One thing that helps me leave behind stunning places/people/energy is getting excited for my next stop. But I do realise that I need to honour my sadness of departure and not gloss over it. I did just that by sitting downstairs in Sedgefield and acknowledged the space while waiting for the key collection. I felt truly rested and grateful for being in this paradise for two weeks.
The weather turned cool and wet so my drive away from the town suited my mood. The countryside reminded me of Scotland, green, lush and damp, particularly when I turned off the N2 towards Buffels Bay and there were cows grazing in an unusually flat field. The short road to this hidden bay was stunning and it was great to catch up with a different Johannesburg running friend who was down on holiday. A cloud burst put short our exploratory walk and after a cuppa, I headed out eastwards in my stunning car again.
I stopped in at Belvidere, a small village on the Knysna lagoon which is beautiful. The church was built by a Scotsman, Thomas Henry Duthie and was consecrated in 1855. I was in my element. Stones, graves and a building all pretty as a picture (several in fact). I found the family graves and was excited, which, if you didn't know me, would think me macabre. I'm writing all this here for future reference for my AfriScot project and I am loving finding all the kilty connections.
I then stopped by at the Belvidere Manor house and it was so quaint I had to eat. The toasted sandwich of fig, cheese and bacon was unusually light and delicious and I drove happily onwards to my beautiful stop at my new old friends in Plettenberg bay.
Comments