Taking a four-day excursion.

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(Edited)

After the death of our little dog and all of the other stresses in the charity work, we decided to take a four-day break.
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Our destination was a place far away in the bush and in here I will show you our first day of travel. No speeding with the car, as just a small leisurely drive on the long road; stopping every now and then to take landscape photos as we went along.
So come and drive with us. And after this first day, I will show each of the other three days to you each day.

A lovely huge dam backed up by the granite of the mountains.
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Some farming lands on a different mountain.
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Now how is this for a lovely farm house?
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Eventually, we turned on to the famous Route 62. Popular for all of the small farming towns along the way and we were on our way to one of these small towns. Actually, not to the town itself, but instead to a nature reserve right in the mountains.
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Each town is dominated by one of these old big churches, dating back many years. In the early days, they built the churches first and then the towns around the churches.
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We have arrived and have a look at how lovely our residence for the next four days blends into nature. I will show you the inside and the deck in another post.
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That little dam also serves as a swimming pool and we will soon test the waters.
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Finally, a new first for me, as I have many photos of the Southern Double-collared Sunbird, but this below is a Greater Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris afer). This shot taken from the front of our wooden deck.
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So this is what it is to be for the next while, sleeping in nature. Bird song our new alarm in the mornings. The sun greeting us in the mountains. And the stars peeping at us at night. I am doing this post now here on our deck, on my laptop, which has not been in use for a few years. Thank goodness that it still works after I updated it a bit and I hope that you have enjoyed the ride with us.
We need the peace and tranquillity for a while, to steady our nerves and to charge our batteries. Of course, I will also scout around with my camera on a few adventures.

And That's All Friends.

Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting a post on behalf of @papilloncharity

photography roadtrip landscapes rest peace proofofbrain creativecoin neoxian ecotrain
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That's how it will be for a while, sleeping in nature. Our new alarm in the morning is the sound of birdsong. The sun greeting us in the mountains. And the stars that watch over us at night.

I think you have the talent to write some poetry. You should try it.

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My condolences for your doggy. 😔😔😔🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗😔😔😔

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So sorry to hear about your dog.
But still wish you have a great trip and rest well my friend.

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Thank you kindly my dear friend, and sadly our trip has been cut short. So tomorrow we will be home again. But at least, we had two good days in the bush. And I am right now listening to the frogs singing at the dam.

!PIZZA

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Oh bummer, I hope everything is alright. Frogs singing sounds good! 😄

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Yes thanks, everything is alright, as we got another car and they want to do some repairs on it tomorrow.
1000 frogs are a chorus and we already miss their songs 😜

!PIZZA

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Now that looks exactly what is ordered by the Doctor, out on the mountainside to collect your spiritual being.

!LUV
!WINEX

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Best place to be, Lady Joan, especially in these times, but the sad thing is that tomorrow we go home again, as we are needed that side.

!LUV
!WINEX

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Never enough time away to relax sadly, the days go too quickly, the expense is pretty high of late. Nonetheless short break helps being away from normal life.

!BEER

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So true and now we lost ZAR 3000 due to cancelling 2 days. No refunds, but we have accepted it, as life works like that. The short time away did us a world of good.

!BEER

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Once out there wild horses would not pull me back, pity you had to cut a little short, I'm sure necessary.

!LOLZ

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Oh yes, it was urgent and a real painful situation, but we have to accept the hand that life deals us and life goes on. We will go back there in the cooler months, as there are still many other towns that we want to see.

!LOLZ

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Oh yes, this place looks awesome, Zac, such a beautiful area. The lovely nature there will help you to feel better, I believe.
Hopefully the weather will stay as nice as in your nice images 🌞

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Sadly my friend, our visit is cut short, as the motor dealer called, to say that they have agreed to replace the parts on our car for free and I have to bring the car in early on Wednesday morning.
So we have cancelled the extra two days here and we will leave here tomorrow morning.

A wonderful place to be and we will for sure come back here one day.

Cheers and thanks.

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These news are great but having to end a needed and well deserved break makes it not so good anymore in my eyes.
Nevertheless, I wouldn't have expected the dealer to agree and so I'm happy for you and I know you will come back to this place again.

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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At least we got to do 4 towns and 4 mountain passes Hannes 😊 !LOLZ
We have to play by the rules and I have two other issues with the car that they must also fix.
So tomorrow at 10am the car will go in and I will have a lot to say about their dealings.
We will of course go back there some day in the future, as it is a great place that I will show in posts over the next few days.

Cheers and thanks.

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Good morning Zac,

4 towns, 4 mountain passes and a beautiful place - yep, that's also fine 😊 !LOLZ

As long as their are playing fair in future I would also go there back again.

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good afternoon Hannes,
A beautiful area in the winelands and too much to see in such a short time 😰 !LOLZ

Everyone played fair and the car is good again. Sadly we also planned to see Mcgregor, Barrydale and Greyton towns, but they will have to wait for our next visit 😉

Cheers and thanks.

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Good evening Zac,

oh yes, I have seen your today's post and I like it.

Great, Zac, I am happy to hear that everything's fine again.

Your next visit will be longer and not disrupted by anyone, I hope 😀

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV and !LOLZ
!invest_vote

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Good afternoon Hannes,

Thank you once again and you know that I am happy that you liked it.
If only the downvoters also liked it 🤣 !LOLZ

Yep, all is well and we struggle on my friend 😉

We hope and pray for the same thing, but it was not the first time that this happened. When we are away, the problems in the charity world doesn't stop. So we are used to it 😜

Cheers and thanks.

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Good evening Zac,

I really wonder what their reasons are to downvote your posts. There was a huge downvote - I don't understand that. I have just noticed that I also have got downvotes, but not such high ones ... not yet 🤣 !LOLZ

I think you would say "such is life" - the world is as it is, and I don't think the people will change as long as the world doesn't change drastically.

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good evening Hannes,

They don't give reasons for the downvotes and there is a lot of speculation doing the rounds. Some sat that it has got nothing to do with me, and I must not take it personal, as it is a fight between some guys and the big voters. Yet others say that it is okay, as the smaller downvoters are just taking cents. There is a heap of other opinions, but the matter of the fact is that no real reasons are given by the downvoters.

So strange, as I saw now that the downvotes on your post that I saw earlier have now been removed???
My posts are not allowed to go over $60, as they continue to get cut back.

But hear this! I am not complaining as you are right, I say such is life, as they are not hurting me. They are rather hurting the charity and that is what matters to me. We have now spent 20 years of hard work to help the poor and my plan is for Papillon to continue for many more years even after I have passed away, as it very important work, so come what may, it will happen my friend.

Such is life!

Cheers and thanks for your care.

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Good afternoon Zac,

what a gray, cold and wet day we have. I was hoping for some snowfall in the mountains, but it was only wet in the valley and not much snow on the mountains, so I have returned back home without my desired photos ... but the Winter hasn't begun yet, so there will be more chances anyway ;)

Something to cool you down...

Yep, you shouldn't take the downvotes personal. I think most of them are just bots and none downvotes you for a reason. It's all about the money.
The downvotes I saw are still there on my post, but they are low to nothing. I'll know more when I make my next post.
So you think they don't allow you to get more than 60$? That would be weird and not understandable because everyone knows about the charity.

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good afternoon Hannes,

Ah, when I walk through that picture it is certainly nice and cool. A lovely shot.
Have patience as you will get your desired pictures when the snow falls my friend.

My first target is to get to 100,000 HP, as that would be a great help to the charity. I was so glad that the vote selling bots were cancelled on Hive, but now we sit with downvote bots and that is never good news.
Bots do not work as hard as we do to make quality posts and it is in my mind easy money. Taking small amounts off 100, or 500 posts with downvotes are not going to hurt anyone, but is that right?
I don't take it personal, but I do take it personal when it comes to our work at the charity.
But you know what I will say here.

Not "such is life", but ban all bots and do honest work!

Cheers and thanks.

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Good evening Zac,

another rainy day is almost over, but I have seen snowflakes today ... I didn't count them, but there were at least 15 or 20 of them, I believe 🤣 !LOLZ

I completely understand you, there's a big difference between downvoting ordinary posts or posts made for charity. In the end it's all about the money, even here on the Hive, and you're right, such is not life.

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Good evening Hannes,

Wow, 15 or 20 snowflakes is more than we get in the town during winter. You must fell very blessed with the show 🤣 !LOLZ

I am just back on after our latest power cut and it makes things very difficult here.

So, I have decided not to complain about the downvotes and will from now on just accept whatever they do. Not healthy to stress about it and maybe soon I will have a surprise coming up 😉

Cheers and thanks.

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Good evening Zac,

it's raining outside ... still raining ... and I can hear thunder. That's quite unusual for this time of year.

LOL, I had a look at a webcam and saw something like snowfall, so I drove on this mountain, but there haven't been more than these 15 or 20 snowflakes, honestly 😅 !LOLZ

People are talking of power cuts here too, and maybe soon daily power cuts will become reality here ... 3 years ago a little virus came to birth and changed the whole world.

I think you're doing the right thing by not complaining because stress really isn't healthy. Now you gave me another reason to stay in the Hive - I am curious 😁

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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(Edited)

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So sorry to hear of the passing of your dog, Sir Stephen. ♥️ My cat is having health problems and I am not looking forward to his passing. Good to get away.

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Thank you Lady Jo. Little Troy has been with us for 17 years and he was a family member and my personal shadow. So now, we feel a bit bereft, but thankfully time is a healer.
I hope that you will also be able to handle your pet's departure when the time arrives.

!PIZZA

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I know how you feel having lost many beloved pets over the years. They are part of the family and are sadly missed. 💕

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Thank you milady and yes, the house is empty now, but such is life 🙏

!PIZZA

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Oh my gosh that place is stupendously beautiful! I am terribly sorry about your little dog, losing a dog is so hard. So I wish you joy, fabulous weather, and deep and restful sleeps.

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Thank you kindly my friend, and it is a wonderful place to be. Sitting now under the moonlight and listening to the frogs serenading at the dam. Sadly, we have to go back home tomorrow as we are needed there. So we had to cut our time here short.

!PIZZA

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Yay… wonderful to see it now Zac 😊😎🥰 looking forward to every day!
Such a beautiful surroundings 🍀 enjoyyyyyy

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Oh yes, we planned to enjoy, but was cut short and back home now again.
Nevertheless, I have taken many photos and even some surprises !LOL

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Great to hear, even though it didn’t last long, you still had time to take many photos.
Have a great evening! 👋🏻😊

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That's mainly why I went out there, to get some photos of a different area.

Hope that your evening is also good 😊

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And to relax 😉😎

Thanks, so far it has been an excellent day 😊 hope yours was good too.
Have a wonderful evening. 👋🏻

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Relaxing is a part of the fun 👍

Heatwave over here will end in the next 2 days, so there is always hope.

Blessings!

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Yep, it sure is…

O my, take care in the heatwave. Here it is getting cold 🥶 hehehe 🤭
Blessings 😊

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We are slowly getting used to the heatwaves, as the weather is crazy nowadays.
I would rather love the cold to be here, so you are blessed with it 😉

Blessings also to you guys.

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Yes, the weather is crazy nowadays. Take care Zac.

Me too, but with a house that can be heated… but the 19th we fly to a place with heating. So the countdown has started.
The boxes are piling up down stairs.

Thank you so much, blessings 👋🏻✨

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Nah, over here it doesn't get that cold, so we don't depend much on heating. Just as well as with all of the powercuts, the heating systems don't work. On the very cold nights we simply make a fire.

So the 19th will be the start of the adventure and that is not far away. I hope that you guys don't overload the planes with all of your boxes 🤣 !LOL

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That’s good you don’t relay much on heating. I can imagine with the power cuts it’s house anyways… but fires help to keep you warm if needed. Good 😊

Yep… very soon.
The boxes go in a truck… and will be picked up the 16th already. So a bit earlier. 😁
Plane will be fine without them ✈️✈️✈️
!LOL

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Fires are great for frying Marshmallows 🤣

Good to hear that a truck is booked.
I cannot imagine your struggles at the airport with a load of boxes 😉 !LOL

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Yes… they are… nom nom 😎😉

Hahaha you want to know how many… got them listed now at 90, not counting loose items hahaha just thinking about getting that around an airfield hahaha 🤣
!LOL

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90 boxes seem to be a bit over the top and it to me it sounds like a mountain of boxes.
To make our many moves easier, we have scaled down to the bare basics and it makes things so much easier.

!LOL

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Hahaha do keep in my mind… about 30 boxes are full with art materials for my art studio 😉 that I will set up soon again 😎 and hubby has hobbies too 🤓
Actually for just living… we have not that much anymore and scaled down a lot.

I can imagine… best to have not too much for easy moving. Here… rental houses are empty, no furniture including kitchen etc. so one needs to have a lot of stuff… 🤓 to just live.

Have a wonderful evening 👋🏻
!LOL

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Okay, okay, if it is hobby stuff then maybe the boxes total sounds too few and I agree that for living one doesn't need much 😉

Streamlined it is and easy with one small truck. At times we see the huge house moving trucks and they all come at very expensive rates, but thankfully we have never had the need for one, even when we moved down here to a different province over 2000 kilometers away 😊

Hope that your evening will also be good !LOL

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I know… one doesn’t need much for living and sometimes hobbies take over hehehe 🤭
In our case for sure 😎

I used to have less belongings, but we are now at about at 20m3 now. And we can live with it.
It’s more than a 15m3 van… so we do need a smaller truck unfortunately.
But got a good deal included 1 month storage. 😉
I know all about moving… as we normally move at least once a year hahaha

Thank you kindly Zac, hope yours too. Enjoy your evening 👋🏻
!PIZZA

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I wish also in our case, but the charity and my wife's work as a lecturer doesn't leave us with much time.
I use all of my free time to take photos, so I presume that's my hobby 😉

Yep okay, you know what you are doing and it all sounds good to me. I forgot that you guys also move often and that makes things so much easier 😁

!PIZZA

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Sounds like that is indeed your hobby Zac and it is a beautiful one 👋🏻😊
Thanks, yep… we know by now what we are doing.

Can start a moving company by now hahaha 🤣
!PIZZA

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Thank you and I enjoy it as a hobby.
I think I told you once that you can start a moving company or even a moving consulting business.

!PIZZA

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Hahaha you did… and we talked about it.
I should stop moving one day hahaha 🤣!LOL don’t want to go into that business… let me do my art and photography and occasionally some engineering work. That it. Don’t need more 😁

!PIZZA

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Art and photography are the best relaxers methinks 😊

And yeah, maybe we will also stop moving one day when I reach heaven 🤣 !LOL

!PIZZA

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They are… and I can completely loose myself in them. When I paint… I reside in my own world… completely one with my work. 😉🤓

Hehehe that’s for sure, but maybe it will be a bit sooner so you can settle down a bit too.
!PIZZA

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I so wish that I could paint, but it is a no go, as I have tried with disastrous results !LOL

Maybe one day my friend, but it's a big maybe 😉

!PIZZA

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At least you have tried 😉🤓

I sooo know what you mean… a maybe hehehe 🤭

!PIZZA

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It would be dumb not to try 🤣 !LOLZ

A big maybe 😉

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Hahaha 🤣 Indeedy…

!LOL
Have a wonderful evening Zac 👋🏻

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Those churches look all the same and I recognise that one as the NGK Robertson. Safe travels and relax.

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I told you before that you get around and you are right, as we were at AfriCamp in Robertson.
Back home now and thank you for the wishes.

!BEER

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