Tent Travels: Wedding bells, mountains and a desert garden
The Overberg was just so lush, well-populated and prosperous.
FROM beautiful Tankwa Karoo National Park we travelled south over the jagged blue mountains that cradled the town of Worcester – and into another world.
After flat, dry Tankwa this rain-rich, mountain-shadowed Overberg was just so lush, well-populated and prosperous, boasting extensive vineyards and wheat fields, emerald expanses, at that time of year, dotted with flocks of graceful blue cranes.
As we drove over the mountains, battalions of clouds scurried past us and it was cool and misty when we stopped to admire the view from the summit. We would meet up with those clouds again later when they massed over Greyton then proceeded to try and rain on the bride and groom, my niece Kim and Matt, and their guests at their wedding at a venue alongside the Breede River, near Worcester, two days later.
First, though, we would spend a night at the Overberg village of Greyton with my sister and brother-in-law, Gay and Cliff, who had left KwaZulu-Natal and moved there just about a week before. They were still settling into the house they had only recently acquired in this leafy, picturesque village, at the foot of the Sonderend Mountains, and we were looking forward to seeing their new home. We veered off the R43 at Villiersdorp and followed a gravel country road that took us through the pretty farming area to Greyton. Arriving there, we were impressed with their choice of new home.
Greyton – encircled by mountains and farmlands, rivers and streams – was a delightful little country village boasting beautifully restored heritage buildings and lovely modern homes that reflected the older country cottage styles. Streets were lined with ancient oaks and leiwater canals and there was an abundance of trendy eateries, country pubs and crafty shops.
Gay and Cliff proudly showed us around their lovely village and took us for a mountain walk through the flowering fynbos in the Greyton Nature Reserve. We enjoyed some pre-dinner refreshments at a quirky local pub then went back to their newly-acquired home for a delicious dinner. By the time we left next morning, we were convinced that taking the bold step of swapping city life for a new life in a laid-back, country hamlet had been a good move for them. By choosing Greyton, they had chosen well.
It was pouring with rain when we left them and took the tarred road to Caledon on the N2 where we stopped at a large and popular padstaal for some highly recommended, seriously delicious pies. It was also a treasure trove of all sorts of odds and ends, including treasures that some might see as junk. I had a very difficult time dragging Bill away from this section. He is a junk – sorry treasure – collector of note and I had a vision of him filling the bakkie with all sorts of maybe-useful-some-day stuff if I didn’t get him out there fast.
The rain was clearing as we arrived at Bonamanzi near Worcester, the rustic venue for the wedding, and we were able to set up our tent in the sheltered little riverside camping area without getting too damp.
With nearly the whole day ahead of us before the planned family get-together that evening, Bill and I drove into Worcester to visit its famous Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, set in the Hex River Mountains.
This exquisitely laid out garden, one of nine managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi), showcases a wealth of succulents and other plants from South Africa’s arid and semi-arid areas. Although 154 ha in size, only 11ha is cultivated. Beautifully designed, this section, with its meandering pathways, invites exploration. There are also hiking trails in the uncultivated, wilderness areas that, if we’d had more time, we’d have liked to try.
We enjoyed the big family get-together and the chance to meet Matt’s family that evening. The wedding the next day was picture perfect and a very joyful one. The clouds tried to rain on the bride just as Kim was preparing to walk down the (outdoor) aisle so we had to wait a few minutes. Then the sun came out and the wind died down and the beautiful bride and her handsome groom exchanged vows under a flower bedecked canopy in the lovely garden. It was a moving, heartfelt ceremony and the celebration that followed was such a very happy one.
We were sad to say goodbye to family and friends the next morning but at least we would see many of them, including the newlyweds, at the big family Christmas get-together we were planning at our home in Uvongo. We said our farewells, then Bill and I retraced our footsteps to Worcester, over the rugged blue mountains and onto the busy N1. Our next stop would be Beaufort West where we were going to spend a few days in the Karoo National Park; but first, we were looking forward to doing a little exploring along the way.
