The Perfect Beans Curry

Planning for a trip into the middle of nowhere with no cellphone reception and not a even a spaza shop in sight can be calamitous. We were ready for any eventuality, though. We even had ice for our whiskeys.

On the first night we had pre-prepared beans curry made by Boeta Mel. He is very specific about which beans to use, because it must be the same as the ones used by his late mom. The day before our departure he was criss-crossing the Helderberg area in search of the perfect beans. His wife called me at some stage to ask about my whereabouts (I was the third passenger in their vehicle; in fact, I was the co-navigator) telling me about the beans search and asking if I could, on my way from Pringle to Somerset West, stop at a few shops to see if I could get a hold of the scarce and elusive beans. It was a definite no from me. I don’t mess with Boeta Mel’s beans, because if it’s not right he will not use it.

Anyway, he found it. The night before our departure, and before the vehicle was loaded we were allowed to sample it. It was perfect. Then it was packed away in a Wonderbag, and I can assure you, dear reader, using my Lady Whistledown voice, that the beans curry were kept warm when we reached our camping site many hours later. Top marks to Wonderbag.

Someone had the foresight to pack rotis, which he fried the minute those tents were pegged, and we had a beautiful night under the stars sipping on single malt whisky, with ice, while eating that precious home-cooked beans curry made with the recipe passed on from Boeta Mel’s mom. I kept some for a breakfast bun, but breakfast was yet to be dreamt up by Lady D.

Now Lady D is the madame of the group. Nothing is served unless it is styled to perfection. There must be proper plates and cutlery, serviettes, a little salad on the side, and what is a bush breakfast without toasted bagels?

She was up early the next morning, took a shower in an A-framed, tiny tent complete with hot water, and then she was ready to get the fire and the pots going. I ate my beans curry on a toasted bagel while the rest had crispy bacon and eggs, and if you were so inclined, some salad on the side. For coffee there was a choice between Jacobs and Colombian filter, and some homemade biscuits to dunk. Lady D had tea. Of course. So proper.

We sat in a row watching the water slam into the rocks while dark clouds and a cold front were approaching. Little did we know what that storm would do a few days later. But we had that perfect moment in time. Later we would head off to Hondeklipbaai to do some off-roading and find a restaurant for lunch.

Part 3 to follow.

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