Country Walks

The warm days of summer calls for a reduction of midday outdoor activities. One can still work between 5 and 9 in the morning until it starts getting hot. During the day one needs to stay occupied indoors until 4 in the afternoon when it is more comfortable to resume outdoor activity.

Country road

The Spanish have the best solution for such a climate, a siesta. This is what is needed on the hot summer days of Africa.  We open up the house at night to cool down and in the mornings we close the shutters and curtains against the heat. The house stays dark and cool all day long and becomes a haven against the extreme heat.

A refreshing ginger and rose drink

The oaks provide a welcome shade, but 40°C in the shade is still 40°C. One might not have to endure the hot sun rays but the heat of the day makes your body feel as though it is glowing, even when in the shade. Iced tea, homemade lemonade and refreshing herbal and fruit drinks with lots of ice, is a must during the day if one is to stay hydrated.

Dam and canal along the country road

Early evening calls for a refreshing walk in the country and we are fortunate that the vineyards and agricultural fields lie hard against Towerwater. The Bonnievale countryside is beautiful and the vistas of the cool green fields and vineyards on our walks are refreshing after a hot day.

The long summer days means that it is still light after 9 at night and nothing is better on a hot summer’s evening than to relax on the lawn with a cold gin and tonic after a refreshing walk.

Towerwater at dusk

On a moonlit night, it is a treat to take a midnight walk in the countryside when the landscape takes on a completely different and enchanted character with guinea fowl squeaking in the tall blue-gum trees along the road. 

Vineyards at dusk

The nights in the country come alive with a different energy. Sometimes it seems like the croaking of the frogs and the chirping of the crickets make the night air vibrate with a symphony of mating calls.

Birds on a wire

The night birds can be heard calling adding their unique sounds to the symphony of the night.