Wednesday, February 20, 2008

HIGH ON HOGSBACK











What an incredible part of the world! Hogsback is located 130km from where I live going inland toward the West. It is a small (and I MEAN small) village on the side of the Amatole Mountains. I had no idea what to expect, but as we started winding our way up the mountain, driving into mist and thick vegetation, I got the feeling we were going somewhere really special. It has to be pretty impressive to have been JR Tolkiens’inspiration for his “Lord Of The Rings” Books! This is his home town and everyone that has visited this little place, tells me you will feel like you’re in one of his books… We finally reached the village on a gravel road, but could not see much through the thickening mist. It was cold – even though we’re in the middle of summer, and decided to stop off at a hotel for coffee. The gardens were magnificent and the chocolate cake decadent! As we finished off our third coffee, the mist began to lift like a soft blanket, revealing the beautiful mountains and old trees watching over us. It was indescribable! I felt like I was in some magical land of make-believe, a paradise untouched, but quickly snapped out of that delusion when I felt my two year old toddler yanking on my arm screaming for me to pick him up!

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