It is a gorgeous day here. With the approaching cold front the wind is picking up but Gudrun and I are relaxing on the stoep of the house at Leopard Trail,…  The rest of the group has gone off hiking or swimming in the dam.  The leg is up on the cushion on a chair and the mind is racing as I am writing…

Yesterday we made an excursion into Bonnievale. …We had such a lovely interaction with the young lady at the counter of the wine shop. She is getting married in October at Breede River Escape, a potential venue for my own daughter’s wedding.
We met up with the rest of the group at Van Loveren wine farm where after some tasting and a good shot of port to remove the mid morning coffee craving, I settled discretely on a bench behind a vegetation screen to wait for the farm to close and the public to leave me in sole possession of the place, whilst the others went hiking up the three peaks hill behind the farm.  The greenery garden of Van Loveren with its secret corners and secluded pathways are just the type of garden I wish to have.  Feeling very much in my element I reveled in spending four hours of solitary indulgence exploring the foliage, tree ferns, garden artifacts and creative fountain. Installing my chair on a piece of lawn studded with guinea fowl feathers, the magnificent vista in front of me was of vineyard rows leading the eye to a stand of crimson cannas edging the lower reaches of the Langeberg.

Reclining in comfort, I first explored my surroundings visually from behind the lens of my camera. Two hours of immobility disappeared between the pages of “Three cups of tea” in the world of the Baltistan valley and the works of philanthropist Greg Mortenson. (A true story and a must read).…
A need for different action drove me to fold up the chair and hobble on my crutches touring the garden for yet another in depth inspection and a lap around the winery building.   At the hopping pace of a three legged creature, I inspected the stainless steel wine vats, the garage, the stack of tannin pungent grape husks discarded behind the building.   The carpet design of grape seeds embedded in the dust attracted my eye and I studied the interwoven single layered arrangement formed by the pips.
Viewing the world and mostly photographing it on crutches takes a different dimension all together….This successfully occupied the fourth hour.
In varying state of sweatiness and fatigue, the group arrived back from the mountain in dribs and drabs…….

Gudrun and I took a drive on Easter Sunday afternoon of exploration and photography.   The passing cold front left a population of clouds that lent a dramatic light play on the scenery of the Overberg.
Derelict barns, plowed fields, sheep, rolling hills edged with single rows of trees, cows, Langeberg foothills and illuminated autumn vineyards, all lended themselves as photographic subjects….  Thanks G for you kind and friendly care.

Evenings on these week ends with Bryan and Sue invariably end up in raucous affairs of social games. Pitching our intellect and talents against one another, sweets as rewards in the bargain, much screaming and laughing astound us as we retire to bed. Puzzled by the abandon of our dignified adult behavior, we nevertheless chuckle at the more or less successful antics of the night before in our attempts at solving the clues of the games…

Food always plays a major part on these gatherings. This time, Tony exhibited his culinary talents with a pot of curry that emitted deliciously scented bursts of steam from the simmering mixture…

One takes away deep feelings of contentment from such gatherings. The longing regret of not being able to hike was more than compensated by the friendship.

Sue and Bryan as always did an excellent job at organizing the week end.   I was particularly touched at their kind concern and taking the trouble to arrange permission for me to stay in the gardens at Van Loveren, and showing us where Breede River Escape is.
Thank you for letting me keep my place on the week end in spite of the broken leg.

Re-reading the diary entry prompted me with a need to share a different perspective on a hiking trip and imparting a message to all in our Trails Club.
Never underestimate the therapy of friendship!