South Africa

Happy Birthday to Renee.

Quite a long drive to Springbok today. Customs didn’t even blink at the car. The guy asked if we had anything to declare and I said only personal effects and he scrunched up the declaration form. Immigration searched in vain for our exit stamp and we had to explain we did not exit because the passports were issued in Spain. OK, no worries.

This part of SA is really nice. Good weather too which is odd because it is winter. The campsite at Springbok is quite good but busy. It’s odd to be with so many other campers who have not at least done some thousands of km and who are not at all interested in other people. Used the big tent again which I like because it makes packing easier. We’ve decided to spend the night in Cape Town tomorrow.
 

18th August 1999
 

Odo	63 123.2km
Co-ords	S 29 40 24.6 E 17 53 56.4
Fuel	34.8 L  63 462.7km

Staying in an old jail tonight. Actually a very nice hotel called Breakwater Lodge at the Waterfront. We did try the City Lodge but it was full, then we made a booking at the Commodore but they only had underground parking into which we did not fit and they were not at all interested in helping. So we found this place and it’s really great.

Had lunch at a farm stall on the way. Really nice to, the owners came to look at the car and couldn’t believe we had driven all the way. This is truly great countryside. The flowers are starting too bloom so splashes of colour all over. It was a bit startling to meet so much traffic though.

This afternoon we did a bit of shopping and wandered around the Waterfront. At 5:30 we went on a sunset cruise. It was really nice, I’ve never been on a big sailing boat before. It was nice to see the sun set over the bay and the lights come on in town. It was a bit up and down but nowhere near as bad as the Zanzibar ferry. Some of the other passengers were feeling a bit queasy but Renee and I were fine.

Had dinner at the waterfront, we both had what seemed like massive amounts of food. I had gumbo and couldn’t finish it. Oh well, I have lost 6kg and weighed 68kg at Yvonne's. Have to work on it I suppose.
 

19th August 1999
 

Odo	63 694km
Co-ords	S 33 54 26.8 E 18 24 56.5
Fuel	32.88 L  63 732.8km

That’s it, we can go no further South – Cape Aghulas. Left Cape Town at around 8:30 arrived at about 11. Wow. We opened two bottles of champagne and sprayed them all over the car and the monument. Took loads of photos too. The other people there must have thought we were a bit odd but there weren’t too many so not so bad.

Hell we’ve come a long way. I never thought we would get here. Tunisia seems in the distant past. Got the wheels balanced – were told that they are not round.

We made it on to Knysna – again along a really beautiful stretch of country – and are camping at what must be the best campsite I have ever seen. It is on the other side of the bay to town and has everything. The best showers and ablution, including a sauna and gym. Also a pool table which Renee and I used most of the evening. One great thing is that we were totally on our own. It must be busy though in the summer.
 

20th August 1999
 

Odo	64 323km
Co-ords	S 34 03 27.9 E 23 01 53.7
Fuel	69.4 L  64 337.2km

Today we head for our second honeymoon at the Fish River Sun. We looked for the Storms River bridge so that we could bungi jump but missed it. Its not really on the Storms river and it’s on the toll road so better luck next time. Actually spent the morning shitting myself that Renee would really want to do it. Oh well, must be brave. I really do want to try it out but just mustn’t think about it.

Arrived at the hotel at around 3pm. We have a nice room overlooking the pool, which is empty, and have a patio with deck chairs. Now for a relaxing four days.
 

21st, 22nd and 23rd August 1999
 

Odo	64 873.7km
Co-ords	S 33 29 05.9 E 27 07 57.4
Fuel	55.65 L  64 820.4km

Had a great time. Siesta, walks, ate well, and watched TV, showered or bathed twice a day.

Well we had a great relax at the Fish River. Not too much to do but that’s what I planned. The weather was great on Sat and Sun but started getting windy on Monday. Lay on the bed so long that I started getting back ache. Went into Port Alfred on Monday and just sat in the car reading magazines and watching the sea. Felt really ill at lunchtime Monday and puked up my lungs as well as my lunch. Lay around dosed up with valoid and painkillers. Renee went off to supper on her own.

Damn, can you believe it’s coming to an end. I can’t.
 

24th August 99
 

Odo	64 873.7km
Co-ords	S 33 29 05.9 E 27 07 57.4
Fuel	70.5 L  65 310.5km

Odo 64873.7km S 33 29 05.9 E 27 07 57.4
Fuel 65310.5km 70.5l
Fuck it’s freezing. I’m sitting in bed in a hotel in Bloem writing this. I’m feeling loads better than last night. The drive up was OK just very windy. We arrived at 4:30pm and decided on Bains game farm. Not much game but quite nice.

Had a great dinner of baby chicken and chips. Now it’s watching TV (The Postman) and getting warm.

Tomorrow Johannesburg.
 

25th August 1999
 

Odo	65 523.4km
Co-ords	S 29 04 32.6 E 26 09 02.8
Fuel	43.41 L  65 738.3

Took a slow drive up the N1 freeway towards Johannesburg. A feeling of aprehension, what to expect, how to settle into something fixed, how to stop really. It feels a little odd heading back to Johannesburg after three and a half years away. To return seems like going backwards.

We went directly to see Renee's Mom and then went to her house. We will be staying here for awhile until we can get somewhere ourselves. My Mom and Dad and came over to say hi and welcome back and so did Erica and Robin. Robin brought a huge banner saying welcome homw which he wanted to hang on the road but we got there before him so we just stuck it on the side of the truck. The weekend coming we have all our friends over for a braai, time to sit and remember the stories.

26th August 1999

To close off here are the final figures
 

Odo	65 920km TOTAL Kilometers = 26 469.3km
Co-ords	S 26 06 57.8 E 27 56 57.4
Fuel	none TOTAL Litres = 2 999.17 L Consumption = 11.33 litres per 100 km (8.825 km per litre)