We all have these photos … throwback photos!
It’s described as ‘nostalgia-inducing pictures … from a different era of your life”.
Every Thursday we will throw a few photos of ‘way back when’ on our blog. Why on a Thursday? Because it’s just a day away from the weekend … and we love weekends!
You are welcome to join in or just enjoy the photos (#TB Thursday).
May/June 2016 – West Coast of South Africa
Our first off road adventure in our Suzuki Jimny continues …
When we woke up and unzipped our tent, it was clear that this was going to be a misty and windy day. We immediately folded up our tent, packed the car and drove to our next stand.
Misty morning on the West Coast
We were at our next campsite within half an hour and decided to pitch our tent behind the rocky wind shelter. After a hot cup of coffee and tea, we decided to drive to the circular route near our campsite.
Our tent was pitched between the wind shelter and fireplace
And the circular route did not disappoint! We saw a large herd of red hartebeest grazing in the fields.
Red hartebeest
At times they almost disappeared in the thick mist
As we drove further inland on the route, the mist lifted and we had glorious sunshine for an hour or so. We found some ruins that must have been farm buildings, but are now abandoned.
Ruins in the Namaqua National Park
Old windmill
Namaqualand is a region of striking contrasts and a harsh climate that has caused flora and fauna to either adapt or die. It is a semi-desert area, but from July to September there is a burst of literally millions of wildflowers that turn the landscape into a variety of bright colours. Although we were a month or two too early for this spectacle, we saw many small flowers on the route.
Sea fig (type of succulent)
On the way back to our campsite, we drove into the low-lying mist again. We also saw the herd of red hartebeest again.
Back at the herd of red hartebeest
We made tuna sandwiches for a late lunch and then relaxed with our books. By evening it had become very cold. We opened a bottle of red wine and made a fire to warm soup we made at home before leaving. I remember that this night was probably the coldest on our trip.
Red wine to fight the cold
Fire for food and warmth
In our next TB Thursday post, we swapped the tent for a one-bedroom chalet (but only for one night). We will tell you about this interesting day next week.
Wet and Dusty Roads 
You have some great photos here, particularly the one of the hartebeest (did I spell that correctly?) in the mist. The stone wind shelter reminds me of the Native American ruins in the southwest of the US. Another lovely memory, Corna!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Tricia. Yes, you are spot on with the spelling of the hartebeest 🙂. It’s always interesting to hear when similar structures occur elsewhere in the world! Hope you still enjoy your cruise 🌸.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was stretching out my toes to that fire, too! It definitely looked cool in that mist, Corna.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When the mist hangs over the West Coast, it can get very cold (and wet). So that warm fire was very welcome for my cold feet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dit is so na en in die natuur, geen wonder julle doen lang staproetes nie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek dink dis die naaste wat mens aan die natuur kan kom, ne? In ‘n tent en “wild camping” – dis die lekkerste lekker!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek glo jou, maar ek is ‘n bangbroek. Sal niks slaap nie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, ja mens slaap maar so half met die een oog en een oor oop om seker te maak alles is wel rondom jou tent 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
O, dit is dan so, mens is bewus van wat op,jou is? Ek is nie net bangbroek nie?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nee, nie ‘n bangbroek nie … net versigtig 🙂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Daai is waar. Versigtig. Ons slaap maklik in tente in karavaanparke
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can hardly believe it turned so cold but sitting around the open fire must have been nice and cosy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we know the West Coast weather … if it’s this misty early in the morning, it’s going to be a cold day. It was lovely to sit like that by the warm fire, but I remember it was very cold later in the night 😬.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very atmospheric, is mist especially with wild animals drifting in and out. Indeed a very harsh climate, but those flowers obviously thrive. I have seen pictures of them…maybe you were there before? I think Namaqualand is famous for them? Your little tootsies must have been cold! I hope you had a warm sleeping bag! Looking forward to next week’s adventure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We were actually surprised to see the antelopes – the mist was so thick, we were almost startled when they suddenly appeared! Yes, Namaqualand is very famous for its wildflowers in the Spring. We grew up among these wildflowers – such a privilege. I remember the fire being wonderfully warm … but later that night I was shivering from the cold (the sleeping bag was clearly not warm enough)!
LikeLike
Cold, windy, and misty, but still a wonderful adventure! The terrain looks similar to ours here in West Texas – windmill and all – except we don’t have an ocean nearby.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, now we also know what it looks like in West Texas (without the ocean 😉). It was a very cold day (and even more so during the night) … but as you say, still a great adventure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wouldn’t it be fun if we could trade places for a couple of months. We would love to see South Africa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good to me too – we’ve always wanted to see the US 🙂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good choice of wine there Corna!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is our favourite red wine Jude! We are currently in Hogsback … it’s so cold!! But guess what – we brought Beyerskloof Pinotage with us again 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, yes it does get awfully cold up there in the winter, but usually dry unlike the dampness of the western Cape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re absolutely right Jude. At the moment it is raining non-stop in the Western Cape, but winter is much better on this side of the country where we currently live. (I should add … last night was bitterly cold and I’m glad we didn’t camp)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek hou so baie van die mis en ons pragtige omgewing hier aan die Weskus! Pragtige foto’s Corna! Dis tyd dat ons weer so bietjie moet gaan verken!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Die mis is so eie aan die Weskus, ne? Dit vat my terug na toe ek ‘n klein dogtertjie was en die mis altyd so laag oor ons dorpie (Alexanderbaai) gehang het. Dankie Aletta, dis nie moeilik om ‘n mooi foto aan die Weskus te neem nie … jy sal weet 🙂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ja, dis waar en ek hou baie daarvan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely – and I’d never heard of a sea fig! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sea figs are found on coastal sand dunes all along the West Coast (and are apparently edible). We didn’t try them … still had enough meat back at the camp site 😉.
LikeLike
Daardie pienk vygie is darem maar mooi. Sjoe! In ‘n tent in gure weer! Dit wil gedoen wees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dis altyd vir my so mooi om hierdie ou vygietjies tussen die duine te sien. Ja wel, ‘n mens weet mos nie altyd wat die weer gaan doen wanneer jy gaan kamp nie … en partykeer draai dit so effe “skuins” uit. Maar dit het ons nog nooit laat afsien van kamp nie 😄.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mooi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Red wine to fight the cold? How luxurious when camping… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha 😄 … red wine makes everything better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These rocky wind shelters are such a great idea. I’ve never seen one before, but they make perfect sense when camping out in the open like this. Glad to hear the mist cleared as you drove further inland and got to enjoy some blue skies and sun. Sitting by the campfire with a glass of wine is definitely a great way to stay warm at night!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those wind shelters do a good job of warding off the cold wind … and then it blends in so beautiful with nature. Sunshine is always good – and red wine by the fire is better 😄.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun place to camp! Do you ever hear animals outside the tent at night?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, no the only “animal” I ever heard was the “lion” snoring next to me inside the tent (my husband) 😄.
LikeLike