"We head inland from the Tsitsikamma National park to Hogsback, a journey which takes us over eight hours in ‘The Beast’. This is day 16 of our epic four and a half thousand-kilometre road trip along the southern coast of Africa and we’re about to hit out first pitfall."
“Our first traffic fine in over two thousand kilometres, and that’s not bad in my books considering it was for nothing serious. And then a friend of ours from Hogsback invited us around for a Hog-meister, kind of like a Jagermeister... but different. So this is the last drink. We’ve been on the road all day and the guys are getting a bit restless. I think it’s time for us to head to the Coolin Trout Lodge, because tomorrow morning I’m going fishing.”
Justin does a little bit of fly fishing.
“There is something really special about being out, on water, at dawn, trying to outsmart something that has a brain the size of a pea with a 3 sec memory that generally wins... If I don’t catch trout today, there’s no lunch today either for episode 5. I don’t like the pressure.”
And while Justin tries to catch a trout, Fran makes scones and then later on, we all take a walk down to the Swallow Tail Falls.
“I have been a little bit humbled today, by... the trout in this dam. Everything I’ve tried just hasn’t worked, so fortunately some of the Hogsbackians have sorted me out with a little piece of trout so at least I can still kind of do what I was going to do earlier on. It’s going to be rooibos, (redbush tea) smoked trout ravioli with a tequila, honey, and burnt garlic sauce.”
Justin make a rooibos smoked trout ravioli with a spectacular burnt garlic and tequila sauce and thanks to Helga, Chris and Frieda, it turns into a sublime country afternoon.
“For some reason Jason thinks he is going to have better luck than I did. He can barely cast with a fly rod, so we will give him his dues and see what he comes back with.”
And late lunch is served and Jason does not catch a trout!!!
Frieda: "It’s worth all the work."
Justin: "It is, hey... (laughter mmmm...) Taste it now."
Frieda: "It tastes like heaven.”
We say our goodbyes to our host, Liz and Ron, the Belgium ladies and Christopher.
“The beautiful thing about this road trip, is that we met so many incredible people along the way, and I find that generally the country people are the ones who invite you into their hearts and homes and blow you away with their kindness and generosity. Yeah, the country people. It’s becoming more and more difficult to leave these places we have come to, but now it’s also time for us to see what Terry built and I’d like to invite Chris along to join us, considering I am an honorary Hogsbackian, I’m going to make him an honorary member of the Cooked team for our... Wildcoast session. So... you can’t say no and thank you so much for everything here and thank you to everyone."
Wasn’t It “Hogsback” That Inspired Tolkien To Write “The Hobbit” And “Lord Of The Rings”?
A peaceful mountain retreat all year round, with waterfalls, fairytale streams, mystical forests, swirling mists, enchanted butterflies, magical mushrooms, beautiful birds, a labyrinth and an Eco Shrine.
Spectacular hiking & mountain biking, trout fishing, 4 x 4 trails, an airstrip, horse riding, health spa.
A “cooked” thank you to Liz & Ron, Peter & Wouter and Rory.
COOLIN TROUT FARM – SELF CATERING COTTAGES OVERLOOKING THE TROUT DAM, COOLIN MINERAL WATER:
Ron & Elizabeth Kidson
+27 (0) 45 962 1040
+27 (0) 82 476 9886
coolinlodge@lantic.net
www.coolinestates.co.za
THE EDGE - HOLIDAY COTTAGES BORDERED BY CLIFFS AND INDIGENOUS FORESTS WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS:
Peter or Wouter
Tel/Fax: +27 45 962 1159
Cell: +27 81 603 5246
info@theedge-hogsback.co.za
www.theedge-hogsback.co.za
HOGSBACK INN & MICROLITE PHOTOGRAPHY – HOTEL AND SELF CATERING COTTAGES:
Rory & Lisa Odendal
+27 (0) 45 962 1006
+27 (0) 45 962 1015
hotel@hogsbackinn.co.za
www.hogsbackinn.co.za
Type of Accommodation:
Self Catering Mountain Cottages and B & B.
Activities available in the area:
Forest walks and trails, pristine nature experiences, mountain biking, fly fishing, bird watching, 4X4 drives.
How to get there:
Follow signs from the main road to 'The Edge'.
Luxury cottages and rondavels, some perched on the edge of the cliff with spectacular views, all with cosy log fireplaces, lots of character, all in a beautiful 15 acre Hogsback garden. "Tea Thyme", our informal restaurant in the garden offers yummy meals, tea and scones, and the best chocolate cake in SA!
AGAVE DISTILLERS, GRAFF REINET – TEQUILA PRODUCERS:
Roy Mclachlan
+27 (0) 49 891 8145
+27 (0) 49 891 8110F
+27 (0) 82 878 7421
agave@worldonline.co.za
www.agavedistillers.com
 
BAZ BUS - HOP ON ANYTIME, HOP OFF ANYWHERE:
South Africa’s convenient hop-on hop-off door-to-door backpacker service.
Renee Venter
+27 (0) 21 439 2343
+27 (0) 72 344 4749
renee@bazbus.com
http://www.bazbus.com
Main Routes (in either direction):
Johannesburg/Pretoria – Cape Town via Swaziland or Drakensberg
Cape Town – Port Elizabeth or Durban
Johannesburg/Pretoria – Durban
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