 |
| Moonrise over Saldanha Bay Yacht Club |
So finally the “To Do” list has shrunk to 2 pages, none of
which are going to prevent our sailing.
We have been spending time on anchor at the picturesque Kraal Baai in
the Western Cape Nature Reserve testing our self-sustainability and have found
that our solar, while enough on really sunny days to supply the demand without having
to be uber conservative, it is not enough for luxuries such as switching on the
geyser for hot water.
Cloudy days and
showering require the use of an engine or generator and thus the use of petrol
or diesel. The solution, we are busy
purchasing a wind generator and the debate on another solar panel rages
on.
Still to do are our STCW (Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seaferers) courses which we are hoping to do
in June in Cape Town, a safety, firefighting, survival, first aid course that
is necessary for Kevin to complete his Yacht Master Off Shore qualification and
helpful for both of us if we want to do Skipping or Charter work going
forward.
 |
| With his fan club |
 |
| Concentration at the helm |
Graeme popped down to do some sailing and docking practice
and boy did he excel, Kevin had him reversing into tight spaces, on to the dock
and mooring balls, I however need a lot more practice, oops!
 |
| Carefully and with control |
Of course while
here he still managed to get a couple of things done, making shelves, helping
install a new outside shower and salt water deck wash, mounting new fans and
installing the eyebrows, they make a huge difference, we can now keep the port
lights open in light rain.
 |
| Just Rewards |
 |
| Outside cushions |
 |
| Tender motor cover |
The sewing has reached its end, everything that needed a
cover now has one, we have new cushions and covers and it all looks really
great (hallelujah).
 |
| Inside cushions |
 |
| And the coolerbox doubles up as a seat |
 |
| We said yes!!! |
 |
Great day at the
Harvest Table |
 |
| The Fat Butcher in Stellenbosch |
Johnny made one of our greatest desires for this year a
reality when he surprised us with a visit in March to ask us if he could marry
Gaynor. Naturally and with great
excitement (and maybe a tear or two) we said yes, what a weekend of celebrating
that turned out to be, we had lunch at the Market Table on the Fairview Estate
and consumed much excellent food and wine, saw Johnny safely on his way to the
airport and continued on to the Spice Route next door for beer tasting before
dinner at the Fat Butcher in Stellenbosch.
An additional benefit is that we discovered that Fairview make a most
quaffable “papsak” red wine blend, easy storage in the boat and good to drink,
winner all round.
 |
| Dinner with our favorite travel agent |
Easter weekend was a lovely time to be back at Kraal Baai,
Kevin took the opportunity to scrub and inspect the hull and I got to use my
SUP for probably the last time this summer.
A little surprise visit from Nicole added entertainment and a good
excuse for sushi.
This is the year to knock some items off the bucket lists,
one of mine was a visit to “Horse Play” on Old Kilgobbin Farm in the Dargle
Valley, KZN Midlands. It was home to
horses in the 1880’s when Meredith Fannin, an Irish settler, depended on them
for a living and now more than 130 years later it is home again to a herd of
around 38 beautiful horses including Dutch Friesian, Andalusian Thoroughbred
cross, donkeys and a mule.
 |
| A hug goodbye from Willow at the end |
Horse Play is
just that, a hands-on, no riding experience in which you communicate with a
most beautiful creature and convince it to do what you want it to with no force
or props, I started out a clumsy individual on the end of a lead and ended up
convincing a huge noble Friesian to climb up on top of a box and to stop with
both
his front feet in a tyre, a truly magical experience.
 |
| Lemonwood cottage |
We spent 3 days at a lovely picturesque cottage in the
Midlands called Lemonwood (complete with fire and dogs, pure heaven) and how
amazing to see everything so green and lush following their wonderful rains,
such contrast to the drought stricken Cape.
 |
| The view from our cottage |
We visited Fort Nottingham, a collection of buildings steeped in
history. It was erected in March 1856 by
a detachment of the 45th Regiment, The Sherwood Foresters from
Nottingham, England, as a Fort and Military outpost to prevent the Bushmen (the
children of the mist) from cattle rustling in the Natal Midlands.
 |
| The Fort |
These Mountain San, also called the “Secret San”, were the
first indigenous people of KZN, thought to be extinct until descendants with
knowledge of their culture were found in the 1980’s distributed far and wide,
from Ermelo to the Eastern Cape to Lesotho.
Outside the main building was the remains of a tree, it was
originally a “post tree” outside the village post office. It was used by the farm runners twice a week
to hang their post on. The post was
delivered from Howick by pony and cart.
Fort Nottingham has since become home to the Annual Bells Scottish Highland
and Traditional Games.
 |
| Gin Still |
We did the obligatory Rawdons hotel and brewery visit, good news
is they are now distilling gin as well and serving it on tap, ready mixed with
tonic, absolutely fabulous I tell you!!
 |
| Beer Paddle at Rawdons |
 |
| Caversham Mill |
Also a visit to Caversham Mill, the river was flowing
strongly again, I tried to find the dwarf chameleon one last time at Lilac
Crane but no joy,
 |
| St Ives |
 |
| Good Coffee |
we found a local gem in St Ives lodge, a bar/restaurant on
the side of a beautiful dam and coffee at the original home of Terbadore
coffee, their house coffee blend and trademark is a Great Dane as they were so
loved on the farm and they still are…
 |
| The Mascot |
 |
| Cheers Craig |
Next stop was Richards Bay to the Monday night braai at
Zululand Yacht Club and a catchup with old friends we left behind, a wonderful
evening. It was Craig’s 50th
birthday and we made a special effort to pop onto his yacht Eco Promise and
have a quick drink with her in celebration and in his absence.
Then on to the Imfolozi Game Park, we were last there 3
years ago when both the Black and White Imfolozi rivers were dry and things
were looking grim, how amazing that both rivers are now flowing strongly, so
many animals to see at the waters edge, even elephants playing happily in the
water. It was great to see quite a few
rhino, sadly the poaching is still not under control.
 |
| Guess who wasn't looking for animals |
What a great time of year to go to the
Reserve, lush vegetation for the animals, water, many young animals, it was
great except we were in a rental car that seems to have particularly low
seating so the majority of our game sightings were of knees and feet!!
In exasperation we did an early game drive on
the second day, better view by far.
We
spent the night at Mpila tented camp again, sadly starting to look a little worn,
hopefully they will do some upgrades, the hyena didn’t disappoint though,
slinking around as soon as our meat was off the fire in case we had left
anything.
 |
| 4 new plats, looks like new again |
 |
| At 90 Vic does so well |
We spent a couple of days with my mom in Hibberdene, helped
her with a couple of maintenance issues and
Kevin, in true style, helped
wherever he could with computer issues.
Bingo, Craft afternoon and general catching up with some wonderful old
folk, so amazing. We spent a fun last
day doing an exploratory drive of the hidden and a little down at heel gem that
is the Natal South Coast, stopping for a wonderful lunch at C-Bali in St
Michaels and dinner at Jaxx, Port Shepstone.
 |
| C-Bali |
Graeme, Michelle, Carol and Craig descended on Saldanha to
celebrate that 50th birthday properly. After the initial party on arrival on Friday,
a travelling dinner between our boat and Sundowner Rose, we all headed out on
the same two yachts to Kraal Baai next day, it might have taken a number of
attempts to get the spinnaker up and flying, co-ordination not being what it
should have been, followed by a wonderful braai and slightly quieter
party. Sunday dawned thick and foggy but
it was mothers day and we had to get back for lunch in Langebaan, much
concentration was required from some tired brains.
 |
| Up the pole |
 |
| New anchor roller |
Craig and Carol left after lunch but Michelle
and Graeme stayed on for a few days and once more Graeme had a couple of small
jobs, he installed a new anchor roller that he made and it works perfectly,
then he was up the mast to figure out why one of the spreader lights wasn’t
working.
Then big excitement – Johnny, after keeping us in sworn to
silence and suspense for ages (well it felt like ages), finally and in such
style, asked Gaynor to marry him.
He
organised a helicopter flight from Randburg to lunch at The Conservatory, de
Hoek Hotel where the will you marry me question was presented on the desert
dish in chocolate sauce, wow!!!!
Oh and she said yes 😊. Now wedding arrangement fun.
On that happy note and while we are finally enjoying some
much needed rain here in the Cape, have fun all….
So finally the “To Do” list has shrunk to 2 pages, none of
which are going to prevent our sailing.
We have been spending time on anchor at the picturesque Kraal Baai in
the Western Cape Nature Reserve testing our self-sustainability and have found
that our solar, while enough on really sunny days to supply the demand without having
to be uber conservative, it is not enough for luxuries such as switching on the
geyser for hot water. 
Easter weekend was a lovely time to be back at Kraal Baai,
Kevin took the opportunity to scrub and inspect the hull and I got to use my
SUP for probably the last time this summer.
A little surprise visit from Nicole added entertainment and a good
excuse for sushi.
This is the year to knock some items off the bucket lists,
one of mine was a visit to “Horse Play” on Old Kilgobbin Farm in the Dargle
Valley, KZN Midlands. It was home to
horses in the 1880’s when Meredith Fannin, an Irish settler, depended on them
for a living and now more than 130 years later it is home again to a herd of
around 38 beautiful horses including Dutch Friesian, Andalusian Thoroughbred
cross, donkeys and a mule. 
Horse Play is
just that, a hands-on, no riding experience in which you communicate with a
most beautiful creature and convince it to do what you want it to with no force
or props, I started out a clumsy individual on the end of a lead and ended up
convincing a huge noble Friesian to climb up on top of a box and to stop with
both 
Then on to the Imfolozi Game Park, we were last there 3
years ago when both the Black and White Imfolozi rivers were dry and things
were looking grim, how amazing that both rivers are now flowing strongly, so
many animals to see at the waters edge, even elephants playing happily in the
water. It was great to see quite a few
rhino, sadly the poaching is still not under control. 
What a great time of year to go to the
Reserve, lush vegetation for the animals, water, many young animals, it was
great except we were in a rental car that seems to have particularly low
seating so the majority of our game sightings were of knees and feet!! 
Graeme, Michelle, Carol and Craig descended on Saldanha to
celebrate that 50th birthday properly. After the initial party on arrival on Friday,
a travelling dinner between our boat and Sundowner Rose, we all headed out on
the same two yachts to Kraal Baai next day, it might have taken a number of
attempts to get the spinnaker up and flying, co-ordination not being what it
should have been, followed by a wonderful braai and slightly quieter
party. Sunday dawned thick and foggy but
it was mothers day and we had to get back for lunch in Langebaan, much
concentration was required from some tired brains. 
then he was up the mast to figure out why one of the spreader lights wasn’t
working. 
Then big excitement – Johnny, after keeping us in sworn to
silence and suspense for ages (well it felt like ages), finally and in such
style, asked Gaynor to marry him. 
He
organised a helicopter flight from Randburg to lunch at The Conservatory, de
Hoek Hotel where the will you marry me question was presented on the desert
dish in chocolate sauce, wow!!!! 
