Day 10 ... chuff chuffing along

September 28, 2024

So much to say about today but first to catch up on dinner last night!

Dinner is a formal affair on the train with men expected to wear a collared shirt and tie and ladies to wear evening dress. We duly changed and realised that we don't do this very often! However,  when you wander down to the dining carriage and see everyone dressed beautifully it was worth it.

Again we had a four course meal but I opted to skip the cheese and dessert course as I was so tired. Dinner starts at 7.30 but the first course doesn't tend to arrive until 7.50 (waaaaaaay to late for me!).

Dinner was lovely though and we enjoyed sitting together and chatting about our day before moving on to future holiday plans! 

And then back to our room where Zenelia and Lee had prepared our bed for the evening.  Beautifully presented, the kettle boiled ready for a last drink, biscuits on the bed and a card with the expected temperature for the next day.

 

I crawled into bed and fell asleep pretty quickly only to wake with a friendly (eye roll) revisit from my buddy "tummy bug" at about 11.26! Many toilet visits later (not pleasant on a moving train) and then Ian was up and out of bed to listen to the Grand Final!

So this morning has been a slow start as once again I was very drained.  Ian headed off to breakfast (solid pass for me) but spoke to Zenelia and Lee who appeared at our carriage room door with drugs in hand. 

So drugged up I settled in for a little more sleep in the hope of rallying enough to go on the excursion to Kimberley.  And rally I did. Ian was pleased with the outcome of the grand final and with me up and dressed we headed off to join our fellow travellers.

We began with a tour of the small museum at the Kimberley Railway Station  ... not quite as impressive as the one at Rovos and then boarded one of five mini buses that were waiting to whisk us off to the Big Hole.

Each bus had a guide ... ours (Hein) proved to be very knowledgeable and provided us with a wonderful tour of the mine facility.

The Big Hole is what remains of the Kimberley mines that operated from 1871 to 1914. It is a massive excavation  ... and even more amazing when you know that it was totally completed by shovel.

We learnt about diamonds ... both natural and the emerging lab created versions, were able to look at a collection of exquisite diamonds (no photos,  guard at the door, accessed via a remote controlled door), see how life was like in the time and hear about the way the mine began.

Much like Sovereign Hill in Ballarat there were replica shops, original 1800’s houses, trams and train carriages. We descended underground to a shaft ... another reminder of the treacherous conditions for those working in the mine.

Back on our bus we were transported back to the station where we were greeted by the staff offering a warm face washer to clean our face and a selection of drinks for those interested  ... port, sherry, water, juice. 

 

We headed back to our suite so I could collapse on the bed having used all of my energy on the tour. Zenelia and Lee came to ask what we wanted to do about lunch. Ian opted to eat in the room (he didn't want to sit in the dining room alone for 2 hours pining for his love) and I asked if I could have some toast.

Food was duly delivered,  meals enjoyed, trays whisked away again, more dishes arrived for Ian ... and so on. I was disappointed to not partake in the main dish of lunch ... Bobotie (a savoury casserole authentic to South Africa). It smelt delicious but my tum was not feeling up to it. We may see if we can find it when we are in Cape Town.

 

 

After lunch I hunkered down for a nap, rocked gently by the train, whilst Ian went to the Lounge Car. When I awoke he magically appeared and so we headed to the other Lounge car to while away the rest of the afternoon whilst snapping pics of the changing landscape.

We chatted with some of our fellow passengers  ... had another man saying he had also been unwell last night although I think mine was a revisit rather than a new situation, chatted with a lady who lives in Bairnsdale but used to teach at Sunbury Secondary and Sunbury Downs. What a small world.

Back in our room now ... time to prepare for dinner. I will see what I can eat ... and Zenelia has promised me more drugs for bed time!

This post will probably be delayed because internet in the middle of South Africa is not very good! Once again I will end here though and pick up tomorrow filling you in on dinner and (fingers crossed) a peaceful sleep.