Frosty Peaks Day 3 hike

Day 3 – 2 March  Bonnyvale Farm cave to Bidstone Camp site     15 kms

After enjoying Bella’s breakfast of rusks, nectarines, granola and yoghurt, energetic Kim was our leader for the day. She led us to nearby caves with an amazing array of very clear Bushman paintings. Then we walked up a grassy hill, sometimes paths, sometimes over grassland, with cows and their calves peacefully grazing but we also had to circumnavigate an intimidating bull. We had 2 stops, one in a dry river and another under a big tree next to a river with flat rocks. It was a hot day. A gravel farm road led us into a shady cool forest and the promise of tea and cake. 

We arrived at Funnystone Farm (well named cos of the odd looking pillar of stone projecting above the farm), the home of Jess and Bob Vidge. A large table and chairs under a shady tree on the lawn and tea and cake, was most welcome. We sprawled on the lawn and enjoyed the hospitality of these warm hearted farming folk in their pretty garden.

Refreshed, we set off for a long walk to a unique deep swimming pool, created by cementing walls and rocks together. The water was freezing and our warm bodies reacted with shock. Some of us then hitched a lift to our next stop, the Bidstone Camp site of Alan Isted.

Here was something different – a level campsite with dappled shade of poplar and acacia trees. And a beer and pizza venue! There were hot showers, a kitchen and WiFi. Handsome Alan Isted was our host and a charming raconteur he was too. He made the best thin based pizzas I’ve ever tasted, in his open air oven. Some of the girls enjoyed his pricey home made beer. Little 5 year old Lollipop, the granddaughter of his domestic, was an enchanting waitress. Alan then introduced his speciality…. gummy bears laced with cannabis! Home grown cannabis. Some were persuaded to try, some too nervous, like me, for a host of reasons. The next morning, it was intriguing hearing the effect on their night’s sleep. Carol, Rhona and Sylvia had restless night’s sleep, Ali had vivid hallucinations and Margret slept through! Which validates my theory that every person reacts differently to different drugs. Full of delicious pizza and a drop of wine, for me it was my best night’s sleep … and all without cannabis.