THE COUNTRY ROADS

Out in the Karoo  a small donkey cart is traveling on the gravel beside the national road. It is driven by an old country driver who drives on his team of two donkeys pulling his little cart with a small stick in his hand. He whistles loudly at them in tune to his commands as he eggs them on along their way forward. The desert is hot and the wind is dry. There is not a cloud in the sky above, and the sun is a blistering ball of bright shining white flames in the early morning skyline. He is happy and he and his team of two young donkeys are enjoying the fresh air and the pleasant breeze in their faces and it caresses their bodies gently in the overwhelming heat of the day. It is wonderful to be alive and out and about this time of the year. The early spring is slowly turning into a hot summer once again in their little part of the world. The insects buzz and all of nature is at peace. Here and there along the way they see a little desert flower blooming amongst the tiny clumps of desert grass and the wild shrubs of the veldt. Still the driver and his team move slowly onwards along the road as they draw his little cart happily along its way. Town is still some distance off and they will only reach it at midday. The master has some shopping and business to attend at the local store. Then he will go and visit some friends and family who live there. After he had done with all that it was the long trudge back home to the farm in the late afternoon heat. It is a long day ahead but out here in the country time has forgotten them all. They have all day. Still they travel on and still the small wheels of the tiny cart rolls on slowly. ‘Upwards and onwards.’ he says to his two pack animals. Happily they still travel on still. Happily they enjoy the early morning roadside. It is another happy day for them all. Somehow it seems as if their lovely summer will never end. And still they amble along silently on the old desert road. They know no other way.