Mountain Reflection

It has been a fantastic last day to a superb and very full couple of weeks in South Africa.  There is a part of the Drakensburg Mountains known as the Amphitheatre which is an enormous wall of rock – John was very keen to see this.  On the drive in I noticed a large group of people by the river – I was quite shocked to realise that they were doing their washing! It was a communal effort with piles laundry all around and the inevitable cows milling around.  I have had my eyes opened on how many people live – some conditions we wouldn’t put our dog in!
We had almost perfect weather although there was cloud around the mountain tops – we had some spectacular views.  We walked into the mountains towards a gorge – it was very hot and not an easy walk, more climbing in some place.  As we got higher there was a bit more of a breeze and a more cloud to shield the sun.  We got to where the gorge started but the next part would have taken too long and we had several hours walking to get down from where we were. 
We were both very tired by the end – a total of over eight miles – and glad to see the car park.
Thunder had been rumbling around and a few drops of rain fallen but we escaped the storm right until getting back to our base, and that included stopping for a meal on the way.  The storm is still grumbling on, although its ferocity has abated, but I am not going to head over to the wifi area this evening – it will be another late blip!
We start our return journey home in the morning with a drive to Johannesburg.  We have resolved the flight situation and will now be on board Etihad to Abu Dhabi and then another flight to Heathrow.  BA is one of the few airlines that fly direct to London so it’s a shame that didn’t work out – but it’s all part of the adventure.  It really has been an amazing time away.

My blip is of the mountains (from a distance) reflected in a lake- the wash day by the river I will add in as an extra if possible.