stop off at a pub/restaurant on the shoreline where we see a pod of about fifty dolphins buggering about in the water, splashing their tails and jumping out the back of the waves they've just ridden. As with a woman who commented behind me, I can't get enough of seeing them playing around like that...anyone who has seen them in their natural environment will know what I'm talking about.
After a couple of the local "Bosun's Bitter" pale ales for me, and a couple of glasses of Chardonnay for Steph, we head back to the flat where, by now, the power has returned to normal. At least then we were able to cook dinner...a pasta dish with egg tagliatelle noodles, and a parma ham, mushroom and cream sauce to go with it. Another glass of Chard and it's time to write another episode of our holiday for you lot...and copy some more music and have a single-malt or two...
With Dave Matthews on the CD player, life is beautiful in Plett...
At about 11h30, we decide to go through to Knysna and see if the power's on there. Thankfully, it is, and we have a great coffee followed by a mediocre lunch of Angel Fish, Calamari and Chips (for me) and Butternut Soup and Health Bread (for Steph). Lunch is had at a place called "Paquita's" on the Knysna Heads, which is the entrance to the natural harbour that is responsible for Knysna's popularity. The Paquita was an old 19th century barque that came in carrying coal, but as she was leaving harbour a couple of months later after taking on some ballast for the return journey to the UK, floundered on the eastern side of the heads and sank. It was speculated that she was sunk on purpose by her Master, as a direct order from the owners to commit an insurance scam due to the age of the old girl.
We drive around Knysna for a couple of hours, stopping off at a stall alongside the highway renowned for their cheeses, and pick up some Gorgonzola and some-or-other Italian gouda-type stinky stuff. The Gorgonzola is the best ever...creamy and delicious, just great to take a bite out of and let it melt in your mouth...
We also stopped off at a lookout point on the western side of the Heads to take some pictures of the cliffs and just stand around enjoying the scenery.
On the way back to Plett we stop off at a timber yard to have a look at the various types of wood they sell to the public. We see a beautiful piece of Cape Beech, speckled like a thrush's breast and the colour of tanned leather. At a price of R2,500 for a three inch think, two metre length, we decide it can stay there a while longer. I wanted it for a bar counter at home, but at least I know how much I should be prepared to pay for a decent slab.
Coming into Plett, we decide to look for a little restaurant we were told about by Stan, but in the end we can't find it and, instead, stop off at a pub/restaurant on the shoreline where we see a pod of about fifty dolphins buggering about in the water, splashing their tails and jumping out the back of the waves they've just ridden. As with a woman who commented behind me, I can't get enough of seeing them playing around like that...anyone who has seen them in their natural environment will know what I'm talking about.
After a couple of the local "Bosun's Bitter" pale ales for me, and a couple of glasses of Chardonnay for Steph, we head back to the flat where, by now, the power has returned to normal. At least then we were able to cook dinner...a pasta dish with egg tagliatelle noodles, and a parma ham, mushroom and cream sauce to go with it. Another glass of Chard and it's time to write another episode of our holiday for you lot...and copy some more music and have a single-malt or two...
With Dave Matthews on the CD player, life is beautiful in Plett...
1 comment:
No power, good food, excellent cheese, beer, wine, dolphins..... yup sounds like Africa to me.
You had a good day then after all.
Salagatle
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