Day 21 & 22: Travel home to Atlanta

Well, finally time to go home... I'm sad but excited to get home to see my friends and family!!

Started the morning hiking with Claus and Andrea.  They were so nice to invite me along!  We hiked up Lion's Head, not to the top since there wasn't time but the view was beautiful!!

Headed to meet the girls from my tour for breakfast and then we walked along Long Street for a bit.

Then back to meet the taxi and off to Cape Town airport for flight 1of 3.

First flight was good but quite a bit of turbulence at the end.

Had about 1.5 hours in Jo-burg airport so had a drink an spent the last few Rand I had.

Off to New York!

Watched "Jobs", which was pretty good, then took a sleep long pill :)

After about 8 hours we stopped in Dakar (Not quite sure of spelling) for fuel and another security check.  Very weird, I have never done this before.  Officials came on the plane and searched any empty seats.  We than had to get our luggage down from the overhead compartments.  So anything that did not belong to someone on the plane would be removed.

Then they started the re-fueling process and apparently the seat belts must NOT be latched... This seems weird to me but what do I know??  And, why not re-fuel why searching the plane?  I guess that would save time??

Next leg should be about 8.5 hours before getting into JFK, I'm taking another sleeping pill... The kids are killing me, RARR!!! Watched "We are the Millers", funny movie :)

Longest flight EVER!!! The four very small children were way to close to my seat and were too much for me!!  I hope the next flight is on time or maybe I can even get on standby for an earlier one.

OMG, they sprayed the cabin for god knows what!!!!

A bit of traffic from JFK to LGA but made it in plenty of time and then in good 'ol Delta fashion the plane was late!  I feel like they are always late... Maybe it is me...

Anywho, packed flight but now just sitting outside waiting for mom to rescue me from my longest travel day ever!

Thanks for keeping up with my trip to South Africa... I'm out! ;)

Day 20: Even more Cape Town

Today started with a 630am pickup for shark diving!!! :D

Picked up a few more folks then about a two hour drive to Gansbaai.  Again, Cape Town was beautiful and when we arrived at the dock it was windy, cold and no sun.  Got the briefing and then to the boat.

The seas seemed really rough when we started out and I was a bit worried about getting sick, but all was ok! :)

Got our wetsuits on, just one this time but still had hoods but no gloves.  It took a bit before the first shark showed up but we finally got them.

The cage is big enough for five people at a time.

You wait for the guide to yell which way to look and then a big breath and then push your self under water so you can seem him or her ;)

I was in group three.  Group one had quite a few sharks and group 2 only had two but the second came so close to the cage, might have touched it!

I was worried I would only have a few but I was super lucky, there were about three of them circling the boat.  They said they were about 3-4 meters, and apparently that is small.  Seemed pretty damn big to me!!!  When I was down they stared coming out of the water, so I did miss seeing that part.  It was so awesome seeing them so close up!!

Shark diving took so long that I wasn't able to go to Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela was held as a prisoner.

At the waterfront waiting for Gail, Janita and Julie for dinner (Sushi is on the menu :), so having a beer.  This is a very large glass, R26.  Comes out to about $2.60.  Totally a deal! :)

I guess everyone wants to be like London!

Had great sushi for dinner then home to sort out the backpack.  It always seems like stuff expands while on a trip.  Think I finally got everything to fit... Goodnight!!

Day 19: More Cape Town

Started the day heading to the scuba shop.  Got all my equipment and we headed out to the dive spot.  It was super sunny and beautiful when we left the shop, 15 minutes later and on the other side of Table Mountain and it was cloudy and chilly.  They have the craziest weather here!

Got my full wetsuit on and then looked in my bag and there was another "shorty" wetsuit.  I said to the dive master, I have 2 wetsuits, she was like yep, you need them both... OMG that means it's gonna be freezing!  Put on the booties and gloves, weight belt and BC.  Then we had to do a hike to the beach.... What is it with this country and every activity requiring rock climbing.  I was so afraid I was gonna eat some rock... But I'm happy to report I did not :)

Now getting into the water was another challenge!  Between waves coming in, I had to get into the water enough to get my flippers on and yep, the water was cold.  But by this time I had worked up a sweat getting to the water so it wasn't too bad.

Next, we had to swim out a bit before going under.  And as always, I didn't sink.  Everyone was at the bottom and my forehead was still sticking out of the water.  The dive master came back up and had to pull me under.  Once I was at the bottom all was good!

We started the dive by swimming though a ton of kelp.  It was like and underwater forest... Really really cool!!! There were very large rocks, with so many sea urchin and sea stars all over and all different colors. It was really pretty! Lots of swim throughs... I really enjoyed the dive and really wasn't cold till the very end :)

Now another scary hike back to the car, over rocks and up a hill... Crazy!  The weather had changed again while I was under and now it was rainy and cold.  I decided not to do the second dive because I was already exhausted and that dive required more rock climbing!  I decided I had already pressed my luck and didn't fall, so I stopped while I was ahead :)

The dive master and I went for some lunch at a really nice hotel while the others completed their second dive.  I had an Ostrich burger... It was yummy!

Back to the hotel to get my stuff to move to my next place of residence for the next two nights. 

I met Claus and Andrea and their dog Scottie.  They were very welcoming, showed me all around and I got settled.  I then took a quick power nap... The first one in three weeks, it was much needed!!

Met the group for one last dinner then to bed because the next morning as always was an early one! :)

Day 18: Travel to Cape Town

On the road at 5am this morning!!

Made a stop on the way for some pictures of Cape Town from a distance.

Then to the top of Signal Hill for some lunch.  There were para gliders, so of course I HAD to go! The pic isn't me but you get the idea... Just run off the top of a mountain!!! :D

Checked in at the hotel... It's so nice :) Not sure if it is because I have been in a tent for the last 8 days but I'm really enjoying it!! They greeted us with juice in wine glasses... So fancy! ;)

We then headed to Table Mountain.  I really wanted to do the hike but there wasn't time :( So, I was forced to ride a freaking cable car.  I had no plans to ever get on one of those but anyway I did it.  The car is just very very large hanging on such a small wire!  The ride was totally worth it because the view was awesome!!!

So, apparently there are 7 new wonders of the world and Table Mountain is one of them!!

They have an Erica flower :)

Back to the hotel to shower and head out for a group dinner at Van Hunks on Kloof Street :)

This how our table was reserved... Jaco is our guide.

And the street sign pic taken from sitting at our table outside... We finally have great weather!!! :)

Off to an Irish Pub for some drinks and dancing.  Last night out with all the people on my tour... Good times!!!

Who's idea was this?? ;)

Long story and will explain when I'm back, but I'm happy to still have my passport... Thanks Jaco!! :D

Day 17: Travel to Outdshoorn

I'm happy to say that this will be my last night in a tent!!  But not so happy because that means the trip is getting close to the end :( I have enjoyed camping but really looking forward to a real bed and even more to sleeping in my own!! :)

A bit a bad luck for the guides this morning... Their bags were stolen in the night.  We made a quick stop at Jaco's house so he could pick up a few things.  Was cool to see where he grew up and meet his parents.

Another fun stop! ;) We pulled over to check out a nice view and one of the batteries on the truck blew up!! 

First activity today was the ostrich farm... I got to ride one... Crazy!! :)

Check out the little ones... So cute!

Last activity today was the caves.  I did the adventure tour (hopefully you don't expect anything less ;) We got to go into a very massive cave.  In one of the cambers they use to have concerts.  Then the adventure started... We had to climb through holes and squeeze through small openings and slide down one section head first, where the guide caught us... Good times!!

Now at camp just enjoying some much needed down time!  Tomorrow we have a long drive to Cape Town where more fun will begin :D

Day 16: Travel to Knysna

Started today with a 5am, three hour hike to a very pretty waterfall.

On the drive to Knysna, we stopped at Monkeyland.  They have a huge natural forest where they take in monkeys that people can not care for any longer.  There are 11 different types of monkeys and some with the cutest little babies :)

Before going to camp we stopped by Knysna Heads to check out the water.

And some ice cream :D

A sad day for South Africa, Nelson Mandella died. After setting up camp we took a walk to the water front for a drink. On the way we observed a moment of silence for their great leader.  A military school by the water had the flag at half mast and everyone was at attention.

Burgers and fries for dinner and off to bed.

Day 15: More fun in Tsitsikamma

Got to sleep in a bit this morning... So nice.

A very busy day!  First we did zip lining... Always a good time :)

Then we had to hurry to kayak and lilo.  We hopped in the kayaks and paddled to where they had the lilos.  A lilo is a raft thing that you lay on and paddle... It was cool!  I think we did more rock climbing then anything else.  Had to climb over rocks to get to the kayaks and over more rocks to get the lilos in the water then we just climbed over more for no good reason really.  

Then back to camp for dinner and a early bedtime.