If you read the
chicken post, then you know we went to Montagu last weekend. The original plan was to go the weekend before, but we got rained out so we went for a rain hike at Trappies Kop in Kalk Bay instead. It proved to be a gorgeous alternative. Back to Montagu..
Montagu is easily our favorite camping and climbing destination in South Africa. The camping at
De Bos Guest Farm is top notch and easily affordable, the drive is 2 hours or less, the climbing can keep you busy for years on end, and stocking up on dried fruits and nuts in town is a must. We love it, to say the least. Anyway, like any weekend in Montagu, this one was fabulous. Here was our weekend in photos:
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| Eland waking up in the tent--BIG smiles! |
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| Even though it's still summer we brought our sleeping bags. It tends to get chilly at night. |
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| Dan teaching the boys about using the camp stove |
Oorlogs Kloof
(Pronounced something like "oo-er-logs clue-uf".) We've seen Oorlogs Kloof in the climbing book before, but never considered going until running into a fellow climber in the kitchen at De Bos (happens often) who highly recommended it. It's pretty much amazing, but requires a little prep. It's on private property, so you have to be sure to call first to get permission. That wasn't a problem, so off we went!
The approach to Le Pique-nique Area was pretty steep but thankfully short. Auggie hiked it completely on foot! Unfortunately, while the area is completely, unbelievably awesome, we likely won't be going back soon. It was way too steep at the bottom for the kids--well, at least for those of us who were under 4 years. Ah well. Dan led and I top-roped an 18 (5.10a) called Stinky Cheese. We both thought it was great fun.
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| The steep part where we hung out. It was safe enough, but not great. |
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| Stinky Cheese on the left, the other side of the kloof on the right |
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| Gorgeous views! |
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| We ran into a guy named Clinton who was putting up a route. If you look to the right of the middle of this photo you can see a flat section of rock that looks like a cricket paddle (whatever that is!), Clinton's route is there. YIKES! He was super nice, and pretty much as amazing as it gets on the rock. |
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| Me, at the top of Stinky Cheese |
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| Apparently one of the hardest routes that exists in South Africa, a 32 (5.14a), is on the inside of the giant wedge of rock in the middle of this picture. Eat your heart out, Micah. ;) |
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| Auggie, hardly bothered by the chicken incident yesterday |
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| We forgot the TOYS in the car!!! DISASTER!!!! Well, it wasn't so bad. We improvised with letting the kids work a knot out of a rope and letting them play with a compass. They also ate a lot of snacks that morning. |
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| A panoramic view of Oorlogs Kloof |
Back to De Bos
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| After trying unsuccessfully all afternoon to get Eland to nap, he fell asleep in the car on our way to Legoland. Thankfully Legoland isn't all that far away, so instead of climbing, we returned home so that he could sleep. We just left him in the car, I hung out nearby outside, and Auggie and Dan went for a swim. We love you enough to not climb, dude! |
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| Waking up Sunday morning |
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| Probably the most thrilling thing for the boys about going to Montagu is the junglegym at De Bos. It's really nothing to write home about, but they absolutely adore it. |
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| Auggie is pretty awesome on the rope |
And Legoland
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| Another boys highlight is playing in the dirt |
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| Eland taking a go! |
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| "On beway!" |
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| I love this view! It's opposite the rock at Legoland |
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| Looking at the wall of rock and the clouds way up in the sky reminded me of scuba diving. It was just like being 10 feet off a coral wall and staring up at the (cloud) surface above. |
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| More BIG smiles! |
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| One day these two guys will belay each other |
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And juiceboxes!
(Pretty much the only time they get them) |
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| Dan started work on a route called Edy of Bovidence, for which I am very proud of him. :) |
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