AUGUST 2015; DOLE CONTRACT WORK; RUNNING AND CYCLING; TOUR DE ADDO; BLUE MOON JULY.

Travelling to Port Elizabeth? Would you like to contact me regarding an Addo Game Drive; a 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.

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AUGUST 2015
Dole contract work; refuse collection work; Visi and Probita work; Tour guiding study for EP completed; Bushpig bike sales.
Running with our MPRG in the mornings and Beach front on Saturdays
Blue Moon in July. Pic on 1st Aug.
Tour 'd Addo.
Plett Visit to take Seville Oranges for Marmalade.
Power On expo with the Bushpig bikes.
Cycling with Chris when possible.
Rugby at Clarendon and at Grey.
Rugby at the stadium with Daniel.

CYCLING FLOORS ME THIS MONTH.

 LINDI AND ANNIE ON THE RUN THIS MORNING  -- SEE THE FULL MOON BEHIND THEM.

MIKE AND NEIL ALL STUCK TOGETHER FOR THE FULL DISTANCE TO ADMIRALTY AND BACK ALONG THE PROMENADE.
Saturday morning 1st August. After a cold and windy week this morning is cold to start off with but we warm up and have an excellent run -- Up Walmer Boulevard; Strandfontein; Admiralty and back home. It is a small group as there is a Trail run at Nanaga and the Grey Bloem weekend takes many of the group away.
A Blue Moon -- When a Full moon appears twice in the same month. Last month we had a full moon on 1st and 31st July.
I take Ally to watch the Pearson 2nd team (her team now) play hockey (meet Melinda King) and then to a friend party at Bocadellos. We then watch Pearson first team rugby.

PEARSON PLAY UNION. Ally's Hockey team won 1;0 and the first team rugby won 40;6.  Pearson have some really strong players. Meanwhile in Bloem -- Grey win the Hockey 1;10 and lose the  First team rugby 33:22. It had been a really icy cold weekend in Bloem with frost on the Fields.

ENA HAD ANOTHER FALL LAST WEEK -- SHE IS VERY FRAIL AND STRUGGLES EACH TIME SHE GETS UP.

 Sunday morning -- Drive to Plett to deliver the oranges for Ena's Marmalade.
Monday 3rd -- Determine to start working Visi. This week I run Four Mornings and each morning between 8 and 10km. Each day is flat out as I run then work Dole and then do some refuse collections in Barbara's Bakkie and also visiting Possible Visi customers. But I make sure that I also hike on Wednesday and cycle in the afternoon when possible.

 Hiking this morning with Stefany; Gillian and Susan. We hike the Stuckens trail from the top of Lovemore Heights.

 Wednesday hiking trail is made just that much more beautiful as the Pincushion Protea are in bloom

 Shadow Selfie on the road to Recife.

Cycle to Recife -- For Chris and I this is a wonderful way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.

Thursday 6th is Chris' birthday. We run in the morning and cycle in the afternoon. This evening Terry and I visit Earl and he "signs up" for Visi.
Friday 7th. Ally Birthday and Our Anniversary.  Had a real busy day between Dole; Bushpig Bike and Visi. Ally had a good day with Balloons at school and an evening at a restaurant Bocadello's and then at a friend until midnight. .

ALLY 18TH BIRTHDAY AND PRESENTS.

RONEL AND MARGIE ON THE RUN - WALMER BOULEVARD; AIRPORT; STRANDFONTEIN AND DOWN SECOND AVENUE.

 LINDIE SETTING UP OUR STAND IN WALMER PARK PARKING GROUND.

 JAMIE LEE ENGELKE TEST DRIVES THE BUSHPIG.

THE BUSHPIG ATTRACTED ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ENJOYING A TESTDRIVE. HERE IS CAMERON SCOTT.
Saturday. Beach front run with Margie and Ronel. Also Annie; Adrienne; Adrian; Neil; Lindie; Pat and Tina who took a slightly shorter route. Then off to the Power On Expo where the Bushpig bike is on display. Lots of Test Drives including the exhibitors and the whole Deon Engelke Family. Had a full session with Bob Norris regarding Visi.

AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER REGARDING THE CYCLING DEATH OF CLEM MORRIS TWO YEARS AGO. THE DRIVER WHO HIT HIM IT APPEARS WILL SPEND 8 MONTHS IN JAI.

Sunday and Monday are washouts as I am not feeling well with sinus. Then I remember to take some Energi and almost immediately I feel alive and able to do stuff.

THE VYGIE ARE IN BLOOM ON THE RECIFE ROAD.

Tuesday 11th back to work after a long weekend with Womens day on Sunday. solid 10k run with Joan and Stefany. Also run with Natalie and Nicky. They are the fast group and so when I run with them it is great but I have to work hard Taking the Energi and the Probita certainly helps with no pain in the knees or joints. Our Second Pack of Probita etc arrives. Cycle from KB to Recife with Chris and Gerald. Fetch Ron from the airport and then Cell group at the Perks. Busy day but lots of fun.

HIKING THE GRYSBOK TRAIL WITH GILLIAN FERREIRA AND SUSAN. WEDNESDAY HIKING GROUP WITH ROBIN; RICHARD; PAUL; DAVE AND DAVE; JULIEN; JENNY; LUCY; KEIKO; RENCIA. 

 WE HAD TO DRESS WARMLY FOR THE START OF THE HIKE,  A SHORT PERIOD OF DRIZZLE BUT EVEN WITHOUT THAT THE AIR WAS CHILLY THIS MORNING

Wednesday 12th. Grysbok hike from the back of the University. With Gillian and Susan. Walk for two hours. Cold and misty but still a good hike. See Zebra and Springbok.

Both Chris and Gerald have bought themselves new GPS watches. They work so well that they shortened the cycle course with about 200meters.

 Gerald and Chris at the start of Norm Hudlin..

PETER WITH A CRANKY BIKE TODAY. THE TRACK IS STILL WET AND MUDDY IN SECTIONS FROM RECENT RAINS. A LOT MORE ROOTS ON THE PATH AS THE PATHWAY HAS BEEN WORN DOWN BY CYCLISTS AND THE RAIN COMBINATION

Thursday -- a solid 10k run with Steff; Ronel and Joan. Visit Steff and Anton to deliver Probita. Visit the small business expo with Peet Booysen. Cycle the Norm Hudlin forest ride with Chris and Gerald. Recent heavy rains have changed the course. There are a number of pallets covering the really wet parts and the track has become a lot bumpier as the roots have been exposed by the rains and the continuous use.

There are times when I feel that I simply have to let God know that he is part of the joy of my life:

Let our praise be Your welcome
Let our songs be a sign
We are here for You, we are here for You

Let Your breath come from heaven
Fill our hearts with Your life
We are here for You, we are here for You

To You our hearts are open
Nothing here is hidden
You are our one desire
You alone are holy
Only You are worthy
God, let Your fire fall down
Let our shout be Your anthem
Your renown fill the skies
We are here for You, we are here for You

Let Your Word move in power
Let what's dead come to life
We are here for You, we are here for You

To You our hearts are open
Nothing here is hidden
You are our one desire
You alone are holy
Only You are worthy
God, let Your fire fall down

We welcome You with praise
We welcome You with praise
Almighty God of love
Be welcomed in this place

Let every heart adore
Let every soul awake
Almighty God of love
Be welcomed in this place

We welcome You with praise
We welcome You with praise
Almighty God of love
Be welcomed in this place


Friday 14th. Frustrating day. But got a couple of things done. Took bike in for service. Ally has a party and I watch Grey vs Selbourne hockey with Markus Burri.

Matthew Wilson in action vs Selbourne. It is a hard game with Selbourne camped out on the goals of Grey for most of the match. Grey score in the first 90 seconds.  Selbourne have approximately 10 short corner attempts at scoring. None come to anything with Grey goalie and defence playing a really good game. Then in the final minutes Grey have a shortie and score making it 2;0.

Saturday morning -- 10k event from Pollock beach with Stefany and Amanda.

Steff works hard while battling with asthma. She ends up with a 58minute result. Now we have some hard training to do before Meiringspoort in two months if we want a sub 2 hour.

Saturday 15th.  10k race at Pollock Beach from Summerstrand clubhouse. Steff picks me up. we drive to the Summerstrand Pick & Pay. Do a short warm up run and the line up at the start. Amanda joins us. Enjoy your run: take your marks: Bang goes the gun and off we go. Into Marine Drive and run past the Pine Lodge entrance. This is good as we can see the fast runners coming back towards us.
I join up with John Kotze for a while. He carries on. Steff battles with asthma. We turn back, run into the Recife road and past SAMREC and then U turn. Back towards Marine drive. Now we are really hot so happy to be running into the cool breeze.
Running along this road makes my heart sing. The sunrise, the Bitou bush and Blombos, the fun people -- I simply love running.  As we get back to the cycle path we run with the 5k runners. They too are having a blast in their small groups.
We try to push hard over the final few kays and end with a 58minute 10k.

 JOSH WITH HIS U11 A TEAM.

 DANIEL HAD A BICYCLE ACCIDENT YESTERDAY. HE ENDED UP WITH A CUT EYELID AND A THICK LIP. STILL HE GOES ON THE FIELD TO PLAY WESTERING IN A HARD MATCH.

DANIEL WITH COACH WARREN AND HIS TEAM

JOSHUA AND DANIEL PLAY FOR THE U11 FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS IN THE BACK LINE. BOTH OF THEM SECURE A NUMBER OF SOLID TACKLES.

GREY HAS A DERBY DAY WITH SELBOURNE. ONLY THE THIRD AND SECOND TEAM WIN TODAY. ALL THE "A" TEAMS LOSE TO SELBOURNE.

A bit later I watch the boys play rugby at Clarendon, I am the linesman. This is a great opportunity for me to be close to them without interfering with their game. Both boys play great rugby. Tackling and running the ball at every opportunity.
Then it is rugby at Grey. Ally watches at Pearson where they have a Derby Day. Grey also has a Dery Day with Selbourne. Grey lose every A team match from U14 to the Main game. They only win the Seconds and thirds games. The final main game is a tough game for both sides. But in the end Selbourne come away with a win.

 MIA COMES TO THE MARSHALLING DUTY WITH ME ON SUNDAY MORNING.

JACQUI HAS MOVED TO THIS NEW APARTMENT AND NOW HAS A TERRIFIC VIEW ACROSS THE HILLS.

MIA ENJOYS BEING AT THE MATCHES. SHE CAME WITH ME TO THE BOYS GAMES AS WELL AS TO THE GREY MATCHES. SHE DOES NOT WATCH TOO MUCH RUGBY BUT THAT DOES NOT STOP HER ENJOYING THE OUTING.

DANIEL AND JOSHUA BOTH HAVE SOLID GAMES VS WESTERING. AS LINESMAN I GET TO SEE THE PLAY UP CLOSE.

GREY BOYS LOVE THE CHEERLEADING PART OF THE GAME. I WAS DISSAPOINTED TO SEE THAT SELBOURNE HAD MORE SUPPORT FOR THE 3RDS AND 2NDS MATCHES THAN THE GREY BOYS DID.

Sunday morning -- Do some voluntary Achilles Marshalling duty for the Bidvest company day. Ride down to the University with Mia. Later Mia goes to Horse Riding and to visit Delene with Barbara.



OUR FAREWELL TO SUZANNE. WITH ADRIENNE; STEFANY; PETER; PAT; RONEL; ELMARIE; KELLY; ANDREA; STUART; CHRIS; JOHN (TAKING THE PIC AND PETER WILSON IN THE BAR); ,,,,,,,,; LINDIE; SIMON; SUZANNE; BEV; LIESL ANNIE; GERALD; ADEL

DANIEL AT SCHOOL WITH PUPPETS THAT THE BOYS MADE.

MTB in for service.  Monday is the memorial service for Rob Ermes Mother (Betty Ermes) A good service led by Chris Sheasby. Rob's brother Greg and two sisters - Wendy and ? are there. The service is well supported by some of the family and friends.

Tuesday morning -- Run a good solid 10k with Ronel; Stefany and Joan. The four of us are not able to maintain the pace of the fast group but are just a bit ahead of the extra slow group. The route for a Tuesday is through Linkside; first ave; around Andrew Rabie school and past Collegiate and then to Upper Dickens and back via King George road.  This morning's run is misty and warm. We all finish looking as though we have been swimming.

Tuesday afternoon we cycle at the beach front with Gerald and Chris. Kings beach to the Lighthouse and back. I have my road bike and with 500m to go I have a fall due to not Uncleating. Doff!

Wednesday Morning -- It was raining in the night but when I woke there was no rain: decided to go running but ended up as the only member of the slow group so got left behind by the fast 6: Melissa; Joan; Lynn; Benita; Almarie and Natalie. Ran 6k around the park.

3rd AVE DIP -- WATER FLOWING STRONGLY AFTER RECENT RAINS SO WE HAD TO REMAIN ON THE HIGH GROUND FOR THIS WALK

 20 HIKERS JOINED THE GROUP TODAY. STARTED AT 3RD AVE DIP NEWTON PARK

 LANTANA IS AN ALIEN PLANT THAT IS INVADING THE VALLEY.   Poisonous to humans and animals and responsible for livestock mortalities amounting to millions of Rands every year in South Africa -- Spread from Central and South America.

 ONE OF THE RIVER CROSSINGS -- ROBIN LEADS THE WALKS AND MAKES SURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFELY ACROSS BEFORE HE CARRIES ON..... EVERYONE EXCEPT ME THAT IS.

 WALKING UP THE PIPELINE TOWARDS LINKSIDE AT THE END OF THE WALK

 THE VALLEY IS FULL OF COLOUR AFTER THE RAINS

 BAAKENS RIVER PARKWAY. I FIND THIS AT THE TOP OF THE PIPELINE NEAR TO THE LINKSIDE EXIT.

 JACQUI HAS MOVED INTO A NEW APARTMENT AND BOUGHT THIS CHAIR FOR HER BALCONY. CLEARLY A SUCCESS

 NICKY HAS HER LAWN DOWN AND FENCE PUT UP AT THE RIEBEEK KASTEEL HOUSE.

 CHRIS AND GERALD ON THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON CYCLE

 GERALD IS NOW BACK WITH US FOR THESE RIDES AND LOVING IT.

 JOHN IS GETTING A SHOWER AS THE SPRINKLER IS TURNED ON TO THE NEWLY LAID LAWN.

LOOKING BACK ACROSS THE VALLEY. THIS WAS A GOOD HIKE TODAY.
Wednesday hiking group: meet at Handsworth in Newton Park; down to 3rd Ave Dip (Glen Hurd Drive and across the river, up the other side of the valley and all the way on a ridge to Dodds farm for a snack. Back up the pipeline to Linkside and back to the cars. A solid hike with 20 other hikers (including - Robin; Jenny; Lucy; Susan; Stefany; Gillian; Paul; Andrew; Julian; Russel; Pat; Linda; Bev; Jimmy; Richard)
Thursday 20th. 10k run around Linkside; First Ave and left towards 6th Ave and back along Westview drive and College Drive gives you a solid 10k. And we don't take it easy with Joan; Stefany; Marilyn and Ronel.  Afternoon Rugby at Clarendon vs Sunridge Park. Josh plays a tough game with one amazing run with the ball and plenty of tackles.
Friday evening -- Mia is off to cubs while Daniel and I  go to watch rugby at the stadium. This unfortunately clashes with the Summies AGM. But you cant do everything.

RUGY EP KINGS VS PUMAS. MET UP TOM AND GRAHAM. also RUSTY AND KEITH WATRUSS. A GOOD GAME EVEN THOUGH THE KINGS LOST.

DANIEL JOINED ME FOR THE RUGBY OUTING 

 KINGS LINE OUT AGAINST PUMAS

 FRIDAY EVENING WAS ALSO SUMMIES AGM. ALLY WON TWO TROPHIES

GRANDAD ALSO WON A TROPHIE AND A CHOCCIE FROM TANIA FOR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST FOR SQUAD DUTY

ON THE RUN WITH THIS WONDERFUL GROUP.

Saturday morning
Usual morning beach front run  -- with Adrian; Annie; Andrienne; Lindie; Chris; Susan; Bev; Kelly; Andrea; Stefany; Liesl; Ronel; Marilyn; Elmarie; Michael; Pat; Gerald;
Am I blessed to be able to run with this amazing group of people? On the road we see Letitia and Helouise.  We run up Walmer Boulevard;To the Airport; Strandfontein and the back of Summerstrand to Admiralty and then back along the promenade; About 16k. And feeling strong all the way. . We finish as the parkrun is starting. Barbara and Lene visit Delene.

THE RUN UP AND AIMING

STEADY EYES ON THE  BALL.

AND IT IS A PERFECT STRIKE

 Daniel and I do some Kicking Practice at Grey. Ally has Saturday afternoon Maths at school and a party at the Billsons in the evening. 

AN OVERGROWN BARCLAY BRIDGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE DRIVERS CAN MEET UP WITH CYCLISTS AS THEY COME OUT FROM THE ROAD NEXT TO THE RAIL LINE AND NEXT TO BADLANDS FARM.

THE LAPA AND BRAAI AREA OVERLOOK THE SUNDAYS RIVER.
Sunday  morning -- Drive the cycle route for next weekend with John and Kevin. Booked Barbara flight from JHB to Tel Aviv on 31st Dec return on 15th Jan 2016.  Church in dark due to power out.. Xanti is the preacher and I do an assessment on his talk.

How Great is our God  --- This song always evokes emotion and was a fitting song for this evening in the dimmed lights of the fellowship center.

The splendour of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

 

He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
It trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

 

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age, He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

 

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit, Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

 How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

(How great is our God, sing with me)
Name above all names
(How great is our God and all will see)
Worthy of our praise
(How great, how great is our God)
My heart will sing
How great is our God

 MONDAY 25TH.
Back to the road:  I had planned to run short but the "slow group" cut extra short so I had to run the Mount road; Dias road and Langenhoven -- Back along Westview drive = 10km for me. Ran with Joan to start with but she is simply too fast for me. Luckily Ronel and Marilyn were there to keep me company all the way up Langenhoven. They are training for their 3rd Baviaans Kloof trail run and need the distance

RECIFE CYCLE WITH CHRIS.

Tuesday -- Run with Stefany; Adrienne; Lindie; Chris; Liesl.  Later in the morning fetch Andy from Airport for a morning business meeting. Then cycle with Chris KB to Recife and Cell in the evening. So tired when I get to bed.

Wednesday . Short run in the morning and then Van Staadens flower reserve hike a bit later.
I have recently been hiking with Gillian; Stefany and Susan but today none of them could make it so I took the Scooter and rode to Robin's house. From there he, Dave and I drove to Van Staadens. We met up with a big group of hikers today. Including: Lucy, Jenny, Linda and Pat who are training for Whale Trail next month. Julian, Dave, Robin; Russell; Paul; Jurgen; Flo; Marjorie; John; Jim and Jimmy; Ina; Keith; Dennis;

START OF THE VAN STAADENS FLOWER RESERVE RIVER WALK.

 TO THE RIGHT IS A CLIFF WITH THE VAN STAADENS RIVER FLOWING BELOW.

 SHORTLY AFTER THIS LUCY (AT THE BACK) WHO IS TRAINING FOR THE WHALE TRAIL, TRIPS AND FALLS AND IS A BIT SHAKEN WITH THIS BACK PACK SHE IS CARRYING.

 OUR PICNIC SPOT WITH PAUL AND JENNY (ORGANISER OF THE WHALE TRAIL WALK)

 BEAUTIFUL PROTEA -- BACKDROP OF THE HILLS OF WOODRIDGE.

 KING PROTEA IN FLOWER MAKE A SPECTACULAR SHOW

 PINCUSHION PROTEA IN FLOWER.

 HIKING UNDER THE BRIDGE IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME

 WHAT YOU CANNOT CAPTURE IN A PIC IS THE SOUND THAT THE WATER MAKES AS IT FALLS OVER THE ROCKS.

 WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THE HAEMANTHUS ALBIFLOS.  THE RED BERRIES ARE THE SEEDS. THEY COULD, ACCORDING TO THE LITERATURE, BE PICKED AND PLANTED INDOORS.

I AM ABLE TO IDENTIFY THIS BROAD LEAF BULBOUS LILY AS THE PAINTBRUSH LILY. THE FLOWER IS NOT VISIBLE HERE AS THERE ARE ONLY THE SEEDS LEFT.

 

The walk starts at the Flower reserve and heads along the River Trail and along the edge of the trail with the Van Staadens river flowing below us. Lucy is carrying a clumsy backpack with stuff that (in my opinion) she does not need. The pack weighs about 5kg and when she trips on a rock it weighs her down and she has a bit of a shaky time trying to recover.  Jenny has a bit of bad luck as the bottom of both of her boots comes loose and Robin has to strap them back on with some tape he has. We end the first section of the hike at the picnic spot and stop for a short break.

From here we continue along a colourful path to the bridge; walk under the bridge and out to the trail on the Woodridge side of the freeway. A great deal of the pathways are under water today following heavy rains in recent weeks. The second section of the trail is a lot of ups and downs and single track. I stop for a short chat to Billy Keenon who is on a MTB and who is part of Woodridge school. I catch up with the group. I often wear a very bright shirt and take the tail of the walk so that Robin knows when we are all together. The pathway is full of colour as spring approaches. We end the trail on a wide pathway and Robin and I walk out together. He has bridge in the afternoon and so we leave immediately (Some of the others will stay for a braai).  The walk is 7km today and takes us a total of about 2.30 hours.

MIA AND GRANDAD OFTEN DO STUFF IN THE AFTERNOONS.

Thursday.  Morning run with Adrienne; Chris; Liesl; Andrea; Lindie; Ronel; Marilyn + all the fast runners and the three walkers -- we must have been about 33 people. 

Saturday 29th.  At last the morning dawns -- Our Tour d Addo is on us. Kevin fetches me at 7.30. My bag is packed and my bike was serviced last week. I am so stoked for this event..
See the blog for Tour 'd Addo for full details and pics.

DAY TWO OF THE CYCLE. IT IS RAINING AND I WEAR THIS WHITE JACKET. IT GETS FILTHY AT THE BACK FROM ALL THE MUD BEING KICKED UP. SO I AM RAGGED FROM THE START ABOUT MY CHOICE OF CLOTHING.