Hi there
Well on Tuesday i decided to meet a friend in Knysna on my bike a 600km ride, he was catching a bus up from Cape town and collected his bike in George.
We then stopped at a gas station filled up his bike and headed up the Montagu Pass, it took a lot longer than just riding as we took loads of photos, When we reached the top we turned right and rode on tar for about 45km to just outside Uniondale and took the R399 down to Knysna, as we hit the dirt road it said 83km to Knysna, awesome.
What a scenic road WOW
we were lucky that parks and forest had just repaired the road, although very slippery with loose stones, as Craig said "its like riding on marbles"
Just before 7pm we made it to the N2 just East of Knysna, where the shanty town is.
As we got on to the road the locals were busy blocking the road with burning tyres and barricades,
now here Craig and I are in the middle, the police 200m away on the other side.
Next a black guy come to me me and asks where we want to go, so I said Knysna, so he started to run towards the shacks and waving at us to follow him, He then showed us a small foot path and said go here turn left right left straight left Craig and I looked at each other and said whats there to loose lets go, Before you knew it everyone as we passed pointed in directions for us to go. Then we get a road great of we go round the corner shacks are built on the road, i look left and there is a deep gorge from water erosion the right is a path so we go right then there are chemical toilest int the road cant go any further.
Then a lady stuck her head out and showed us to pass her place and turn right , after manoeuvring the bikes we were back on a foot path and yea wow there was the main road with the police . As i got on the road the cop asked where the hell i just came from so I said Uniondale, he did not believe me.
On getting to the hotel we took of the riding kit and went to Oldeis Bar and had a beer
a total of 14.5hrs on the bike wow an awesome day
Jason Mair
Tracey my Wife
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Monday, 21 January 2013
Cape Town
Well we had an easy drive from Knysna to Cape Town, arriving in Cape Town in very strong wind so we could not do Table Mountain.
We woke up to gale force winds but still finished a great city tour with views from Signal Hill.
Cape Point on Sunday 20th was great and still don't have Table Mountain done and now all guests are starting to wonder if they are going to get this so called mountain,
This morning we had an appointment at the wine farm at 9am all had 6 wines by 10am all were having a great time, on to Stellenbosch ( the second oldest town in South Africa) I told the group sorry only one hour the Mountain is open, by 13;15 we were on the Mountain all were very excited.
We had one guest who has a phobia of heights and cried all the way up and down but loved every minuet of it.
The Farewell dinner was a hit all had a great time and enjoyed the meal.
Tomorrow (22jan) we head to air port and all fly home.
It was a smaller group than usual but I raised the most money ever for a South African Program Director $3010 for the Swaziland Foundation, I have now set a big target for the rest of the Year for me. But I can handle a good challenge.
We woke up to gale force winds but still finished a great city tour with views from Signal Hill.
Cape Point on Sunday 20th was great and still don't have Table Mountain done and now all guests are starting to wonder if they are going to get this so called mountain,
This morning we had an appointment at the wine farm at 9am all had 6 wines by 10am all were having a great time, on to Stellenbosch ( the second oldest town in South Africa) I told the group sorry only one hour the Mountain is open, by 13;15 we were on the Mountain all were very excited.
We had one guest who has a phobia of heights and cried all the way up and down but loved every minuet of it.
The Farewell dinner was a hit all had a great time and enjoyed the meal.
Tomorrow (22jan) we head to air port and all fly home.
It was a smaller group than usual but I raised the most money ever for a South African Program Director $3010 for the Swaziland Foundation, I have now set a big target for the rest of the Year for me. But I can handle a good challenge.
Thursday, 17 January 2013
PE to Knysna
The drive went very well Lunch in Plett with a pit stop just before at the Big tree, where we had a small accident when a woman tripped and "sprained" her wrist, and later that night she asked to see Doctor and was broken.
so only one small incident not bad.
Yesterday the 16th Jan we went to Oudtshoorn it was very hot but all had fun. JJ's Restaurant food as usual was great.
Today the 17th we did the boat trip to the Featherbed was a little overcast but very humid and when all sat down outside under the trees for lunch there it came buckets of water, wow it rained. Everyone went running inside with their lunch. It was comical to watch.
Tomorrow we are on our last leg to Cape Town, so we will fill you in once we have done a few days there
so only one small incident not bad.
Yesterday the 16th Jan we went to Oudtshoorn it was very hot but all had fun. JJ's Restaurant food as usual was great.
Today the 17th we did the boat trip to the Featherbed was a little overcast but very humid and when all sat down outside under the trees for lunch there it came buckets of water, wow it rained. Everyone went running inside with their lunch. It was comical to watch.
Tomorrow we are on our last leg to Cape Town, so we will fill you in once we have done a few days there
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Addo
Well we left Hluhluwe to the airport and was raining on ad off all the way there, check in went well and the flight was good.
We landed in Port Elizabeth, in near Gale force wind but that's why its also known as the windy city,
we did the city orientation tour and got to the hotel.
yesterday the 14th Jan we went to Addo elephant park, All i can say finally, i found the lions wow what a great sighting all got some great photos, then a little further on we got a massive heard of elephants play and swimming in the water, it was really great to see.
Today we we travelled to Knysna and had a walk through the forest and had lunch in Plettenberg bay
and now we are at the hotel, with dinner tonight.
We landed in Port Elizabeth, in near Gale force wind but that's why its also known as the windy city,
we did the city orientation tour and got to the hotel.
yesterday the 14th Jan we went to Addo elephant park, All i can say finally, i found the lions wow what a great sighting all got some great photos, then a little further on we got a massive heard of elephants play and swimming in the water, it was really great to see.
Today we we travelled to Knysna and had a walk through the forest and had lunch in Plettenberg bay
and now we are at the hotel, with dinner tonight.
Friday, 11 January 2013
Swaziland to Hluhluwe
Well the trip through the border was smooth and all went well,
I changed the itinerary around a bit and did the school visit the first day and it worked out very well.
all were happy and got involved, even one of the guests Jason Zwolak played American football with the kids, and all helped with the food and fruit.
grand Circle sent 5 of their trip leaders and management to the school to fix, paint and plant trees and veggies, well the veggie patch is growing very well the trees have taken of and the toilet is still intact, how ever the swings have been destroyed and the classroom not finished.
so the group made a challenge to try and raise $3000 to build on a second class room in the end we raised $2440 close. I will send a letter to see if this can happen. Lets hope this happens.
The next day we had a really easy day starting at 10am and back to hotel around 3pm but wow what a hot day 40deg C around 110 deg F.
But around 1am bang bang an electric Storm of note.
We woke up to a very foggy morning and drizzle. The border went well and arrived at the dumazulu cultural village at 12:15 a little early but managed to get an early show witch was great and got to the hotel at 4pm.
Tomorrow we are of to Hluhluwe national park also a big 5 park lets see what we can find.
I changed the itinerary around a bit and did the school visit the first day and it worked out very well.
all were happy and got involved, even one of the guests Jason Zwolak played American football with the kids, and all helped with the food and fruit.
grand Circle sent 5 of their trip leaders and management to the school to fix, paint and plant trees and veggies, well the veggie patch is growing very well the trees have taken of and the toilet is still intact, how ever the swings have been destroyed and the classroom not finished.
so the group made a challenge to try and raise $3000 to build on a second class room in the end we raised $2440 close. I will send a letter to see if this can happen. Lets hope this happens.
The next day we had a really easy day starting at 10am and back to hotel around 3pm but wow what a hot day 40deg C around 110 deg F.
But around 1am bang bang an electric Storm of note.
We woke up to a very foggy morning and drizzle. The border went well and arrived at the dumazulu cultural village at 12:15 a little early but managed to get an early show witch was great and got to the hotel at 4pm.
Tomorrow we are of to Hluhluwe national park also a big 5 park lets see what we can find.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Kruger Park day 1 & 2
Well the drive to Kruger went well we managed to get in at 17;30 the best time Ive done,
Day 1 in Kruger went well we got 3 of the 5 and some great Zebra.
The lions we found almost at the end and quite far of, but in the beging of the morning what a great Elephant heard with 3 new borns and a young male showing of.
Day 2 we had 10 on the bus and 13 on the jeeps, well this time he jeeps got ot all with 3 big male lions an awesome leopard and all the rest, us on the bus well the day had to come that I could not produce but we still had an awesome day out in the park. We got to see some awesome bird sightings.
All in all i feel we had a great time in the park.
Tomorrow we are of to Swaziland, and are visiting the school, it will be great to see if they have kept the veggie garden neat and have painted the class room as they said they will, after we spent the whole day there in December sorting it out for them.
Day 1 in Kruger went well we got 3 of the 5 and some great Zebra.
The lions we found almost at the end and quite far of, but in the beging of the morning what a great Elephant heard with 3 new borns and a young male showing of.
Day 2 we had 10 on the bus and 13 on the jeeps, well this time he jeeps got ot all with 3 big male lions an awesome leopard and all the rest, us on the bus well the day had to come that I could not produce but we still had an awesome day out in the park. We got to see some awesome bird sightings.
All in all i feel we had a great time in the park.
Tomorrow we are of to Swaziland, and are visiting the school, it will be great to see if they have kept the veggie garden neat and have painted the class room as they said they will, after we spent the whole day there in December sorting it out for them.
Friday, 4 January 2013
Day of arrival
Well the meeting at the airport went well all but one arrived.
I have met up with all the own air guests as well, so now they all know who I am.
Tomorrow we set of for Soweto and the Apartheid museum, then we have the welcome briefing then the welcome dinner, so all should be on track, this new itinerary does not have Pretoria so we leave on Sunday to Kruger,
Stay close
I have met up with all the own air guests as well, so now they all know who I am.
Tomorrow we set of for Soweto and the Apartheid museum, then we have the welcome briefing then the welcome dinner, so all should be on track, this new itinerary does not have Pretoria so we leave on Sunday to Kruger,
Stay close
Thursday, 3 January 2013
The time has come
Well by now all are on their way to South Africa, I am packed and ready to fly and meet all in Johannesburg, there are only 23 on tour, no pre or post, only a base tour, and on the new itinerary.
I am the first one out this year to test it so am really looking forward to this expedition, lots to show and pass on,
I went out today on my bike for the last ride till I get back home, all I can say is WOW it is an amazing ride, lots of power and just so comfy.
This afternoon we had some serious wind with speeds of over 100kmph.
Well for now thats all will check in tomorrow after we all meet at airport.
I am the first one out this year to test it so am really looking forward to this expedition, lots to show and pass on,
I went out today on my bike for the last ride till I get back home, all I can say is WOW it is an amazing ride, lots of power and just so comfy.
This afternoon we had some serious wind with speeds of over 100kmph.
Well for now thats all will check in tomorrow after we all meet at airport.
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