Misty Mountain

Anna and I have just had a Heineken on the very edge at Misty Mountain. We're heading down the Long Tom Pass towards Sabie and Graskop. It's a magnificent Sunday afternoon, but icy cold. I've just had a great conversation with bikers from Malelane about the great mountain passes of Mpumalanga province. There's not a cloud in the sky and I can see way beyond Sabie, all the way to the very edge of Mozambique it seems. Despite the icy cold, it's good to be outdoors and on the road. I have fond memories of travelling in 2002 through the snow on this very same pass.

Misty, misty mountain

Spontaneous combustion: Left home at short notice this afternoon, heading for the Long Tom pass between Lydenburg and Sabie, deciding to take a 'sho't right' into Misty Mountain Lodge. Green thai chicken curry, tandoori chicken skewers, champagne and ice cream and hot chocolate sauce on a deck looking into thick swirling mist. Hardly told army stories, a spirit of fire and youth, then to lounge on my bed not far from a crackling hearth while my stitches were removed. Then a deep bubble bath, the last pages of Paul Theroux's latest travel book and now bed.