The Last Hurrah!

For my last post on South Africa, I decided to take you on a drive around the Cape.  This is a shortened version of the drive we took on our last visit in 2011, but no less impressive.  Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather and good company.
With our host Gary driving, we set out to follow a loop - leaving Cape Town (to the right on the red oval below) and traveling out to False Bay, then cutting across the peninsula to the coast and back around to CT.

 We stopped for a few hours at Kalk Bay, one of my favorite little towns.  Full of clothing, trinket shops and antique stores, I really could have stayed for the weekend.

 I like the hand painted signs around the town so I snapped a few pictures to remember.

 Tons of little alleyways to be explored....didn't even know they were there the last time I visited.

 

I picked up a few photos and skeleton keys.  The large one will go nicely with my collection of "people in groups" photos.  I love when there is a date on the photo!

Back on the road again, we pass Chapman's bay, a beautiful white sand beach (and barely a soul on it).  One reason may be, that we have now crossed the peninsula over to the Atlantic side where the water current comes from the Antarctic (burrr!)

We continue to follow the road winding our way up Chapman's peak.  I added this shot with the white arrow so you might be able to spot how the mountain is literally carved out, so cars can pass though.  At some points it is cantilevered and other spots have stone pillars.  All are amazing feats of construction. 


On the historical side...construction of Chapman's peak drive started 1915 as a narrow, winding gravel road, and completed after seven years.  If you are interested in the Chapman's peak drive, there is actually a 6 minute YouTube video that takes you on a ride along.  At about 4:20, the car drives through the mountain cut outs...just like you are there. 

We stopped at a lookout point to take a few photos.  Pictures do not do the view or the color of the water justice!

Mario taking a selfie!

 At yet another picturesque stopping point.  This one overlooking the beautiful Hout Bay.  Thanks to my husband jay for the panoramic shots!

click on picture to enlage

Notice the interesting mist that is surrounding the coastline?  Gary said he had never seen that before.

 Can you spot the paragliders?

We stopped at the trendy little town of Camps Bay for lunch.  Million dollar homes mixed with white sand and tan people.  The mountain range behind Camps Bay is called the Twelve Apostles.

 click on picture to enlarge

We had a wonderful lunch at Paranga before walking across the street to the beach.

We decided, if we were so close to the water, we couldn't pass up putting our feet in the ocean.  "Remember the now" as Tim always says. 
At first I thought, this feels like the water at our local beaches (pretty cold), but after only 10-15 seconds you start to feel the icy temperature kick in.  I now understand why there are shark nets at all the beaches...cold, cold, cold.  We almost expected to see some ice cubes come floating by!

So glad Granny was along for the day.  Such a wonderful spirit about this lady.  This was her first trip to Cape Town so she was as happy to be there as we were. 

One of my favorite photos - washing the sand off our feet off before going back to the car.  That water was warm compared to the ocean.  Gives new meaning to the term..."pole dancing", right?

After we left Camps Bay, we headed back to the Nellie.  Since we had already checked out of our room, we stopped off for about an hour in the tea room lounge to wait for our ride to the airport.  The teaching is done, friends were made, and finally a time to sit and relax. 

Thanks to Tim for inviting me along on the journey.  I don't just mean South Africa, but the everyday journey as well.  He is always generous and beyond inspiring. 

Also, glad to not only travel with Mario (the kindest man I know) but my husband Jay, who sacrificed every day off he earned last year, to be in South Africa with me.  Lucky to be traveling with all these guys.

A special thanks to Glenda for the invitation, the arrangements, and warm hospitality. Always a pleasure to be around you, and your wonderful family.  Thank you.

I will be back to my regular programming this week.  I figure, if you have endured the 4-day travelogue of this trip, I better back it up with a few projects.

now carry on,

paula

We're off to the Eastern Cape!

Hello again!
Today we are off to Port Elizabeth, a coastal city in the eastern cape (about 500 miles from Cape Town).

A driver met our group at the airport for the 90 minute ride to Kichaka game lodge.  The sunshine and warm temperature was a welcoming touch...a bit of a departure from the off and on rain in Johannesburg!
Welcome to Kichaka!

Super fun to scan the big leather book on the coffee table to find our names from the last visit in 2011!

Out to the pool deck to check out the view.

And then a walk to our suite.

The thatch work that makes up the roof is amazing....I would guess it is 5-6 inches thick.

Each suite has a little pool.  A little cool to go in, but beautiful all the same.

 

I was enamored with the lichen growing on the trees.  The unique shapes and variety of the color green was amazing.  My 7th grade science teacher would be happy I even noticed it!

Out on the game drive we saw many different animals.  From this big guy (and I mean the tortoise, not Ashley) to a pride of lions.  In fact, we were very lucky to see the lions every afternoon.

Love the zebras...could watch them all day long.  Notice how the stripes go right up into the mane?

He look so docile, doesn't he?

 One of my favorites of the trip...the baby warthogs.  Darling is not a word I would have expected to use to describe a warthog, but these little guys were cute!

The rhinos (they really need no introduction)...amazing, prehistoric looking creatures. 
On a sad note, the amazing rhinos we saw in 2011 were killed by poachers.  If we wanted to take photos with our iphone, Ashley asked us to put it on 'airplane mode' so potential poachers could not use the digital location to find the rhinos.  

If you would like to learn more about the preservation of the rhinos, Kichaka supports the Chipembere Rhino Foundation.

We stopped to take a picture at the top of a rise where we could see out over the valley.  Thank you Glenda and Gary for bringing us all here again.  Thank you to Ashley, our game driver/ranger/smartest man in the jeep, for imparting your knowledge and passion about the wildlife.  If you ever have a chance to visit Kichaka, be sure to request Ashley!  He is amazing.

 

Last sunset on the reserve.

As we met for a quick breakfast before leaving Kichaka, I walked out to the pool deck to take in the sunrise, the mist over the watering hole, and just enjoy the peacefulness of the early morning.

As I was standing there, I noticed something surface in the center of the water.

 Sure enough, the hippo had come to say goodbye....what a fantastic way to end three days at the lodge!

I will be back tomorrow for the last leg of the journey...Cape Town and the most amazing coastline I have ever seen.

For now...carry on,

paula