20 March 2010

Out of Africa and Into Pictures

Lindsay and Angela, John and Janis, bread-stealing baboons and headless giraffes. From Little Switzerland to Umhlanga to Cape Town, Muizenberg and McGregor, here's a smattering of photos from Dave and Susan's 3 week trip to South Africa. 

To see all the photos, complete with captions from our intrepid adventurers, click here.

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OZ: Linda and John take a break ...

In Australia, seen here in Port Macquarie and nearby Flynns Beach.

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18 March 2010

Untitled

14 March 2010

Blizzards, Earthquakes and now ...

Denville (New Jersey, USA) deals with floods.

Photos from David, who says his house is wet. Argh!

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13 March 2010

South Africa Update: Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio!

Well, the three week South African adventure came to a close for Dad and Susan today. They are in the air now on the first of 6 steps — it will be a heck of a journey back too. Here's how it breaks down:
1/2 hour to the airport from Muizenberg to Cape Town (they spent the last 2 nights in back in Muizenberg, presumably to cut down some traveling time for today)
3 hour wait at the airport. Dad likes to be early — on case you ever wondered where I got that from.
2 hour flight to Johannesburg 
3 hour layover
18 hour flight from Jo'burg to Washington, D.C, including a stop in Dakar for refueling
3 hours drive home to Swedesboro, NJ. 

While I don't envy them the fatigue they will endure over the nearly 30 hours of traveling homeward, I do their experience and I can't wait to hear (and relay to you) the stories they will tell. 

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11 March 2010

South Africa Update: Davie's Excellent Culinary Adventure

When my brother David and I were kids, we were as opposite in our food choices as we were in looks — blond and brunette, blue eyes and brown eyes, boy and girl — he was meat and I was potatoes, I was peanut butter and he was jelly. We were labeled "picky." But we also, thanks to Mumsy, ate pizza, spaghetti, and macaroni and cheese — and cheese! Later we both fell in love with mexican food, japanese, chinese and, for me, greek food. Now we'll try just about anything.

Dad, well, he remained the picky one. His staples were meat, potatoes and peas, so don't try to give him something with cheese, or tomato or, heaven forbid, garlic! Uht-ah. So what happens when he goes to South Africa? He eats cheese and garlic and onions! The red of the tomato would've been too obvious to slip by him I suppose.

It took 68 years, but he's finally branched out a wee bit: potatoes au gratin (with onions), a dish made with garlic, and a dessert with cream cheese. And although the ingredients don't fall under the "not on Dave's plate" list, I don't recall ever hearing that he's eaten crème brûlée before either. I also don't think I'll recognize him when I see him next, surely he's dyed his hair and grown a goatee too right?

Dad, you never knew what you were missing! 

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10 March 2010

South Africa Update: Rainbows on a rainy and cooler day!

Another email from Susan:

"So many weather changes in the last couple of days - blazing hot, too hot - finally much needed rain has fallen on McGregor - the first since November 3rd.  Thunder, lightning and rainbows - lovely...  the garden is starting to feel much better, and so are we!  This morning Janis was out fertilizing the garden while the rain poured down - she is quite a gardener and happy to be feeling the rain!
 
Tomorrow, Thursday, the four of us are heading back to Muizenberg where we will spend our last days in South Africa before heading back to the USA Saturday.  We will leave Cape Town at 12:50 a.m. (arriving at the airport, eta 9:50 a.m.) and travel to Jo'burg - after a 3 hour layover, we will travel to Washington Dulles (IAD) arriving Sunday morning 6:00 a.m. - I believe the clocks will be sprung forward Saturday evening - but, we won't know what time it is anyway - somehow we will have to remember to fix the clocks at home!!! 
 
I'll try to fill you in on the things we've done that I haven't spoken about.  I must admit coming to McGregor has been the most relaxing time. The scenary is amazing, layers and layers of mountains and loads of beautiful birds.  We've drank loads of wine, cider, spirits, etc.  Had loads of great food.  Janis is an incredible foodie.  She whips up some incredible tuna salad, avacados, olive tampanade, amazing potatoes with cream, butter and onions - and on a fun note, Janis has dad eating "brown" bread!!!  I've even tried different foods - lamb and beef sausage on the b-b-q (braai).  Prawns (heads needing to be removed by me) and even Pork pate (homemade by Janis).   
 
Sunday evening we had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant in McGregor called Karoux run by a fun (married) male gay couple - outstanding food.  Last night (Tuesday) we had dinner at Madge and Jacks on a patio under a thatched roof - of course drinking many bottles of white and red wine (is there a theme going on here???)
 
Yesterday we took a boat ride on a river outside of Robertson, beautiful scenary and lovely birds - after the boat ride we had lunch of smoked salmon, pate and (of course) wine.  Today we drove to the town of Montagu driving through a huge mountain pass, dad says it rivals Glen Coe - this is where the british fought the boars.  We had a wonderful lunch in a converted horse stable - the restaurant is called Die (pronunced de) Stal. The owner of the restaurant, Suzanne, studied both in South Africa and Scotland - what a small world!
 
After we head out to Muzinberg, we will be without a computer - so I'll be in touch via cell phone.  Hopefully they won't cut us off again. 
 
LOL - Susan and Dad
 
P.S.  Other things that have gone on in McGregor are the dyslexic roosters - they crow all day long from morning till evening. 
 
Also, one day when dad and I went for our morning walk, we were followed by a cute dog.  We finally - or as we thought - lost our amorous follower.  He walked with us for blocks on end in the blazing heat.  We zigged while he zagged, amd thought we had given him the slip... But, an hour later - he walked right into the house and would not, absolutely would not leave...  Janis gave him water and after drinking the water put his feet into the dish - he must have been so very hot, like us...  Finally, he had to be put in the car and taken to the center of the village to find his way home - tooooo  funny!"
 

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South Africa Update: Along Came a Spider

"It has been sooo hot 43˚C (109˚F) yesterday. We finally had rain thunder and lightng and a rainbow. Wow. Heat brutal. NO air conditioning or fans in the house!
Mt in front of back porch caught fire and is still burning. We took pix."
— Susan Milne, via text messages, 9-10 March 2010

"After 4 mos the rain has come. The fire is out, whew!!! A rain spider came in this morng. Size of a 50 cent piece. Its sitting on a mirror next 2 its shed skin. Janis said they get huge like a small cantelope:-O freaky 2 say the least!"
— Susan Milne, via text messages, 10 March 2010

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09 March 2010

58K+km traveled

"After 341 day, 12 counties, over 38849km travelled, 8 plane journey's, 12 train rides, 8 boat rides and more sleeper buses, local buses, mini vans, tuk tuks, jeepny's, kayaks, mopeds, motorbikes, horses, zip lines and bicycles then i can remember we have ONLY 61 hours, 19416km, 3 countries, 3 plane journey's and 1 car ride before we get back to where we started !!!!! :-)"
— Sarah Garford, via Facebook, 7 March 2010

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