Waking Up at a Peaceful Campsite
Good day, March 13th. I got to be a happy camper for one night and slept in the car again. It was a great campsite with lots of trees, hot water, bathrooms — the whole nine yards. Just no one else around, which was perfectly fine. The birds were out and it was a fun place to hang out for a night.
Navigating a Challenging 4WD Route
I got going about 8:30, which was prearranged, and then ended up having to really look hard to make sure I had the right trail the whole time. I say trail, but it was obviously a route wide enough for a car — though there wouldn’t be any other vehicles coming the other way, which is why you pay the permit fee. I would not want to do that route with a regular car without four-wheel drive. It took me about two to two and a half hours, taking it easy and slow, but it’s a very rewarding route with the views, the hills, and just really beautiful scenery throughout.
A Charming Coffee Shop Run by a Retired Pig Farmer
There was a reward at the end — a Woodenville or Woolville coffee shop. Always good to reward oneself after accomplishing something like not sliding down a hill! The owner of the coffee shop is 77 years old and a retired pig farmer. He said he stopped raising pigs because they kept him from leaving home. His wife does most of the cooking and baking. It was a great stop.
Arriving at Tsitsikamma National Park
From there, I kept going toward my destination for the day: Tsitsikamma National Park, or Storms River rest camp. It’s a national park and still a ways away, but the scenery remained breathtaking the entire drive.
Meeting Fellow Travelers from Australia
When I got close, there were some people staying close behind me on the road. We ended up meeting at the camp — Craig and Kylie Cowell from Australia. They had just recently picked up their Australian car in Cape Town. They shipped it because they wanted to travel for about three months and figured it was cheaper to ship their own car, which they’ve had for 10 years, rather than renting one. We had some great conversations and they camped nearby with their rooftop tent. Craig has spent time in Africa before and actually has a motorbike in Zambia. A great couple who will have lots of fun on their journey.
Dinner at the Rest Camp and the Wild Indian Ocean
I ended up having an early dinner at the rest camp. They have a brand new restaurant, except it’s not yet in service, so there’s a temporary restaurant operating out of shipping containers — and it all works just fine. The Indian Ocean just keeps on giving. It’s very wild in places right along there, but if you go to the bay, you can canoe, kayak, and enjoy other water sports. There are also lots of trails to hike.
Staying in an A-Frame Cabin
I got to spend the night in an A-frame cabin, which was a nice treat. I managed to get one night since it was booked for the following night. It was a bit more expensive than what I’m used to paying, especially with the park fees on top. They made me aware of the Wild Card, which I don’t have. The Australians have one, but they’re going to spend much more time in the game parks than I will. All in all, a wonderful day. Thank you for coming along — see you tomorrow!
