South Africa Trip - Day 8: On the highway (more like road) to Hell (or in this case Lesotho) (6/11/10)

Had breakfast in the hotel which was pretty good and then we started our (prohibited by the rental car company) journey into Lesotho. Crossed over at Maseru (capital city of L and a big bridge crossing) where we had some confusion at the border but eventually got through. 

Entrance into Lesotho.

Some of the scenery we got to enjoy on our ascent to our accommodations for the night. Yes that is snow on the ground.

Some houses in Lesotho on our drive to the hotel. Our hut at the hotel was very similar in appearance. 

There is a drastic difference between L and SA; you could instantly see the increase in poverty while crossing the boarder and throughout the country, while it is also a mountain nation and their mountains are more prevalent and beautiful. Driving on a normal road in L for ~1h and then we get to our road that is to take us to our hotel; ~65 km of the worst road I think I have ever been on (even as of  this transcribing in 9/2015). This road is unpaved, incredibly muddy with potholes, all along the edge of a mountain at times with severe gradients, etc. We had a 2WD SUV and I don't know that I would have thought to try and go on that road with a 4WD vehicle other than a military grade hummer. Part of the mountain road was also snowy as it was their winter and it is high in elevation; icing on this road's proverbial hellish cake. It took us ~2.5hr to go the ~60km. We get to our destination and this lodge seems as remote/rustic as one could possibly imagine. Heat is through wood burning, electricity through hydroelectric from the nearby dam (not a reliable source in the winter as rivers freeze), and the water is non-potable The reason for our trek to this lodge was to do a Guinness record holding abseiling (repelling) next to a waterfall (sounds amazing right???); we find out upon arrival that due to recent snow fall amounts, the river we are to abseil is overflowing, covering the path and making our trek impossible (not so amazing after all :( ). With this heart breaking news, we spend the day/night in the main area watching opening day matches of the world cup (reason for this trip) with other travelers while having some beers (they had .75L bottles of the Castle milk stout – only non lager I could find around the country that was my drink of choice) and eventually having some dinner.

How do you make the best of a crappy situation? you put on a tiny hat and smile. We found these in our room so naturally we had to see how they fit. 

Since our activity was cancelled, the gang met up in the lounge area and had some drinks while watching some footy. 

I was happy to find a beer other than a light lager. I was ebullient that they came in big bottles. Our group drank the hotel out of their supply of these big boys.  

Our hotel had a resident cat that would walk around and see people (and even venture outside), but its favorite place was right there in front of the fire. Smart cat. 

My bro and I enjoying a relaxing night of beers and footy on the TV. 

After that we hike up to our room which happens to be the farthest from the main cabin and the highest up the hill. Get in and find our wood supply is insufficient so we go get more wood and head to bed after making a fire to warm our room up a bit.