South Africa

17 August – Springbok SOUTH AFRICA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME IN SOUTH AFRICA            !!!!

We left the farm latish this morning and didn't get as far South as we had hoped so here we are in Springbok. It was an uneventful day, crossing the border was a piece of cake - no carnet, no import permit, nothing. The policewoman wrote our numberplate on a piece of paper, immigration looked at it and said nothing, customs barely even looked. All that hassle and worry for nothing.

Other than that, nothing to report. Uncle David's farm is further from the border than I imagined so really it was a full day's driving to get here. We saw quite a few overland trucks which is interesting because I don't remember seeing them here in the past. I guess it is a growing business and even South Africa is getting its share.

Springbok is no longer a small village, quite a thriving town now with lots of places to stay. It seems that the B & B idea in particular has caught on in a big way. Of course a  lot of it is based on the Namaqualand flowers but Springbok also positions itself as the gateway to the Richtersveld and so on. The camp site is quite nice - all the amenities and even a patch of grass to camp on.

18 August – Cape Town

Main highlight - saw Table Mountain at 2:18pm on 18 August. Yes! The end is almost in sight. The drive down here was quite nice, I like the Western Cape and so does Scott, just nice countryside really. We stopped at a farm stall for an excellent pie and salad lunch. The owner was most impressed with our trip and even came outside to check out the car and say goodbye to us. We decided to spend the night in Cape Town, it seemed appropriate, and headed off to the Waterfront City Lodge. They were full but phoned another place, The Commodore and got us a room there at R600 per night. Steep, but it was Cape Town after all. We got there only to find that their parking was underground (we wouldn't fit) and that they were not at all interested in helping us find an alternative. The worst part is that they had open parking for busses but didn’t even think to offer us the option of parking there. We cancelled our booking and headed off the Graduate School of Business. I forget the name of the place but the Forte hotel group runs an excellent place for R330per night. I guess it is a student's residence but there is nothing wrong with it at all, it lacks no comforts. It used to be a prison so the canteen has a jailhouse rock theme - we didn’t go there so I can't comment!

We spent a while wandering around the Waterfront then went for a sunset cruise. This was excellent, we were on a yacht that motored out of the harbour and then just sailed around for an hour and a half. It was very nice indeed. They offer unlimited champagne but it's a pretty safe bet that most people can't sail on the open seas and quaff lots of champagne. No-one on our boat could anyway!

After the sail we did some shopping - champagne for Aghulas the next day, a gift for Liesl's baby and my first kaleidoscope. I love kaleidoscopes and have always wanted to collect them so here the collection begins. I particularly like the quirky one or the really nice traditional ones. This one falls into the quirky but clever category - it is a three-sided tube with mirrored insides and a marble at the base. Works really well.

Next was dinner. We decided to splash out and went to a really nice restaurant called Mortons. While disaster is too strong a word, it can hardly be called an unqualified success either. We both had a starter which was great but come the main course, we struggled to eat even half of it. It was all just too much and too rich. Desert was not even considered at that point!

After dinner we went back to the hotel, called Robin and Silvia to tell them where we were and that we would be home next week. Hardly believable but there it is, only a few nights left on the road. We ended the day by having a hot bath and watching TV in bed!

19 August – Knysna

So Aghulas came and went but not without some fanfare. Champagne was sprayed, photos taken and a few moments of general hysteria were enjoyed. So that's it - we drove Africa North to South, now all that remains is to get home safely. That's a worry to me. There is so much more traffic on the road than anywhere else on the continent and it moves so much faster - I get very nervous, both as a driver and as a passenger. Oh well, I guess I'll soon get used to it again and join right in.

From Cape Town, Scott drove to Aghulas where we spent about an hour and took lots and lots of photos. We hit the road again and headed East stopping at around 5pm in Knysna. We decided to call it a day there, bought some food, second hand books and headed to Lake Brenton resort for the night.

What a place! The only way that I can describe the facilities is to say that they have hotel quality finishes. We're not only talking tiled floors and walls, mirrors and vanity tops but also showers with glass, yes glass, doors, a fully equipped gym and, wait for it, a sauna. Yes that's right - a gym PLUS a sauna. Actually two saunas - ladies and men!

There is also a common room with a TV and Pool Table. For the first time in my life I played Pool (only R2 per game) and boy am I bad at it! Fortunately Scott is no great shakes as a Pool player either so we played four games and had a ball. Once again we were camping alone (it is low, low season in South Africa) but the weather all along the coast is unseasonably hot and sunny so we're having a great time.

20 August – Fish River Sun

We left the campsite at Knysna at around 8:45am and only got here at around 2pm. It's quite a drive but was also slower than it should have been because we took the old road instead of the new toll road. I was hoping to Bunji jump off the Storm's River Bridge. I know that there is an old an a new bridge and I assumed that we'd jump off the old.

Turns out I was wrong on all counts. Firstly, there is only one bridge, it is not on the Toll road and there is no jumping off it! Fact is, the jump is not off the Storms River Bridge at all but off another on which is on the Toll road. Call it another missed opportunity. I'm still not sure if I will actually jump when the moment comes. I have already missed 2 opportunities so that might be telling me something. I do think that it is something that I would like to try however. Scott isn’t so sure about it at all, I guess that we don't have to do everything together though.

After checking in to the hotel, Scott went for his bath and I phoned home to some bad news - my parent's had been robbed. This time it wasn't the cars, someone broke into the house. Our fax machine is one of the missing items. Fortunately it looks like they were interrupted, there was lots of stuff packed and ready to be taken but still there. Not what we need to hear days before going back.

21 August – Fish River Sun

A truly relaxing day. I'm so unwound I'm ….. - just can't think of an apt metaphor. How about I'm so laid back I'm horizontal!

After breakfast we went for a walk to the beach, lay around on deckchairs reading, phoned Liesl, had a siesta, played Put-put, wallowed in the bath, had dinner and watched TV. It's a tough life and more of the same tomorrow!

Liesl is very well but exhausted - Shannon feeds every two hours so I guess that means that she's getting very little sleep. One big blessing is that when the crunch came, John forgot all his reluctance and became a doting father. I guess this generally happens, but it must come as a relief when it happens to you.

22 August – Fish River Sun

Another laid-back day of doing little. We went for the Nature Trail Walk - all 3km of it, played a little pool and then relaxed. It was a pretty miserable day weather-wise, cold and windy so our beach lie-about didn't happen. We did go for a late afternoon walk on the golf course but it was quite a job - I got back freezing and had to soak myself in a hot bath. I'm really enjoying this hot bath option.

We ended off the day with Scott watching Contact (the movie) and me kind-of watching it. I liked the movie but the book was much better. This always seems to be the case doesn't it.

23 August – Fish River Sun

Getting colder! No thought of beach or Golf course walks today. We decided to head into town and see what was on offer. Town being Port Alfred. It's a nice little place. We wandered around, took refuge in the CNA, wandered around some more until the cold forced us into the car. We took a drive around the fancy Marina development then parked on the beach for a while. It was a sunny day so in the car and out of the wind was pretty nice.

We had lunch and our standard siesta but then suddenly Scott got sick. He threw up and spent the rest of the day moaning softly in bed, I even went to dinner alone.

24 August – Baine's Lodge Bloemfontein

I don't know what Scott's problem was yesterday but he woke up fine today.

Nearly home now, we could probably have made it all the way today still but we did tell everyone that we'd only be home tomorrow so that's what we'll aim for. The drive up here was OK but very, very windy all day.

We're now in a nice place but boy is it freezing. We're wearing tracksuits in bed and are still cold. Back to the joys of a South African winter.

1 September – Johannesburg

We made it back home safely and arrived a week ago today. Robin and Silvia had made a Welcome Home banner for us but unfortunately we got there before they did - a pity. Our first few days were spent in a frantic rush getting slides and photos developed. We spent ALL of our first Saturday here mounting slides and then had a mini-show on Sunday for family and friends. We now have to out together a proper presentation for a whole lot of people at the school. It's probably a good thing, it will force us to do some work.