Tappets on the Run

Breakfast at Olivello @Marianne.

2012-01-29T19:32:00.001+02:00

The restaurant at Marianne where we had breakfast.

Boules court outside the restaurant.

View from the back of the restaurant.

A lovely Bordeaux we tasted side by side with the Desirade. We started of with there 2011 Sav. Blanc that was in 35% new oak for 8 month's. The Rose 2011 blend of 87% Merlot, 12% Pinot Noir and1% Muscat d'Alexandri. Then we tasted 2007 Merlot matured for 16 to 22 months in 30% new oak. Shiraz 2007 was the next wine aged 16 t0 22 month's in 40% new oak. Then we tasted the Pinotage 2005 also 16 to 22 month's in 3rd fill barrels. Very good Pinotage. Now we tasted the Cabernet Sauv.2005 and also the 2009 that is not for sale until 2014. The Cape Blend made from 34% Pinotage 26% Cab. Sauv. 26% Shiraz and 14% Merlot also matured 16 to 22 month's in selected barrels. Now we tasted the Floreal 2005 that is a blend of 33% Cab. 33% Merlot and 33% Shiraz. Same time maturation in 40% new oak. The last wine was the Desirade 2004 which we tasted blind with a Bordeaux 2004 in the picture above. Wonderful wines and tasting. Sad to spit all these wines.

Pictures of some of the barrels in the maturation celler.

Fermentation tanks and below the cooler inside the oak fermentation tanks.

The party at Marianne.

2012-01-29T19:14:00.001+02:00

The kitchen were the food for the party was prepared.

Lovely launch of there Rose with lots of people atending.

The band with the miss understand musician on the right playing bass guitar.

Sunset from the pool.

One of the host's pouring herself some read wine.

Neil and Luke being entertained by a guy that looked even worst this morning at the tasting.

Guest house at Marianne.

2012-01-29T18:58:00.001+02:00

Our room called Kanonkop I was born at Kanonkop in Swellendam funny to be booked into this room.

The bedroom.

Open plan kitchen got most of the basic stuff.

Wet room shower with seperate toilet.

View from the stairs towards northeast and south east.

Some of there very good red wines.

Meal at Johan's at Longridge.

2012-01-29T18:41:00.001+02:00

Thirty five degrees time for a real bear and some water.

Beetroot puree with feta.

Springbok fillet with spinich and chilli polenta and prune jus.

Kingklip with herb mash and watercress veloute.

Hartenbrg tapas and jazz.

2012-01-15T12:20:00.001+02:00

The first of a series 3, of Tapas and Jazz at Hartenberg. Realy good music and lovely food.

View from the garden.

The bridge to the food table, but there was a lot of waiters to serve you. Below the people at our table.

Some of the food and wine below.

The band Manouche.

What good wine's. The Eleanor and The Stork.

Mountain Bike ride wine tasting McDonald's.

2012-01-06T15:44:00.001+02:00

Preping the bikes to go for a ride with my son from HPL Computers.

Me after the ride on way back home, sleeping in the back of the bakkie.

Wine tasting at Waterkloof and from there we went to Haskell where we had the most wondeful tasting with Werner. Realy great way of explaining how the wines were made and why they were made like that.

Chantal ,my son and my daughter at Waterkloof.

My daughter and son with Hempies du Toit at Annandale.

Eating at the Waterfront with my kids at McDonalds realy not my tipe of food.

The end result after an hour.

Chapmans Peak drive Meal at Noordhoek.

2011-12-30T11:06:00.001+02:00

Houtbay on a wonderful summer day.

Looking down to Noordhoek.

The colour of the water.

Food at Cafe Roux. Duck pasta and Yellowtail.

Ride on 25/12/2011.Cape Town cycle route.

2011-12-26T16:56:00.001+02:00

Pictures I took on my ride this morning.

2011-12-25T22:43:00.001+02:00

What a beautiful morning to ride your bicycle some south easter riding into Cape Town.

The clouds were realy out of this world.

Woodbridge this morning 25/12/2011.

Cape Town I love you.

Meal at La Motte with gran.

2011-12-22T18:00:00.001+02:00

Tables outside under the trees at La Motte. Lovely and cool.

Entrance to the restaurant.

Smoked tomato resotto.

Seared tuna.

Gran and Diana sharing a joke.

Ride and garden upgrade 20/12/2011.

2011-12-22T17:42:00.001+02:00

View from the bus and cycle lane lovely ride into city and back.

Time to do some gardening and prep beds for new flowers.

After starting to clear beds I decided to go and buy some edging.to put in between grass and flower beds.

Now only to plant flowers out.

Roadworks Piekenierskloof pass 15/12/2011.

2011-12-18T14:07:00.001+02:00

Leaving Citrusdal on Thursday view towards Clanwilliam.

At last widening road at Citrusdal turn off.

View after Piekenierskloof turn off towards Cape Town.

Roadworks Piekenierskloof pass 15/12/2011.

2011-12-18T13:56:00.000+02:00

Blaauwberg and new one in house.

2011-12-18T13:33:00.002+02:00

Blaauwberg beach Friday the 9th of Desember 2011.

Dornier wine farm with my son in foreground.

The building that house the restaurant at Dornier.

Dornier's winery.

Our new cat fast a sleep.

The mountain this morning 18/12/2011.

Sunrise in Swartland Year end party.

2011-12-10T11:58:00.001+02:00

Sunrise on the way from Piketberg just before Piekenierskloof pass.

BYDIDAM resort at Citrusdal.

View from the deck looking back at the restaurant.

Hendrik Kye with the charlets in background.

View over the dam.

The pub inside.

Workshop people from GHS Citrusdal.

Hendrik in serious conversation.

Crumbed mushrooms.

Smoked chicken salad.

Hawian pizza.

Hake and chips.

Steak and backed potatoe.

Steak and chips.

Barry and wine.

Franschhoek bubbly festival. 2011.

2011-12-04T14:55:00.001+02:00

Arriving at the bubbly festival and find the entrance had been changed and we had this view from the VIP parking. With a screaming wind thank heavens otherwise we would have died of the heat. It was realy hard to decide where to start and what to tast. I only tasted about 15 bubblies before I had to settle because I was the driver. Lots of bubblies that is realy hard to find in the trade. We realy had a wonderful time my favourite wine event of the year. Then the fun looking at all the designer girls. The arms on the wood pole was to hold it up in the wind.

Table Mountain on Tuesday 29/11/11.

2011-12-01T16:37:00.000+02:00

On this day only a light wind blowing with the sunken coal transporter broken in three pieces. Only one kite surfer in water.

Blaauwberg and view of Table Mountain.

2011-12-01T16:28:00.000+02:00

Screaming south easter show th blanket on Table Mountain this morning with lots of kite surfers.

My mom who died yesterday.28/11/2011

2011-11-29T11:08:00.002+02:00

Two weekends ago we went to Hermanus to celebrate my mom's 87th birthday. Little did we know that she would die 2 weeks later. My mom never really spoke a lot. She never said I love you or I care about you , but she never needed to do that. She would give the last cent out her account to help you. When you did not have food or were short of anything she would make a plan and never wanted to be repaid. Until about 3 years ago she was always knitting before the winter for the underprivileged although she didn't really have money to give away. We were very privileged to have her to learn from.
I could go on and oon for pages but I just want to say again thanks for being my mom for 54 years. And thank you for always looking out for me.

Di my partner, Hetta my sister and her husband Simon (Basie) at ouma's birthday meal.

Ouma being serious.

Ouma being happy and my son Henry and his partner Chantal with Di in back ground.

Nederburg picnic concert.

2011-11-27T08:13:00.001+02:00

We arived at about 3 o'clock in hot sun and slight wind and very few people. De Kock communications told us to arive early so we got two chairs and a table. The weather now was a helthy 29 degrees celcius.

The aprouching cold front.

Lovely food and wine to start a wonderful afternoon.

People sitting around and enjoying the music.

The reserved table that stayed empty only the chairs disapeared.

More cloud and cold wind but warm music.

The Cape Philharmonic youth orchestra warming up.

Lots of people now.

Some nice hot coffee from a vendor and time to drive home. What a wonderful day was had by all.

Fine Brandy. By Design at the Round House.

2011-11-26T08:50:00.001+02:00

View from the lawns drinking brandy cocktails.

The marquee where we ate later with a guy playing a Sax in the back ground.

Sun on the mountain peaks with the south easter giving a show on Table mountain.

Our table.

The first brandy Oude Meester Demant.

White bean veloute with free range chicken, sour dough and caramelised pear. The brandy was served with a bit of pear juice in it.

Second course was aterrine of Spier pastured chicken with globe artichokes, cos lettuce, cured pork and dill creme fraiche paired with Collison's White Gold.

Third course was slow cooked lamb rump& belly with organic broad bean puree, young garlic and pickled elder flowers with Klipdrift Gold.
The fourth course was Six textures of felchlin chocolate with benana, walnuts and chocolate sauce pared with Van Ryn's Collectors Reserve 20 years old. An award winning brandy. Wonderful evening and meating some realy nice people.

Box Wine Tasting.

2011-11-26T08:07:00.001+02:00

Diana and Maggie after arriving at the famous box wine awards.

Boxes lined up 39 of them. First white and then red. How intimedating tast spit tast spit.

Anel in her best Magnum PI outfit with heels that got stuck between the cement blocks on the floor every time she walked to empty a splitoon.

Deon and Kim having an interesting time overlooking the city.

Connoisseur Hennie having a big smile after a coment about his cap.

Georgy looking a bit intimedated.

Hunter gatherer just checking if his notes on previous wine was corect.

Box 16 and 17 of 39. Martin realy getting his nose into the glass. Less people now and a very cold wind.

Chenin @La Mouette

2011-11-20T20:08:00.001+02:00

Snashall and Hennie in conversation.

Di and Anel drinking bubbly.

Maggie being serious.

The table.

The Chenins.

Anel being happy.

Diana Maggie and Deon.

Anel and Winesalittle.

Diana and Anel having a good time.

The pirate at work. No gun no ship.

Georgie and Hennie. Jan being pensive.

Ouma's birthday Hermanus.

2011-11-13T17:15:00.002+02:00

Clouds from Piekenierskloof pass Cape Town side.

Sunset outside Malmesbury on drive home on Thursday night.

Starter salad at ouma's birthday. Lentils union's garlic origanum baby spinich and dressing with yogurt lemon juice and mint.

Ostrich Meatballs with tomato relish oven baked.

Blaauwklippen magnums 2007 and 2008.

Ouma at 87.

Blowing witblits into the fire.

My son and his girlfriend. Ouma tasting the witblits below. She did not enjoy.

Replanting garden.

2011-11-06T17:11:00.001+02:00

Roses and herbs.

2011-11-06T16:40:00.001+02:00

Open gardens Elgin.

2011-11-05T20:08:00.001+02:00

Open gardens

Henry and Chantal with the wine makers dog at Belfield.

The house at Belfield.

Belfield make a Cab.Merlot and a Cab. Realy good cold climate and well made wine.

The toilet at Elgin Ridge 282. Got pictures of nearly every wine farm we have visited.

View from the tasting room.

The cellar at 282.

Henry and Chantal at Almenkerk, Henry being bored he was the driver.

Lovely fire at Almenkerk it was realy cold with the wind screaming.

South Hill our next stop. Good wine and some realy serious wines.

The Beast (not from the Sharks) for only R22000.

Our national flower the Strelitzia.

Toilets at South Hill.

View driving down to the Strand with a screaming wind.

Progress at Piekenierskloof pass.

2011-10-08T21:06:00.001+02:00

Stop go for trucks at the top, going back to Cape Town.

First ride to top of mountain.

2011-10-08T20:53:00.001+02:00

View from the top.

Road down to Citrusdal.

View to Ceres.

Cape Winemakers Guild auction.

2011-10-08T20:02:00.000+02:00

Mountain ride Citrusdal walk Blaauwberg Table Mountain.

2011-09-25T14:36:00.001+02:00

View towards Clanwiliam on the rode to Ceres via Elandskloof.

Back towards the valley above Citrusdal.

Vineyards on way from Eendekuil toward Piketberg. Some arum lillies like I havent seen in three years.

More arum lillies.

Flowers down at the beach at Blaauwberg.

Lovely waves on a super hot day.

Below road on the way back to our house.

Societi Bistro Tour of France.

2011-09-18T18:54:00.001+02:00

Tour trough France 10 weeks 10 regions. Starts on the 21st of September.The menu I can't give but, what a day. Service wonderful. Food out of this world and wines to match the food. The mussle pot to die for. I ate a similar dish in France with frietes.

These oysters also realy gooood.

Salade Lyonnaise.

A lovely garlic soup thick and creamy loved it.

Lots of inter acting happening.

Stack,s of wines to match every meal.

Mountainbike riding with my son at Somerset West.

2011-09-18T15:20:00.001+02:00

Small crasch into a tree in the first km.

View down to the Strand and Gordensbay. Had to stop for a picture to tired to continue.

Youngsters waiting for me.

Near Knorhoek station or corner up the mointain.

Halfway up realy tired at this stage near Idiom wine farm.

Saw a realy big puffadder nearby.

Totally above the hills above Somerset and then wonderfull single track from here down. Great fast sharp cornrs and jumps.

Vineyards having new shoots.

Chantal fiddling with her leaking drink mouth piece. And me realy happy the end is in sight wonderful ride. Will go back again.

Roadworks Piekenierskloof pass.

2011-08-28T09:29:00.000+02:00

Wine tasting with GWCGN.

2011-08-27T19:18:00.000+02:00

Waterkloof our first tasting wonderful wine and glasses Riedel and Spiegelau to tast from that is what I call class.

Vergelegen camphor tree and slave bell.

Rust en Vrede also good wine and glasses except fruitbomb Shiraz.

Lunch at eight.

The menu.

Veggie special.

Quinoa and roasted veggies.

Chicken pie.

JC le Roux what more should I say.

Drive to Cape Town 19/08/2011.

2011-08-21T16:55:00.000+02:00

KGB evening with some good winefriends

2011-08-14T20:03:00.000+02:00

The wine that got consumed with the wonderful food cooked by KGB wine and her hubby. The fillet and jus was of master chef standard.

Decanting wine was like working overtime.

Kungfukittypow doing her act and the rest followed. Some leaning against the wall and all.

What a wonderful evening thank's again KGBwine for very good food and wine and great company.

Cooking Coq au vin.

2011-07-31T08:39:00.001+02:00

Reduced tomato and chilli, olive oil, garlic, black pepper and bay leaves.

Takes a lot of beer to cook a Coq au vin. Some of the ingredients.

The old and the new Chateau labels. Free range chicken from Woolies. Portabellini mushrooms, onions, bacon and butter.

Fry bacon until crisp in butter.

Then in the same pan fry the onions.

Remove onions when brown and dust chicken with flour and brown in same pan.

Cut mushrooms in big chunks and fry until soft, add some butter to pan.

Cook 500ml of red wine in big pot down to half with 10 sprigs of parsley added in. Combine all the ingredients in big pot with the wine and cook slowly for 2 hours.

Harvest festival at Allee Bleue.

2011-07-23T08:35:00.000+02:00

The winemaker telling us about this year's harvest. The whole day was about how the Germans do a festival. German food to die for from the starters to the pudding. And some German beer on a wine farm. At the bottom kiddies tramping grapes.

Bastille festival.

2011-07-17T17:50:00.000+02:00

Breakfast at Chez d Or .

The whole of Cape Town's Harley's were there'

Boule was played at the city centre.

Live band at the marquee and a lot of people.

The barrel rol compatition.

View from Blaauwberg and Big Bay today 10/07/11

2011-07-10T20:41:00.001+02:00

Mid winter summer in Cape Town. What a wonderful day on Blaauwberg beach.

Snow on mountains on drive home.

2011-07-10T20:29:00.000+02:00

Snow on the mountains on Friday night on my drive home. Picture taken just outside Piketberg on my way to Cape Town.

View over the vinierds just out side Malmesbury towards the Swartland.

View of Table mountain from Malmesbury.

Bay Harbour Market.

2011-07-03T09:46:00.000+02:00

Lovely burger I had at the market. Very nice meat cooked to perfection. We also had a glass of Flagstone Sav. Blanc as a welcome drink. Lovely cider on tap. This is really a market with some lovely food and very interesting different stuff.

View from the market.

Meal at Franschhoek Kitchen.

2011-07-03T08:41:00.000+02:00

Starter of wild mushroom resotto.

Cob linefish of the day.

Cannolis that was made for us by the chef.

The young chef Byorn getting ready to teach a group of woman to make pasta.

Stay at Bellevue.

2011-07-03T08:29:00.000+02:00

We had a wonderful stay at Bellevue on the weekend .The pictures is from the room and the vineyards outside the house. Jan Boland Coetzee make wine for the owners of Bellevue. The have registered the name of their wine as Route 44 we tasted the very nice Cab. Sav. and the Merlot. They also have a Chardonay. The room has a lovely fireplace and it was pouring with rain and we sat and drank wine infront of the fire.

Late afternoon pictures Free range chicken on webber.

2011-06-12T09:23:00.004+02:00

Drive from Hartenberg and the sunset back to Cape Town.

Freerange chicken from Citrusdal cooked with roast veggies on the webber. Chicken did 3 hours of slow roasting stuffed with lemons olives and bacon. Realy soft and juicy.

Peppers bringal baby potatoe's red onion baby marrows with olive oil white wine and herbs.

Cheese and wine at Hartenburg.

2011-06-12T09:09:00.001+02:00

Cheeses on the table from France.

Very good artisan bread Cafe des Artes.

Food and wine on our table.

Roadworks Piekenierskloof

2011-06-05T18:20:00.001+02:00

View at the t-junction as you get on the N7 outside Citrusdal. Then some of the roadworks in Piekenierskloof pass.

View back to Citrusdal.

Seven course tasting meal at Abelone House.

2011-06-05T08:59:00.001+02:00

Diana with the wine we drank with the food. Mooiplaas Cab Franc and it nearly worked with every thing.

Freshly baked bread as a starter. Top one was beetroot then a normal one and the third one was onion and herb's.

Carrot soup.

Steak with vegie's.

Choclate resotto with icecream.

Our room at Abelone House Paternoster.

2011-06-04T08:53:00.000+02:00

Meal at Gaaitjie at Paternoster.

2011-06-04T08:38:00.002+02:00

Starter bread with snoek pate.

Lammershoek Chenin that worked with all the food. I had a westcoast sole and my partner yellowtail curry.

View out the window from where we sat.

Thank you to HPL Computers.

2011-05-29T14:03:00.000+02:00

Thank you for fixing my Blogg. Havent been able to write on my Blogg for weeks. Now I will post regular again. Thank you to everybody reading my Blogg.

Drive around the Argus Route plus bubbly.

2011-05-18T18:04:00.004+02:00

HoutBay

Snoek at Kalkbay only R25 and R7 to fillet it.

Drive home sunset from Piekenierskloof.

2011-05-18T17:59:00.000+02:00

Meal at Nobu at The One&Only.

2011-05-14T08:54:00.001+02:00

ea

We tasted six different sake's and a wonderful plum wine from Japan. The sake's ranged from a young one to ten year old one's that tasted very much like a single malt wiskey. If you really want to taste good sushi this is the place to go.

Olive festival Riebeek Kasteel @ Allesverloren.

2011-05-08T17:14:00.000+02:00

Societi Bistro The Italian Connection.

2011-05-02T07:52:00.000+02:00

Wine tasting this past weekend. First snow Franschhoek.

2011-04-30T08:34:00.000+02:00

One & Only view from our room.

2011-04-27T18:53:00.000+02:00

Meal and wine tasting at Longtable.

2011-04-22T19:24:00.000+02:00

Forklifts for the season.

2011-04-22T19:15:00.000+02:00

Sunset and potjie.

2011-03-27T19:35:00.000+02:00

To the people all over the world that read my blog

2011-03-27T16:39:00.000+02:00

Maybe I should say watch my blog for the pictures. Thank you I love you all. S.A.USA.UK.China , Malaysia, Canada, Russia, all the eastern countries and the rest. I will try to keep posting on regular times. The problem is I have not got ADSL during the week. So please stay with me.

Sunrise from the One & Only

2011-03-27T14:54:00.000+02:00

Supper at Reuben's

2011-03-27T14:40:00.001+02:00

Diana enjoying Quoin Rock Chardonnay with starter of chilli salt squid and mine was the tuna carpaccio. Worked very well with the Quion Rock. Wonderful creme caramel with hot chocolate, and coffee ice cream.

Supper at Reuben's.

2011-03-27T14:40:00.000+02:00

Diana enjoying Quoin Rock Chardonnay with starter of chilli salt squid and mine was the tuna carpaccio. Worked very well with the Quoin Rock. Wonderful creme caramel with hot chocolate, and coffee ice cream.

The One & Only.

2011-03-27T14:25:00.000+02:00

View from our bedroom towards the harbour and mountain. Our bedroom from the door. Drinking a Heineken on the stoep.

Solms Delta harvest festival

2011-03-27T14:15:00.000+02:00

The farm's own singers and band. Blue skies behind the acorn tree. @harryreginald, @YmartinY and Jan from Spit or Swallow in a very serious conversation.

Cape Town Argus Cycle race pictures.

2011-03-19T07:53:00.000+02:00

View from Boyes Drive Muizenberg then Kalkbay harbour and the dolphins at Kalkbay.

Just before Smitswinkel hill and then the bay. Lots of monkeys on the climb, real ones not the ones on bicycles. Di very tired here already.

Cape Town Argus Cycle race 2011.

2011-03-19T07:41:00.000+02:00

This year we had the most wonderful day to ride the Argus. Very little wind and cool weather. Very nervous at the start of the race. My partner had a tummy bug the day before the race and decided to ride on the day. Only to realize she had no strength in her legs when we went up Hospital bend. From then on it was battle all the way to Noordhoek at the bottom of Chapmans Peak where she decided to call it a day. Now only able to go at 12km an hour on the level road. We stopped at the cutoff point half an hour before they closed it. At this stage she could hardly stand on her feet. End of 2011 Argus. Bus ride back to Cape Town. The kids made it all the way to the finish.

Argus last training.

2011-03-06T21:19:00.000+02:00

We had our last training ride before the Argus today. No wind and cool weather. What a wonderfull ride but a bunch of stressed out riders. We had some realy bad oke that swore at us for no reason at the market at Milnerton. Lots of agro people , because of dark moon. So Argus here we come , two newcomers and two second Argus riders. Hope no wind. Mindset Ok.

Argus looming.

2011-03-05T08:46:00.000+02:00

One week before the Argus and I am already worried about it. The last few weeks training was not number one on my list. Tomorrow last ride before Argus. Off to the shops now.

Nederburg harvest day.

2011-02-27T07:38:00.000+02:00

Jan Anel and Charles at the table. Diana picking Cabernet grapes. The crate filling up. A really wonderful day with lots of food and wine. Make a note to do this next year. Charles and his wife Sunette.

View towards woodbridge island.

2011-02-20T18:05:00.000+02:00

Look back towards Cape Town. Wonderful ride vback with the south easter . No grumpy people.

Cape Town cycle lane this morning.

2011-02-20T14:15:00.000+02:00

The market at Milnerton . Here you can buy almost anything. You can also find all kind of services and food.

Thunder cloud's in Citrusdal roadworks.

2011-02-20T13:49:00.000+02:00

99er after pictures.

2011-02-12T18:59:00.000+02:00

The famous Myprodol smile. And then a self portrait. And then the kids joined us. What a hard ride for the newcomers. Diana was cursing everybody who dare to ask or speak to her up the last hill to the finishing line. Promised to never ride this race again and the Argus and it was all their fault. But we all finished. Much happier now. Good training for Argus.

Chinese chicken.

2011-02-06T12:30:00.000+02:00

Slow roasted freerange chicken stuffed with lemons and roasted veg. Baby potatoes butternut cherry tomatoes with steamed greenbeans. Chicken basted with Chinese ricewine with sesame oil and ginger mixed in. Chicken done in stainlessteel tray in webber braai. Vegies roasted with chicken. First hour covered and then open for another hour and a half. Meat falling of the bone with wonderfull flavours. Add some dry white wine to the pan 1 or 2 cups ad salt and black pepper to tast.

Yesterday's ride.

2011-02-06T11:40:00.000+02:00

The black swan at Woodbridge island. Diana's head hanging after 25km but she had a better ride this morning. We did 30km again today really enjoyed it. Need to keep it going until Argus on the 13th of March. Next weekend it is 99er for Henry my son and myself. We are going to ride it with our road bikes.

Road trip to Caledon.

2011-02-05T11:13:00.000+02:00

Lovely clouds towards Hermanus from the Bredasdorp road. The tractor I had to go and look at. The dirt road back from the farm. Fisherman at Strand. The one on the right came out with 2 or 3 fish in his bag. I stopped at Gabrielskloof for a winetasting. What a wonderful treat. Tasted the whole range and the not yet released 2008 Syrah. Keep an eye on Gabrielskloof's twitting and when it is going to be released.

Drive home from Citrusdal.

2011-02-05T10:59:00.000+02:00

Thunder clouds and very humid as I left Citrusdal on Thursday afternoon. Canoe on top of the car to go to Blaauwberg to paddle at Woodbridge Island. Road works in Piekenierskloof pass.

Allee Bleue spit braai.

2011-01-30T17:32:00.000+02:00

View of the manor house from the lawn. Starter portion and the main meal with dessert a tiramisu that was out of this world. All the food was really good. Why would you go and sit in a mall to eat if you can enjoy a meal on a wine farm with place for the kids to run around?

Cape Town Waterfront.

2011-01-29T16:03:00.000+02:00

What a nice day at the Waterfront . Peroni you can rent for a cruise. Below pictures of our food.
Market salad with marinated artichokes, olives & feta my food. And Diana's smoked salmon wrap with sweet chilli, with a glass of Kanu Chenin Blanc.

Langebaan.

2011-01-23T16:41:00.000+02:00

Paternoster beach from Tietiesbaai side on the way back to Paternoster hotel.

Kites at Langebaan lagoon wind blowing here but nothing at Velddrift.

West Coast drive Laaiplek.

2011-01-23T16:28:00.000+02:00

Fishing boat on slipway for repairs.

View from the bird hide on the Berg river.
View of the bridge over the Berg river. This part of the river I have paddled twice finishing the Berg river canoe marathon. Today was a much happier moment to see it. No sore butt and tired body. At least today in Velddrift there was no wind while in Blaauwberg the wind is screaming. Bought some fish and chips and calamari and chips to eat on the beach at Langebaan.

West coast drive.

2011-01-23T08:37:00.000+02:00

We are going up the west coast today. Darling and maybe Langebaan. Will post some pics tonight.

First ride up mountain 2011.

2011-01-22T09:03:00.000+02:00

Paul and Tony in deep discussion about a website.

First ride 2011 Citrusdal.

2011-01-21T22:33:00.001+02:00

Right to left Pierre Jo Anne and Trudy.

OYO crayfish meal.

2011-01-16T15:36:00.000+02:00

Diana on phone to estate agent to sort geaserout at home. Fixed it myself 3 day's later.
Before.

After and the view from the table. This was matched with a bottle of Hartenburg Sav. Blanc thats been on the lees for 6 months. Realy worked well with the crayfish.

Cape to Rio start from Blaauwberg.

2011-01-15T15:16:00.000+02:00

Dombeyawines

2011-01-15T10:41:00.000+02:00

At Dombeya tweet and meet

2011-01-15T10:03:00.000+02:00

Lovely welcome drink at the Dombeya tweet and meet evening, an MCC called "Andre" from the 2004 vintage that spent 4 years on the lees. Then we tasted two New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs and the Dombeya 2009 Sav. Blanc. The two New Zealand wines were very complex and slightly wooded, from older vintages, and worked wonderfully with all the food. The Dombeya Sauv Blanc is made to enjoy and drink sitting next to the pool.

Then the big guns came out - the Haskell red wines.

The Haskell Aeon is a gorgeous shiraz that is developing into a very fine wine.
Jan in a very pensive mood with Anel his partner.
At the top Cathy tweeting.
The food that was presented with the wine was out of this world. Snack platters you can only dream about. Unfortunately I never took any pictures of the food. I must say compliments to chef Corli and her staff. What a wonderful evening was had by all. If you ever get a chance to go and eat at Dombeya, don't hesitate, go straight there and enjoy the good food and wine plus the view thrown in for nothing.

Tasting at Org de Rac and Nieuwedrift.

2011-01-10T19:16:00.000+02:00

Old vine at Org de Rac tasting room.

View of Nieuwedrift from Org de Rac's tasting room garden. Tasting room really nice and four really good wines.

First night in Franschhoek.

2011-01-09T17:26:00.000+02:00

A bottle of 2006 Sav. Blanc from New Zealand that we bought at Stony Brook. Still drinks very well. We also had a bubbly from them that was also very good.

Trees up in the mountain that were burned last year. Afternoon sun on the mountain.

Franschhoek ride.

2011-01-09T17:09:00.000+02:00

Diana looking for her sense of humour after a 40km ride in 31 degrees centigrade. The view of the mountains from the cottage we stayed in.

Tasting on way to Franschhoek.

2011-01-09T16:49:00.000+02:00

Wonderful tasting at Slaley by the owner himself wonderful info about wine and winemaking styles. We also bought a case or two of wine.

Picnic at Rickety Bridge also at 44 degrees and wonderful food. If you ever get the chance to book a picnic treat yourself, it is good. With the view below from the stoep. The house next to the restaurant.

Road into Matjiesvlei.

2011-01-09T16:37:00.000+02:00

Our house on left viewed from the road in. The outdoor shower that did not need hot water at all.

Calitzdorp Matjiesvlei.

2011-01-09T16:27:00.000+02:00

The house where we stayed for three nights called The Stables was the stables on the farm.
Our main bedroom below. Snoek braai with Saronsberg Chardonnay. The average tempreture over the last three day's was highest 45degrees and 31 from just after 8 in the mornings. No cell reception no TV. no radio and nobody than us.

Franschhoek Stony Brook.

2011-01-04T18:39:00.000+02:00

Nearly 45 degrees in Franschhoek but cooling now. Drinking their lovely MCC from Stony Brook and a Sav Blanc from New Zealand a 2006, bottle aged and very good. Tinned peas and honey. Wind screaming now , getting cooler. Want to go for a long ride tomorrow if this wind dies down. The cottage very nice at Stony Brook, comfy and everything you need.

Touring Franschhoek.

2011-01-03T21:06:00.000+02:00

We are going to Franschhoek for the next two days and then off to Calitzdorp for 3 days to ride our bicycles. To drink some wine and just relax. No TV no cell phones no internet. Op die platteland. Out in the country. Will try to take some nice pictures and post on the 9th and tenth of January2011. Rode this morning against a blitering south easter nice ride home. We need to train more.