|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
seafood |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South Africa |
30 November, 2004 |
The Backpack |
Not Recorded |
Odometer: 46366km |
Sunny 95(F)
degrees |
|
We found the correct dock this
morning, and with the help of a couple of Peter’s employees loaded the car
into a 20’ container. By lowering the tire pressures we were able to get
it in without removing anything. After customs signed it off at their
office downtown, we were on our own, on foot. We phoned our friends Sofia
and Rupert from Mozambique who agreed to meet us in the afternoon at the
V&A waterfront. Cape Town is a beautiful city with it’s setting on the
water and Table Mountain looming behind. The waterfront area is a cool
combination of flashy tourist shops and restaurants, mooring for luxury
yachts, and working harbor where rusty fishing trawlers line docks with
freight cranes and workers make repairs to boats in dry dock. We had some
seafood at a waterfront restaurant, then met Sofia and Rupert and caught
up on each others’ stories over a few beers. After they left to return to
their hotels in Observatory we walked back through town to the
backpackers. |
|
Loading Rafiki into the
container |
 |
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Greek place |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South Africa |
01 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer: 46366km |
Sunny 95(F) Degrees |
|
We spent the day walking
around central Cape Town, taking in the sights. We visited the SA museum
and its excellent display on sharks as well as the botanic gardens. We
decided to move out to the cheaper and more relaxed suburb of Observatory,
so in the afternoon we got a cab and went to the Lodge, a low-key place
catering to students staying for a couple of months or more. We went out
to dinner with Sofia at an excellent Mediterranean place on the trendy
main street of observatory. |
Artistic cows adorning the city
|
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Italian |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South Africa |
02 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer: 46366km |
Sunny, 85(F)
degrees |
|
We got a taxi to Kirstenbosch gardens this
morning, from where we planned to hike up Table Mountain. As it got later
though, the “table cloth” of clouds began to drop over the mountain. We
decided to start up anyway, and by the time we had reached the top a few
hours later, the weather was clear. The views from the top can’t be
described as anything but stunning. To the north lies the Atlantic coast,
sweeping southward past rocky shores and sandy beaches to the suburb of
green point. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was interred, lies to the
northwest, and to the southwest a highway snakes along a rocky shore below
the twelve apostles to Cape Point. False Bay with its sheltered beaches
lies to the south east while to the east immediately below the mountain
the center of the city follows the contours of the mountain down to the
harbor. After taking in the views we boarded the rotating cableway for the
trip back to town. This put us quite a distance from observatory, so after
a beer at the waterfront we took minibuses back to our hostel. We met a
French couple whom we met a couple of weeks ago further up the coast, and
who live in Cape Town, for dinner that evening. |
From the top of Table Mountain
From the top of Table Mountain
|
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Seafood |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South Africa |
03 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46366km |
Sunny 97(F) Degrees |
|
Jen and I joined Sofia for a sea kayaking tour
near Simon’s Town today. We took the train and after a delay arrived at
the wharf nearly an hour late. No worries though, and we spent a couple of
hours paddling around the bay, passing the SA Navy’s three controversial
new stealth corvettes and visiting the colony of African penguins at
Boulders beach. After the tour we enjoyed an excellent meal at a
waterfront restaurant before boarding the train back to Cape Town. In the
evening we went to the Drum Café for a very enjoyable drum-beating class. |
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Street food |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South
Africa |
04 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46366km |
Partly Cloudy 92(F) Degrees |
|
We had a down day today, visiting “Obs
fest,” a street fair in observatory. The street was blocked off and in the
evening enjoyed some great local bands including the popular “Freshly
Ground.” |
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Wine and cheese picnic |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South
Africa |
05 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46366km |
Sunny, 89(F) Degrees |
|
There is usually a huge African craft
market on Sundays at Green Point, and we took minibuses into town in hopes
of checking it out. We weren’t very impressed and discovered later that
the market for some reason has been canceled for today. We went for a long
walk along the shore to sea point and after lunch headed back to
Observatory. We grabbed a couple of bottles of wine and some picnic food
and got Patrick to drive us to Kirstenbosch Gardens for their weekly
Sunday afternoon concert. We were with Sofia, Paimen, and a german couple.
The setting is spectacular with the audience spread out on a lawn which
slopes down toward the stage. Table mountain rises spectacularly in the
background. Watershed, a popular South African rock band provided the
entertainment. After the show we spent the evening in an observatory bar
drinking and socializing. |
|
|
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
78km |
Meals
Seafood |
Weather |
|
Simons Town, South
Africa |
06 December, 2004 |
Backpackers |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46444km |
Sunny, 95(F) Degrees |
|
We picked up a hire car this morning and
made the short drive to Simons Town. The port is home to the South African
Navy and was once the headquarters of the entire British fleet in the
southern hemisphere. We spent the day exploring and hiking in the nearby
hills. We drove a short distance down the coast and enjoyed an excellent
meal at the highly recommended Black Marlin restaurant. |
Classic Cape-Dutch architecture
|
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
132km |
Meals
pub food |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South
Africa |
07 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46498km |
Sunny, 91(F) Degrees |
|
After a land-based visit to the penguins at
Boulder’s beach we headed for Cape Point. It’s not the southern-most point
in Africa, but it’s far more spectacular than Cape Aghulas. We had a great
afternoon of hiking and exploring the area on foot. We’re really beginning
to feel our trip coming to an imminent close. It’s wonderful and at the
same time quite frightening to have such unlimited options before us. |
|
Penguins at Boulders Beach |
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
0km |
Meals
Arnold's Restaurant |
Weather |
|
Cape Town, South
Africa |
08 December, 2004 |
Observatory Lodge |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46498km |
Sunny, 94(F) Degrees |
|
Today is our last full day in Africa. It
didn’t start out well, as Rupert told us that Peter our shipping agent was
trying to contact us. Apparently the shipping company had decided to move
our car into a different container. We talked to him on the phone and he
assured us that it had been done under proper supervision. I wasn’t
convinced, but there’s nothing we can do now, as the container is already
on the boat. The ever-sinking US dollar has cost us an extra 300 dollars
over the past three days as we converted the shipping fees (in Rand) to
dollars. Thanks George. We spent the rest of the day downtown and had some
beers with Mickey, the owner of Rafiki’s bar whom we met a few months ago
in Malawi. Rupert joined us with his new girlfriend Kate, along with Andy
from Sodwana bay at Arnold’s restaurant for dinner. Arnold, the owner,
showed up as well and is also a keen traveler. We had a great evening
swapping travel stories and enjoying some wonderful food and wine
generously provided by Arnold. |
Sailing cruise in the bay
|
|
Updated Information
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
who knows? |
Meals
Airplane food |
Weather |
|
Somewhere over Africa |
09 December, 2004 |
Airbus A330 |
Not Recorded |
Odometer:
46498km |
Sunny, 91(F) Degrees |
|
After returning our rental car this morning,
we took the train to Fishhoek where we spent an hour on an 18 foot hobie
cat cruising down to Simons Town and back. The trip was exhilarating and
we got to use the trapeze setups. After returning to observatory, Patrick
drove us to the airport for the long flight to Amsterdam.
After nearly a year on the road and more
than 20 countries visited, our trip has come to a close. We’ve had the
opportunity to see some amazing things, meet people from vastly different
cultures, and make some great new friends. We feel very fortunate to have
had this opportunity, and to have great friends and family to come home
to. Thanks to everyone who has been following our travels! |
|
 |
|
The End.
(until our next adventure) |
