Mountain Air

Mon 9 May 2016 - Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge

Last night was chilly and this morning was plain cold. With the fire the only source of heat and no logs available, we jumped into a hot shower then donned long trousers, fleeces and socks. Socks! The first time in months. With the low clouds flowing past the windows we had no incentive to leave our lodge so we enjoyed some hot porridge, pulled a blanket over us on the sofa and read. A few cups of tea later we went to reception to get on the wifi and confirm our booking for tomorrow night.

After lunch we jumped into the car and travelled to the local town of Pilgrim’s Rest - a ‘worth a visit’ mention in the Lonely Planet. It was a former gold prospecting town that has been preserved as a heritage site and is subject to invasion by coach loads of tourists. We drove up the main street, which was lined with old corrugated iron buildings interspersed with wooden stalls selling tourist tat, and soon realised this was not a place for us. The LP recommendation and tourist buses should have been all the warning we needed but we never learn. I guess when you’re from a country with quaint old stone villages from the middle ages, a 19th century prospectors settlement just doesn’t cut it. Are we history snobs?

Back at the resort we called in at the bar to sample some South African beer and watch another IPL game before stocking up on firewood and returning to our lodge to stoke up the fire and watch the sun go down - it really was a marvellous view over the endless mountain ridges. Then we packed the car ready for an early getaway tomorrow.

Our beautiful mountain lodge...

...and what a view from the deck

A great place to hole up...

...and watch the sunset.