Waking up in Drakensberg is just wonderful. The night was deathly quiet and we rested well for a long time. When I awake I hear doves cooing in the distance, a light wind, and nothing else. Sitting up in bed I can see the dramatic mountains through the sheer curtains of the floor to ceiling window like some glorious impressionist painting.
After a shower we head over to the restaurant again for a buffet breakfast. Everything you could want at a breakfast buffet; heavies like sausage, eggs, baked beans, hash browns. Lighter fare like cereals, fruits, yogurts. And the coffee is excellent.
After we’re stoked up, we take a peek at the hiking trails. They have a scale relief map with buttons and lights for each of the main attractions, and a kiosk that describes each trail and rates the difficulty. We choose a easy to medium three hour hike to “Blue Pools”.
The hike is lovely, and feels great. One drawback I’ve found in Dundee is that we don’t walk around that much for safety reasons. I’d love to stroll through the Location on a lazy afternoon, or hike across some of the plains, but it isn’t considered wise. Here in the far country we are safe and so we get to really use our legs. It’s an easy hike along a river, not much in the way of elevation changes, and we take our time so we can observe and photograph.
Of particular note were a few super cool looking grasshoppers. First was a colorful one. It was pretty large, about the size of my pinky. Not terribly afraid of us either, at least, it didn’t try to get away. These turned out to be pretty common and we saw several more on the trail as we went along. At one point we came across another one that was slightly bigger and had a nice earthy tone. Sophie and I played with them for a while.
There are also a lot of neat looking butterflies rising around us as we disturb them with our approach. They move to quickly to photograph, though. Some other creatures are willing to hold still.
After some more leisurely enjoyment of nature and a few more kilometers of hiking, we arrive at the lovely little blue pools. The pools are not big, and are cleverly tucked away in the forest. I take off my shoes to sample the water and it is refreshingly chilly. I wade in and let it comfort my feet. The riverbed is particularly comfortable to walk on; a smooth but non-slippery stone. I go and explore the little waterfall that feeds the pool. If you’ve ever been to “The Basin” in Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, this is what it looked like some twenty thousand years ago, I imagine.
When I come out of the pool and let my feet dry on the warm stones, I really notice something special as my soles feel the real earth. I get a connection that I don’t feel with shoes on. No offense to Zappos of course.
We hike back and arrive a couple hours before dinner. We haven’t eaten since our hearty breakfast, and we’re starting to get just a little hungry. We shower and have a couple cookies and a beer from the fridge. We look out at that spectacular view from the room for a bit before heading to the buffet dinner, which is much like last night aside from a couple substitutions.
Before going to bed we sign up for horseback riding in the morning. I find sleep is very easy here. We drift off together in moments.
Oh, all the pictures today were by Sophie of course!
Wow. That place is beautiful. And Sophie’s photography has improved drastically, (and it was really good to begin with). The sky in the picture of you leisurely enjoying nature is so rich. Are these pre or post photoshop?
Sophie could give more details, but those are post photoshop. Her photography has improved, as you say, but her post-production has improved even more dramatically — she works some kind of magic with the color levels that I don’t comprehend.
and exactly what evolutionary advantage is conveyed by bing bright blue and red?
Nature’s bling?
Right on.
I was wondering that too. And the fellow was so relaxed, like he had nothing to fear. My only guess, other than him being an incredibly cool cat, was that he’s deathly poisonous to the touch and wants to advertise that fact.
bright colors
yeah, the bright colors usually mean that your poisonous. Or so it goes with frogs.
I guess if you’re poisonous but look like everyone else, you just get eaten. Then you die and whoever ate you dies. CHECKMATE!
Or – could the grasshopper be trying to get laid?
Have you heard of this?
It’s West African but keep your eye out for Miraculin. It’s a fruit that makes bitter things taste sweet. Not like sugar, according to this blog, but rather by tricking your taste buds into thinking something is sweet.
I’d be interested if you can pick up any. As you may have guessed, my life here is boring. I suppose I could look around here for some myself. But I figure so long as you’re all the way over there…
Re: Have you heard of this?
I had not heard of it, but that is some weirdness. They think it alters the structure of your taste cells? And they stay like that for hours? Odd indeed.