Roadtrip! (Part 1)

Lucy had her fall break from school (still feels funny to say that, but indeed the days are getting shorter and the air chillier).   So we packed up Alice (our Honda Jazz) and headed for the South African coast.   Google Maps puts St. Lucia at about 7 hours (click for map), but we had heard the roads were bad due to construction, so we stopped halfway in a small town called Piet Retief.  The potholes were small craters in spots and where they were repaving, they allowed traffic in only one direction at a time.  This forces you to wait 10-20 minutes to let the other lane go before you get your turn.   (It made us appreciate the roads around Pretoria, but it was interesting also to see how the further from the money [Joburg, Pretoria], the worse the infrastructure gets.)  It wasn't so terrible and somehow the kids held on. (I was the one who had to work on "enjoying the journey...")

On the way, we stopped at a funky hotel that sadly had no customers because the road construction dissuaded tourists.   (Reminded me of when the rapid transit was built in DT Buffalo and the Main St businesses were decimated... including one in particular.)  The innkeeper was thrilled to see us and Noah and Lucy loved running around on the zebra skin rugs.

 Lucy and Ad enjoy a drink at the hotel bar.  (Lucy said she earned a chocolate milkshake.)

Unleashed from the car, Noah ran around with a plastic tequila bottle that he managed to get from behind the bar.  (Note the animal skin rug.)

 Lucy tried on some old hats in the lobby.

 Finally we made it to our B&B... a house down a 16 km dirt road.  Alice pulled through!

We arrived at dusk and after much driving, the kids (I mean Adam) were really happy to see the trampoline and playground.  (The owner apparently has many grandkids.)

Lucy's private tree house.

Since there was absolutely nothing around, the innkeeper asked if we wanted dinner.  YES!! 

 An hour later, she produced quite a feast which we absolutely devoured.  (A springbok stew (!), mixed veggies with cheese, cucumber salad, carrot salad and more.  Even little Noah ate it down.)

  Noah suggested I ask for the stew recipe. (Was that a hint about my cooking, little man?!)

 She then brought out ice cream with fruit toppings. Lucy approved.

Life is good.

 Bath time and then into bed.   The place was a small apartment and Lucy had her own room.  All for $80 a night...  But remember, we were really in the boonies.)

All clean, Noah decided what book of Lucy's to read (I mean steal away to his room to chew on).

Outside, it was pitch black out and completely quiet.  Exhausted from the day (and quite full), Adam and I went to bed at about 8:30 ourselves.   It seemed crazy but also like the best vacation ever.

zzz,
Glenn