Drakensberg Views

 

Back on the road, leaving Cape Town with heavy hearts (because we so enjoyed our time there!). Next stop: Drakensberg Mountains.

Makai's cuteness and curiosity allow him access into all sorts of fun places!

We stayed at an adorable guest house for a night in Johannesburg before taking a taxi to the mountains. Apparently using old bathtubs as décor is a trend in South Africa, because both the guest house in Joburg and the restaurant we stopped at on our way to the mountains had bathtubs sitting outside.

Beautiful scenery on the drive. I loved pink and white roadside poppies, horses grazing in the fields and watching flat topography become hilly then mountainous.

A stop for lunch at one of the few restaurants along the mountain road.

Makai loved this dog, Mungo. When we left, he told it, "Bye, Mzungu!" (what Ugandans call a white person) :)

Reflecting, yet without my form in full view

Another life catches my eye, steals my breath

Sturdy structure, silent existence, receiving dew

Every morn without complaint of drops' breadth

A contentment by nature, a beauty pure

Watching season pass, trust of astounding depth

Makai's new hiding place

The bed and breakfast where we ate lunch was filled with lovely antique decorations. Even the polished wooden floorboards spoken of ample years of history.

Finally arrived at the Cathedral Peak hotel! In the rain, we checked in a brought our bags to rooms 28 and 29. We spent a wonderfully chilly evening exploring the hotel grounds and activities.

The astounding view from our room. I took one look at this scene each morning and my heart filled with praise for and thanks to God.

Makai couldn't resist trying to drive a parked gold cart

A storm does not evaporate immediately. Though Christ hushed the wind and waves, I imagine the disciples were still wet. I urge you, continue drawing near to the Savior through reading Scripture and prayer, even after initial rescue from the "waves". He is the Son whose light will warm and dry your weary, wet soul.

We went for a short hike to Belinda Falls after unpacking

Despite the slippery path due to rain not an hour earlier, we made it successfully!

View of the area in the waning sunlight

I had to laugh when I saw "no allowed biking" right next to the stairs. I'm pretty sure this sign was placed here with teenage boys in mind...

There were small deer all around the hotel. We had several does and bucks walk mere feet away from us, and even saw two new fawns! The best deer sighting was the bucks which ran by our game of badminton, up to the playground, and began fighting.

Makai dwarfed by our large table, complete with fresh flowers each day, fancy folded napkins, and multiple pairs of silverware at each seat. I love feeling fancy!

For the two and a half days we spent as a family (before the Resonate retreat), we were assigned a table near the window showing a lovely view of the mountains by day and letting in cool breeze during the night.

The next day, Luka, my parents and I headed out to hike for Doreen Falls. For the first fifteen-ish minutes of the hike, we couldn't find the path! We ended up circling a horse field before find the path... whoops :)

Stunning scenery

The mountains contained surprisingly diverse vegetation. We passed through fern fields, areas of protea trees (the national flower), swampy lands and grass taller than us.

Planted

built

on a

rock,

solid

yet roots

reach

bellow

the surface

searching

for dirt

beneath,

nutrients

and life

source.

Doreen Falls

There was a cave behind the falls that Luka and I climbed to. It was fascinating to see the water from behind, though one had to watching their footing because the clay ground was incredibly slippery!

On the return trip of each hike, I sang to myself or as loud as I could. My soul was blessed by praising the Lord while in His astounding creation. I even got Luka to clap the beat to songs I sang on the way back from Doreen Falls.

Makai fell asleep under the table a few times :)

So much fun to wear coats and sweatshirts after Uganda dry season

Gorgeous flowers!

We made good use of the swimming pools. There was two natural pools, and a big pool with a fun slide. However, the big pool was cold, so we could only brave it after hikes or during the moments of sunshine. Makai, a water lover, spent his most fun hours sliding and swimming at the pool.

Luka and Dad on their way to try out fly fishing.

The mountain's massiveness reflecting off the lake's glassy surface.

Often clouds or fog covered the mountains

Us teens enjoyed nightly games with a few older couples from Europe and hotel employee who introduced herself as Spaghetti (she was hands down our favorite employee!). We played enlarged scrabble, Pictionary and charades.

Our God is an awesome God, He reigns

from Heaven above with wisdom, power

and love, our God is an awesome God

One of the stunning views during the second hike we took, this time to the Bushman Paintings.

The San people used local materials such as rocks, plants and charred wood to paint hunting scenes. Our guide explained that these paintings would tell the next group of San arriving in the area what game was available there.

So fun to hike with these seriously great teenage siblings of mine.

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

When they pass through the valley of Baca,

they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength 

til each appears before God in Zion."

- Ps. 84:5-7

On the way back, two workers were passing us in a pickup truck. As a joke, Luka asked aloud (more to himself than anyone else), "Can you give us a ride?" The driver actually stopped and let Luka and Grace ride the rest of the way in the pickup bed.

Outdoor chess proved to be a hit. I played several times with Luka and beat him most of the games. Since I can never beat him in normal sized chess, we determined enlarged chess is my game :)