More Photos

I am in the process of loading photos on to Flickr
So go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/wanderlustg/sets/72157594156898311/
for more South African photos from this time away.

Very odd being back at work ...

09/05 to 19/05 - Text

Tuesday 9th May
I went on a 43km bike ride down the mountains at Oudtshoorn and visited the Cango Caves. Hooked up with Rachel (UK), Mike and Natalia (Canada).

Sat round the fire with them in the evening and also got talking to Anna and Susanne (Swiitzerland) and Zen (USA).

Wednesday 10th May
Lazy day, as after horse riding and biking my arse needs a rest. Chatted to Mike and Nat before they left. I spent large part of the afternoon talking to Helen from Kent. In the evening watched films with Helen, Kelly and Pete.

Thursday 11th May
Easy morning. Talked to Petra the owner and Moses their driver who had just resigned. Later I met up with someone who said he was sacked? Chatted to Anna and Susanne

and then caught the shuttle bus with them to George. Anna seemed to be taking the micky out of me but she and Susanne are nice girls and we hugged goodbye. Barry was the BB driver and I got Somerset West where I switched to the shuttle, said high to Christina as we passed in the night again! Arrived and settled in The Stumble Inn in Stellenbosch by 8:45. Sorted out my accomodation for Cape Town and the Baz Bus as I had a feeling I might not be up for it tomorrow night! Ended up chatting to Ben an ex Isralei intelligence officer who had a South African mother, and then to a guy called Bryce who is an overland driver.


Friday 12th May
The wine tour ... and it was me and the overland group! Bryce and Dee his wife and their seven pax. We visited Simonsig in Stellenbosch, Fairview in Paarl, where we also had scrummy goats cheese tasting. Lunch at a farmhouse restaurant. Dieu Donne vineyards in Franschoek. A stop for buying only at a place where they do a very nice Sauvignon Blanc / Chenin Blanc blend for R10 a bottle! I had to buy three?! Stop for a springbok shooter. And the last stop of the day was Delaire back in Stellenbosch. I had a little nap and then went out with the overlanders for dinner at the De Akker pub as they had invited me. I must admit that I did head back to the backpackers with half of them at 9 ish and fell asleep in bed by 9:30 ... my head was pounding!

Saturday 13th May
Recover during day and spend a lot of it writing my travel journal and reading. Around 4 playyed pool with a guy from Zambia and then chatted to locals and Josh behind the bar before catching the shuttle bus at 7:30. I arrived in Cape Town just after 9, I'm staying at The Backpack on New Church St. After being shown to my dorm and eating the sandwiches I had made earlier I went to the bar for a quick one and too see if I knew anyone. Ooops, I stayed for three beers and got chatting to Emma the young lady behind the bar before making myself go to bed at 12:30.

Sunday 14th
Introduced myself to Victoria and Ken, two of my dorm mates and ended up heading out to town with Ken and visited the SA Museum and then had a spot of brunch. During the morning I bumped into Deirdre on Long Street so I asked her what happend to her and Emer and Stellenbosch! (left to right)


Back at The Backpack I caught up with Christina and chatted to her. I ended up joining Deirdre, Emer and Sharon at 3 as they wandered back onto Long Street to meet up with their overlander pals for a shake. Early evening Ken and I headed up to the cable car to Table Mountain only to miss the last car up by 5 minutes ... bugger. Oh well it was nice watching the sun set from there. We spent an hour there and then headed back via a Thai take away to The Backpack. There was a bottle of wine that needed drinking from Stellenbosch! Moved onto the terrace with Deirdre and Sharon and at 8 Emer joined us and we all headed off to Cool Running on Long Street. A nice evening though it was a bit dead, Sunday night perhaps? Below is me and Puku in the pub.



Monday 15th
Up at 7:15 as I had arraqnged to meet Christina in reception at 8 as we were off down to the Waterfront to catch a ferry and visit Robben Island. We couldn't get on the cheaper 9am trip so booked the 10am one and went and had breakfast at a cafe. The Robben Island visit, where Nelsan Mandela spent some time incarcirated, was worth going on. The afternoon was spent wandering round the shops, the plushest Pick 'n' Pay that I've ever seen! Oh and I bought yet more wood carvings! We decided to walk back the 2+ km and went via the Malay quarters where all the houses are painted bright colours ... it reminded me a bit of Brighton actually! Got back and I made a large spag bol for Ken and myself and then I retired to the bar where I found Deirdre and Sharon so talked to them. They left and I got talking to a guy called Diep who I then played pool with. I then talked to a couple of dutch ladies who recognised me from Oudtshoorn; and when they left I started to go but found Deirdre and Sharon back in the bar. Sharon quite happily left Deirdre chatting with me and headed off. Also taked to Emma whilst here, and it was 3:30 am when my head hit the pillow.

Tuesday 16th
Not such an early morning to day, but I still had to be at reception at 10 with packed lunch to meet Deirdre, Sharon, Emer, and Marieke as we planned to go up Table Mountain. I find them having a coffe in the bar as I wonder over toast in hand and mouth, only to find out that they hadn't been to the supermarket yet (I was told they were doiing that at 9) Women?! ;-)
Typical, the weather was not as good today as it had been for the last 2.5 days and though we could see up and down the mountain, you could not see across the top of the mountain. C'est la vie. Pleasant day though. Left to right: Emer, Marike, Sharon, me, Puku



When we got back I had a knap and after cooking some spaghetti and having it with the rest of my sauce I rang home to sort out a few things. Drank some more of the nice wine I had bought in Stellenbosch and did chat for a bit in the bar. Emma and Russel took the mickey when I left at 10:30 though!

Wednesday 17th
Up and packed ready for the BazBus penisula tour. Finally got picked up at 8:30 by Bruce the guide and joined the other 7 pax on the bus. Teh seal island trip was a bit wet and windy but as we headed further south the weather did improve. It was dry and not too bad by the time we got to the penguins in Simon's Town on False Bay. The bike ride through the NP was a bit damp, but by the time we got to Cape Point it was dry, and even sunny at times! We also walked from there to the Cape of Good Hope. After that it was around 6 that I got back to The Backpack and as the kitchen was crowded headed over to the bar where I found Sharon. Had a very nice chicken breast burger and potato wedges. Later I checked my email and checked in online, eek less than 24 hours to go!

Thursday 18th
Ended up getting up at 8 as my three dormies had all got up by then. Had breakfast and paid my bill and booked myself a shuttle car for the airport for 5. Then had the fun job of unpacking and repacking my rucksack and distributing the weight. After that I took my bags to the TV room and settled down to read and write my journal. At 1 I did go and cook myself a very nice tuna, tomato and ruce dish with herbs which the cleaning ladies commented nicely on as the smell wafted around the building! More reading and finally at just before five I took my bags to the reception area and waited for my lift. Just as well I gave myself an extra half hour as the roads were bad as the Metero was on strike today and it took an hour to get there. The bag drop at the airport was quick and easy and I'm glad I redistributed my books as my rucksack came in at 20.5kg, just under BA's 22kg limit. My daysac was definetly over the 6kg limit, but thankfully they didn't ask to weigh it. Quick stop in the duty free shop for two bottles of Amarula and then the flight home.

Friday 19th
Land at Heathrow earlier than scheduled and so I was out by 7:15 and found a man holding a card for Mr Rocher, that was good enough for me and so I went with the driver and was back home in Marina Avenue by 8:15

02/05 to 08/05 - Text

Tuesday 2nd May
Leave Storms River Village and get to Plet, it was raining when I got there. Checkout town, have lunch and even managed to walk along the beach without getting wet later on. Met Jane in Nothando backpackers. As it was looking like rain again tomorrow we decided to team up on using Maryna and Charles' shuttle service the next day.

Wednesday 3rd May
Jane and I went to Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and then to an Elephant Sanctuary where we had a hands on experience. At the bird place we got swamped by over grown budgies who ate my glasses and sucked Jane's hair. Funny pics but too big to load up now. Got Jane to try a Fish Bowl that night! Told Maryna how to make cheats pimms.

Thursday 4th May
It was sunny so it was off to Robberg Penisula. Spent all day there with Jane walking and talking. Good pics of seals that I will load up at some point. Jane was starving as only had cornflakes for breakfast so when we got back we hit the Spar and I then braaied ostrich burgers, boerswurst, made coleslaw, made garlic bread whilst Jane made a salad. Fanstic food and then I had to make cheats pimms for Maryna, Charles and and myself as Maryna had gone out and bought martina rosso especially!

Friday 5th May
Jane was feeling off today so we just sat in the sun in the garden and talked a lot. Joined by Jofrom Oz in the evening.

Saturday 6th May
Made it out of the B/P at 11am and went and sat on the beach. Had picnic lunch. Then to a cafe looking over the beach as the wind was quite strong; Jane had cream scones, I went for brownies and hot chocolate fudge sauce!

Sunday 7th May
Big hugs goodbye to Jane, it was time I got back on my way.
Two hours driving and two hours hanging around for shuttles etc.
When I arrived at the Backpackers Paradise in Oudtshoorn and was unpacking my bags there was a hello from the corner ... I had caught up with Christina!

Monday 8th May
Went horse riding with Christina, first time on a horse in 9 years ... makes a change from camels and donkeys. And I'm not saddle sore yet!

02/05 to 08/05 - Photos

A Flying fish and Puku meet eye to eye

Robberg Peninsula, Plet

Jane and Puku

Jane the domestic goddess ?!?!!

Christina and me horse riding

Yes I went horseriding!

21/04 to 01/05 - Photos

Okay some of these are from the tail end of the course


Sunset whislt game capturing with some other students for the day


Yes that is me on the right drinking what is known as a road kill off the bar!


A game drive with Courtney, Val and Alisha


Annelle


Cardi with a Tequila bottle at braai


Me and Annelle at Sardinia bay, Wayne in background


Me and Cardi out for drinks


Doug, Natasha and me at JBay


Gabbie trying to get out of the way of the camera!


Katrina, Me, Sue and Ruth after zipwiring


Feeding of the cats at Born Free

21/04 to 01/05 - Text

Okay the rest of the course happened, maybe when I get home I might type this part of it up. Now for what came next.

Friday 21st April
Arrive in PE, go out for farewell meal with the other students as Miriam was flying back home the next day.

Saturday 22nd
Chat to Lavuita, one of the receptionists at Lungile Backpackers, a lot. She's a Marine Biologist doing her PHd.

Sunday 23rd
Chat to Cardi, another receptionist, a lot, the one I talked to a lot on the day I stayed here two months ago. I sorted out her CV and helped her apply online for a job with Qatar Airways.

Monday 24th
Got to late lunch with Annelle, Cardi's flatmate and anotehr girl. Then joined them both for the braai they had invited me to that evening. Got a bit wasted.

Tuesday 25th
Went to the restaurant that Cardi works at for a meal, very nice too. Chatted to Raymond the barman whilst waiting for to finish work and then went for a few drinks with her in a couple of bars. As she's in the industry she gets half price cocktails in Giavani's, so that night ended up having a Long Island Iced Tea for 1 poond 70! Got to bed after 2 am

Wednesday 26th
Ended up going out to diner with Christina, an Austrian girl at the backpackers. Got chatting to Jules a girl I was at Shamwari with two years ago, how wierd is that, that she is back too?

Thursday 27th
I went out to lunch with Annelle, Wayne and Terri-Anne (?). In the afternoon Wayne and I chatted whilst Annelle slept over me on the sofa at her place. We then drove to Sardinia Bay for the sunset and a boersworst (sic) for supper. Wayne headed off home and Anelle and I snuggled up on the sofa at her place and watched a film. She thenwent off to meet friends and I went off for a drink at Cardi's restaurant and then went out drinking with her again till around 2 am again.

Friday 28th
Finally caught up with Louisa again whilst having lunch. Doug picked my up around 5:15 and he, Natash and I headed off to JBay. Doug cooked for the three of us and then we hit the bars and clubs in town. By the third one a young lady started to talk to me, Gabbie, and she and her friend Sheryl then joined us in our crawl. By the last club I was even dancing, yes people the first in a long time! Doug and Natasha when back to their room, but stayed dancing with Gabbie and Sheryl, well Gabbie mostly. Around 3 am I think they gave me a lift back and Gabbie put her mobile number in mine.

Saturday 29th
I rang Gabbie in the early afternoon and she rang back an hour later saying she was working at her fathers backpackers, but I was more than welcome to join her, so I did around 3:30 pm. Sheryl turned up from work later and Gabbie offered to cook for all of us. So Sheryl and I headed off to the supermarket and bought the ingredients. Had a really nice pasta meal that I helped Gabbie prepare and loads of chatting. At 11:30 Sheryle gave me a lift back to my backpackers.

Sunday 30th
I get picked up by BazBus and head to Storms River Village
Talk to a few backpackers. It was raining all day long and cold so I was sitting by the fire where I met Katrina German, Ruth (Canadian lawyer on a 18 month placement in Grahamstown, Sue from the States in Grahamstown for a semenster.

Monday 1st May
Talk Sue and Ruth into letting me tag along with them to go zip wiring across a gorge about 8 times. They also invited Katrina along.
Went walking with Katrina in the afternoon round a 5km nature trail. Talked to the girls at reception / bar in the backpackers in the evening.

So that's all for this post folks. I'm hungry!!
I can't believe there are only 2.5 weeks left!!

Graham

13/03 to 03/04 - More Photos

For those people who asked, no I cannot remember her name. It was the night in Port Alfred and a lot had been drunk, and the half dozen of us left at that time seemed to be dancing with each other.
Had another fun night last night as I got invited to a braai, by two of the girls who work in the backpackers I'm staying in, but the rest of that story another time!

13/03 to 03/04 - Photos

13/03 to 03/04 - Text

Okay so it has been a long time since my last post
So here is a quick precise of some of the time from looking at my good old fashioned journal, thanks Sylwia! I know it's not everything, but I had managed to pre type this when the lecturer left his laptop in the camp over night

Monday 13th March
Nature walk in morning. Animal lecture in the afternoon followed by going out and collecting tree and bush shrubs samples which we labeled up back in the lounge. The evening was spent reading and writing my journal.

Tuesday 14th
Craig the owner of Spring Vale Farm and the reserve that Esingeni camp is on gave us a talk on the local farming history and about his Olive farming. This was held whilst walking around his olive groves and and the farm building that he processes them at. Back to camp and read some of the FGASA study guide and prepared for a nature trek that we were going to have to give Wayne. In the afternoon we had a plant lecture and checked our tree specimens against a previous list for the camp, updating it with any new ones we had found. An evening playing gin rumey.

Wednesday 15th
This morning we had a game drive on Shamwari reserve from 7 to 11. Before we left said hello to a few people I recognized at Long Lee Manor from two years ago. The highlight of the drive was coming across the Lioness ‘CC’ calling for her cubs (quite big as over a year old), who duly turned up and greeted mum by jumping all over her, before they all laid down and dozed. We then had a quick tour of three Shamwari Lodges. Eagle's Crag, Lobengula and Bayethe. Abigail showed us around the latter and we recognised each other from the Day Centre two years ago when I bought a bottle of wine for the students and she told me I was being ripped off! After lunch back at camp we created a new dichotomous key for IDing our tree specimens. In the evening I drove us to Alicedale where we went to Louis' bar and I caught up with the man himself, his wife Carine and also Niko and Claire who were there (what a surprise not!)

Thursday 16th
After breakfast we had a Bird ID and ecology lecture and then out for a nature walk to ID birds in the reserve. In the afternoon we read the FGASA guide chapter on grasses and then Wayne gave us a lecture on them. In the evening I started the FGASA work book, answering the questions on grasses whilst it was still fresh in my mind.

Friday 17th
A lecture on how to survey grasses and then out into the field to do a practical exercise doing just that. Then went out on the Nature walk that I had prepared earlier in the week just so Wayne could see how we were getting on. More talk about grasses in the afternoon then we finished early and we headed off to Port Alfred for the weekend. We stayed at the Station which was open; we had failed to get through on the telephone all week. The original owner had taken control again and the previous tenants had not paid the phone bill etc. Matthew the guy running the place recommended us somewhere to eat and thus dinner was at the Buck and Hunter with a couple of Aussies we met at the backpackers. I had a wonderful Kudu steak. We made our way back to the Station were I stayed whilst the other students went off to see what else there was in PA. I ended up drinking and chatting to quite a few of the locals in the Station bar and staggered back to my dorm at 2 when they shut up. The others got back later from there bar.

Saturday 18th
Another weekend starting with a hangover so after breakfast took the day easy lazing in the sun and reading. In the evening we went out for a pizza at some bar and I had an early night.

Sunday 19th
After breakfast went to Pick and Pay to get some lunch and then drove off to some dunes that the boys had found yesterday. More shopping later whilst people checked email etc. Drive back to Esingeni.

Monday 20th
We had this day free. The 21st March is a public holiday in SA but Wayne switched the days so we could have a longer weekend. We had decided to go back to Addo Elephant NP as we thought we could have better sitings. So early start and we left camp at 6:25 and I drove and got us there by 7:25. Paid our money, washed the dust off the windows so we could see out of them and then into the park proper. We took a different route than when we were with Wayne and we had a very good / lucky day. Came across one elephant in the spekboom and then a male kudu, and then another. Next were six buffalo that nicely crossed the road in front of us. Saw warthogs chasing a black backed jackal around at a waterhole and then while driving near Zuurkop we saw groups of vehicles in the distance so decided to go and investigate. First we came across 15-20 elephants by the side / on the road. We watched these for quite a while until they moved back off into the bush and then we made our way further down the road and came across a herd of 50+ and we stayed and watched these for nearly two hours. They had loads of young and I overheard a ranger on a landie say that one was new, so about a week old maybe. At one we made our way to the picnic area and had a late lunch. Head back at 3 and have a snooze when we get there. Rosemary our first aid teacher arrived around 6 that evening so had dinner and then chatted with her and Miriam; the boys went off to Louis' as the Shamwari girls would be there ...

Tuesday 21st
First aid with Rosemary during the day, talks and practicals; and FGASA work in the evening for me.

Wednesday 22nd
More first aid and I passed with 39 out of 40, only one daft mistake. Head braai in evening and whilst the boys went to Louis' Miriam and I chatted around the fire until it got too cold, then it was reading in the tent.

Thursday 23rd
As SciFest was going on in Grahamstown whilst we were here, we decided to take advantage of this and went along to a few lectures and talk shops for three days. Today I went to a bird ringing session given by the dept of Zoology of Rhodes Uni. A lecture by Dr Sherylle Calder called visionary Sport (she helped the English rugby team win the world cup in 2003). The best talk of today was the last, it was a snake talk shop by Bill Branch from Bayworld (in PE in case you want to go). Back to camp and after dinner I drove us out to the new Born Free building that had just been built in the north of Shamwari where Nilo and Claire were going to live. They had invited us along to a braai and it was good to chat with them and other people from the area, including a 'mature student' at Amakala. At 34 Simon was nice adult conversation!

Friday 24th
Back to Grahamstown. Today’s talkshops were 'Fishing for Data in Marine Reserves', Visualise, lunch and a bit of shopping to replace the top I lost when I arrived. The afternoon was a talkshop on Climate Change but it was all obvious and a lecture about torpor, which rose interesting questions. That evening a read up the Astronomy chapter in the FGASA guide, actually found the Southern Cross and alpha + beta centuri, and then Orion's belt and sword. A bit more reading then bed.

Saturday 25th
After Ben and AJ bailed on us as they had a 'once in a lifetime' chance to rock climb ... er yes with the Shamwari girls me thinks I drove the rest of us to Grahamstown; we were staying late in town. First up was a geology tour of the local area by two of the Rhodes Uni Geology lecturers. We had lunch again in the Botanical Gardens and then in the afternoon we bailed on the astronomy workshop as it was aimed far too low, but had a really interesting talk with Brian and Natalie from the SA OS about maps and how it works here in SA. They even gave us each a free map of SA, I guess it made a change from school children! After this Wayne headed back and Miriam, Eamonn and I went for an iced coffee and then a walk round town. Back up to the monument for an evening lecture by Jane Goodall on her work now with her ‘Roots and Shoots’ initiative, which was very inspiring. Ben and AJ did make the lecture about 5 minutes late. Back into town for a wonderful meal in a restaurant.

Sunday 26th
After a lie in and breakfast the others headed of to Bushmans Sands in Alicedale to make use of their swimming pool / to see the Shamwari girls in bikinis and I stayed behind grateful for the peace. Wrote journal, did washing and then I walked out to Wasgat about 1km into the reserve. Yes it's a water hole and I went skinny dipping as it was scorching. Miriam came back in the late afternoon and the heavens opened for much needed rain. We cooked ourselves bangers and mash and I did some more FGASA work in the evening.

Monday 27th
Free day as we did stuff on Saturday. As Wayne was going into PE Miriam and I went with him. Still raining so no beach but ended up in Greenacres shopping Mall while Wayne had an afternoon meeting. Miriam let the side down and didn't buy a thing there, whilst I bought a nice pair of jeans for R180 and some Levi baseball boots for R220. I didn't manage to catch up with Louisa which was a shame, but next time. Back to camp, dinner and a few drinks and talks.

Tuesday 28th
After breakfast a nature walk to see how much we were remembering followed by FGASA work book. After lunch I did a bit more workbook and then a lecture of Fire and burn management. The evening was spent catching up with my journal and doing more FGASA workbook before having a drink and chatting.

Wednesday 29th
FGASA workbook until 10:30 then a lecture on insects. After lunch it was off to Hopewell Reserve just south of the N2 close to Alexandria. Bruce little one of the co-owners greeted us and we were introduced to two students there on a six month placement with Bush Academy, Allie and Paul. Allie drove us off in the landie to collect firewood for later and gave us a small talk as we drove. After we had collected the wood we noticed we had a flat so rang the others to tell them as we had no spare on the Landie. While we were waiting I got chatting to Allie about what she was doing: 33 originally fromn Dorset but had lived in London for the last eight years working for a NGO, but had even got fed up of that. She had always wanted to work in conservation so quit her job and rented her place out. She had thought about doing something like I’m doing but she had found that she could do something with Bush Academy (think that was it) that was 12 months for R55,000. This was six months training to get the full FGASA level one, ie she has done the practical as well as the theory exams, and then it included a six month placement. She was sent to Hopewell and though this means that she will not get her level two as she will not clock up enough client game drives (this is not a commercial reserve yet) she is happy as she prefers the conservation management side of it rather that the guiding side of the work. Eventually everything is sorted and we get our gear to the raised platform where we slept and managed to get out for 1 to 2 hours driving round the reserve looking at the work they are doing and the game they have here. This included coming across one of the bull elephants on the track on the way back who turned round and gave us a vigorous head shake and trumpet to let us know to keep our distance! Back to our make shift camp where Wayne cooked over an open fire, had a few beers and then settled down in our sleeping bags on the platform under the stars.

Thursday 30th
Up and after breakfast we went on another drive but before we really got anywhere we had another puncture so that put paid to that. Managed to get back and strike camp before it was completely flat. Went trying to find the male cheetah on the reserve using radio telemetry but after having no luck for over an hour we went back and saw the female cheetah that was at the moment in a boma as she was brought back in a week ago to fatten her up a bit. She was hand reared and she really didn’t get the swing of the hunting at times! I talked to Bruce for a bit while the other students started lunch as I was interested in the GIS software he was beta testing; okay a bit sad, but a topic that involved my degree, my career and one of my big interests was too good to pass up! Bruce is also a bronze sculptor / castor and he inivited my to a gallery showing he was having in London, as I was back in London for the last day of the showing. I also asked if he was taking any more students on, he said most likely not as he would like to keep the ones he has on. After lunch it was bask to Esingeni where I did my washing and then got stuck into more FGASA for the rest of the day.

Friday 31st
After breakfast we had a reptile lecture and then went out into the field to find some. No snakes but quite a few lizards, a tortoise and scorpions. After lunch we went out looking for insects. An early start and at 4:15 I drove us all to J-Bay 200km away. Made good time and found Island Vibe backpackers easily, we even made it time to sign up for dinner. After diner after we retired to the bar and chatted to the other backpackers. I spoke to a German woman who was traveling the Garden Route to begin with. Then the cocktails flowed. The house speciality was a fish bowl. Basically it was 8+ of white shots including blue bols in a goldfish bowl with, tonic water, a sprite and orange juice. It certainly got the evening flowing as we shared quite a few! I got asked to play pool by an Irish lady around my age called Clodagh; she had been traveling around 18 months and had only three weeks left. It turned out she was in finance and had a brother in London and was toying with the idea of going there to earn some more money to go traveling … my kind of girl! Around 1 I took over the DJing for a while with my mp3 player. It was about 3 am that I finally decided maybe I should go to the dorm and crash.

Saturday 1st April
I’ve felt better, I’ve felt worse. It was all going well last night what with drinking water as I went but Miriam walked off with the bottle of water I had stashed behind the sofa when she went to bed at 1. Anyway I dragged myself out of bed just after 10 and had a shower and made it for a full fried breakfast. Then went off to the Billabong factory shop and bought myself some shorts for R160 and then went down the beach with Miriam for some sunbathing and playing in the sea. Back to Island Vibes where I sat outside and wrote some journal and had a late lunch before going for a snooze at 3. Up and shower for diner out in town and then another night at Island Vibes. I decided to take easy tonight and stayed off the cocktails and went to bed early compared to the others. AJ never made it to bed till 6 as he fell asleep on a bench in the garden!

Sunday 2nd
Up at 8:30 today and the morning was spent writing my journal and reading. Clodagh and her friends asked if we wanted to join them for lunch and AJ and I accepted. Talked about traveling in general and after lunch I joined them on the see front playing Crazy Golf, AJ passed on this. Somehow I came from behind in the last three holes and won which Clodagh took well considering she was warning us all how competitive she was! Back to the backpackers where after having to phone home it was hugs and handshakes to say farewell. I did the driving back and then had a large G&T, ate and then went up to cell phone rock to find out the news from Danielle and my parents.

Monday 3rd April
Dianne (30) from the UK joined us this morning; she is here for a week for the Bush Survival Course. Our first thing was to go out and collect tree samples so we could test the key we had previously made; it actually worked really well so everyone was pleased. After lunch it was vehicle maintenance; which was nothing new to me, but it was nice trying out Wayne’s 4x4 in proper terrain that justifies it. We had a braai this evening and after chatting for a while it was all off back to our tents where I read for a while.

10/03 to 12/03

Sunday evening and on the way back from Hogsback; 180km drive from camp.
Apparently JRR Toltkein was inspired to write the Hobbit/LOTR from staying here. It certainly is very beautiful

Chatted to some students from Rhodes uni on the Friday night, but they all went off to their tents at midnight, and we went back to the bar.

I don't know what happened but I blame Miriam as she started it with the tequila slammers, then AJ with sambuka shots, Ben with vodka shots, so I went and got shots of Jagermeister and a red bull type liquer.

The long and short of it is I eneded up going to bed at 6 am, when it was getting light and ended up sleeping in one place or anothe during saturday to recover ... I amd not 18/20 anymore! The view from the lawn is nice, see below


The weekend before last we did go for a stroll around camp, it's about 3000 Ha but fantisatic views as you can see.

Saturday night we also had a braai


And we do actually do some hard labour, alien plant removal, or three hours in the sun cutting out a foreign tree that's sucking the soil dry. We recycle the wood though!