2016 - February - Tonteldoos, Dullstroom

2016 February 24

On a whim, at the beginning of February, we decided on a weekend away .. somewhere in or around Dullstroom.  Hein suggested the Dullstroom Inn (where we’ve stayed before), but the room they offered was only a bath and it’s not self-catering.  After a few detours around the Net, we found this little cottage.  On a farm, 30 km outside Dullstroom, in the littlelest town of Tonteldoos (Tinderbox).  There are a few cottages, but ours were the best (for us).  It was small, only sleep 2 and was open-plan bedroom-kitchen-lounge.  With a bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.

http://www.rivermancabin.co.za/

It had a small undercover patio overlooking a dam.  It has a fireplace inside and right next to us, a fenced area with goats (some with bells on their necks), sheep and a lovely donkey Maria.  We’ve fed Maria a Granny Smith apple the first day and the second day, Maria came to the fence ... patiently waiting.

Thursday 4 February 2016
We arrived on the Thursday, just after 4pm.  Barely unpacked and we had a hailstorm of note!  (Apparently it hasn’t rained in that area for a year!)  The road from Dullstroom to Tonteldoos is part gravel and horrendous!!  But luckily we were warned so we took my 4x4 Terios.  But she didn’t like it one bit!  The hail didn’t do damage to the car, but a braai was out of the question.  A box of Tortillas with sauces were handy.  Made mince, heated the tortillas in microwave, added the sauces and served it with smooth cottage cheese and guacamole.  It was deeeelicious!!!!!

Cellphone signal was poor and there was no TV, so we stoked the fireplace and settled in with our Ipads, reading mysteries.  A scratching was heard in the roof ... some bats playing pool with mothballs.  The bats refuse to find another home, apparently.

Although we normally pack a small medicine case, we needed something different, so Friday off we go to Dullstroom.  Ugh.  That road is seriously horrible!  Dullstroom is now expanded with all kinds of shops, stores and even a Seattle Coffee Shop!  Yeah!!!!

  

I bought a cappuccino take-away and Cranberry and Chocolate Chip cookie.  Deeevine!  Hein walked around the farm with a dog tagging along.  But mostly we just recharged our overcharged batteries.

Saturday 6 February 2016
Saturday  morning we planned to braai boerewors.  Then I saw this cute round ‘toeklap rooster’ (bbq roster – sorry don’t think there’s a proper english word for that) and decided ... pizza.  Hein braaied the wors, I spread sauce on tortillas, sprinkle cheese in-between 2 tortillas, sliced up the braaied wors and we made ‘quesadillas’ or ‘braai pizzas’.  

It was something different and fantastic!  The rest of the day we just lazed around.

On the premises are a restaurant, mostly open only on weekends.  Saturday we had lunch there.  Hein had a jalapeno cheese stuffed burger!  It was really yummy and the fries!!!  I had a French Toast stuffed sandwich (with ham, cheese and tomato) and fries.  The couple managing the restaurant and cottages, invited us to a bring-and-braai that evening.  One of the local pub owners are leaving for George.  I made a salad, we took our braai stuff and the weather was just fabulous.  No rains.  The place was rocking!  So many local Tonteldoos people!  We met some really interesting people and had a good time.

Sunday 7 February 2016
Sunday morning we packed and returned home.  It was just such a fabulous relaxing weekend!

You may be wondering what the heck is this ... only just one of the most perfect combinations in Joburg ... The Grind Coffee Company (https://thegrindgreenery.co.za/) in Melrose Arch serves these ... Grinding Cone.

I saw ... I want ... I tasted ... I’m in love.

A small (about 10 cm long) sugar cone.  Coated inside with hardened dark chocolate.  Filled with a Macchiato coffee.  For R40, yes.... a bit extreme, but oh dear!  Sooooo worth it!  The bottom of the cone is solidly filled with hardened chocolate. Do look out for these mini chocolate coated cones ... I've seen them in our Pick 'n Pay in  Johannesburg.

Joburg has had a few really sweltering hot days!  Like clammy on the neck hot days!!!!  But most of the evenings we were rewarded with a lovely cool rain shower.

Oh yeah ... remember my quest for jeans?  Well, I found one.  It’s buttoned in front (a first for me and I really have to remember to not just button the top one, but all the ones under it too!!!!!!) and sits really nice.  Where?  Uhhhh.... let’s call it a china shop.

Enough chatting.  Have a fabulous month!