JUNE 2015
Travelling to Port Elizabeth? Would you like to contact me regarding an Addo Game Drive; hiking or cycling half day tour? I am a qualified and licenced tour guide for the Eastern Cape and would love to show you some of the Port Elizabeth activities.
portelizabethtours
Heartbreak Hill 21
Biathle SA Champs - East London
Ena Giddy -- 99th Birthday on 29.6.2015
Wednesday hike -- Cape Recife and Aloes above Swartkops
Tour Guiding test
First Aid Course
Cycle at Gamtoos - Patensie.
Cycling with Chris -- Beachfront to Recife and Yellow lines at Sardinia bay.
Climb the Recife Lighthouse
Riebeek Kasteel.
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| JACQUI ZIVOR JUNE 2015 |
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| Gift Kalehe wins the mens up run 2015 |
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| Caroline Worstman wins the ladies and is around 25th overall. Not since Frith vd Merve have we experienced anything like this. |
We had the wonderful experience of watching two South Africans win Comrades up run. Many years since this last happened. I felt a sense of sadness that Mandela was not alive to watch it. He would have been so proud of these two athletes.
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| PETER AND BARBARA JUNE 2015 |
Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd. Attended a Basic First Aid course as part of the Tour Guiding. Published my self made website.
http://petergiddy.wix.com/portelizabethtoursMarking of University papers.
licencing of trailer for Ronnie.
Thursday 3rd. Rain, Rain, Rain. Cell Group leaders meeting.
Friday: Evening walk the Sacremento trail with Mia and her Cubs group. Visit Derrick and Lynne Jolliffe.
Saturday morning: fetch Adrienne and Lindie. Cold morning at the beach. With Adrian; Adrienne; Pat; Ronel; Annie; after a long lay off from being ill; Liesl who also has not run for ages due to family commitments; Neil; Stef who is now a regular with our group; Lindie; Kelly; Amanda; Suzanne who is planning her trip to the UK for next month.
We run in a westerly direction into the cold breeze. Turn up Walmer boulevard and then on to the Airport. Along the airport road and right into Strandfontein road. Strandfonein was the name of Piet Retief's (the voortrekker leader) farm. This morning - as has been the case over the past few weeks - we see a stunning sunrise. I try to capture it in a picture but am not successful.
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| Admiralty is difficult enough without confusing us completely |
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| Neil ducks behind our two runners. Kelly and Stefany. |
Ally has a hockey match vs Woodridge. Both first and second team win 5/0. Ally, as always, plays a strong game. Grey are at Dale but John does not go through so I decide to give it a miss.
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| Ally plays for Pearson 2nds -- Her team wins 5-0 |
Sunday morning -- At Biathle to watch Triathle and assist. Then to Almarie to watch her Camino to Santiago pics; Then to Church.
Monday morning -- 7k run. Spent the morning trying to register the trailer for Ronnie Baer.
Cycle to Cape Recife with Chris and Lindie.
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| DANIELLE WILSON AND FRIEND JACQUI AT ADDO |
Tuesday -- take Danielle Wilson and friend Jacqui to Addo for the day. Including a walk at Zuurberg. Viewing of Kudu (Including a locked horns fight); Rooi Hartebees, Zebra, Warthog, One buffalo and finally on the Gorah route we saw Elephant up close.
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| There is a magnificent view from the top of the dunes back towards the University. |
Danielle and Jacqui; Julia; Susan and Stefany join for the Wednesday hiking group.. We start at Pine Lodge and walk up the dunes to the old fort. Down to the beach and along the beach to the Lighthouse. From there we walk back towards Summerstrand and exit at Samrec, It is a hiker's 80th birthday so there is cake for all of us.
The view from the top of the Fortress Observation Post (FOP) in Cape Recife looking west. The Cape Recife FOP was one of three built at the start of the Second World War as part of the Port Elizabeth harbour defences and acted as lookouts for enemy boats, subs and planes.
Thursday 11th. 5km morning run around Linkside and then Licencing and other admin stuff.
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| CHRIS AND PETER AT THE START OF THE EVENT. |
Saturday 13th.
Drive to Patensie with Kevin Campbell. Registration for the Patensie / Gamtoos cycle takes a bit longer than anticipated. Chilly first thing in the morning. Late start at 9am due to registration line. Kevin rides the 45k with most of the other serious cyclists. Chris, Gerald and I ride the 20k. Pat and Tina run the 10k.
The ride starts at the school and heads in an Easterly direction along the tar road with orchards on both sides of us. It soon warms up and we are cycling with the breeze. The course is described as flat and that is according to the standard of the real cyclists. For me there are a couple of hills but nothing that we really battle with. Gerald struggles on the hills and we are at the back of the field. The first section is a tar road and then the rest is all farm or district roads. Loads of local youngsters support us on the way with cries of "Hou Bene Hou".
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| KEVIN HAS A FANCY BIKE CARRIER. HE SEEMS TO KNOW EVERYONE AT THE CYCLING EVENTS. |
On the top of one hill I stop and pick an Orange. A little sour but fun to eat. We see vast fields of potato; Cabbage; Pumpkin; Corn and of course the Citrus orchards. It is the Citrus Fees in Patensie this weekend and the village and surrounding areas are busy. Drivers are not particularly careful and drive too fast even with a loaded bakkie of passengers.
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| RONEL; PAT AND GERALD AND TINA AT PATENSIE |
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| LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF ORANGES AND NAARTJIES |
The finish is a bit unexpected as we had anticipated a further 4k of riding when suddenly we hear "Stop!". We had finished the ride without being aware that we had crossed the line. We ride about 3k to the start area at the school. I pack out the chairs, change clothing and have a coffee while waiting for Kevin.
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| PAT; TINA AND MELANY RUNNING THE 10K |
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| LETITIA TOOK THIS PIC AT THE END OF THE 20K MTB EVENT. |
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| DANIEL AND GRANDAD ENJOY A CYCE FROM KB TO FLATROCKS |
Monday is a school holiday. Morning 5k run, Meet Simon Clarke to talk about the sales of his motor bicycles. Take Daniel to the beach for a cycle. KB to Flat Rocks. Probably around 10k.
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| STEFANY; SUZANNE AND KATHLEEN. Suzanne is packing up and selling all her possessions in preparation for her move to the UK. Kathleen has been studying and been off running for a while. |
Tuesday is a Holiday. We run from the beach front. Poor Neil locks his keys in the ignition and only after a long struggle he opens with a coat hanger. We carry on with our run up Walmer Boulevard and around the airport to Strandfontein and down 5th ave. We have a bit of rain but nothing to discourage us. After a shower and breakfast I feel good about the day. I have to study for the Tour Guide Test.
Wednesday Hike cancelled due to rain. Spend the morning at the UIF to register.
Studying for tour guide exam on Thursday.
Thursday -- 5km morning run then four hour exam.. exhausting! Evening -- visit Terry Hepburn to talk about Visi.
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| ANDREA LOOKS STRONG AS SHE CHARGES UP THE HEARTBREAK HILL 6KM |
Saturday morning;
Up early and fetch Stefany and Andrea for Heartbreak Hill 21k. It is chilly but not too cold. We register and stay in the car until just before the event. Chatting at the start with Melany; John; Robin; Letitia;
The gun goes off and we start our slow jog. Around the suburb from Priory School and then up towards Glendore Road. Turn right and then all the way down Glendore to the Schoenmakers Kop road. There are plenty of watering tables which I am sure are for the 5k event. We are now running downhill for the next 7k turn right into Sardinia bay road and all the way down this road past the Cash Store and right past the little golf course. Now we start with the hills. This first one is not easy so we work our way up. Then we turn right again up the New Seaview road along what is called Heartbreak Hill by the runners and cyclists. Andrea is feeling strong and presses on ahead. Stefany is having a bit of Lower Back ache and we walk run up this hill.
The nice thing about the runs in PE is that there are so many familiar faces and we chat and greet friends and people along the way. It is a slow grind to the top of Heartbreak hill but we finally make it in the end. The hill starts at about 10k and ends just before the 16k marker board.
From the top we turn right into Boundary Road and then work our way through the suburb of Mt Pleasant and then back down Glendore and through the final few kays up and down until we finally reach the end at Priory again.
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| TEAM MPRG PETER; STEFANY AND ANDREA FINISHED THE HEARTBREAK HILL 21K |
As John said at the end -- We had a good run because we finished.
Sunday morning -- Fathers Day
Beautiful T Shirt. I take Daniel and Mia for a beachfront cycle. It is too much for Mia and we turn around early. But nevertheless a wonderful morning on the beach.
Monday - Run the Langenhoven route. In heavy mist. Back home drenched.
Working the Tour Guide assignments.
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| CLOSE UP OF THE LIGHTS THAT KEEP SHIPS SAFE AT NIGHT |
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| CAPE RECIFE LIGHTHOUSE 1851 |
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| MACHINERY AT THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE |
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OLD DIESEL MACHINES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESERVED |
Afternoon cycle with Chris to Cape Recife. We found the key to the Lighthouse and climbed the 100 steps and the five floors to the lookout point. A great little experience. Seeing the old diesel machinery that used to keep this lighthouse in working order maintained in pristine condition was amazing.
Tuesday morning run and a 20k cycle at Grassroof in the afternoon -- After that I am nice and tired. Meet first confirmed Visi customer this evening. .
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| ABEL VAN ZYL ON THE ALOES TRAIL ABOVE SWARTKOPS |
Wednesday morning hiking group with Susan; Julia and Abel van Zyl. We started at the top f Tippers Creek. Walking along the ridge of the hill with great view sights across the bay and the city. Through the bush -- Eastern Cape bush which is thick and impenetrable. This is a good flat walk but not that interesting although we do see a number of indigenous plant sorts. ..
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| CHRIS SHOWS WHERE THE WRECK OF THE Capistropidas LIES . |
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| GRANDAD AND JOSHUA AND DANIEL ON THE CAPE RECIFE ROUTE |
...CHRIS ENJOYED BEING WITH THE BOYS THIS AFTERNOON.
Friday afternoon. Ally returns from her Operation. seems like it was successful. she is in discomfort but not in pain. \
School holidays. Take Daniel and Joshua to the beach for a cycle to Cape Recife. They meet Tom and Nicky. Tom shows the boys and Chris and I the video of the Perlemoen moving around under water. A four hour video compressed into 20 seconds. Then he shows them his revolver and Bullet proof vest. Tom is most impressed with Daniel when he shows us the pictures of the Perlemoen poachers as Baniel notices that one person is featured twice. We all climb up the stairs to the top of the lighthouse. A bit scary for Joshua and Daniel but they cope well in the end. This is a unique and special experience for all of us.
Saturday 27th.
Herman and I drive to EL in his Chev Spark. We leave at 6.30am and get to the Joan Harrison pool around 10.00. We are able to watch some of the youngsters -- everyone is complaining about the COLD water in the pool. Somehow the pool heating system is not working and this has upset a few of the participants. Peter Lynch is the first of the adults and confirms that the cold water took his breath away. Peter is a solid participant and is up against some really stiff competition. Especially the two EL men who we saw in action the last time we were in EL last month. It is my turn next. I meet the four other men who are in my age group. There are Four ladies in the over 60 group who will be running alongside us.
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| HERMAN COMES INTO THE POOL COMPLEX TO START HIS SWIM. |
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| PETER IN EP TRI SUITE GETTING READY FOR THE SWIM LEG. |
It is then Herman's turn. He has just three men in his age group. One is Bob who has been doing this sport for many years and is probably well into his 70's or maybe even 80 years of age. Herman has been battling with a shoulder injury and while he is second into the water he struggles to compete the swim and comes out the water last. Well done to Herman who, at 70 years of age, still competes and wins a Bronze medal.
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| HERMAN RECEIVES HIS TROPHY AND A BRONZE MEDAL. |
Herman receives his trophy and we drive home. Getting back home to load shedding at 8pm.
Meanwhile Ally is recovering from her Operation and Jacqui, in Israel, is simply enjoying her family. They have bought a house and will be moving in a month's time. Lene is finalizing her move to Mount Pleasant where she will be staying in her Sister's house for the next year or so. Her sister has moved to Natal with her husband for the period.
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| JACQUI WITH EMILY, ANNABELL AND TOM. |
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| ALLY IS BACK HOME AFTER HAVING TO SPEND A NIGHT IN HOSPITAL. |
Sunday 28th. Drive to Plett for the day for Ena's Birthday Lunch.
At the lunch: Ian and Alice; Anne and Anthony de Wet; Anne Thomas; Trish; Tilly; Julia; Dave and Edie; Barbara and myself.
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| MIA AND GRANDAD FLY TO CAPE TOWN |
Monday 29th. Fly with Mia to CT; Nicky collects us and we go to the farm house. Then to Riebeek Kasteel where we stay with John. This evening we have a couple of walks before supper and end up at the local brewery where we meet Anton and Jill and Werner's parents: Chris and Estelle.
From there back to John where we have a braai and chat until late.
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| THESE TWO LADIES ARE BUSY TRIMMING THE OLIVE TREES. THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF OLIVE4S ON THE TREES BUT THEY TELL US THAT THESE ARE FULL OF WORMS AS HARVESTING SEASON IS IN APRIL. |
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| BOTHMA'SKLOOF PASS -- LOOKING DOWN ONTO THE RIEBEEK VALLLEY |
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| ENA'S BIRTHDAY LUNCH. BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES |
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| IN EAST LONDON FOR THE BIATHLE TRIALS. THIS IS THE PE TEAM DRESSED IN RED T SHIRTS. |
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| WALKING AROUND RIEBEEK KASTEEL |
Back to John for shower, clean up the kitchen and breakfast. Later we walk to the building site where John is building a theatre and two houses. Werner and Nicky will be making an offer to rent the one house.
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| AN INTERESTING CONSTRUCTION METHOD AS THEY PUT TOGETHER THE FRAMEWORK AS YOU WOULD A MECANO SET. THIS WILL BE A RESTAURANT OPPOSITE THE ROYAL HOTEL |
Tuesday afternoon we walk to the house which Nicky and Werner are thinking of renting. It is right across from the theatre which John is building. There are two houses next to each other which John is also building. It is a three bedroom, two bathroom house with a huge central living area and separate laundry. They plan to convert the carport into a studio for Werner and a rumpus room for the children.
Later we have a drink at the Royal Hotel while Christian tries out John's new toy -- a metal detector. And then supper of Pizzas at Mamma Cucino restaurant where Joyce joins us later. She has a flat tyre and we help change the tyre.
