Cape Town - September 2010

Friday the 10th

The decision is made and the air tickets booked. We return to Cape town on the 26th of September to continue our adventure in Africa. One of the highlights of the first trip was meeting Sarah our "foster" child in Uganda. That we even managed to see her was fantastic and we got an extra Sarah into the bargain. What is in store the next tim around we don't know, but the diary will soon be swinging into action again, keeping you abrest of the goings on of the Ashtons in Africa.

Driving through Africa you are so dependent on you vehicle - it gives you many endless hours of facinating animal watching right where the animals are. Waterholes are probably where we have, and will spend most of our time saying "hi" to Africa's wildlife. Can't wait to get back.

Friday the 17th

You wouldn't believe the paperwork and waiting involved, before we can get the vehicle out of South Africa when we come down there. The carnet - de - passage ran out while were in Denmark. This is the vehicle's "passport". If any of you reading this end up spending time back home and leave your vehicle in SA, make sure that the carnet is still in force when you get back. You have to involve so many people, both here in Europe and in Africa to get adequate paperwork organised. We are learning by doing.

Sunday the 26th

Well the day has arrived when the trip back to Africa takes place. We moved out of our house yesterday and were sort of "homeless" for a few hours before Jette and Erik our friends took pitty on us and took us in for the night!!! Only joking - it was planned. The couple who will be living in our house needed to move in on Saturday and it was really okay. It meant no last minute dashing around packing just before leaving for the airport.

Unfortunately not all our paper work for the vehicle was ready, so the insurance papers will have to be sent on to us. Hope they can find us in the bush in Africa!!!

Jette drove us to Billund where we had to catch the 7 am flight to Amsterdam. We arrived in Cape Town at 21.45 and walked over to the Road Lodge hotel and crashed for the night.

Monday the 27th

Storewell who have been looking after the vehicle while we have been back home, picked us up at the hotel at 10.0 am. Toyota DV57BWX was waiting at the gate for us when we arrived. After a lot of kissing and hugging the re-uniting process was over. he he. Drove over to Laura and Toby's house in blazing sunshine and as I sit in their garden writing this, the sky is cloudless and the temperature is "shortsleeves and shorts" Wow we are back in AFRICA.

Tuesday the 28th

Now we have to get the vehicle ready for the road again. Had booked it in at the local Toyota dealer to have the new radio fitted again and get the brakes checked. Arrived at 8.50am and left again at 3.0pm. Things take time in Africa. There was nothing wrong with the brakes, but 5 hours flew by while they were checked.

Toby arrived back with the lads from an assignment/holiday in Karoo. Both Selas and Linus had really enjoyed the trip with their dad. They had developed a serious petrol leak from the tank the day before and it's no joke out in the middle of nowhere. They got back none the worse for wear, but smelling of dust and petrol.

Karen got the back of the vehicle sorted out and we cleaned the tent which had got itself covered in mold. Must have still been wet when we folded it away in May.

Thursday the 30th

Sunshine, clear blue sky, so we decided to make the most of it and take the cable car up Table Mountain. It wasn't quite the same as when we did it last time - in 1984!!! The cable car is now much bigger, taking 65 people at a time and the whole thing rotates as it "climbs" up to the top. The view up there was just as impressive as we remembered it, but now there are pathways to keep you on the right track. Before you just wondered around among the rocks and foiliage. Much better now, considering there a lot more people going up there tody, compared to the 80s.

We decided to follow one of the local guides who was only 81 years old, but a wealth of information. Weather fantastic - probably too hot, good we had a factor 30 with us. We spent about 6 hours roaming around. They are trying to get Table Mountain classified as one of the new Seven Wonders of The World - good luck to them.

Karen on top of the world in Cape Town