Two Perfect Storms

Reitz, January 13th 2020
We are really enjoying this comfort right now and
it begs to be put in words!
We are in a little village called “Reitz” on our way to Johannesburg. (Got an invitation to visit this city - way back in CapeTown - and decided a few days ago to “go for it” - checked in with our friendly connection from 2 month prior and bingo! We are on our way.....)

Google indicated a chocolate store/cafe and guesthouse in this little town and after a nice day of riding north on a paved road with a wide shoulder and not too much traffic on a not -so -hot -and -windy Monday we headed straight to the place that seemed to promise something. It’s really hard to know what to expect...there is a HUGE range of possibilities! But what we found was an open gate, a garden, a lawn,  two black cats (here is one of them)

a bunny, doves, birds, fountains, bungalows and fancy looking doors with probably fancy rooms with fancy beds and bathrooms behind them.

Luxurious is what comes to mind and we weren’t about to ask if we could.... maybe......possibly...... pitch a tent on that nice, green, fluffy lawn? The reception was empty, but the pillows on the bench where cozy and we sat down after ringing the bell twice and the girl came running about 5 minutes later. There would have been enough time to not even bother and leave...this place is just way out of our reach, but neither James nor I felt the need...doesn’t cost to ask, even at the point of sounding ridiculous.

We asked! Ok, of course, no tenting in the garden, BUT: “I have a room for you for R 550 ($37)” - she said, “let’s look at it...” ..the two single beds apart, but the room/bungalow was super sweet..”You have one with a double bed” I inquired “Sure....give it to you for the same price (normally R 850 = $59)”.The king and queen suite is what we got!

And all that right next to the chocolate/cafe shop (in walking distance across the lawn) which even served a nice light dinner, smoothies....basically EVERYTHING we didn’t even know we wanted.

Here we are ...queening and kinging around on a king size bed, unreachable to the rain and thunder playing their game way outside our door.
Now, last time we “hung out” in a perfect storm wasn’t too long ago in the “Golden Gate Park” a wonder of nature:

The only campground in the park had us stay for two nights, because I got a “bug” and was “sick as a dog” - I felt it coming a few days earlier, but tried to fight it by keeping going which works sometimes, but, it caught up with me and held me down...... hard! The feeling to vomit never led up for two days and nights- chills without fever, a stomach like a fire ball with sharp edges kept turning inside me, head and body made of lead and the bathroom got a “run for its money”. I wanted to leave this planet and make a clean escape from this torture chamber. James was ready to take me to the next doctor - said he had never seen me like this (I have...just never THAT LONG in this intensity) There was no escape!
We heard the growling come closer and then the lighting circling and finally the storm bringing its own darkness finding its way into the gorge where the campground is, where we are in our little tent.....right between the mountains echoing off the sides.

Where thunder and electricity seem to have found a playground -chasing each other around and around and around. It really was fascinating...so much so, that I forgot my misery. Curled up on James’ lap, his calming hands massaging my head, I was more astonished of this nature show and had no time to be scared. The rain came pounding down, the tent lit up, the sounds vibrating the wet earth and it was heaven: We are OK in here and with each other: I am so grateful and so happy to be alive.