Leaving Town

This will probably be the last for awhile at least till I get to Storms River as I landed a job believe it or not teaching in a school. Me a teacher oh well. I also have a marketing job when I get done with the school which will be for five to six weeks than on the road again only directed to certain places where I get 2 nights free accomodation bringing brochures ect from where I am now in Segfield. This present hostel is beautiful middle of town next to a beach one of three. The moutains behind during the day has all kinds of hand gliders floating around. The village itself is friendly all little shops so the want foranything is here. The steam train makes it mark twice a day bringing tourists and backpackers. Amazing place and amazing journey. I leave this afternoon on the baz bus for a hostel called Southern Comfort horse ranch. Just my kind ofplace. It is in the moutains with lots of hikes and lots of wild game. it is still strange when in places like this you canhear the lions roar in the distance at night. A beautiful sound. From there for two more nights I'm at a place in Plettsberg another great hostel with the beach across from it. Sunday I land at the hostel where I shall live for the next 5 or 6 weeks in a dorm of course thatis also on the beach. I still plan on going to Mozambuque however you spell it for a week at least that will be a challange finding the right buses to get on to where I want togo. I'm still pending on South America. My spirit is still on the wander don't know if that will ever stop. Too many places and things to see and do. Keep on sending the emails. I don't know what is wrong with hotmail it is stuffed sometimes as I keep getting back mail not able to be delivered. Keep on following your dreams they do come true you know.

Me

From Segfield

It was hard to leave Backpackers Paradise and all the fixings onto new things and adventures. Before I left however my new best friends from Oregon US Germany and Iseral, we booked a tour with the Meerkats with the National Geographic guy being picked upat5 to begin the day with these unbelievable animals. This is the only place in the world you can do this as it took years for the guy (actually a weird guy) to get these small creatures use to him and strangers. It began by loosing all electricty throughout the area meaning we had to roam around in the dark tripping over everyones rucksacks in the dorm tyring to be quiet (not) finding the mobile phones again to use as lights to see. The electric gate across the drive where were to be picked up was closed meaning climbing up and over spikes jump down now with the weird guy trying to help us. Finally got into the vehicle to transport us to no where's ville explaining all the way to be aware of snakes as this was their habitat and they would be about. As dawn approached we finally got to the site of the burrow where these creatures would appear once the sun arose. He had garden chairs laid down not far from this burrow. Up they finally came after his talk about them and off we go following at a distance to see how they live eat ect. It felt again like another discovery channel adventure. Without going into some hillarious things that happened we all had a good laugh glad for the experience and away to our place of relaxation only to get all packed again to leave on our separate journeys. The shuttle from the hostel brought us back into George a 50 mile away town to get onto the baz buses heading north and south. I went first to the Wilderness (a town) staying at the beach buggie hostel and I mean on the beach. Amazing to sleep looking out at the raging ocean lulling you to sleep. full dorm of course but not too interesting people about so called the baz bus for another pick up there and now to here for the job we are discussing. It means I travel even more but free accomodation at other hostels along the way ofr course the ones they want you to market and bring their blurps on who this place is. Just another thing or two to carry along with all the other stuff. We shall see how far this will take me. To get here however there is a steam train that travels along the way as to where I am going. Got the ticket out of here and heading to KNysnia (prounced nysna) for the baz bus again pick up at the railway for bufflo bay where the sea litterly comes up to the dorms. It is amougst dunes and wild seas that supposed are to be the most beautiful in S. Africa. Along the way you do meet people on the bus stop overs if long rides to the places it goes for coffee, breakfast or lunch. Typical places like Irving has in the Northeast. Along one of my ways I met up with the beautiful people as I call them. Young people I sat with one morning for breakfast. They were heading further than I was going in in a rush to get there as they only had 7 days to do the things they wanted to. It turns out they are going to University on a ship that holds 600 students travelling around the world as they study stopping for week long visits to the countries so they can enjoy what they want to do while there for the 7 days. Their clothing consisted of designer outfits, fancy and expensive sun glasses, English spoken from California which makes me now wonder which movie star these young people belong to as they were hestitant in telling anyone their last names. I ran into them again in George getting something to eat for the trip north the other day still wearing flash outfits not befitting to us the backpackers in our wrinkled dowdy looking things made them stand out. The village I am in now is beautiful. three beaches, a lagon, handgliding, scuba diving, and mountains in the background for abseling. One street with everything on it you would need and a train blowing black smoke twice a day. A room to myself for a change instead of the busy dorm things look good. Shopping for the evening meal now than onto the beach for some nice summer sun. Stay warm for those unlucky to have the cold and my ozzie friends also enjoy your beaches. Don't forget to smile and again don't eat any yellow snow.

ME

Hermanus South Africa

Hi guys, Just got dropped off here for the next journey up the East Coast of Africa. Spent 4 fantastic days on a grape farm with friends. Saw the place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet went up the steep light house steps the hills ocean small villages mostly fishing with thatched roofs ate fresh seafood on the beach can I tell you more. There was a horrible fire that went through three weeks ago burnt brush, homes ect throughout the area on the way to where I saw the more pleasant things. The most impressive however was caves you had to climb down deep crevases to get into walk through some water than a huge room appeared. At first it was am I really doing this but the people I was with was just as cvrazy as myself so on with it. At high tide this is all under water. The grape farm with it's many acres rows upon rows of grapes waiting to be harvested was unbelievable. Most upon hillsides with the mountains in the back. The homes here as well are beautiful. Nonething like back home with snow and cold. Outside my window this am was a cape cobra snake I don't know how long but interesting to watch anyway. The night before was a huge spider they keep in the house to eat other bugs ready to make a crawl in my ruck sack. That did not go over well it now has a new home. Heaven spider heaven. Tomorrow I leave on the baz bus to take me to a place called mossell bay. The hostel I'm going to is a train on tracks located upon a beach. This will be interesting. I plan to stay there for 2 nights as there is alot to do there as well as relax upon the beach. I've been in the sun so much now I look like the natives here. The baz bus picks everyone up again for the next place you wish to hit for me it is called the wilderness. A farm located in a valley with horses hopefully this will be the placve I can find work. the place I'm at now only has four beds I chose the single one no more up and down bunks at least for another night. this place called Moby's has everything you would ever want including it's own pub which was getting active before I left to come to town. Here at the internet I met a guy from Nova Scotia retired travels like me so going for lunch with him. This is how my world operates. Don'[t know the new roomies yet probably sitting on the stools at the bar or shark cage diving which is popular here. Stay healthy and happy everyone. Life is like a book. If you have never travelled you've only read one page. Get travelling again my friends.
ME

Chris the pictures are unbelievable. I really miss you guys tell Katie to give me an email.

Jim glad I got you before you had to go out shoveling again.

Darby got the banque thing all taken care of no more problems will gell you about the email I got think people know it's done

Tracey I am sorry about your loss. Are you ok? I won't be in England until May 1st. Let me know how you are doing..........

Beach Day

Got a free ride this am to the beach with the guy who I did the tour the other day with on the wines ect. Really nice of him have figueded out how now to get around Cape Town. The hostel is located at the foot of table mountain. The gardens and pool plus all the other ammities included for the price of 12.00 a night American, you can't beat it. However, one problem. We are close to many things and taxis cost so much money, there is thing called a rikki which is what the locals take to and from work ect. When you see one travelling in the direction you need to go to just put your hand out and whistle they stop of course I get looks as I pile in the already crowded van (I'm a different colour) but for 15 cents I go. People here are great and helpful when one gets sort of lost. Tomorrow of course is the day for Qunitus and his family coming in on Sunday night for another beach day on Monday. The scenery is beautiful everything is so clean the sky always blue and flowers are everywhere. Where I am going on Wednesday is supposed to be the most beautiful scenery in all of South Africa. A few of the mates moved out of the dorm this am going home or travelling on in my absence new ones have moved in have no clue who they are. I have put together things to tell you all about from my trip down to here. Things most unbelievable will do it in another few days. The company I was with on t he overlander also runs overlanders in South America. I may have an opportunity here working for them as a guide. We shall see. For now just enjoying every minute of warm and sunny weather, great people my cooking I'm sick of............. Talk to you all later.

Dom Nice to hear from you will keep the emails coming not to worry.

Carole Keep on with the wine girl will have some with you when I come back

Darby Had to call the banque again today hopefully things are now fixed.

Russ, Jim Will call you from Mossell Bay on Wednesday will get there late in the afternoon will try and stay up to make the calls.

Mary S. Get better

Wally Miss my bedroom there let me know the details on the Terror and of course the friend.
How did the company go????????

Johhn V Why don't you coime here and drive the brown truck?

Everyone else keep on living the life and enjoy every minute of it it's over too soon

The Adventure Begins

So much happening all good of course the new hostel is great only I'm the only female in my dorm with 7 guys with smelly feet from France, Germany, Sweden, Holland, UK. Did a tour yesterday with the winner of the Big Brother here in S./Africa. It involved a day of drinking, brandy, wine, eating cheese chamnpagne the whole lot. After it was over we were all pretty gone. Of course went to ther hostel bar to finish the night off with the new best friends. Cape Town is awsome. I'm not far from Long Street where everything is. I went to a concert the other night in the St. George Cathedral to hear a childrens choir singing German songs of the classics from France. Great night. Going for the weekend to Stellenboch being picked up by a kid that use to work on my farm in Thorndike about 8 or 10 years ago. Sionce been married, going to be with the parents as well. Monday beach day as is tomorrow and tuesday all day adventure hiking, bike riding and of course beach. Wednesday leavingt the hostel gtetting on the baz backpacker bus to start my journey up the coast which will take about a month than going over to Mozimbuque than onto to JoBerg. Running out of time.

ME