Richard Scott Blog - 7th Januatry 2024

Happy New Year. 2024 is gonna be a great year. I have set myself 5 goals.

Bye Bye Plettenberg Bay.

Monday was the 31^st and Joanne and I planned on staying in Plett for New Years Eve but we decided to head back a day earlier and spend New Years at home. On the way we decided to see if we could book a nice place to stay in Stillbaai. We turned left off the N2 and headed down the straight road. Stillbaai was jam packed so I pulled over and we searched for a place to stay that was nice. Nothing came up so I decided to search the wider area and then boom, an hour north was a place called Brandrivier and in that area was a farm called Aardvark Bioreserve and they had accommodation for 5 nights in what seemed to be the most amazing pod. I just closed my eyes and pressed go. Withing 10 minutes we were accepted, and we headed north inland. We realized we were gonna be early so we stopped over at the Gin distillery Inverroche, just outside Stillbaai for a light lunch and gin tasting. It took them a very long time to serve us, so we decided to just chill and relax and enjoy the space. After lunch we headed to Aardvark Bioreserve where we spent the next 5 days doing nothing.

I can highly recommend adding this to your bucket list. It is by far the best pod accommodation we have stayed in, in South Africa.

Enjoying every minute of life at Inverroche.

View from out first night in the Aardvark Bioreserve Farm house.

Farm life.

Forraging for eggs.

Happy as a kid.

The love of my life Joanne showing me how it's done.

Learning how to find sweet potatoes.

Joanne and I doing what we do best.

Yes thats an onion. we could not believe the size.

Cooking mielies on the fire.

Tuesday morning we moved up to the Berguisie mountain cottage pod till Friday. Here are the 4 days in pictures in no particular order.

On Tuesday we went up to the POD. Our home for 4 days.

Off the grid 100%

We could not get enough of the view.

When last did you see one of these?

Happy in a hot tub.

Nothing like spending as much time as I can with Joanne.

Amazing how plants grow in the Karroo.

That was me for 4 days.

Got to meet Brett Archibald in Plettenberg and bought his book. Read it. It's brilliant.

Tequila infused Springbok rib.

Braai, Richard Scott style.

Supper is served.

I was impressed by the dam wall. So powerful.

Some days the water was still and some days not. Joanne on the bridge.

Always take pictures.

Joanne caught me doodling a piece for the owners of the farm, Koemie and Nico. They were suprised to hear I was on the farm and in the POD as they have two of my works.

Alwyn the farm manager taking us on a game drive. Alwyn is a very clever man and shared all his knowledge about farming in the Karoo.

Searching for Aardvark, Alwyn showing me where they live and why. They dig burrows and dens in the dam walls.

Not every day you see a Giraffe in your back garden.

Every night was like this.

Joanne could not help herself to forage each day.

Roast farm chicken on the egg, Richard Scott style.

Then it was the vegetables turn.

You have to tick this box off.

Friday morning we enjoyed the pod one last time with the hot tub and pool. Alwyn picked us up and took us to our car. We foraged for vegetables and eggs one more time and then headed home. I took one look at the map and said to Joanne were going home the back roads on the R62 via Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton, Robertson, Worcester then Philadelphia on to Melkbos. We stopped off in Barrydale for an Ice Lolly as Joanne was craving one. We also stopped at Pinto Butchery in Roberson as they make yummy biltong and I love the spice they make for meat and lamb chops. And then it was backroads home. The kids all came over as we had not seen them for 3 weeks. Joanne made us a yummy supper from with the pies we bought at The Rambling Rose in Montagu and we all caught up. 

Heading home. Aardvark Bioreserve is half way between Riversdale and Ladismith.

We popped into Robertson Art Gallery on the way home to chit chat.

Angelina playing around with my phone.

Saturday morning it was nice to wake up in my own bed. Joanne and and I lazed around and then went for a walk on the beach.

Beach hair on a lazy Saturday.

Joanne got stuck into Cape Malay Chicken Curry and a Cape Malay Bean Curry for Angelina while I decided to pickle the figs, onions and cucumbers I foraged at the farm at Aardvark Bioreserve.

It took quite a while and believe it or not we only sat down at 5pm to rest. We played some backgammon while the kids binge watched something on Netflix.

Pickled farm onions.

Pickeld farm cucumbers with Bertus Basson's recipe using Star Anise.

Nom Nom.

Early night as I had to prep for my colonoscopy on Monday. So, rest and soft foods. In January I get all my annual health checks done.

Sunday was also a rest day. Joanne did some ironing while I cleaned the windows and decks around the house as they were filthy from not been home for 3 weeks.

Sunday lunch went well. Nice full house. Everyone left and we just chilled on the couch for the rest of the day.

Here is the link to book at Arrdvark.: Aardvark Website

Until next week

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