December 2020. Eastern Cape Tour; Hiking at Alexandria; Kleinrivier; Maitlands forest; Lady Slipper; Something good to Harbour wall. Transporter for St Georges hospital; Training with Bob and Kenny; Running the Humewood Golf Course Myrun. Port Office for vehicle and fishing licences;
Wednesday 2nd December I return from a week long tour of the Eastern Cape.
I pick up the Transport duties for St Georges Hospital. Plus some Dole work; University moderation and the sale of the Plett Flat falls through as Patrick and his family decide to continue holding onto the property.
From our tour of the Eastern Cape. Braai at the Tsolwana Game reserve. Watch out for the Monkeys. They are at the food in a flash. The fire does not bother them
Front of the Tibet Lodge where we are staying
The Rock Art Homestead.
Hogsback tour. Arboretum. With Californian Redwood
Flowers on the side of the road . Identified as Verbena Moss
Flowers which Thelma, being knowledgeable on plants, Identified as Verbena.
The palacial entrance to the Mountain Shadows Hotel in the Barkly Pass.
At the Arminel Hotel with Allison; Hebe and Thelma.
39 steps Waterfall. A short walk from the Arminel Hotel.
Mill Park Conservancy. Fixed a fence which has been cut along the Target Kloof road. With Glynne and Ronnie.
Lappet Caterillar
Saturday 5th ... Robert Hogben and I join a group led by Graham Richards on the Alexandria Trail to Woody Cape.
Monday 7th December. Return from the Alexandria trail with Robert. Snack lunch at Nanaga. Back to transport duties. Cell group at Bobby Stevenson House. Final for the year.
Tuesday 8th. Transport Duties followed by 10km beach front run. I do the Hobie Beach to Humewood Golf Course and back to Kings beach returning to Hobie again. This is the route used by SA Half Marathon Champs x 2 So I consider one lap to be 10km.
Wednesday 9th. Miss Bob and Kenny this morning. So after the Transport Duties I am back at Hobie beach. Today there is a strong West wind so I end up with just 8km. I then do a bit of Cleaning up of teh Mill Park Conservancy with Glynne and Ronnie. I am trying to do Vehicle Licencing. But this is problematic as the owner needs to get affidavits which can be just as tiresome as dong the licence.
Something Good to Harbour Wall with Janny.
Thursday 10th December 2020
Walking 8km 13000 steps Hobie beach to Harbour wall and to Something good and back. With Janny. On the way we meet: Chris and Elna Jansen; Fanta Gous; Lynn Roche; Alec Riddle; Brigitta;
I advertise upcoming hikes on Facebook; And my Unbiased Daughter, Nicky, writes the following:
I am assuming that all my friends who live in Port Elizabeth are already FB friends with my dad. If not, or if you are visiting PE for the holidays, I highly recommend hooking up with Peter Giddy
or Peter Giddy Guided Tours
. He organizes regular local hikes that you can join alone or with the whole family. Check out his FB profile to see the things he gets up to. My dad is the most awesome storyteller and generally one of the coolest people to hang out with. I promise that you will feel like a better person just for spending time with him 
(only a little biased)
Barbara asks me to try to identify this plant Jewels of Opar.
Glynne; Ronnie and Peter walking in the Conservancy.
Blue Crown Passion Fruit? Fruit edible but bland.
Rouge plant
Rouge plant, Rivina humilis, is a small, perennial, shrub native to Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.It is in the Phytolaccaceae, or pokeweed, family. Other common names include bloodberry, pigeon berry and coral berry. It grows to about three feet in height and can be found growing in woodlands, hammocks, and disturbed sites.
Start with a 6k run with Bob Stedman and Kenny Barwood. Pick ups; Walking in the Conservancy with Ronnie and Glynne. Post office -- vehicle and fishing licence stuff that I am trying to do.
We have some PE Rocks to place around in the Forest
I give one of these rocks to each hiker to place as they like
Misty and rainy morning looking across the valley
Janny and Sally on the trail.
Starting the walk in the mist.
Madaleine in the forest
Selfie by Gillian. With Janny; Sally and Faye.
Gillian takes a Backwards Pic of Sally and myself.
At the end of the trail we all look pretty much drenched.
Start of the Maitlands trail.
We choose the Destades 9km route
Out group is Gillian; Sally; Faye; Janice Giddy with Rachel; Kristin and Brett. Janny and Madaleine.
Lappet moth. Caterpillar.
A short break for a snack.
The Giddy family with Brett; Janice; Kristin (Frog); Rachel and myself.
Faye; Sally and Janny
Saturday 12th December 2021.
I have a group hike at the Maitlands Forest. It is raining quite hard in PE but this does not deter anyone. When we start walking there is no rain. But shortly after that the rain begins to fall and then really comes down. We are all pretty much saturated at the end of the walk. Sally; Janny and Gillian join me for Coffee at the Shell.
A great outing despite the rain. A first time for some of the walkers.
Craig; Angela; Gavin; Nathan.
I was first of all chased by Gavin and then in the final Kay he left me for standing. Although I think today was my best time on this course.
Hi Peter
Thank you for joining us at myrun Humewood Golf Club today.
Your time for completing the 5 km is 00:27:57 with an average pace of 5:35 min/km.
Monday14th. Run with Bob and Kenny. Pickups for the Hospital. Motor and fishing licences done.
Polock beach. The pipe / beacon
Rocks at low tide on Polock
Tuesday 15th December 2020. Pickups for the hospital includes moving people from one lodge to another and airport transfer. Run 10k standard on the beachfront. From Hobie onto Polock beach to the Beacon, to the Golf Course and back to Hobie then down to Kings beach and back. People: Sallie and Rocky; Gerald Bouwer; Ron and Lyn; Pat Scheepers; Bruce and Beenzy; Steve & Bev; Chris and Elna. Beach front -- I cannot simply run, I interrupt myself with social chats.
Early morning run with Bob and Kenny this Wednesday 16th. Somehow I managed to get us to be Pink Kittens?
Squad Cars: Prowling the Empty beaches by day. On the lookout for children and their Sandcastles. Or heaven forbid that someone should go for a Swim.
We do our Wednesday walk which should have been to the Harbour Wall. but we continue with our walk from Hobie beach to Kings Beach; back and on to Summerstrand. Debbie; Robin; Steve and Iva
Fiona and Louise.
Alida and Anna Marie
Ian; Jim; Gillian; Janny and Di
Lucy; Mike and Keith
Errol; Mo and Martie. Out of the pic are the two youngsters who came with Steve. A total of 22 people today.
After the walk Robin; Janny; Gillian and Lucy join us for a beverage and snack.
Wednesday 16.12.2020. Day of Reconciliation. Running with Bob and Kenny early morning. Wednesday walkers: We walk to Kings beach and back and then to Summerstrand and back to Hobie beach. 22 walkers: Robin; Janny; Gillian; Lucy; Di; Jim; Mike and Keith; Alwyn; Fiona and Louise; Anna Marie and Alida; Mo and Errol; Martie; Debbie; Ian and Steve with two youngsters
Thursday 17th. After dropping off the Hospital Staff, I stop off at Hobie beach which is pretty much desolated with the ban on use of beaches or the sea for the next three weeks due to the increase in the spread of Covid 19.
I run up to the Golf Course, back to Hobie and down to Kings Beach and back for my measured 10k. Stopping on the way to talk to Ron and Lyn; Kevin Campbell who sells me two pairs of socks; Chris Jansen and a friendly greeting to everyone else who I pass on the run.
Saturday 19th. Kleinrivier hiking trail. With Jeanne; Gay; Faye and Gabi; Robert and boys; Alex & Daniel. Janice and Athol; Janice and Kristin Giddy; Liz Prince & Tammy (Daughter); Matt and Billie; Ronel.
Sunday 20th. Lady Slipper from Falcon Rock side.
Lucille; Liesl and her sister Suzanne. At the top of the slipper
I am separated from the group and on the Red route. Steep uphills. Sweatting. Fortunately it is cool today.
Roky pathways on the Red Route. The Green Route is also steep and tough. Not an easy hike at all.
Looking down from the top of the Red Route
Back with the group.
Faye led the rest of the group to the top and then down the red route. While Janny and I stayed with Gillian who was not having a good day.
Suzanne abseling on the rocky sections on the Red Route.
King Protea.
Gillian had battled so we turned around early. With Janny and myself
On the Labyrinth with Suzanne; Liesl; Faye and Lucille
Suzanne
Faye
Lucille
Sunday 20th. Lady Slipper with Liesl and sister Suzanne; Lucille; Faye and Gabriel; Janny and Gillian.
We leave from PE at 9.00am and when we arrive at Falcon Rock we find a number of cars parked, indicating that there are already hikers on the trail. Register for the walk.
We walk up the Green Route. I have to take off a shirt and miss the back of the group so end up walking the Red Route. And then going back to pick up the group on their way up. Gillian is having a poor day and we stop at about 100m from the top. Janny and I stay with Gillian while Faye leads the others to the summit. We make our way down to the bottom where we do the Labyrinth.
Our customary stop is at the Windfarm coffee shop before heading home.
Monday 21st. I run with Bob and Kenny. A busy day with Post Office and Pick ups.
Tuesday 22nd December 2020
We leave for Cape Town for a week with Nicky and her family. It is a 10 hour drive including three longish stops for the dog. Shortly after I arrive in CT Nicky takes us to the dam / park for a run. Werner is with the family playing Frisbee. Nicky; Natalie and I run around the dam three times for a 6km. Not at all easy .... short steep hills. Nicky and Natalie consider this to be their Flat route. I battle to stay with them on the hills.
Thursday 24th December 2020
Nicky and I had to work hard up a long flight of steps. Now about to go down. Back to Victoria Drive at Clifton Beach.
the group on a run Greenpoint to Bantry Bay. Mia; Aaron; Werner; Misty; Natalie; Nicky and myself.
Nicky with friends -- Misty and Natalie
Clifton Beach to Bantry Bay. Misty Morning. Beautiful morning for a run / cycle
Start the morning with a 12k run from Green Point to Clifton; Bantry Bay; and back.
Werner; Mia and Aaron on the bikes; Nicky and two friends Natalie and Misty run with us. Setting a fair pace; I have to work hard to keep up.
Jacqui's balcony. Completely redone with furniturings and roofing to make this a great place to be.
Sunset in Israel.
Meanwhile in New Zealand Cathy and family are camping this Christmas. And Jacqui is enjoying her new balcony in Israel.
Gifts from Stefan.
Slip Slops; T Shirts; Gadgets; Perfume; Shaving; Karen and Stefan are going to Hermanus for the Weekend.
Thursday 24th December. Stefan comes around to Nicky's house to give some presents to his children.
Christmas dinner in Cape Town with Nicky; Werner; Christian; Aaron; Zara and Mia; Chris and Estelle. Barbara and I.
Pre Dinner socializing with Andre and the family
Christmas gift from Jacqui; Cathy and Nicky.
Playing unwrap the parcel with Gloves and a hat while the rest of the group tries to throw a double.
Christmas day. Sleep late. Open stockings. Then a walk / cycle with Nicky; Werner; Christian; Aaron; Zara and Mia in the Majik forest.
Majik Forest
Nicky; Chris; Zara and I walked.
Christmas day in Israel. Jacqui has a group of friends over for dinner. 7 hours on her feet cooking.
Jacqui's table
Jacqui in action.
Jacqui's Christmas Dinner in Israel.
Teenage girls enjoying a fun evening together.
Saturday 26th December 2020. Boxing day. Wietse Run with Nicky.
Start of the Wietse 20k is from the parking garage at Tygervalley
Running with Nicky.
Natalie and Nicky at the top of the first long hill
And Mitzi. Her husband is in Scotland (Oil Rigs) and Mitzi plus two small children should be moving there soon.
Passing Nicky's house.
With Natalie who is way fitter and faster than I am.
Friend Mitzi loves the big leap.
Happy to have done the leap.
At the end of the run. Tired legs. Peter; Nicky; Wietse; Natalie and Mitzi.
Nicky; Natalie; Mitzi and I run the 20k Wietse Run from Tygervalley. Some long hills. Probably about 50 runners start from in the parking basement. On the road we take one wrong turn. We are at the back of the field. But at the end of the run Nicky; Natalie and Mitzi do some extra to make up to 21k. The route takes us past Nicky's house. I mistakenly think that it is all downhill from there. But we run past the entrance to Tygervalley and then have a long (over a km) uphill to end the run.
This is the furthest I have run for a long time. Recently my long runs are 10km. Good training but these three girls ran me to the ground.
Cottage Pie for supper. Plenty mouths to feed. Gone in 30 seconds.
Sunday 27th. Light rain this morning. Nicky wants to run a <25 minute 5k. So she has this route mapped out. Werner comes along to support us as Natalie and I join Nicky. We start at Nicky's house and run mainly downhill for 5km. Nicky runs 23.59; Natalie 24.30 and I am at about 27minutes.
Natalie on the 5k time trial.
Nicky gives it all to achieve a 23.59 -- A PB by far.
At the end of the run .... Werner as support so that we do not have to run back to the house.
Anna Beulah. With Nicky; Zara; Aaron; Mia and Christian.
Anna Beulah reception area
Anna Beulah Studio Bedroom
Anna Beulah Art room.
Jacqui in Israel. Building the Lego Castle.
Barbara and I drive back home to Port Elizabeth on 28th December 2020. Ally remains in Cape Town for an extra week.
Barbara has Rhino Watch duties.
I have Hospital Staff transport Duties.
31st December 2020. The last day of the year. Nothing special as we are in Lockdown with a 9pm curfew and me only getting back from work at 8pm.
Supper at home. Early to bed to be up and hiking the next morning.
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