South Africa Memories

Dear all,

A couple more travelogues in case you think we are still there! Life has caught up with a rush now back in UK. I am on nights this month but in between we have been hosting friends and family at our new abode which is something we really love doing so do please invite yourselves! In other news my Granny died shortly after we returned from SA. I had managed to see her twice in that week and it has been more relief than anything as she suffered for years with her particular take on dementia. Also El Queenie has been upping the game with her communications so I thought I'd better see off the competition:

A day of biking. We are still in touch and friends with the family who sold us Trinity Transalp - the bike we have in Africa. When possible we try and meet up with them whilst we are over there. Jacques had been missing his bike terribly and amazingly his prayer group secretly saved up and purchased him a motorbike of his own so now we meet up for rides together. We met at a place called Peregrine which is in the mountains between Hermanus and Somerset West/ on the way to Cape Town. We didn't stop for coffee as there was all important riding to be done.

We took a smaller road through the mountains and round to Theewaterskloof which is a large reservoir. There is a drought on. You can see the river taking its original path and also an old road going through the basin.

I see no ships

Ahoy there!

The river is really clear with the waters so low but since the rain it is higher than when we previously passed through.

Having a good old look.

The aforementioned bikes

Woody and Jacques - the panoramic

Boys and their toys

Arrival in Franschoek - http://franschhoek.org.za You can't really see the dramatic mountains because they are covered in the clouds

Having a coffee and a warm up.... Woody never got his second breakfast but they did look good here....

The loo with, not a view, but definitely interesting decor....

Might need a few of these swooping around at home....?!

Then Jacques headed back via Somerset West and we went back to Hermanus over the mountain pass. 

Hermanus was celebrating the FynArts Festival whilst we were there: http://www.hermanusfynarts.co.za

Fyn from Fynbos: http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-south-africas-fynbos

We went out in the evening to the old harbour in Hermanus to look at some of the art installations from the festival.... The boat full of stones and sundial (?) were new sculptures. 

As was a mirror....

And a half whale half human sculpture - the whale tale changes into human legs...

Most of them had explanatory notices....

This one is the most noticeable when you pass by when driving round the coastal road round Hermanus

Next to this sculpture....

which we did not climb on....

was the Dassie Whisperer!

He seemed to bring food for the dassies and he was so familiar with them that they would jump up on his lap to be fed.

The Whale's Song is written on glass so as you read you can also see through at the sea behind. At the right time of year you would also see whales....

Dinner was at B's for steak! (best steak in the world apparently)

And of course for me an Incredible Onion - cleverly sliced so when it is deep fried it opens like a sea anemone

Nigel enjoying the company....and the fire!

2 very full people!

And Woody's new friend...

Love to all and more to come (sorry!!)

Love B&W xxx