The Crags Sunset

There is nothing like a beautiful sunset to end off a perfect day.  

Sunset over the distant mountains during our recent weekend in The Crags near Plettenberg Bay

Sunset at the Crags

You know the saying when something goes on till the cows come home?  Well, a day literally does exactly the same.  While camping at The Crags the cows came by to be milked at about three in the afternoon and then headed home to the meadows just after five thirty... when the sun heads for the hills.  This means the day does go on till the cows come home. 

A dairy farm experience in the Crags

A holiday experience can be made up of anything and for our Easter long weekend Sho't Left to the Crags and Natures Valley we were expecting it to be made up of camping, swimming in the Natures valley lagoon, walks and Geocaching.  Little did we expect a farm experience that got the KidZ a lot more excited than any of the mentioned activities.  The campsite was situated across the road from the Natures Way Farmstall which on its turn is located on a working dairy farm.  The farm milks Jersey cows twice a day and every morning and afternoon the cows are herded past the campsite to the milking shed and then back again to the meadows where they spend the rest of their time.

The Tsitsikamma Sunrise Caravan Park where we stayed had on their website that you can go and see how the cows get milked across the road at the farm stall.  Little did we know that its not just one or two cows but close to 200 of them.  On our first morning there we went to find out what time they milk and were told 4pm to 6pm.  This meant that the KidZ were watch watching all day long and made sure we were back in time from the beach to go and see the cows.  Not just was it the KidZ first time in a commercial dairy but also my own.  I was snapping pictures and asking questions while trying to stay out the workers' way best I could to allow them to continue with their work.  After a while one of the workers called the KidZ over and showed them how the machines worked.  They even got to try their own hands at milking and Drama Princess got to put the milking machine on one of the cows. WOW! And there I thought we may just get to have a peek before being asked to leave.  Kudos to these workers to take time out in between doing their job to show these city folk what they do even if they don't have to.

We were barely out the milking shed and the farm's foreman went past with a buck bucket full of milk for the calves.  Before we could say a word the KidZ were off after him to give a hand and he didn't complain because it meant he could stand back and let the KidZ do their thing.  The feeding process is a bit more "advanced" than standing with bottles but on the other hand its designed for one person to feed a couple of calves at a time.  While the KidZ were busing the foreman explained to us the whole process of rearing calves, when they get weened from milk and where the go when they get a bit older.  In addition to all of this we also got to see a calf being born on our last afternoon there and all in all this accumulates and contributed to a much more memorable holiday than just hikes, Geocaching and swimming.

Natures Way Farm Stall

South Africa has some impressive farm stalls.  Some sell nothing more than fresh produce while others are for all intensive purposes a restaurant or curio shop along a high way or back road somewhere.  Its the ones in between that really interests me.  Those who sell something fresh, some curios and also serve a killer meal, even if its nothing more than roosterkoek with jam and cheese.  And coffee.  Lets not forget coffee.  I discovered a farm stall like this on the road between the Crags and Natures Valley on the Garden Route on a recent Sho't Left to the area.

Natures Way Farm Stall isn't a curio selling shop but rather one that focuses on fresh and home made goods.  We were in the area for four days and every morning they had the freshest home made breads and cakes, fresh milk on tap straight from the dairy on the farm the farm stall is located on, jams, dried fruit and a range of dairy products.  They also serve meals, cakes and... coffee on the stoep.

The farm stall sells a range of cheeses made either on the farm or in the area, most made from their own milk.  The problem with a farm stall like this is that my wallet can't handle everything my eyes want.  I wouldn't mind having access to fresh milk on tap every day.

A calf was born - an unforgettable experience

I remember when I was about 8 or 9 I got to see a cow give birth on a farm I went to with my grand parents.  Its something I never forgot and I always wondered if my KidZ, being city kids, would ever get the opportunity to see it happen.  During our Sho't Left Easter weekend at the Crags we visited the Natures Way Farm Stall across the road from the campsite a couple of times.  Natures Way is situated on a commercial dairy farm and they kept the pregnant fairies in a camp next to the farm stall. The day we got there two cows have just given birth and we were hoping that one of the other three would calf before we left.  Drama Princess went to check every day but it didn't look like we were going to have any luck.

That was till the last afternoon when the one cow started to show signs of wanting to pop her calf out and we (along with a number of other curious people) kept a vigil next to the camp.  By 5pm the farmer arrived to have a look and he decided that he may have to give a hand.  The farm foreman and another guy arrived and after a while stepped in.  The process started with the foreman doing something I wouldn't do, grabbing the calf's two legs and tying them together.  From there it was like a tug-of-war with the two pulling while the farmer held the tail out their way and kept the cow calm.  After what felt like ages the calf arrived. "Its a boy!" But he wasn't moving... The onlookers got quiet... One lady wiped away tears...  The farmer came over slowly... The Damselfly carefully asked if the calf was alive... "Yes he's fine. Big strong bull calf," the farmer answered. *loud sign of relieve and an applause*

A couple of minutes later he started to lift his head while his mother was licking him. I probably would have taken a couple of minutes as well if somebody just yanked me from my mother by my arms. 

I think of all the experiences from this weekend this is the one that will stay with the KidZ for the longest.  Something most city kids never get to see.  The birth of a calf, an unforgettable experience. 

Sho't Left to the Crags and Natures Valley

Tourism in South Africa isn't just for international visitors but also for locals.  Yes there are places that most locals would never be able to afford to visit, but there are more places that are affordable to visit and even more things that you can do that actually doesn't cost you anything.  South African Tourism encourages locals to travel through their Sho't Left campaign.  "Sho't Left" is derived from everyday South African "taxi lingo" where a commuter wanting a ride to a destination close by will say, "Sho't left, driva!" - meaning, I want to jump off just around the corner.  So a Sho't Left excursion or holiday would be seen as a short affordable holiday not too far from home.

Over the Easter long weekend we decided to take do a four night camping holiday - our Easter Sho't Left - at the Tsitsikamma Sunrise Caravan Park between the Crags and Natures Valley.  Except for the R320 per night for the camp site the experiences we had cost us nothing except for the petrol to get down into Natures Valley.  We Geocached, climbed the Point (also the last bit of the renown Otter Trail) east of Natures Valley, hiked to the Salt River Mouth west of the village and spend lots of time in the Groot River Lagoon.  Across the road from the camp site is Natures Way Farm Stall, situated on a commercial dairy farm.  We got to see how they milked the cows every afternoon (at no cost), the kids got some hands on experience with the milking process, feed the calves and on the last evening actually got to see a calf being born.  Priceless experiences that didn't have my wallet heaving.

 

As soon as I get a chance to edit pictures, upload them and write something I will post about all of these wonderful experiences we had at Natures Valley.

 

This Sho't Left holiday was done at our own cost and no part of it was sponsored.