March 2021. Tours; Hikes and Walks; Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha. South Africa; Eastern Cape; Tours.
March 2021
I have a contract to transport Hospital Staff to and from their lodges to the Hospital. This keeps me busy each morning early and each evening. I pick up at 6.30 and return home an hour or more later each morning and each evening.
In the morning after dropping off the last of the staff, I am free to take part in activities or training or simply relaxing.
I have entered the SA Triathlon Champs in Bloemfontein on 20th March 2021 so I need to start training the Swim and the Cycle legs. I take out my bike and pump the tyres and then start my training at Grassroof where I ride the "Yellow Lines". I have a 20km route where I leave from Grassroof and cycle up towards Mount Pleasant and then back down past Grassroof and to the end of the Yellow lines back up again. I add on a bit of hill work at the end to make sure that I am prepared for a difficult end if it works out that way. I also use the Marine Drive as a training route. Cycling to Willows and beyond gives me a reasonable workout.
I sign up at the Newton Park pool so that I am able to train whatever the wind brings to PE At the beginning of March the East winds make the Sea quite unswimmable.
As an additional activity I assist people with Vehicle Licencing and related admin duties.
Monday 1st March. Cycle 20km and Swim 1200m. Evening is Cell Group which we have at the Offices of Outsource. Cronje and Claudine; Rob; Loes; Bobby; Gary and myself.
Training for the Triathlon later this month. Grassroof and Marine Drive.
Emily has a birthday dinner with her friends. 15 years old
Cycling at Grassroof.
Tuesday2nd March. Cycle 20km at Grassroof and in the evening I run a 5km trail run at Grassroof. The owners (Michael) has opened the parkrun route to everyone to make use of the trail. This afternoon it is quite warm with a strong sun beating down on the participants. We all start at different times (Open from 3pm) and we see some of the group are struggling in the heat. I am with two of my hike group (Sisters Carin and Aletheia). They opt to walk.
Running on Tuesday evening at Grassroof with Aletheia and sister Carin. They opt to walk. I need the run.
I take Gaynor and Roy Laurie's Ford in for Roadworthy. Roy is not well and he is selling his business. They have decided to put the vehicles in Gaynor's name to simplify future possibilities.
Wednesday 3rd March. After my morning pick ups I meet Mark and we join the Wednesday walkers on the Van Stadens Flower reserve trail.
Hiking with Mark and the Wednesday walkers at V Stadens Flower reserve
The Boulder Route with out group.
The valley we walk through
On the cliff edge
The Bridge is a highlight
Braai after the walk.
Thursday 4th March. Morning Pickups and Cycling from PnP in Summerstrand past Willows a 30km round trip. I try hard and am pretty much exhausted after the ride
Cycle past the Willows -- I push hard and am leg weary afterwards. 30km loop. My furthest cycle since I started last week.
I have a City Tour. Pick up Ronnie and Tshifhiwa Mhlaluka from the Boardwalk hotel. Quite successful
Friday 5th. After the morning pick ups I park at Hobie Beach and run a 10k loop. Met Bernadette Holmes on the run. Philip Moolman had just swim from KB to the 6 pack 1000m. I enjoy a simply beautiful swim in the sea after the run. Roadworthy of Gaynor's Hyundai.
Jacqui and her family go camping in the Golan Heights; Ramat ha Golan.
In the 16th century, the Golan was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Within Ottoman Syria the Golan was part of the Vilayet of Syria.The area later became part of the French Mandate in Syria and the State of Damascus.When the mandate terminated in 1946, it became part of the newly independent Syrian Arab Republic.
Since the 1967 Six-Day War, the western two-thirds of the Golan Heights has been occupied and administered by Israel, whereas the eastern third remains under the control of the Syrian Arab Republic. Following the war, Syria dismissed any negotiations with Israel as part of the Khartoum Resolution.Construction of Israeli settlements began in the remainder of the territory held by Israel, which was under military administration until the Knesset passed the Golan Heights Law in 1981, which applied Israeli law to the territory a move that has been described as an annexation. This move was condemned by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 497,which stated that "the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect", and Resolution 242, which emphasises the "inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war". Israel maintains it has a right to retain the Golan, also citing the text of UN Resolution 242, which calls for "safe and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force"
After the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, control of the Syrian-administered part of the Golan Heights was split between the government and opposition forces, with the UNDOF maintaining a 266 km2 (103 sq mi) buffer zone in between, to implement the ceasefire of the Purple Line. From 2012 to 2018, the eastern Golan Heights became a scene of repeated battles between the Syrian Arab Army, rebel factions of the Syrian opposition, including the US-supported Southern Front, the jihadist al-Nusra Front, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-affiliated Khalid ibn al-Walid Army. In July 2018, the Syrian government regained control of the eastern Golan Heights
On 25 March 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed that "the United States recognizes that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel", making the United States the first country to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The 28 member states of the European Union declared in turn they do not recognize Israeli sovereignty, and several Israeli experts on international law reiterated that the principle remains that land gained by defensive or offensive wars cannot be legally annexed under international law.
Saturday 6th March. I have a group of 23 walkers on the Boknes to Diaz Cross beach walk.
Our group walks from Boknes to Diaz Cross along the beach. A beautiful day. Strong S East wind but this does not deter us at all.
Sunday 7th March.
Start the day with a Cycle and run from Humewood Golf Course. I ride to Willows and back. On the way, while looking down, I nearly bump into a runner who is running towards oncoming traffic. Then I see, much to my dismay, a pufadder, that had been killed by a car. I turn around at Willows and on the way back, passing by Noordhoek, an Enormous Cow runs across the road just as I am coming around a corner. Scary to think that I could have hit it. I ride out into the Westerly and return with the wind on my back.
I run the Myrun 5km. I was almost too late to start but fortunately, Gavin and Angela Rogers take over and I am able to get an official start. After the run I join Bertus; Christien and Jana for breakfast. I do the total distance in 90 minutes. Where possible I am trying to do two sports -- Run; swim or cycle a day for another week.
Thank you for joining us at myrun Humewood Golf Club today.
Your time for completing the 5 km is 00:27:31 with an average pace of 5:30 min/km.
I finish the Myrun. Later I join Bertus; Christien and their daughter Jana for breakfast
The people who made the event possible this morning. Nathan; Angela and Gavin Rogers. Christien; Jana and Bertus who are the race directors.
Monday 8th March 2021. Daily Hospital pick ups.
Werner and Nicky go for a forest walk
Views across Durbanville. One of the best possible activities for Nicky who is suffering with an injury to her abdomen.
Monday 8th. 5km run and 1200m swim.
Tuesday 9th. Combi in for service. Run 5km home.
Wednesday 10th. Pool swim 1500m.
Thursday 11th. 30km cycle in the rain. And Sea swim with the Pink Balloon thing.
Friday 12th. Hospital pick ups; Albert and Alona Kahn from Jhb. He is of Turkish descent and she is from Lithuania. City Tour and Rethas trail.
Saturday 13th. Hike the Blue Horizon Bay. Conservancy, V Stadens river Mouth and beach, Afternoon: Cycle to Noordhoek and on the return I have a flat tyre after hitting a ditch.
Walking up to the Conservancy at Blue Horizon Bay.
In the group. Pinky; Zamo; Neko; Ayanda and . ...
The blue of Blue Horizon Bay as we walk down to V Stadens River Mouth.
On the beach. It had been predicted a hot day but the sea breeze makes it acceptable
Ally and I on the beach,.
Group pic at the Blue Horizon bay conservancy. Ally; Janny; Gillian (BIrthday girl) and Chris; Zamo and Bunny; Kholeka; Neko and Nozi; Ayanda; Lungi and Vuyo; Uzile; Pumeza; Pinky; Liza and Vuyizwa; Belinda and Anja.
Leaving the V Stadens River Mouth resort
On the beach with the group.
Belinda brings her dogs on the Blue Horizon walk.
Sunday 14th. Hospital pick ups; Walking city tour with Alex the Hospital Manager and his staff. Pick up Albert and Alona from Boardwalk hotel. Take them to Sardinia bay. Kini Bay. Seaview, Maitlands and Airport drop off. Afternoon 20k cycle at Grassroof.
Sunday 14th. Morning walking city tour for St Georges Hospital... with Alex and his manaager staff.
Alex seated on the Chair in the Donkin Reserve.
The Lady and the Chair.
Port Elizabeth Historical Walk with Albert and wife from Gauteng
Donkin Reserve
Schoenmakerskop Canon
Maitlands beach walk
Shark Rock Pier
Heritage site
Conservatory
Schoenmakerrskop views
Rethas Garden walk.
Rocky beaches
Sunday 14th. Afternoon cycle 20k. In rain and wind.
Monday 15th March 2021. Baubie Richards cancels our first attempt at the 4k walk. I do a 10k run and swim at Hobie beach. Monday evening Cell group. We are starting the book of Esther.
Tuesday 16th. I meet up with Alwyn; Jan and Paul. They call themselves the Boskappers. We meet at the boom of the Cape Recife / Pine Lodge road. We walk onto the Roseate Tern Trail and start the process of cutting and clearing the pathway. This kind of pathway required regular maintenance. We work our way through the bush and at the end of 3 hours we have cleared enough that you are now able to walk upright on this trail.
Jan; Alwyn and Paul. Bush clearing. The Boskappers.
We worked on the Roseate Tern nature reserve hiking trail. Clearing and opening it up. No longer is it necessary to crawl through the bus.
Golden Orb Spider? Common Garden Orb Spider. Garden Orbweaver. Not harmful to people.
So very beautiful. Unfortunately I walked through the web. This is a Garden Orbweaver.
Wednesday 17th. Before my Hospital Pick ups I walk with Baubie Richards. I meet her at 5.30am. Park at the Boardwalk and we walk for about 45 minutes. Graham is swimming at this time. After the Hospital pick ups I meet the Wednesday Walkers at Glen Hurd and we walk into Baakens Valley to Dodds Farm. On the hike today: Robin; Di and Jimmy; Dave and Heather; Dave and Fiona; Dave; Iva; Russell; Leslie; Pat and Margie; Marjorie; Julian; Martie; Errol and Mo (Who was robbed of your gold chain necklace on Saturday on the Cape Recife hike); Dennis; Jan; Chris; Steve and Grandson -- Aislen; Sharon; Philippa; Val; Cecelia; and myself I think is 28 people.
We walk on the contour path and then down to the Valley to Dodds farm. We stop for a snack break and then walk back to the 3rd Ave Dip. The pathway is in good condition. The only people we pass are cyclists except at the end we meet up with a group of students who are going into the valley to do a bit of a clean up.
After the hike I swim 1000m at the Newton Park pool.
Wednesday walkers in the Baakens Valley. Coming in from 3rd Ave Newton Park dip.
Climbing up the steps to Dodds farm
Down the Steps to Dodds farm
At Dodds farm for our break.
Termites Epifamily TermitoidaeThese are not ants.
Margie Nel and Pat Scheepers on the river crossing.
Stream flowing. The weir built by Fat Tracks cycling?
After the hike I swim at the Newton Park Pool.
Thursday 18th March .
Friday 19th and Saturday 20th March 2021. Ally and I drive to Maselpoort Bloemfontein to take part in the SA National Spring Triathlon. We have a camping site for the one night. Saturday I take part in this event and then drive home after the event. A busy two days. And a fun event.
The run leg starts
The cycle leg starts.
Sunday 21st March 2021. Start the day with Hospital Pick ups. Myrun at Humewood Golf Course. I am feeling good; running easily and relaxed
Hi Peter
Thank you for joining us at myrun Humewood Golf Club today.
Your time for completing the 5 km is 00:29:54 with an average pace of 5:58 min/km.
You now have completed 22 myrun events. Well done!
I complete the 5k Myrun on Sunday 21st
Christien and Bertus starting out after the last runner has gone.
Meanwhile Nicky ran a 27kay on Saturday and 21k on Sunday this weekend. Over 80km for the week. She is training for a 56k run in CT. Seconded but not official event. Back pain continues to bother her.
Natalie and Nicky on their long run.
Monday 22nd March 2021. I take a group of 35 hikers on a Lady Slipper walking trail. Many of these walking with me for the first time and also hiking up the Lady Slipper for the first time. It is a perfect day for a walk. Not too hot and a gentle cool breeze.
Our Group on the Lady Slipper trail.
Tuesday 23rd March 2021. Meet Baubie Richards for our second attempt at walking. She has asked me to walk with her in the mornings as she has not walked since lockdown and needs to get walking fit again. Hospital Pick ups. Beach front run of 5km. Today I investigate and sign up for Market research companies. I conduct my first at a filling station close to home.
Wednesday 24th March. Walking with Baubie; Pick ups; We go to Uitenhage for Ally's Driver Licence application after her bag was stolen a month ago. Failed visit as you need photographs and proof of residence which we do not have. Later I have some Vehicle Licencing to complete.
Thursday 25th. Another early morning walk with Baubie Richards.
Friday 26th. Beautiful sunrise over Algoa Bay as we walk on the Qeberha promenade. We are walking 4km and about 46 minutes.
After the walk I do the pick ups and then meet Ally at the Home Affairs offices. Ally needs to apply for an Unabridged Birth certificate. We wait from 7am to 11.45pm before Ally is allowed into the offices. We had spent the morning waiting outside in a shambles of a line. Once in the office Ally was quickly processed and out by 12.15.
Sunrise at 6.15am at the Summerstrand Pier. In the water is Lyn Pask. Ron is on the beach.
This evening I finish work early and so we are able to light a fire for a Braai.
Jacqui takes her family to Eilat for a diving experience. They stay in a lovely hotel with a view and the girls take diving lessons. They all dive and marvel at the sea life.
Blake and a friend display their constellation design.
Saturday 27th March. I have a group of 15 for a walk at Cape Recife. Nicky is doing a long run before her Ultra on Friday 2nd April.
Christian and Aaron will do the first 12k with Nicky. Early morning preparations.
Saturday 27th March. Walking the Cape Recife (Roseate Tern) trail with a group of 15 hikers.
The trail ends at the Penguin Sanctuary near to Pine Lodge.
Jacqui and her family are in Eilat for the Passover (Pesach) weekend. They go scuba diving.
Jacqui and family are in Eilat. They all go diving. Sea Turtle.
Sharks
Manta Ray and Hammerhead Shark
Sunday 28th March. The Myrun is canceled due to rain. After my pickups I stop at Hobie Beach and run to Summerstrand where I see the Nippers in training. Carry on to the 2nd Pipe and then onto the promenade where I meet up with Jenna Jeffries who I have not seen for over a year. We run back to Summies where her son is a Nipper. I also see Fanta and Jonty (David). We continue with a short loop. Jenna goes back to the clubhouse and I continue towards Kings Beach. Steve; Bev; Lynn and Johnny -- I meet on the pathway. I end up with a comfortable 10k in the rain that takes me for ages but I love it.
Summerstrand Nippers, Coaches and Parents are not put off by the rain.
Sunday 28th afternoon. Ally arranges to meet her friend; Kerri at the beach for a 5km run. We run from Hobie beach past summerstrand all the way to the Beacon. We return the same way ending with Shark Rock Pier. Ally has a bit of pain -- this is her first run in a long time.
Ally; Kerri and Granddad on the Shark Rock Pier after our 5k run.
Purple Sorrel or an Oxalis; starting to blossom on the beach front grass.
Monday 29th March. Walking with Baubie Richards in the early morning from 5.30 to 6.15am. A strong easterly does not put us off. I do my pick ups and then Ally and I take the Nissan to the dealership to have a new key made. The original was stolen. Ally goes to Gym and I do laps at the Newton Park Swimpool. The pool is closed for the fitting of electronic timing devices. Olympic trials will be held in this pool during April 2021.
Tuesday 30th March. Walking with Baubie; Pickups; 10k training run. Breakfast at Indulge. Searching for Sacramento Canon. Unsuccessful. Found the wreck at the ACVV in Marine Drive. Changed light fittings; Collected stickers for Barbara; Pick up from Airport; Shopping at Checkers and for alcohol with a speech coming up this evening. Pick ups.
This is the remains of a Shipwreck on Marine Drive opposite the Youth Center
It looks like an Anchor from the road. Low tide gives me access to walk there and take pics.
The Sacramento Anchors at Schoenmakerskop
I never found them this time around. These are pics from Facebook
Tuesday morning. I start the day with a 4k walk with Baubie Richards. I then do my Hospital Pickups. I run a 10k on the beach front. And then before going to meet Peter and Moyna Joseph, I have a breakfast at Indulge Restaurant.
I meet Peter and Moyna to search for the Sacramento Anchors. No luck.
Peter; Moyna and I spend a good while looking for the Anchors today. We look cheerful but feel despondent
Wednesday walk is at Blue Horizon Bay. Here is Faye; Gabriel; Charlotte and I
The Conservancy walk.
Our group with Robin; Gabriel; Faye; Debbie; Flo; Charlotte and Steve.
Margie and Pat with the hiking group today.
Wednesday 31st March. I have a second attempt to find the Anchors. No luck. But I do find a small dung beetle on some Dog Droppings.
A small dung beetle --- Genus Scarabeaus. Known as a True Dung Beetle.
March 2021. We have been in Lockdown for a year. Various Stages from extreme to a set of rules which are designed to limit the number of Covid 19 infections. The Pandemic continues to spread. Not as rapidly or so devastatingly as in 2020. The number of cases and deaths have dropped. The main issue is wearing of masks in any confined spaces such as in buildings and in vehicles. And the limiting of gatherings as in Churches and Parties / bars and restaurants. .
St Georges hospital still needs Agency Nurses so my contract to provide a transport service has been extended for another month into April 2021. I continue to organise hikes and walks and also on occasions an outing such as to Addo Elephant Park. I continue to do the Morning Walk with Baubie Richards. And the Vehicle Licencing however that seems to have slowed and I am not as busy as I was at one time.
My personal fitness is an ongoing battle and I become tired a lot quicker than I used to. However I intend to continue running and will try to fit in some swims and cycling as well.
Nautilus shell found on Blue Horizon Bay beach on Wednesday 31.3.2021. . This shell that I found and that Barbara put into a display box is an Argonaut.
The argonauts the only extant genus; are a group of pelagic (Meaning sea) octopuses. They are also called paper nautiluses, referring to the paper-thin eggcase that females secrete. This structure lacks the gas-filled chambers present in chambered nautilus shells, but rather an evolutionary innovation unique to the genus Argonauta. It is used as a brood chamber and for trapped surface air Some of the shells I have picked up while hiking or jogging on PE Beaches.
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
For tours and bookings.. email me at. peter.giddy@gmail.com
Contact me on Whatsup.... 0027 082 550 3174
A memory from March 2016
Thursday 17th; Lifesaving Nationals at Kings Beach. First event of the next four days is Masters. And I am doing my first event this year at age 65. Crazy! The only event which I cannot do is Ski. I have never learned to Balance. I have been in a competition before with Stanford Slabbert but today he will take Andrew Prichard with him. So I take part in Run, swim, run - Gold; Malibu Board - Silver; Surf Swim - Gold; 1km Beach relay - a new event - So as I do not have a partner, I get special permission to run both legs but in the end I am disqualified so no medal; Beach Relay with Jason and Serrano - we are placed 4th. The beach relay is total age of the three competitors and we are the only three from Summerstrand who are prepared to run. Then the flags - Silver; beach sprint - Silver - and long run - Silver. In all of these individual events I think that there are only two >65 competitors and so I am placed either first or second in all of them.
In our team of masters today: Tania van Thiel; Jason Goedals; Jason Karogopulous; Serrano; Richard; Dalen Davidson; Stanford Slabbert; Andrew Prichard who has a real upset as his bag is stolen with all his belongings such as wallet, Car keys, Phone, and glasses. Plus the bag itself was an Ironman bag which he had worked so hard to win. Andrew Stone; Fanta Gous; and myself = a team of 11.
Thanks Also to the three Sardinia Bay competitors who helped me with my "stuff" on Thursday: Peter and Andrew Marriot and friend.
In lifesaving competitions we wear these pink vests to make ourselves more visible in the sea. This is me at age 65 taking part in the SA Nationals Competition at Kings Beach on 17th March 2016
