May 2021. Peter Giddy Guided Tours. Hikes and walks. Port Elizabeth -- Gqeberha -- Garden Route and tours.
Saturday 1st May. Walkers Day. A group of 20 hikers join me for a hike on the Van Stadens Dam Trail. We start off on the Old rail Bridge. We walk to the two Dams and then back to the cars. 3 hours. A reasonable amount of fitness is required. After the hike we have coffee at the Windfarm.
Our group of hikers on the van Stadens Dam trail.
Sunrise looking at the sun which is partly shaded by a Vehicle Carrier ship.
Jelly fish provides breakfast for a horde of Plough Snails.
Nicky runs a 42k training run. At the end she feeling amazing .... running easy. Downhill towards Tygervalley shopping centre when she trips on a loose brick and falls on her hands, face and arms.
On the way to the finish of her 42k training run Nicky stops for a Beer?
Sunday 2nd May. Ally and I drive to Kariega Game Reserve. Homestead. Where we meet 5 Americans ... Domica; Cathy' Sheri; Rose and Danuane. We drive to East London airport. They are returning to JHB where their husbands work at the American Embassy.
Monday 3rd. Walk with BR. The Hospital transport assignment is over so we move the start from 5.15 to 6.15am. I run 12k with three loops of the Harbour Wall section. Meet Craig, Beth, Shane, Megan and Cameron,
The rest of the day I am pretty much flat out with Vehicle Licence meetings and submissions. Cell group in the evening.
Tuesday 4th May. Walking with Baubie. I have now declared myself to be a Personal Trainer. I pick up Debbielee from Millbury for a day trip to TsiTsikamma.
Tuesday 4th May 2021. Sunrise in Gqeberha at about 6.30am.
Debbielee Luiz is from Florida. She is in South Africa for the second time. On holiday and exploring. Today is a Day Trip to TsiTsikamma. We stop off at the Storms river Bridge to view the gorge below.
At the TsiTsikamma National Park. Storms River Mouth.
Looking down to the Beach from the Suspension Bridge.
The boardwalk to the suspension Bridges.
Today we receive the sad news that Lisa Van As ' mother died in a motor accident. She was in a vehicle with another lady who had a heart attack. She floored the accelerator and collided with oncoming traffic. Both women died on the scene.
One of my Hiking Friends, Gillian January, also lost her mother today. Her mother had been ill and weak for some time and passed away peacefully.
Wednesday 5th May. Walk 5k with BR. Meet at 8.30am with the group to walk from Bridge St to Dodds Farm. In the group today: Robin; Di; Fiona; Errol and Mo; Russell; Susan; Iva; Margie and Pat; Debbie; Philippa; Val; Jan; Alwyn; Mike; Richie; David; Ian; Steve; Megan and Cameron; AnnaMarie and Alida; Dennis; Andre; Lesley; Cecelia; Megan and Cameron arrive late to the start. Only a few minutes late but when they arrive the group has gone ahead. So we jog and walk fast to catch them. Sweating and hot we finally reach the turn around point at Dodds but no group. It turns out that right at the start we had taken a slightly different pathway and had passed the group.
On the trail today. Megan and Cameron join the group
From the Walmer side this is the view across to Mill Park
Bridge st to Dodds farm. This little group take the upper trail back to the cars. Megan; Cameron; Alwyn; Andre; Jan; Richie; Margie; Debbie; Pat; Steve and Ian. .
The night storm -- Thunder and lightning like the world was coming to an end.
Thursday 6th. No run. No walk. Soft rain put everyone off. So I too get lazy. Today I do a whole lot of Vehicle Licence stuff.
Friday 7th. Walk 5km with BR. Then walk / run 6k with Megan and sister Cameron. I now am developing into a real Personal Trainer. I have some Mystery Shopper online meetings. I take the Combi in for two new front tyres and bushes. Vehicle should be safer to drive now.
Sunrise 5km with Baubie Richards
6km Harbour Wall with Megan and Cameron.
Saturday 8th May 2021. Roseate Tern Trail from Pine Lodge.
On the trail today: Ayanda; Lungi; Graham; Babalo; Bev; Eva; Hayley; Shereen; Mandy and Zoe;
Shelby and Katharine; Sally and Loretta; Robert; Santana; Zoleka and Amanda; Gillian; Madeleine; Seelan and 4x family; Janny; 26 Hikers.
It is a chilly day with wind and occasional showers. There brave people had a good hike and most seemed to enjoy the morning.
Dressed warmly against the wind and rain
Starting the walk up the dune
We were 26 hiking and another small group slotted in.
Meanwhile family activities around the world. Nicky and Werner announce an official engagement and the ring. Tom is in a music concert. Cathy sends Barbara a special gift box. Mothers day on Sunday 9th May.
Nicky and Werner announce their engagement and plan a party for 22.5.2021
The engagement ring.
Tom is in a school concert.
Tom and Jacqui play some basketball.
Chris is hard at his studies in Cape Town. It is his Matric year.
Nicky has a wedding event to coordinate.
Sunday 9th May 2021. I have 8 guests for an Addo Safari tour. Pick up from the Boardwalk hotel. They are 8 men from various countries working at Goodyear tyres for a couple of weeks. I prepare a picnic lunch of Crouisants; ham and pastrami; cheese and lettuce; Fresh fruit -- Bananas; Grapes; Clementines; and some yogurt & juice.
Vukani Loop. Always successful. Rain last night so there is water on the road.
Zebras are often accommodating and make the best close up pics
I love the way the stripes merge
Beautiful Kudu Bull in the morning sunlight.
Monday 10th May. Start with walking with BR and Walk run with Megan . I have some Evaluations. Ford Shock absorbers from Parts retailers. Mystery Shopper stuff.
Early mornings has its rewards
African River Crab. Washed into the sea with the recent rains?
On the beach you never know who you will meet. Look at the length of the shadow that the one armed crab gives off. We saw a second one. It seemed to be injured and the Plough Snails were already heading towards it. Nature can be cruel.
Tuesday 11th. Ally's Nissan in for Service; I do my morning walk with BR; Then I run on the beach where I see a lost crab and a stranded Moray Eel which Darren pushes back into the water. I also dig up an anchor which was probably part of the Nippers Championship on Kings Beach over the weekend. Summerstrand Nippers win this comp.
African River Crab. May have been washed into the sea with recent rains and battling to live in the salt water.
Laced Moray Eel. Probably over a meter long.
Laced Moray Eel. Stranded on Kings Beach. We managed to get it back into the water.
Wednesday 12th May. Start the day with a 4k Walk with BR. Meet the Wednesday walkers at Sardinia Bay. We walk towards Bushy Park. 100% beach walk. Low tide makes it easy. On the hike today: Robin; Di; Jimmy; Dave; Jan; Andre; Richie; Ian; Cecelia; Susan; Charlotte; Debbie; Aletheia & Benny; Pat and Margie; Anne Marie; Phillipa; Ida; Siobhan; There were 27 in total. Some turned back early as the Cold West Wind put them off. After the walk a couple of us went to Siobhan's house in Deer Park for tea.
There is just one dune to climb
Margie and Pat
The group are dressed for the Artic
Thursday 13th May. I have a number of Evaluations (Mystery Shopper) visits to do. Two Shell filling stations and 4 x Vehicle Parts shops. Then at 7pm I go out to Motherwell Engen to do a Night Evaluation.
Meanwhile in Israel the Hamas Arab extremists continue to bomb Israel and Cath has a Storeroom delivered to her home.
A mobile store room is delivered to Cathy.
Bombing of Israel from Gaza. All the way up to Eilat. A house near to Michael's mother (Ronit) was destroyed. Over 1000 rockets have been launched -- many intercepted in the air.
Joshua turns 17. Shows off his gifts.
Cathy has a new label for her business. Curating -- Not a word I would generally use..... Definition ------to be in charge of selecting, arranging, and presenting material OR a clergyman who has the charge of a parish (curate-in-charge). I like the word. Nicky is also a Curator -- Another definition is -- to be in charge of organizing, arranging, and presenting a festival or other event:.
The store room is installed. Cathy then spends a day repacking and arranging the existing storeroom in her Garage to allow for working space to be created.
Saul puts flowers and curtains to make the store room look acceptable in their yard.
Blake at a costume party.
Friday 14th. Start the day with a walk / run on the promenade to the Harbour wall with Megan and her sister Cameron. We do a 7k and then I continue where I meet up with Ian Thompson on the beach. And I do another 5k with him.
Running to the Harbour wall with Megan and Cameron and then later with Ian Thompson (Achilles). He tells me that he is into long distance swimming. This afternoon I visit Graham Channon. Hand in my Running licence forms. Graham has been the Secretary of Achilles for probably 35 or more years. He ran the SA Half marathon champs and was second to Hannes Els at 1h.43. Much better than even he expected. Beating Percy Dalton and Lochie Lochner quite substantially. Graham is super fit. His group runs a 21k on Wednesday and a 15k around the Moffat on a Thursday afternoon. He tells me that he has run the Wednesday 21k 35 weeks in a row.
Saturday 15th May. Long anticipated Plettenberg Bay Robberg Hike. I have been planning this for a number of weeks; Hired an extra vehicle (Quantum from Floris Botha) and pre booked the hike with Cape Nature. We are 18 people on the hike.
The Robberg hike is a difficult 5 hour walk. Rocks, boulders, steep climbs and descents make this an exhausting trail that should not be taken lightly.
Sunday 16th May. Light steady rain through the night. Myrun Canceled. This afternoon Ally runs 10k and I am able to manage just 6km.
Monday 17th. Start the morning with a 5k walk with BR and then meet Megan; Cameron and Ally for a 10k on the beachfront We see some people who have swum to the six pack and have climbed up. We later learn that one of them is David McGillivray.
David McGillivray is one of the people on the bollard. Swimming and jumping off.
Tuesday 18th May. Walk 5k with BR. Some local people are vaccinated for C 19. Meet Robin Holmes and we explore the Upper Guinea Fowl Trail where we fix some of the Stream Crossings. I have some Ford Parts Shopper work to do. Meet with some of the ladies who are doing a Flower Tour with me later this year. Donne; Milka and Vina. I complete the Ford Shopper work and then Meet Sally and Carin at Grassroof for our 5k walk.
Wednesday 19th. Walk 5k with BR. Meet up with the Wednesday walkers. We walk just 6k from Sunridge Park into the Baakens Valley. On the trail today: Robin, Patrick and Carol, Debbie, Cheryl, Caryn, Pat & Margie, Zanele, Philipa, Cecelia, Scott, Chris, Richie, Jan, Dennis, Helmuth, Fiona, Ida, Andre, Mike, Keith, David & Naomi, Alwyn, Ian, Peter, Eugene, 28 walkers.
Sunrise 5k run with BR
Walking along the Baakens river
Taking a snack break
On the return we have this one hill to climb. By this time the temp is up at high 20's
Thursday 20th May. 5k Walk with BR. 7k Run with Megan and Cameron. Ipsos -- Vehicle Parts surveys.
Dead shark washed up on Kings Beach. Gulls having a go at it.
Margie and Pat
Margie and Pat. Fiona and Cecelia
Pat, Robin, Ross, Alwyn, Jan, Helmuth. Upper guineafowl trail. Wednesday 20th May,
Happy families in Israel
Start of the Robberg Hiking trails. Gap; Witsand and Point
Bombing from Lebanon to the North of Israel.
Mia has a new hairdo.
Friday 21st May. No walking or running. Cold westerly hit PE. Everyone cancels the run. Shopper Surveys for Ipsos. Collect drivers Licence for Cronje. This is a first for me and it went smoothly. University Moderations completed. Working on Flower tours -- balancing the demand with the days and vehicles available. Cheryl Snodgrass happy birthday party at her daughter house.
Saturday 22nd May. Blue Horizon Bay hiking trail. Very popular with 35 people.
Walking the BHB trail on Saturday 22nd May 2021: Ayanda and Lilly (with three L's); Brenda (Happy Birthday); Myriam; Ronel (Gorgeous as always); Cheryl; Janny; Debbie; Loretta; Sally; Cheryl (Welcome to the group); John, Di and Megan; Chris The Photographer. Gay and Linda; Gerhard and Linda; Lindi (Welcome to the group); Glynette; Janice and Brett (My Cousins); Merle (Well done on your first hike with us. Don't become discouraged); Sharon and Scott (First time with us -- used to live at BHB); Patricia (First time -- welcome); Wendy (Glad to have you join the group); Zanele and Zoleka; Simphiwe and Unati (Welcome -- we hope to see you again). I hope that everyone has made new friends and that you will be back for more. Well done to those who struggled with the hills, the distance and the soft sand. See you soon.
Scott and Sharon. Recently joined the Group.
Saul shows off his Fireplace.
Saul .... Braai Time in NZ
Braai Time in PE. Saturday evening is perfect for an outdoor Braai
Sunday 23rd May 2021
I have a Private Hiking Group. LA Tiry and family from Uitenhage.
Liyaquat; Aishal Mahommed; Achmed; Zaynib and Umi; A beautiful sunny Sunday.
I pick them up from their home in Uitenhage (Kariega) and continue on to Kabeljous where we do a 5.5km hike.
Liyaquat; Aisha; Mohammed; Achmed; Zaynib and Umi building the Cairn.
Long shadows of the grass on Kabeljous beach.
Porcupine Bridge with the family.
Monday 24th May 2021. Walk 5k with BR; Run 5k with Megan. Mystery Shopper stuff. Barbara and I received a message to say that we are scheduled for the JAB. Between 2 to 4pm at St Georges Hospital. We now have the first of the two Vaccinations RequiredKings beach. Low tide. Good for runnng
St Georges hospital garage. They have set up 8 Vaccination booths. The whole process took under an hour.
Tuesday 25th May. Walk 5k with BR. Run Harbour wall 7k with Megan. Shopper stuff. Visit Floris Botha to discuss hire of the Quantum. parkrun 5k route with Benny; Wendy; Alida; Aletheia; Carin; Heine; Jenny; Morne and Celeste; Harbour wall run with Megan
Grassroof 5k at 4.30pm, Jenny with Morne and Celeste
Aletheia on the run
Benny and Alida
After the run we stop for coffee at the kiosk. Wednesday 26.5.2021. Wednesday walkers do the Heritage Trail at Schoemakerskop.
The Heritage / Fynbos Trail at Schoenmakerskop. On the trail -- Robin. Di & Jimmy; Dave and Heather; Dave; Ian; Margareth; Iva and Debbie
The colours in the coastal fynbos are excellent
Robin leads the group
We are a group of about 30 walkers today
Amazing to see so much colour in May.
Aloes are winter blooming plants
Thursday -- Run 7kay but not feeling good. Spend the rest of the day feeling miserable at home.
Friday 28th. Wake up coughing and sneezing. Feeling sorry for myself. Doing a whole pile of admin stuff.
Saturday 29th May ...... Kleinrivier Hiking trail. Brad gives us permission to visit Kleinrivier. This is the first time for many of the walkers. Unfortunately two things have created cancelations -- there were riots and protesting on the road to Kleinrivier and the weather forecasted possibility of rain. Deon is the manager of the farm and he has recently cleared the pathway as well as marked the trail. No rain means little to no water in the pools.
We have a wonderful day of hiking ending up with a swim at the Secret Pool.
This trail is not particularly difficult. On a hot day it can become exhausting. We walk about 2.5 hours into the trail and the whole hike takes about 5 hours which includes exploring; Pics; regular breaks and swims. The walking distance is close to 10km. The drive to Kleinrivier is around 1.5 hours. 80km of which 30 is a rough dirt road.
Today I hired a Quantum. And filled up with Petrol before returning it to the owner. Later I check the credit card slip and I see Diesel. I make all kind of phone calls and really upset about this as I always am careful to specify Petrol. Finally I am able to make contact with the garage owner who goes to the filling station and extracts the original slip which reads Petrol. The attendant make the mistake on the Credit Card Machine not when filling up. Big sign of relief.
Sunday 30th May. Again I lead the Kleinrivier Hiking trail. Up the gorge into the valley. This really is a very rocky pathway and can be quite exhausting. Also the time for the trail at 5 hours is longer than most of the walks we do. Today is cool with occasional light showers which do not even penetrate the trees so we are not wet at any time. On the trail -- Eckart and Strelza; Sally and Debbie; Ayanda; Lungi and Graham; Ritva; Neko. Leaving at 7.00am we are back home by 3.30pm. Unfortunately on this particular road there are no stalls or cafes to stop for coffee.
Our Sunday group at Kleinrivier. Pic taken at the Amphitheater.
Monday 31st May. Start the day with BR final walk for May 2021. This month we walked 70k. Then Megan and Cameron join me for an easy jog to the harbour wall and back for a 7k.
Megan and Cameron on the Promenade
Peter Giddy's hiking and tours group..... To enjoy the outdoors and to discover and explore places you have never seen or experienced. Meet people and make new friends. I understand that not everyone is at the same level of fitness and ability. So I accommodate everyone but providing hikes to suite the individual. No one is left behind.
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
Dear Peter Giddy,
On behalf of the Executive Committee of Triathlon South Africa, congratulations on your
selection and inclusion in the Triathlon South Africa Age Group Sprint Distance team that will
be competing at the 2021 World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships Bermuda, in
Hamilton, Bermuda. This event is scheduled to take place from 15-17 October 2021.
I received this letter that I could, if I can afford it, represent SA at World Champs. However the airfare and hotels and related costs would be in the range of R40 000. So I decided that this is not for me.
https://www.chasingtherainbow.net/knysnas-bestnine-day-hikes/
5. Perdekop
Over in the Harkerville section of the forest, between Knysna and Plett, the Perdekop trail is a lovely mostly-flat 9km circular route in the shape of a giant lollipop. It winds through verdant forest and crosses a little river about half way through, which provides the perfect place to enjoy a mid-hike picnic lunch. The trees and fauna are quite different to the Gouna and Diepwalle sections – probably because of its closer proximity to the coast.
6. Elephant Walks
Deep in the middle of the thickest section of the forest, the Diepwalle forest station is the starting point for 3 circular hiking trails. These are our favourite Kynsna hikes, ranging from 7km (red elephant trail) to 8km (white elephant trail) and 9km (black elephant trail). Each hike is absolutely stunning, leading into thick ancient forest, past giant yellowwoods and through cretaceous-looking fern forests. We have never bumped into any other hikers on any of these trails – this is a place where you can completely escape modern civilisation and absorb the peace and tranquillity of what feels like a parallel universe.
One dark day in the middle of the night
Two dead men got up to fight
Back to back they fought each other
Drew their swords and shot each other
A deaf policeman heard the noise
And came to kill the two dead boys
With all that is going on in Israel -- Bombing of the cities and rocket attacks, Michael writes these wise words:
Dear friends and patients.
Some recommendations for dealing with anxiety these days:
1. We are in a state of uncertainty that creates a feeling of unrest and tension. Remember this is only temporary. Try to make a routine at home with the kids.
2. Catch up but don't get addicted to the news information. Suggest your children to contact you for information. Your responsibility is to mediate between the enormous amount of information and what your children can understand. They told them the truth in a modified way and explained to them that we have been through days like this before and we will get through this too. Israel is a strong country and we have the capabilities to look after ourselves.
3. If you or your children feel over-aroused, sensitivity to noises, fear that inexplicably awakens and a feeling of anxiety. Remember it's very natural for this period. Try not to panic about it. Our brain wants to keep us safe and gradually it will balance and be able to respond to any external stimulus.
4. If you are in a dimension - I recommend listening together to music, acting, watching a movie or series and distracting. There's no point in waiting in the room for the explosion noise. It can create unnecessary anxiety.
5. Try to demonstrate to your child how to drive peaceful and calmly. They learn from us very quickly and will be able to gradually internalize this behavior.
Van der Kemps Kloof, Bethelsdorp
The newly laid out Van Der Kemp’s Kloof Trail starts at the historical Bethelsdorp Village (outside the Van der Kemp’s Kloof Church), the first missionary settlement in Nelson Mandela Bay.
It proceeds up the kloof into wilderness area, returning along the plateau through botanically interesting grassy Fynbos, with magnificent views across the Swartkops Valley and Algoa Bay.
Hayley suggested the Circles in a Forest trail near to Knysna. 9km. Some climbs. Moderate fitness.
http://www.thetrailshop.co.za/circles-in-a-forest-trail-knysna/
The trail snakes up & down a few times as you cross a few streams and head out the valley on the other side, before eventually popping out on a forestry road near the Jubilee Creek Picnic Area.
Once you hit Jubilee Creek, you turn left just after crossing the bridge onto a single track trail that flanks the river, past some abandoned gold mines/caves, huge ring barked Eucalyptus trees, crossing the river a couple of times before you head up for one last big climb before exiting on the forestry road that leads back down to the Millwood Tea Garden.
Directions: From Knysna take the N2 towards George, about 8km out, take the Rheenendal turnoff to the right. Follow this road for 12.6km and take the Bibby’s Hoek / Millwood Gold Fields turnoff to the right (becomes gravel just after the turn). You will reach a four way crossing with a boom, sign in and pay here. Sometime out of season this boom is open and unmanned. Follow this road to the Dalene Matthee Memorial at the Krisjan Se Nek picnic site, 4km. The hike starts here.
Coordinates: S33 55.001 E22 57.467
Other: The water in the streams are drinkable, the dark colour is due to the tannins and humic acids from the leaves on the forest floor.
Quick Trail Info
Safe parking : Although in a SAN Parks area, relatively remote, so don’t leave valuables lying around in your car.
Access fee : R17 per person for adults. R9 per person for children under the age of 13. Permits obtainable from the Goudveld entrance gate at Bibby’s Hoek.
Safe trail to run alone : Yes, but it’s always better having company if new to a trail.
Technical/Challenging/Knee-breaker : Technical slippery underfoot conditions, moss covered roots etc.
Steep Uphills/Climbs and Descents : Undulating trail, with a few steep climbs.
Going to get wet : Quite humid in the indigenous forest, which can become wet in torrential downpours.
Beginner friendly : Moderate degree of fitness required.
Great View : Spectacular views in the forest, with some historical sites & possibility of seeing a real forest giant!
Trail distance : From 3.1km/9km (Circles In A Forest) to 20km from Millwood Tea Garden & back. Further distance can be added when exploring other roads & trails.
Suggested coffee shop/retaurant nearby : Millwood Tea Garden
