Lene moves to Ireland -- Resigns from her work; boys and Jessica out of school until the move to Ireland. I try to spend some time with the boys.
Cape to Garden Route and Port Elizabeth tour
Tour 'd Addo -- a Weekend of about 120km of off road biking.
Jacqui starts to sell her drawings.
Nicky's promotions and event companies are thriving
Cathy is now working in a recruitment company in New Zealand and trying to establish herself.
Ally's last month in Australia and looking forward to returning home.
Purchase of Landrover Discovery TD5 XS 2.5L Diesel Manual 2002 model with 209 000km.
Back to a bit of slow running and cycling.
Start doing some Touring with Cruise Liner passengers for Mark Heck.
November is the month for a huge moon.
Craig's health is not good, he has gall bladder and hernia procedures and then at the end of the month falls desperately ill with a Pancreas problem. Critical in ICU.
Tuesday 1st. I have an early morning jog with the group -- Gaye; Adrienne; Lindi; Chris; Elmarie; Sjani; John; Mike; Rod; Johan; Ingrid; Merissa; Benita; Nicky; Helen; Lynne; Joan; Joan; Riana; Liesl; Michelle; -- I run just 5km. Trying to heal.
Later I have a township tour with Samuel and Pascal and then an Arts and Antiques Tour with Mauro and Marie.
After that I am pretty much exhausted. But after a snooze I am ready for action -- I collected my bike from the workshop and it is looking sleek. So Daniel; Joshua and I go for a cycle around the Golf Course.
Wednesday morning -- Take my car in to Nissan. It has been rattling and I have not been able to find the problem. Later they return it and it is sounding a lot quieter. I have done some research recently and today make the move to the purchase of the Landrover. I buy it from Knysna at R85 000 with 209 000km -- 2002 model. TD5 XS Diesel Manual. I also purchase a 2 year repair insurance to take the "sting" out of any major future repairs. This vehicle is specifically for me to be able to do Game Drives in Addo and others. It is slightly higher than the Qashqai. And will handle the bumpy roads better.
Later I take Joshua and Daniel to the beach -- the wind is howling but the tide is low and we are able to walk on the rocks looking for all kinds of sea creatures. And end off with an ice cream with a flake. Our favourite.
Thursday 3rd. Early morning slow run with the group. We are just doing about 5k at present. We have a couple of injuries. I have to jog to keep up as I am not able to walk at the pace that they walk.
So our morning run is in Perfect Weather. But soon after breakfast the wind starts to pick up. This morning I hand in my Application for Prior Learning forms to be qualified as an adventure Guide -- Hikes and walks.
Friday morning. I have an Addo Tour with Manfred and Jana from Germany. First I take Lene and Daniel for a Golf Course cycle. This is Lene's first bike ride in about 15 years. She copes well and enjoys the ride. Maybe should have started with an easier ride like around Grey but the Golf Course ride is so much more fun.
I forget my phone at home for this Addo Tour so cannot photograph any of it. But we have great up close sightings of elephant.
Saturday Morning..... Yay at last comes the day for our Tour d Addo. Kevin has been working hard at this for months and finally it is here.
Barbara drops me off at Bluewater bay. We cycle around to Despatch, Up Prayer Mountain and then to the R75. From here we cycle on the Addo / Kirkwood Road. Stay over at Avoca.
Sunday morning we cycle back up the Hill from Avoca and then around about until we reach the Addo Road. Here I climb into the Vehicle until the top of Dog Farm Mountain. Then back into the saddle and Barbara picks me up at 3 this afternoon.
Monday morning -- I drive to Cape Town for a Garden Route Tour. As I approach the city I decide to stay over with Nicky so add an extra 100k to the drive and end up in Riebeek Kasteel. Watch Mia playing Cricket and then back to Nicky's house where Werner and John make a braai. Werner has fitted his new Transporter to take all the equipment and enable them to sleep in the back. John has made some amazing cases to take some of the equipment in neat compartments without all the wiring and stuff lying around. Nicky sets up my computer so that I now have whatsup on my laptop. Great for when I am working.
During the night in SA the US elections taking place. Hilary Clinton Democrat vs Donald Trump Republican. By early morning it appears that Trump will win the presidency.
Morning -- No wind. I had a good night at the backpackers. No noise and good bed. Clear and strong wifi. Pick up at 8.45 to drive to Gans Baai where they plan to do Shark Cage Diving. I pray that the swells are not too big and that they are not sea sick. Henriette is pregnant and was sick in the car as we drove around the Clarence Drive from Gordons bay to Rooiels Bay.
The Shark Cage Diving at Marine Dynamics proves to be successful. There are 3meter swells but this is considered a moderate swell. We find the place in Klein Baai which is on the East side of Gans Baai. There are 8 different shark cage operators in this small harbour.
We are given a breakfast and a talk about what to expect. Everyone is kitted out and they board the Slash Fin Catamaran. They leave for Dyer Island while I remain in the Restaurant area and try to catch up on Blogging and admin. The outing takes from 11am to about 2.30pm. They are then given a soup and a second talk about the sharks. After this we drive the 420km to Knysna (over 5 hours driving). They are staying at a B n B in Leisure Isle. I drop them and then move on to Plett where I spend the next two nights.
Thursday -- The day starts with a Whale Watching boat trip. They do not see any whales but report seeing a huge pod of Dolphins and seals.
We then continue to Storms River Mouth. At this time it is raining but this does not stop us from enjoying the walk to the suspension bridges at the river mouth. Finally the day ends with a visit to Tenikwa Wildlife Sanctuary. They have to walk in the rain but enjoy seeing the Cheetah, Lion, Leopard and other "cats".
Friday is our final day together -- an early pick up sees us making it in time to the Blaukraans River bridge in time for the first Bungy Jump of the day. Fortunately there are only 3 in this group and we are able to leave by just before 10am and make it in time for 12pm airport check in in Port Elizabeth. Overall a successful Garden Route Tour.
As soon as I get back to Port Elizabeth on Friday afternoon, I have to go to the Dentist. I spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing while summarising the tour and sorting out the paper work. And I am back touring again Saturday morning. This means I miss the running which I love so much but as Craig is recovering from some serious hospitalization and surgical procedures, he needs me to take over where he is not able.
I use Craig's Discovery Landrover. Pick up Frances and Oliver at Island Vibe and then Marcus and Brid (pronounced Bridge) at Sir Roy. The day is reasonably successful except for the vehicle which stops charging the battery. This means I have to keep the engine running when stopped. There is one time when we are faced down by this huge Elephant which takes a close inspection of the car. His enormous left tusk and his trunk are almost in Marcus' front window.
Later we stop for a sundowner and I forget about the engine and so the passengers have to push to get the vehicle running again. I get back to PE in the dusk and rush to Craigs house only just making it before dark. I was not able to put on the lights of the Discovery otherwise it would have cut out.
Sunday 13th. Another Addo tour for Mosaic. This time there are 5 on the tour so Craig hires a Quantum. We have a good tour with wonderful close up of Elephant.
Monday 14th. I have an early pick up at Jeffreys Bay and then hand over to Malcolm Bean who continues the Addo Tour. Later I do a transfer to Amakhala for Mark Heck. I meet up with Lizl; Shirley; Deon and Allan. I am driving Deon's Quantum with 8 people to the Amakhala Bush Lodge.
Tuesday 15th..... Running in the group this morning - Mike; Chris; Elmarie; Sjani; Adrienne; Gaye; Andrea; Kelly; Liesl; Michelle; Maria; Lindi; Andy; Kobus; John; Duncan; Mike; Marissa; Benita; Angela; Joan; Lisa; Amanda; Lynne and Lynne; Kim; Davera; --- ; Olivia ; Ingrid; Rodney; Stuart; Michelle; Claire and Almarie; Stefany; Helen; Nicky and Joan & Peter. I think that this is 41 runners in total. Must be one of the biggest groups in PE (apart from Club Runs).
Addo Tour -- Hippo Backbackers.
I have four tourists -- two from Germany and two from Poland with me today. We have an amazing start to the tour with three huge bull elephant at the Matyholweni camp. And from there the tour continues to be filled with sightings of a good variety of animals.
Wednesday morning -- I am up very early and Deon Spies collects me to take his Quantum bus. I collect 8 pax in Amakhala and take them to the airport. Then in the afternoon I take another group of 10 people to Amakhala bush lodge.
Lene receives notice that her work permit has been issued and will be couriered to be here by Monday. So she immediately books flights for Wednesday 23rd evening. Much excitement and much sadness at home.
Thursday -- My second run of the week.... Target Kloof to 9th ave. Just over 5k.
I have an Addo Tour with the four ladies in the picture. Natalie is a graduating primary school teacher studying in Port Alfred. Sarah is an optometrist in Sweden. Yonna is completing her studies as a speech therapist and Nienke studied hotel management in Port Alfred and is now managing a Restaurant (200 seats) in Netherlands.
Friday -- I have a pick up of 10 guests of the Regency Cruise Liner at Amakhala. I meet Rod and Mike Weeks who are owners of two of the Amakhala lodges. I use Mark Heck's Quantum.
Saturday morning -- Running group (15 of us) at the beach front with Adrienne; Maria (Spanish lady whose husband is at VW on contract for a year), Lindi; Stefany; Liesl; Pat and Ronel; Sjani; Elmarie; Viv (birthday girl today); Margie; Danny (friends of Adrienne); Andrea and Kelly. After the run Adrienne, Pat and I brave the chilly water. Fortunately Pat has some hot coffee and Adrienne brought some biscuits.
This afternoon I receive a call to conduct a Township tour. I am expecting the Landrover to arrive and so do this a bit reluctantly. But it turns out to be a successful tour and the Discovery only arrives after I am back home.
Monday... Meeting with Craig; Then meeting with Eastern Cape Tourism to try to be certified as an adventure guide for hikes and trails. Then meeting with Stuart Brown and end the afternoon with a meeting with Tax Consultant Kobus.
ON THE ADDO SAFARI WITH ME TODAY: DINIKE; EMMA; SIMON; WILHELMEIN; TILDA; JASMINE; ALINE; MARTIN; MICHAEL; HEATHER.
Tuesday morning -- Run with the group. Pick up a Quantum from v Rensburg in Kempston road. Take 10 Tourists on an Addo Tour. Scotland; Sweden; Germany and Netherlands. 
Wednesday morning. I use the Huawei Wear ap to measure distance, time and calories for the first time today. I have nothing special on for today so spend the day catching up. Cycle the Golf Course for the last time with Daniel and Joshua this afternoon.
Then later we all load up to send Lene and family off to Ireland. So sad for us but that is life.
Thursday 24th. An Addo Schotia tour combo with Gordon and Alice. I make sandwiches and fruit salad for lunch rather than going to the Restaurant. This proves to be a success despite the wind and dust. We have good sightings both in Addo and Schotia. Our Schotia guide is Christo and we end the evening with a great meal joined by Raphael and Adrianna who were with Malcolm.
Meanwhile; Lene and her family arrive safely in Dublin, Spend the night in an Hotel before heading off to Cork on Friday.
Friday I have an Addo Tour with Steffen and Sophie. Later I collect the Landrover which has been in for repair since Monday. Fuel Pump they say?
Saturday I have a Transfer from Kariega to PE Airport with Tubby the Driver. All of a sudden things start to go pear shaped..... I go to the shops for some supplies and leave my phone at home. Barbara receives calls from Craig and Carryn that Craig is critically ill and is with people in Addo. So Barbara gets hold of the ambulance and they rush there. Other guides start to get involved -- Ruan rushes to take the clients back to PE. Malcolm takes Ruan home, A helicopter fetches Craig who is diagnosed with Pancreas rupture. He is in agony and in a serious condition. Carryn meets him at Greenacres hospital and has a long wait before she receives any meaningful news. And the specialist can only see him on Sunday. Craig has recently had Micro Surgery to remove Gall Stones as well as peptic ulcers. All of this has led to his condition this afternoon.
Monday 28th. Full day Addo Tour with Andy and Jenny from Switzerland.
Tuesday. Landrover in to Auto Electrician for the seats; do a whole lot of admin work. Meet Melindi from JHB Municipal assn to talk about a hiking tour in October 2017. Transfer of 16 people for Mark to Lalibela.
Wednesday 30th. Meeting with Andre Mouton -- Sundays River Citrus Coop -- to talk about doing their Phyto's in PE. At the offices of SRCC in Addo. Register the Landrover into my name HWC088EC. Fetch a painter (Sidwell Peter) to finish off painting one of the rooms. Buy some more paint stuff. Then later I go to Cricket with Basil Erasmus who is a friend of Peter Mc Ewan.
