Thursday, November 30, 2017

NOVEMBER 2017 -- PETER GIDDY GUIDED TOURS.. GARDEN ROUTE; AIRPORT TRANSFERS; ADDO ELEPHANT PARK

November 2017

Peter Giddy Guided Tours.
  • Airport and Hotel Transfers -- Port Elizabeth and surrounding areas
  • Addo Elephant Park -- Guided Safari
  • Kragga Kamma and other private wildlife Reserves
  • City; Historical and Cultural; Township Tours
  • Garden Route -- Tsitsikamma; Plettenberg Bay; Knysna; Wilderness; Mossel Bay; Oudtshoorn. Hermanus. Cape Town
  • Adventure Activities -- Hikes and Walks; Horse Riding; Ocean Safaris; Sandboarding and River Canoe Trails.
peter.giddy@gmail.com

In Addo Elephant Park... The Oldest Elephant with enormous tusks... Called Vali Moosa after the previous Minister of Tourism
We watch these lions feeding on a warthog kill that they had made.
A Great song of praise:
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
And all the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
I start November 2017 off with a Garden Route Tour.  I am with Jack and Mariette.  We are travelling between Port Elizabeth -- Amakhala Game Reserve to Plettenberg Bay; Oudtshoorn; Gondwana Game Reserve; Hermanus and Stellenbosch.
Mariette and Jack... At Moby's in Plett.. Probably our best restaurant experience this holiday.
While I am staying at the Eight Bells Mountain Hotel on the R328 close to Mossel Bay I arrange to spend the morning with Johan and Helena Claassen. 
Helena and Johan Claassen.. We met this week in George quite by chance as I walked past Johan was waiting for Helena and recognised me.  Amazing but that is how it is. Johan has just retired, after 30 years, from formal employment at JDG.

We spend some time with Helena's Parents -- Barry and Ella.  They live not too far off at Groot Brak.
Then Helena; Johan and I talk about first of all his leaving JDG and then we discuss opportunities and thoughts for their future. They have a flat adjoining the main house..... The main house has four bedrooms and the flat has two bedrooms.  They are currently on Air BnB but underpriced for the flat at R350per day.
We talk about possible markets for the future and how they can supplement their income.
 I find this cricket in my bathroom.... two mornings in a row.  I am not sure if it is the same one but the same type of cricket scuttling around in my room each morning.
Afterwards I have some Admin to do and find a Print and Emailing shop in the Mall of Mossel Bay before going back to the Eight Bells Hotel.
Wednesday 1st November -- Enter Two Oceans 21k.  Fetch Jack and Mariette from Gondwana and continue to Hermanus where we immediately see whales from the Gearings Point lookout.
Finally on Friday 3rd I leave Jack and Mariette in Stellenbosch and I drive home.
 Josh ready for his five kay run
 Daniel totally relaxed before the start of his event
 Daniel comes storming past this other young boy to finish third overall.
Josh finishing his event.  Daniel joins him for the final 100m.
Sunday 5th.  Josh and Daniel run the Ocean Series Beach run.  Josh = 5k and Daniel = 1k.  Both do well with Daniel first in his age group and third overall.
After the beach events Barbara and I do some shopping for a vehicle.  We think that we should be buying a Combi.  The landrover continues to give trouble although when it is running, it is a great vehicle for Addo.
 Marissa inspecting the bells at the Campenile
 Gloria and Marissa climbed the 200 steps up to the top of the Campenile and then up the ladder to have a look at the bells.
At the Donkin reserve with Gloria, Constanza and Marissa -- they are on the last few days of their South African Holiday from Argentina.  It was a bit of a chilly day so being outdoors was not ideal.
Monday... Back to jogging / walking ... I join the group for our morning 7k.  I have a dentist appointment which leaves me pretty shattered for most of the morning.  Later I have a City Tour for Mosaic
VW Microbus bought from Daryl at Gralin Auto off William Moffat.
Tuesday 7th.  Barbara and I make a purchase of a VW Combi. This is going to be a Tour Guiding Vehicle for future Garden Route and other tours.  We also finalise our Flight tickets to Spain next year.  And I buy a Kindle for Barbara.  So much admin....
 Marianne and Borchard -- Picnic at Jacks.  An excellent day for game viewing.
 An evening out with Elmarie and Peter at the Herman Charles Bosman story telling with David Muller.  We have a picnic supper.
David Muller is Oom Schalk Louwrens.
Wednesday 8th I have an Addo Tour with Borchard and Marianne who are staying at Ocean bay.  They are simply loving their SA Experience and plan to urge family and friends to do this trip.  They are both IT Specialists from Austria and Germany.
Later this evening we join Peter and Elmarie at the Oom Schalk Louwrens Evening in 9th Ave Walmer where there is a new Arts Centre being developed.
Vali Moosa at Hapoor dam in Addo Elephant park.
Gustavo and Barbara at Jacks for picnic lunch.  They are from Brazil -- He is an Architect and Barbara is a Teaching Methodology teacher.
Thursday 9th -- I have not run with the group for ages.  What I have been doing is jogging along with the walking group.  So today there was no walking group -- And I had to run Target Kloof.  Not able to keep up but at least I ran the whole way.
A late call for an Addo Tour kept me busy for the rest of the day.  Probably the best sighting of Lions that I have experienced in a long time.  At least 6 lions on a Warthog kill.  Plus probably in excess of 100 Elephants spotted today.
Ally and Nicky are at Arabella Wine farm near to Hermanus for a Wedding that Nicky is organising.  Both are working hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Friday 10th October ... Swim with Megan. This is the first of many. We now start ourselves on a new adventure with Swim Training.  At first we have no specific goal but as we progress we start to enter events and basically open up new pathways for our lives. Today we swim One kay which is entirely satisfactory for the first time out.  Then a couple of chores  and later this afternoon I take delivery of the VW Microbus.  Not yet registered but at least I have it in case of an urgent request for a vehicle of five seats. This vehicle has 8 seats of which I can have five guests with window seats.
 Running the five kay parkrun at Sardinia bay with Sjani and Adrienne.









Sardinia Bay parkrun results for event #33. Your time was 00:39:31.









Congratulations on completing your 54th parkrun and your 3rd at Sardinia Bay parkrun today. You finished in 92nd place and were the 60th male out of a field of 249 parkrunners and you came 3rd in your age category
Catherine has camera duty today.
Saturday 11th.  I run the Sardinia Bay Parkrun at Grassroof (which is now looking more like Nasturtium Roof) with Sjani and Adrienne.  Catherine was going to run with us but suffers from Blisters.
 Addo Picnic at Jacks ..... With Verena who is here from Germany and on a business trip with an Aspen Supply company.  Verena is a Process Engineer.  Tim is a recently qualified Civil Engineer. Carolina (Carol) is from Sau Paulo Brazil. She is an Environmental Engineer with an Oil Company.  Making sure that the company remains clean in all respects. Micheala is a nurse in a small village in Switzerland with her friend Lucas who is a Carpenter working in construction also from Switzerland, not far from Zurich.
  Carol, Lucas, Peter, Micheala, Tim and Verena...With the Microbus in the back which allows me to take this group.  Today I felt so lucky to be able to do tours with a great group such as this one.
Sunday ... I receive late requests for Addo Safaris and end up with five guests.  Yay!!! I have the Kombi. So now I am able to take the five guests comfortably.  It is my first time to use the Kombi for a tour. 
Later this evening Almarie and Adele come for supper.  Almarie has done the Porto to Santiago Camino and so came this evening to talk about it so that we are better equipped to tackle this challenge next year.  We have a lovely evening just chatting about everything.
Albatross cruise ship in Port Elizabeth Harbour.
 The group of 19 Crew Members at Lalibela
 Looking a Hippo from the vehicles which carry up to 10 passengers
 The drumming lessons were the most fun
 After lunch we were given a demonstration and then lessons on Drum Music
 Playing the African Drums -- Crew members of the Albatross.
And our teachers and musicians... They really did themselves proud today creating this fun filled musical afternoon.
Monday 13th.   Megan and I start the morning with a 1200m swim.  She swims further as she is much more capable than I am.
I have my first assignment for Africa220.  A destination tour company based in Cape Town. I received a call from Vincent who assigned me to guide a group of 19 crew members.  Witness was our driver.  We went to Lalibela where we were greeted by Juliet and Charmaine.  Our Ranger was Ruan.  He tried hard to find the Elephant and Lions but no success.  This is a 9000 hectare reserve and these animals roam freely so Two Hours was not sufficient to find all the animals.  However we were treated to a lunch and then a Drumming lesson which was the highlight of the day.
Sjani; Gaye and Adrienne on the walk this morning
 Lindi had some surgery so Chris and Lindi joined the walkers
 I often meet Kate as she walks her dog Toby in the mornings.
Andrea and Maria did a bit extra this morning.
Tuesday morning I walk run with Adrienne's group. Meeting up with the people who are so often on the road at this time in the morning.  I also meet Ewald walking to work at the caravan shop in fourth ave Walmer.  Later I take tent poles to him for repairs.
Manon; Baby, Saffi and Josse  --- Janinie;  Sabrina and Carola  -- Picnicking at Jacks
I have an Addo tour for a family of four from Netherlands -- Josse; Manon; Saffi (4) and Baby girl staying at Millbury.  Also three Swiss girls -- Janine; Carola and Sabrina.
Barbara and I have supper at the Yacht Club.   I will almost always have a fish dish.  Barbara has Filet Steak.  We meet up with Gail someone who Barbara knows and then also Aubrey and Jenny Cullum who we knew from Round table days.   He has a Wiring Business. Jenny is suffering with Alzheimers Disease and needs constant care.
Wednesday 15th.  It rained all night.  And all morning.  Megan and I go swimming at Newton Park Pool.  The pool is almost empty of swimmers who must have been put off by the rain.
Doris and Wolfgang at Jacks Picnic.  By lunch time the rain had stopped and we had an excellent second half to the safari.
I have an Addo Safari with Wolfgang and Doris from Germany staying at Boardwalk Hotel.  It was raining in the morning and the most unusual sightings -- We did not see a single elephant until about 3pm.  Then we found 5 lions.  Good sighting of a Hyena as well as Jackal. 
Wednesday afternoon I respond to a group whatsup to assist with guiding at the Zuurberg Hotel. 
The Zuurberg open vehicle.  In pouring rain. So it turns on that on Thursday morning I leave home at 5.45 to be at Zuurberg by just after 7am.  The road from the Addo Tar Road is shocking.  It has been raining for some time and the potholes, water on the road and general corrugations make this 16km stretch a real tough drive. 
I am met by Clifford, Langton and Brighton who are guides for Zuurberg Inn.  This morning the three vehicles have 25 guests from the Netherlands and we are doing a Half Day Addo starting at 8am.  And it is Raining.  And we are using open vehicles.  Fortunately I find another rain jacket in my Land Rover which I used to get there. 
So I put on my two jackets and my wide brimmed hat and off we go.  I realise that I have no lights and no windscreen wipers.  Just seeing the road is difficult.  And the rain is coming into the front of the cab so my face and hands are freezing.  I wear shorts which are also wet within a short while.
And so we drive down to Addo.  Rattling and shaking on this corrugated road.

We fill up with petrol and then go into the Park.  At first we try to stay together but this does not work with five vehicles trying to do the same route.  I head off.  And the rain continues to fall. The roads are a mess of rivulets and invisible holes.  We see few animals but this is an endurance experience more than a game drive.  Amazingly the 6 guests I have in the vehicle do not complain. We are driving around until 13.00 and I leave back for Zuurberg.  As we arrive it rains even harder. The guests climb out and head for showers and hot beverages.
I climb back into the dry and warm Land Rover and drive home.  What a day! Today it rained more, in Addo, than I have ever experienced in the past two years and as it turns out I am in an open vehicle. A day that I wont forget in a hurry.

Friday morning -- Megan and I swim.  This is my 6th swim of the season and am up to 1300m. Faye Tucker (Now Black), a school friend of Nicky from Erica and Collegiate days, shares a lane with me. Both Faye and Megan are so much faster in the pool.
Beach front run with Michelle; Lindi; Liesl and Chris
 Zip Lines at Tsitsikamma Falls Adventures
Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve... The suspension bridges at Storms River Mouth.
Saturday... I start the morning with a beach front run.  Later I have a Tsitsikamma day tour with Elly and Daniel.
We do the Zip Lines; Storms River Bridge; Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve and Bungy Jump watching while having our picnic lunch.
In Cape Town Ally is helping Nicky with Wedding arrangements as well as Meet and Greet at the Airport for a Touring Company.
Joshua and Daniel take part in Biathle in Port Elizabeth
Sunday 19th.  I take Natalia to the Elephant back Safari.  Natalia is a Swim Coach and is staying with Cronje and Claudine. Their daughter Taegen is in the Synchro water team.  The 26km from the N10 to the Elephant back Safari on the Kromrivier road is really in poor condition after the rains of earlier in the week.  The streams and rivers are flowing strongly with is a real pleasure to see.
Monday 20.  I start the day with a swim with Megan. This morning I reached 1.5km. Megan does about 300m to my 200m so she is probably up to 2km. .
Later I have an Addo Safari with Wolfgang and Freda from Cologne Germany.
 Jubilation in Zimbabwe as news of the resignation of Robert Mugabe spreads.  He ruled since 1980...37 years as a dictator and his policies eventually ruined the economy of Zimbabwe.
 All kinds of comic pics are spread.
Tuesday 21st Start the morning with a run with the group and then the rest is an admin day. Not very successful as I had hoped to submit the VW Operators Licence application but it seems I must submit on line.  
Wednesday 22nd --Swim 1600m with Megan. Our 7th Swim of the season.  Then I have an Addo Tour with Maxim from France.

I reported this sign down and within a few days it was back up. But anyway no one pays any attention to the limit of 41kmph.

Thursday morning we run Target Kloof.  On the run this morning -- Mike; Chris; Lindi; Adrienne; Lisel; Jenna; Kelly; Maria and Andrea; Then there are the fast group -- John; Kobus; Stian; Johan; Nicky; Melissa; Almarie; Claire; Michelle; Riana; Lyn; Rene; Joan; Mike; Benita and Ingrid.  26 runners.
I have my VW fitted with a Car Tracker.

Charles and Ingrid meet us for supper at the 1st Ave Bocadillos.
Friday  --- Swim number 8 of the season.  After a heavy supper and interrupted sleep I am not at my best and so cut short the swim to 1200m.  Always glad to get into the water but was feeling a bit heavy.
I have an Addo Safari with Ivona and Thomas who are Polish and now living in the UK. Also Sally; Boston; Ping and Judy from USA.  Here we are at Jacks for a Picnic Lunch. The day started off raining and really wet but by lunch time the weather had cleared and it was a warm afternoon with reasonably good sightings.
Having fun at the Sardinia Bay Parkrun on Saturday morning
Adrienne is committed to being part of the Sardinia Bay / Grass Roof parkrun organising.  So we support her by running the Helpers Run at 6.30am. This morning -- Adele; Liesl; Viv and Adrienne on the run together.









Sardinia Bay parkrun results for event #35. Your time was 00:38:09.








Congratulations on completing your 55th parkrun and your 4th at Sardinia Bay parkrun today. You finished in 93rd place and were the 58th male out of a field of 275 parkrunners and you came 3rd in your age category VM65-69.
This afternoon the Springboks play Italy and win 35-6.  Their second win in a row after beating France last week 18-17.  Now they face Wales for an attempted 3 in a row.
 JR and I drive through to Kariega and arrive with an hour to spare.
Rafa is the Tour Leader. This group is from Finland. Here he talks about the Donkin Memorial and the features around it.
Sunday morning I have a Kariega Transfer with JR (Johan Robert) with Blunden.  It is a group of 22 Finnish people with Rafa as their tour leader.
 In my VW Kombi I have Sam and Karin; Tom; John and Stuart; Bob and Bill who sits with me in front
Peter J had the family and had a great tour with them.
Immediately after dropping them at the Airport I have a group of 17 Yachtsmen traveling the world who want an Addo Safari.  Alan Mc Williams and Peter Joseph assist me.  I take seven and Alan 6 with PJ taking a family of Four. The day is reasonably successful with a picnic at Jacks

Monday 27th.  I sell the Land Rover.  At last!  This vehicle has been nothing but trouble.  Costing me stress, repairs and maintenance.  When it was running well -- it was great.  But it gave me constant headaches and I am now well rid of it.
Barbara flies to Cape Town to drive back to PE with Ally. We take the Nissan in for body works repairs.  There are a number of scratches and dents that need to be repaired and there is the motor accident which is covered by insurance where a man drove into the back of Barbara in 3rd ave Newton Park and claimed that he was the injured party.
This afternoon I receive a call for a City Tour of two people -- NMBT pass -- Kingston and Simpiwe from Zimbabwe who now live in Potch.  Here we are at the Campanile.  A bit of a climb but always worth the effort.
This evening I have a Cell Group Leaders meeting at church. 

Tuesday Morning - Taking boys to swimming at St Georges School Pool with David Glover.  Meanwhile I run around the park three times = about 6km.  Feeling quite comfortable.
Then to the Post Office to deregister the Land Rover. 
Barbara and Ally leave from CT to PE. They arrive home at 6.30pm.
 Daniel and Joshua -- Swimming lessons with David Glover.
Angela provides insurance to people like Doctors who are being sued for Malpractice; Noah (14) at high school; Emily studying Medical at University and Reed in High school.  Stranded at the PE Airport.  Finally at 18..00 they boarded their flight for Jhb, Missed the connecting flight home, have to stay over in Jhb and will try to find another flight home on Wednesday.  They are now living in Carolina; a state on the east coast of America.
I receive a call from Reynard in Cape Town to assist a family stranded at the PE Airport. Their flight was delayed and they have been here for about 7 hours.  I am not able to do much except reassure them. They had already sorted flights etc out.

Wednesday morning -- Swimming -- session number 9 since we started.  Today Megan had invited Liesl to join us so now we are three.  Liesl last swam 2 years ago and managed 1km.  Megan dolphined to about 1.7k and I did 1400m.
 Grey blue Track Suite
 Grey School uniform
Grey cadets uniform --- Joshua starts at Grey High in 2018
Wednesday hiking group.  This morning we start at Schoenmakers Kop at the Canon. It is the Sacramento Trail -- Out on the top route and back along the beach.
 On the hike with Grandad (Peter) is Shannon Hubbard -- A Clarendon School friend of Our Jessica -- now at Collegiate.
The Sacramento memorial.  I generally hike at the back to sweep up any stragglers.
Wednesday Hiking Group  -- Today on the hike 36 or 37 walkers.
Paul; Robin; Reg; Naomi; Dillan and Shannon and Grandad Peter; Jurgen; Dave; Richard; Ralph; Lucy; Dennis; Keiko; Errol and Mo; Jenny (new) and Jenny; Les; Sharon; Flo and Michaela; Magriet; Sally; Margaret; Julian; Val; Bev &  Des (Ex Clarendon Park Teachers); Sheilah; Keith; Jim; Sandra and Belinda (Arrived late so walked on their own on the beach route to meet us at Sardinia Bay) and Peter.  That is 35 so I think I missed at least one person's name.

Thursday 30th -- Boys do Swimming at St Georges School.  I walk then run around the park.  Meet up with Jacques and we run two loops together.
I have an Addo Tour.  Katrin from Hippo; Sarah -- last minute from Lungile and Jan and Mika from Geralds Gift in Addo Village. 
 Sarah; Jan; Mika; Katrin and myself.  At Zuurberg Lookout point in Addo. We had a great time together... A lot of laughter and chatting in-between looking for wildlife.
I loved this pic of a Zebra and Foal.
Month End Guides meeting with Peter Joseph; Frank and Alan.  A good month for our team.









 Cathy is in Aukland and has bought herself a car. 
 Ally in Stellenbosch -- looking pensive.
 Zara at School.  She wins a certificate.
Zara;s Certificate of recognition.   Art; Drama and Rock Climbing for the Province.

Some family news from around the world......
 Blake is in Aukland New Zealand.  He graduates from preschool and moves to Grade One
Blake's first day at Glanmorgan School near to Aukland.

 Christian and a friend fooling around.
 Emily -- Far bottom right -- at a school outing.
 Anabelle being fetched from school.  Always such a happy child.
 Nicky shows that the door to the Montreux flat has been removed..... This will surely make the non paying tenant uncomfortable.  I received a call from the Managing Agent to ask if I knew that the door was removed.  I simply answered with a one word answer -- "yes"  and then ended the call.
 Family spice search.
 Jacqui has this amazing spice shop.  Every time she comes home it is a treat to find out what special spices she has brought.
Annabelle enjoying time with Mom shopping
Jacqui goes shopping for spices; with Emily and Annabelle
Emily is at Balet.
Jacqui's Christmas Tree.




GONDWANA GAME RESERVE AND HISTORY

During my Garden Route Tour of October and November I visited Gondwana Game Reserve.  I found the following, contained in their information brochure,  to be interesting.