This was a long travelling day - we all helped pack up so we were on the road by 7.15am. Most of the day was spent snoozing on the bus - but this was broken by comfort stops and snack buying stops. Lunch was just outside Dundee in the grounds of a museum at Talana - the site of a battle in 1899 during the 2nd Boer War. Prior to arriving I had consulted Wikipedia to learn a little more about significant historical events in the area eg during the Anglo Zulu war - the battle of Rorkes Drift in 1879, at a settlement on the Buffalo River which was originally named after an Irish trader and was at the site of a drift or ford on the river; and during the second Boer War i.e. the siege of Ladysmith (1899) which lasted 118 days and the siege of Mafeking which lasted over 200 days and was under the command of one Baden Powell - who supplemented the troops with a force of young cadets - who were the messengers and allowed the older soldiers to fight - thought to be the precursor to the scouting movement. He also recruited local black people to do the security, even though this was seen as a 'white mans' war, these guys were known as the 'Black Watch'. Who came first these or the Scottish regiment?
The museum itself had an eclectic mix of military and local history.
Today's picture is of an old steam train which John climbed on confirming the affinity men seem to have with steam and engines, while we women are less excited. Dundee, clearly named by a Scot as were several towns in the area, was and still is situated in a coal mining area. Our first stop was for a cup of tea and a scone at the Miners Rest - a small, on site, restaurant in a reconstructed miners cottage, the original burnt down in 2008. John refreshed by the tea and cheapest prices we had seen 8 rand or @ 50p for a cup of tea - we headed to the shop which was well set out with good quality local crafts - we bought 2 very nice small strong metal baskets in brown,cream and gold.
Meanwhile as we perused the exhibits the guides had gone off to buy lunch; when they returned we made rolls, cheese salad for me and hot sausage for the omnivores and ate them in a picnic area near the Miners Rest.
In the afternoon we drove through Ladysmith - very different nowadays - its a well established South African town. Next stop Bergville, the last fuel stop, before arriving at Berghouse cottages high on the edge of the Drakensberg foothills and our home for the next two nights - the three couples and Johnny had one house and the 5 other women and the guides had the other. It was a little chilly but they supplied wood @ 15 rand a bundle - so I set a fire going, aided by John - the real expert, and everywhere soon warmed up making us reluctant to leave the fire and walk to the other cottage where all the meals would be. After supper we brought the hot chocolate powder back with us and made our own so we could drink it leisurely then fall into bed.
The wind whistled around the house making it seem colder outside than it was - a phenomena we are still getting used to. That said overnight it did fall to 3-4 degrees which we noticed as we had left our window open - too much energy would have been required to get up and close it so we snuggled down instead!