Dear Coco

On Friday we left our posh timeshare chalet (you can see the Alph packing up) and set off for Sani Pass.

Taking a breather before starting the main part of the pass.

It was the most perfect day, and the Travellers Joy (Clematis brachiata) was climbing over everything.

At the top of the pass there was some serious road working going on and it was quite hairy having to squeeze past these massive machines on the narrowest and steepest of roads.

Nearly there ...

Made it! Well done the Alph!

Looking back down to where we had come from.

We went through the border control, and headed off to the Sani Pass Lodge for an early lunch

and found ourselves in the highest pub in Africa! Fancy that.

We just had to celebrate with a Lesotho beer,

and a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich - with chips (don't tell Tim Noakes).

In the lodge was a notice board with interesting things about the area, including the Mokhotlong Lesotho animal Pound that looks after pack donkeys and ponies and dogs and urgently needs funding.

Suitably sustained, we went for a short walk along the edge of the pass, and came across lots of these funny little rodents - you two would have been doing your nuts! They are Sloggett's Ice Rats or Lesotho Vleirats (Otomys sloggetti subsp. basuticus).

We also saw this beautiful Drakensberg Rockjumper,

some interesting ericas - like this Foxtail Heath (Erica alopecurus),

and these little rose-like succulents.

Time to buy some souvenirs - grit your teeth Alph! -

from this lovely, welcoming lady who was tending the shop,

then our passports were stamped out - they didn't seem to notice that I was a time traveller having entered three days earlier in the future -

and we took a deep breath, and started the hair-raising descent.

There was ice on the side walls, even though it was a sunny day.

The Alph's happiness was complete when he came across a Toyota Landcruiser in trouble, but luckily another red Land Rover was already offering help, so our help was not needed.

Once safely down, we had tea and scones at Pucketty Farm tea garden,

and arrived at Wana Farm in time to feed the pigs.

It is now time for joining the dinner party at Wana, so good night Coco - and send lots of love to Leticia and the Lad.

love from the FL xx