If the birds tan to be dark on Clifton Beach, why not in Tsitsikamma? Results seem more effective here.
What's not to like?
After this hike and a further day in Storms River, three more days than planned, we left the coast. Sunday we woke in Storms River, Monday morning we woke in Queenstown, Tuesday through Thursday it was Hogsback, Friday Maclear and Saturday in Himeville, KwaZulu-Natal. The other places are in the Eastern Cape. It was a tough week of driving, some great hikes too, but we needed to make up traveling distance...and we did. Our next stop would be three days of hiking in Lesotho.
The contrasts within South Africa as we passed through some of the poorest towns nestled in beautiful surroundings never cease to amaze and at times, sadden us. It truly is a land in which millions have very little while some have much and the leadership continues to enrich itself. It's not unusual though; we've lived long enough not to be surprised by human behavior. Nevertheless, we found ourselves in towns and villages surrounded by, at times hundreds if not thousands of locals, never fearful but completely out of place. We should add that on a Sunday when we stopped to fill the petrol (gas) tank in Fort Beaufort, Jen elected to wait to visit the bathroom rather than take her chance in what appeared to be a very foreign environment. While many speak words of liberation and harmony so eloquently, we wonder how many of those orators would be comfortable in the environments we have visited and passed through recently. 'Apartheid', in our opinion, exists strongly in this country much like in most parts of the world. However, it is a socio-economic separation rather than racial.
Finally, in every place we have stayed, we have been treated well and have enjoyed hospitality and friendliness that has made us feel so welcome and at home. Thank you to the many for your warmth and kindness.
Life is a narrow bridge. I wish she'd turn around and signal that she's okay.
Phew! She seems fine.
A walk on the rocks, a wonderful experience.
The end of the hike results in this view towards Storms River Camp.
A 'beachbuck' we do declare...not something we're used to spotting at the coast (bushbuck).
The Tsitsikamma mountains we hiked on the trek of the same name some three years before.
Editor goes boulder hopping.
More swinging bridges.
Stadig oor die klippe...a little cautious around the bend.
The Storms River approaches the ocean.
You don't say...I would have thought that was obvious.
The protea, a Cape feature, a national flower.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
And onto Hogsback, Eastern Cape.
Our home for three nights (left) while the sun makes magic on our wet clothes.
Doing some serious shopping in the town of few people and millions of trees.
Elsa and Derryl, two very special women in Himeville, KwaZulu-Natal. They treat us as family.
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