We went on our first visit to the coast. We have always gone on bush holidays and this year we were invited to visit Papa’s Aunt and Uncle in Port Elizabeth. We took the accidentally took the scenic route to Port Elizabeth and saw some of the most beautiful scenery South Africa has to offer.
We are fortunate that my father lives 3 hours away from us, so we left here on Friday afternoon and spent the night at my father’s house in Virginia. Before going to my dad, we popped past my maternal aunt, who the children call Crazy Granny. This woman means the world to me and refers to my children as her grandchildren <3
We left my dad’s at 6am on Saturday and stopped in Bloemfontein for brekkie.
We followed the Waze app and it took us on a totally different route our parents (my father and father in law) had suggested we follow. We only realised on the way back that there was a ton of road works on the main route to Port Elizabeth, hence the alternate route there.
I digress, the alternate route is the most scenically beautiful trip I have ever taken.
The vast open spaces of the south eastern Free State are absolutely beautiful! I had forgotten how beautiful it could be. Even during this terrible drought, there is beauty.
The kidlets loved the passes. We drove down 3 rather spectacular passes to get down off the escarpment. The view was beautiful and amazing. The most hairy pass was the Penhoek Mountain pass. It was covered in fog and visibility was almost zero!
Fifi loved the fact that we were driving through a cloud and opened her window to touch it. It was ice cold and had all three kidlets shrieking in laughter for the few seconds the window was open.
We stopped for lunch at a little farm stall called Baddaford Farmstall just outside Fort Beaufort. It was the most charming little coffee shop/road side stall that I have ever been to. We bought some jam and marmalade to gift to Aunty Nan and Uncle Brian and Papa got himself a bottle of of pickled onions, his favourite treat.
I was amazed at the number of wind farms in the Eastern Cape. I didn’t even know we had that those in South Africa. Those turbines are HUGE!
After a long scenic journey, we finally made it to Uitenhage where we got a glimpse of the ocean. Koko and Fifi were thrilled and super excited, Pixie wasn’t impressed because she couldn’t see the beach! Silly girl.
By the time we made it to Port Elizabeth, we were exhausted. Koko and Fifi slept in the main house and Papa, Pixie and I slept in the caravan (camper) for the week.
Keep an eye out tomorrow for more photos and news on our first visit to the coast and the kidlets’ first time on the beach!