A Busy Weekend Doing Almost Nothing

This weekend I had a taste of what Sutherland experiences are made of. Early on Saturday morning, my hubby and I set off by car to take photos at the scenic Ouberg Pass.

Being new to the area, I was stunned at the scenery.

After turning off at the Skurweberg sign (about 2km out of town), the landscape completely engulfed us. From the pass you can see the Roggeveld, rolling hills and jutting rugged rocks, rough tufts of rye grass, small bushes and a green landscape that I never imagined could be just around the corner. The Fishriver creates a pathway of life, dotted with small lakes and abundant with birds. Reaching Ouberg, which is best attempted with a 4x4 or at the very least a bakkie and then only if you are an experienced driver,  I felt I could be at the edge of the world – if the world was flat as was suspected in the old days. With a view over the Karoo, and the Cederberg Mountains, the landscape stretches as far as the eye can see.  A light breeze brought with it the smell of earth, nature and the thin, crisp air of the Roggeveld. Feeling like pioneer explorers, we headed back to Sutherland to watch the tri-nations (which SA won by the way!) in our favourite bar and restaurant.

On Sunday, we left early for the Karoo. It was freezing outside, one of the coldest mornings I’ve experienced thus far. The weather report predicted a low of -6 degrees, but it felt more like -10. Despite the cold, the sun already had a presence, announcing a warmer day to come.

After an early braai in the Karoo, we visited the farm Bossieskerm, where the owner Santa (as in the Afrikaans name Santa, not Santa Claus) had left biltong, droeëwors, cold drinks, rusks and biscuits for visitors with a friendly reminder to leave the payment in the nearby milk can. The farm has an interesting asbosskerm, a shelter made out of ‘asbos’ (ash-bush), tightly packed in a wire structure to form a a dome-like, circular shape without a roof but with a farmhouse-style stable door.These structures can be quite big and are used as a way to escape the wind if braai-ing or entertaining outdoors. If nature calls, you can visit the homely toilet in the veld, also made in the form of a bossieskerm. The ablutions have a flushing toilet with delightful hand soaps and even a towel! How’s that for powdering your nose in the middle of the Karoo?!

At 14:30 we attended a church service in the old Tuinplaas church, one of the oldest churches in South Africa. Driving back in the late sun and hoping our fuel would not run out, I was amazed at how eventful a quiet weekend could be!

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