{"id":1083,"date":"2017-05-05T19:39:41","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T19:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bushbabyblog.com\/?p=1083"},"modified":"2017-05-08T08:12:43","modified_gmt":"2017-05-08T08:12:43","slug":"iris-retreat-riverside-cottage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bushbabyblog.com\/index.php\/2017\/05\/05\/iris-retreat-riverside-cottage\/","title":{"rendered":"An Anniversary Getaway Just Down the Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our dogs go away with us for our anniversary. Don\u2019t yours?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It was our 3rd<\/sup> wedding anniversary, and in our true getaway-spirited style, we celebrated it in our favourite way. We escaped to somewhere lovely, with our dogs of course.<\/p>\n

Since we already live somewhere lovely by choice (in Hartbeespoort\u2019s countryside), and since we only had one night to stay, we chose to save ourselves the travel time and go somewhere close by.<\/p>\n

Very, very close by.<\/p>\n

Just 5kms away from home to be exact.<\/p>\n

We went to a little hideaway around the corner called Iris Retreat<\/a>. And it was perfection.<\/p>\n

\"map

Just around the corner. Literally.<\/p><\/div>\n

Yes, it may sound a bit mad and some may ask, \u201cwhat\u2019s the point?\u201d<\/em> but why should only out of town visitor get to enjoy our pretty surrounds? We live somewhere lovely and it can’t be taken for granted. I don’t want to miss out on exploring it just because it\u2019s technically \u201chome\u201d.<\/p>\n

Iris Retreat<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After work on our anniversary day, we vaulted into the Patrol with our overly keen pooches, Moose and Penny. They realised we were going somewhere special when they saw us packing in their luggage as well as our own. They\u2019re not just cute faces. Just a few panted doggy breaths later we were already there, being welcomed to our self-catering little cottage within the trees and balancing on the banks of the Magalies River.<\/p>\n

\"Iris

A bamboo cottage in the trees. So inviting.<\/p><\/div>\n

Christine is the hands-on and wonderfully hospitable owner of Iris Retreat,<\/a>\u00a0 she personally greeted us and asked to meet \u201cthe rest of our family\u201d as she called our dogs. We liked her immediately. The pups steamed up the back window of the car with all their sniffing, waiting patiently to be set free to explore. And explore they did.<\/p>\n

\"Iris

It’s a dog’s life at Iris Retreat.<\/p><\/div>\n

The retreat is named in memory Christine\u2019s mother and there are 4 cottages on the property, crouched in the thick bush, each with privacy and tranquillity naturally at heart. A chalk board sign in front of our cottage welcomed us by name too while the friendly Jaffet helped us unpack our stuff as we made it our home for the night.<\/p>\n

Riverside Cottage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Our cottage, with its bamboo character, was aptly named \u201cRiverside<\/a>\u201d and we gazed out at the water from its little veranda. It had the feel of a treehouse because of its setting above the riverbank and in line with the indigenous branches which intertwined along the water\u2019s edge below. Inside it, a super King size bed, fat with duvets and a lace mozzie net curtaining it, beamed at us as we anticipated our comfy sleep to come later. In summertime I\u2019m sure the air conditioner is very welcome too, but we had no need for it on that nippy April evening. Rather, in front of a wood fire was where we made ourselves comfortable in our private garden. That fire was expertly and unexpectedly made for us by Jaffet. We were continuously surprised by these small acts of luxury and hospitality in this unpretentious and homely place we had found.<\/p>\n

\"Iris

Details and comforts at our Riverside Cottage.<\/p><\/div>\n

Play Time Down at the River<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before we settled in for the night beside the fire and braai we chased the sunset and explored. With sundowner drinks in hand we were led by the doggies along the riverside paths set out on the property. They bounded and waggled tails and jumped in and out of the water at each spot which allowed them access. Penny fetched sticks thrown in for her and brought them back to Moose to shake, as is their practiced tradition.<\/p>\n

She negotiated rapids (her first ones ever encountered) while Moose worriedly looked on from his non-swimmer stance on the bank. Their playtime was pure freedom and bliss and mirrored our own happiness at being in one of our favourite kind of settings. We had instantly relaxed into this easy flowing way of life.<\/p>\n