January 2021. Hikes and walks; Transport duties;
Activities this month.
Kleinrivier hiking trail . Friday1st; Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th January 2021
Bergrivier Hiking trail Sunday 2nd
Heritage trail on Monday 4th
Guinea Fowl Trail from Bridge St. Wednesday 13th
TsiTsikamma 3 x day hiking trail Friday 15th to Sunday 17th
Guinea Fowl Trail from Glen Hurd Wednesday 20th
Robberg Point hiking trail at Plettenbergbay. Saturday 23rd
Cape Town -- One week tour with Larry and Sue Begyn (North America -- Iowa)
Table Mountain. Thursday 28th.
The first two days of the year.
Friday 1st January 2021
Saturday 2nd January 2021
I arrange two hikes. The Kleinrivier and the Bergrivier hiking trails.
Sunday 3rd January 2021. Transport the various people to the hospital and back. Then I stop at the beach for a run. Hot so I get to about 6km. Pick up Ally from the Airport. She was with us when we visited Nicky and Werner for Christmas last year. Then decided to stay for another week.
Ally and I stock up with Eggs (Fresh farm eggs) at Grass Roof. John; Di and Megan come for a visit.
Monday 4th January 2021. I have over 20 people on the Heritage Trail at Schoenmakerskop. We start walking at 8.30am to try to beat the anticipated heat. A good decision as it is faily cool with an east breeze and overcast for most of the walk. On the trail with us today is Bertus and Christein Geldenhuys who I know from Myrun at Humewood Golf Course. With their two children. JP and Jana. Sally and Hebe with her friend Lyn who battles a bit today. Janny and Gillian two regular hikers; Naomi and Nadia are with us for the first time; Loretta brings a friend, Cindy; Benny who takes the lead today; Mark and daughter Dante who was at school with Jessica at Alex with a friend Helena; Di and Megan Nelson; Rina who recently retired from her job as a Music Teacher at Clarendon. Lolo Heydenrich who has walked on a few occasions. Alta who I have not seen for a long while with her daughter Talita. Alta was on my very first Flower Tour when Peter Joseph was teaching me the ropes.
We start our walk from the Schoenies Canon and walk east up the hill behind the village. We continue behind the Restaurant and Rethas trail towards the Tennis Courts. At any time when we are close to houses and possibly other people we wear our masks. We cross the Marine Drive and walk past the Sappershoek and onto the Fynbos Trail. For many this is a first. We stop at the Mike Skinner Bench for a break before walking back westwards to the village. It becomes a little warm as we are now walking with the breeze and the cloud cover is beginning to fade.
We take the Perriwinkle detour with beautiful views of the rocks and sea below before ending our walk alongside the homes of Schoenmakerskop and finally through Retha's Trail back to the cars. We end our morning with a tea at the Sacramento Restaurant.
Tuesday 5th January. After dropping the Hospital staff -- I start the day with a 10k run on the beachfront promenade. I meet up with Steve and Octavia Boschoff. Marilyn Bull who I run with for a short distance. Marilyn was the person who, 5 years ago, introduced me to Dole. I have now been working on and off for Dole since then. Marilyn is now exporting fruit for her own account. She has started a company and is now a Fruit / Fresh Produce agent on her own right.
This evening we have a small braai with Chris and John as Braai Masters. also with us is Bobby; Hebe; Sally; Michael Botha (Moff); Elmarie and Di; Peter and Moyna; Janny; Ron and Lynn.
Thursday.7th Jan 2021. Transport staff to and from St Georges Hospital and then stop at Hobie beach. This is my third day in a row to run the 10kay route to the Golf Course and back down to Kings Beach ending back at Hobie Beach.
Friday 8th. Meet Stuart Brown at the Beach front for a walk and cold drink. We last spoke when we walked at the Wedgewood Golf Course.
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th January 2021. Two consecutive days of hiking the Kleinrivier kloof. Saturday is very hot and Sunday overcast and cool. Lots of swims and fun.
Monday 11th Jan.
Beachfront run. Hobie to Humewood Golf Course. Back to Hobie and on to Kings Beach. And back to Hobie beach for a 10kay.
Wednesday 13th Jan 2021
Baakens Valley Hiking trail Start at Bridge St Brewery and walk into the valley past Settlers Park; Target Kloof and on to Dodds Farm. Back on the top route to Thomas road; Cross Target Kloof and up to 5th ave Walmer area. Down back to Settlers Park and then back to Bridge St. With me: Janny; Eva; Maretha; Noelene; Alta; Rina; Shannon.
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th January 2021
I have a group of 8 hiking the TsiTiskamma Forest trails. Leaving from the Lottering Forest Station to the Keurbos Hut and then on to the Heuningbos Hut. Finishing three days later at the Boskor Sawmills. With me. Faye Turner; Janny Meijerink; Janice Weihahn; Gillian January; Liz Prins and daughter Tammy with two friends -- Blaise and Blake Rossouw.
Our first day was reasonably easy 12k or 3.5 hours. The second day was really tough. Long climbs; Uneaven trails; Multiple stops. We stayed together as a group for most of the trail. 14km took us nearly 8 hours. And then the last day to Boskor was an easy flat 5k walk on a jeep track.
Monday 18th. I am back doing hospital transport. Run a 6km at the beach front. Here i often seem to meet up with Mark Heck. Also struggling with no tourists. Our whole income structure is based on the International Tourist coming into South Africa both on Passenger liners and individually. Mark has a transport business as well and now with restrictions on travel; Meetings taking place on Video Links; and the state having closed so many operations, it is difficult to survive. Mark is of the opinion that the end of 2021 should see a Tourism boom again.
Tuesday 19th. I try to run but end up with a 2km around Grey School. I have some Admin and some Vehicle Licence renewals to do.
Wednesday 20th. Guineafowl Hiking trail from Handsworth St in Glen Hurd to Dodds farm with Alta; Gillian Katts; Janny Meijerink; Janneane Ackerman and daughter Jesse; Eva Warzecha who is on her second Guineafowl trail with us; Teresa Pressly who is now back in the group after a break; Pat Scheepers -- Good to have back; Rina Dippenaar now a firm part of this hiking group; Dianne and Megan Nelson; Mark van Heerden and daughter Dante; Tamzyn and Josh joining the group for the first time. Tamzyn will soon be introducing us to the Crossways hiking trails which she and Josh do regularly.
This trail starts near to the Third Avenue Dip / Continental Butchery. We walk over to the Walmer side and then contour on an easy pathway. Crossing the stream on a few occasions. When we can see the Golf Course we turn left down a reasonably steep hill and then up and over to the Dodds Farm clearning where we have a snack break.
After the break we walk back next to to the stream (Baakens river) all the way to the 3rd Ave dip and back up to the cars. This is a reasonably easy walk of about two hours. Good to be together as a group and to be able to enjoy the valley which is so central to Port Elizabeth.
Thursday 21st. After dropping the Hospital Staff I stop at Hobie beach and run a 10k to the Golf Course and back to Kings Beach and back to Hobie. A beautiful morning for a run. Later in the day I have some admin and vehicle licencing to do.
Saturday 23rd. A group of 9 of us drive to Plett to hike the Robberg Point trail What a beautiful day and a wonderful experience.
Sunday 24th. I drive to CT leaving early morning. I am going to be meeting two Guests from Iowa in North America. We will be spending the week in CT and surrounding areas. I get into CT early afternoon and meet up with Patrick and Marianne at Nicky;s neighbour house. Inky. They invite us for a lunch. Marianne;s father died a week ago of Covid. The service was on Friday. Her mother, Sheila Camerer is at the lunch together with other family and friends.
Sunday afternoon Nicky and family go for an afternoon walk / jog in neighbouring Kenridge from where you are able to see across to the Table Mountain.
Monday 25th morning we meet Natalie and run a 10k around the suburbs.
Tuesday 26th January the wind is blowing strongly. We skip our morning run. I meet Sue and Larry at the CT Airport and we drive to Muizenberg and the Kirstenbosch Gardens. They are staying three nights at the Anna Beulah guestfarm. After a bit of confusion they find a nice little cottage for the next three nights. Nicky and Werner invite us for an evening braai.
Wednesday 27th. I pick up Sue and Larry and we drive to Stellenbosch and Franschoek for a day of exploring. We visit the Dorp Museum in Stellenbosch and then La Provence at Franschoek. They purchase provisions and some Grapes to take home. It is quite sad to see the neglect of the Grape Vines. The wine farmers are not allowed to make. bottle or export or Transport wine at this time. This evening Nicky takes us out for a walk and jog in her suburb.
Monday 25th. Nicky and her friend Natalie And I do a 10k suburban run.
Thursday 28th Jan 2021. I pick Larry and Sue up at the Anna Beulah farm where they are staying and we drive to Table Mountain. It is a lovely day. Warm with a cool breeze. Sue takes the Cable Car to the top of the mountain. Larry and I walk to the Platteklip Gorge trail. The sign says a 2.5 hour walk and that is almost exactly what it took us to do this hike. A tough walk with climbing and a difficult rocky trail particularly towards the top of the gorge. We meet Sue and take the Cable Car down.
From here we drive to Camps Bay and then Hout bay. Up Chapmans Peak and on to the Cape Point. A beautiful drive on the west coastline of the peninsular. We go into the Natute Reserve and down to Cape of Good Hope. We continue on to the Lighthouse. Larry and Sue take the Finicular Rail. The Flying Dutchman. To the top. We are one of very few groups at the Point today. Our day ends with an early supper at a Kalk Bay street side restaurant.
Friday 29th. We drive all the way to Clanwilliam. The N7 is a good route to take with wonderful farm lands and interesting views. We stop at the House of Rooibos tea shop before lunching at the Padstal as you enter Clanwilliam. On the return trip we take the coastal route past Velddrif. I miscalculated the time for this drive. It was too long and we did not have enough time to stop and enjoy some of the sights. We had to be back at the Hotel at the Waterfront for Sue and Larry to have a Covid Test to allow them to travel home. A stressful day for me.
This evening Nicky and Werner have Andre and Loumien over for a Braai. The Curfew of 9pm means that they have to leave early.
Saturday 30th Jan 2021. Zara is 15 years old today. We start the morning with a walk around the dam. Stopping for a Hot Chocolate at the stall. Larry and Sue are staying at a Waterfront Hotel and will walk to the Robben Island Launch dock. They will spend the morning on this cruise.
Trichilia is a flowering plant genus in the family Meliaceae. These plants are particularly diverse in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.
Several species are used in folk medicine and shamanism – e.g. T. rubescens against malaria, T. tocacheana as a hallucinogen, and T. catigua in the aphrodisiac and stimulant catuaba. T. emetica wood, also known as Natal mahogany or Cape mahogany is the traditional material of choice for Mozambique's famous psikhelekedana miniature artists. Trichilia dregeana, or forest mahogany also yields timber and is also used in carvings, traditional African musical instruments, household implements, furniture, bats and canoes.
Saturday afternoon Nicky and I run an easy 5k. We are both flat and lazy.
Sunday 31st. Pick up Larry and Sue and the Waterfront Hotel. We start the day with a walk through the Company Gardens. We then drive to Gordons Bay and Clarence drive on the east side of False bay. We stop at Bettys Bay to enjoy the Penguins. Our final stop of the day and the last time we spend together is at Perrigrines in Grabou before I drop Larry and Sue off at the Cape Town Airport. At Perrigrines we have a lunch and I am able to purchase some goodies for Nicky's family.
This evening Nicky and I do a short walk / jog in her suburb.
Contact Peter Giddy (Tour Guide and Hike leader) to arrange a hike for you and your friends or work teams.
SA Guided Tours and Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Shore Excursions -- Addo Elephant and other Wildlife Reserves -- Garden Route. Flowers of Namaqualand --
0027 (0) 82 55 03 714 Whatsup
peter.giddy@gmail.com
Addo Elephant Park Day Visit and Night drive.
- Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve
- Daniel Cheetah Project
- Pumba; Shamwari; Amakhala; Kariega -- Day trips Private Reserves.
- Three day tour of Mountain Zebra Park. Graaff Reinet, Nieu Bethesda and Addo.
- City Historical and Cultural Tours,
- Horse riding for both experienced and inexperienced riders
- Hikes and Walks around Port Elizabeth (2 hour Nature and Coastal walks)
- Garden Route Adventure Tours (Zip Lines; Segway in the Forest; Adventure Quad Biking; Bridge Walks; Bungy Jump; Knysna Elephant Park; Monkey Land and Birds of Eden; Big Cats Sanctuary; Oudtshoorn Cango Caves and Ostrich farms)
- Shore Excursions from Passengers ships
- Transfers. Airport; Hotel and Wildlife Reserve.
- Flowers of Namaqualand. Seven days of adventure and exploring places and sights you never even knew existed. History and natural beauty of the South West of South Africa
- Karoo to Garden Route. Six days of fun and activities. Prince Albert; Swartberg Pass; Die Hell; Oudtshoorn; Prince Alfred pass; Plett and Tsitsikamma.
Website -- petergiddyguidedtours.wordpress.com
Contact me on Whatsup.... 0027 082 550 3174
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