19 Apr. 11
The myriad of tasks that have to be completed before taking a trip like this is humungous. First we had to complete the cupboards in the bedrooms of the house, then we still have to finish the plumbing and tiling in the bathroom. Next we applied for a pre-paid meter for the electricity which has taken five weeks already and we still have to wait another six to eight weeks before the meter arrives. In order to rent the house out we will have to have the pre-paid meter installed already. These are just the big tasks that have to be done and don’t include any of the business problems or getting rid of the last of our furniture. Luckily Lola has been relentless at getting rid of our personal belongings for some time already or we would definitely have run out of time.
We finally managed to sell one part of the business and moved our control room into the new owner’s premises yesterday. The other part we are going to sell to one of our existing employees. At the moment we are trying to sort out the accounts for the first part so that the transition can go as smooth as possible. Next week I have to start selling off the company vehicles. We also have to get to the bank sometime to make sure that our accounts remain open and active whilst we are away.
The kids passports are only valid for five years and we will have to apply before we leave for new ones for them as well as a new ID for me. Mine has been through the wash a few times and is all in tatters. I have been postponing getting a new one for some time now because I still have hair and am a lot younger in the old one.
We only have about a month left here before we plan to move down to Richards bay and the boat. Then the next phase can begin, getting the boat into ship shape for the trip. Hopefully the next phase isn’t as stress filled as the present phase.
24 Apr. 11
It is Sunday morning, in fact today is Easter Sunday and I woke up earlier than usual for a weekend. My mind was filled with thoughts as I had my first cup of coffee sitting in the garage waiting for the rest of the house to rise up and meet the day. I thought about the trip and wondered whether it was going to be the beginning of a life long dream or the start of an extended nightmare. So many different emotions are attached to a trip like this and not all are excitement, some are doubts. I am hoping that the decisions that I made along the way involving certain people, friends and family members, that I chose to ignore for what ever reasons doesn’t come back to haunt me on route and I suddenly find myself feeling as if I should have fixed things with these people before I left. On the other hand if I wasn’t going anywhere would I want to fall into the ever revolving trap of forgive and forget, then get screwed, then forgive and forget, by the same people over and over again.
Lola read her blog for the day to me and it is way more exciting than mine. Anyway as time goes by and we get closer and closer to leaving we decided to make our lives more and more inconvenient. A while ago we sold our fridge but after about two weeks of hell we borrowed a fridge from a friend making our decision that life cannot be lived without a fridge.
At the moment Lola is busy stamping our clothing in the bath since we sold our washing machine. The jury is still out on a washing machine and so far we have decided that we could live with hand washing for most things. Towels and bedding however, need a washing machine so we would probably make use of a Laundromat for these.
I never realised how much I would miss my lounge suite, since we sold ours we have been sitting, lying on the kids foam mattresses to watch TV. Not that we watch TV very often but the occasional afternoon nap on the sofa or just reading a book has gone. The boat has no real sofa type of seating so I will just have to miss my couch for the next few years.
This morning, being Easter hunt day, Kyle woke up all excited and came running through to the garage. Some years ago my kids stopped believing in the Easter bunny and I tried to convince them that in fact it was not an Easter bunny that came bounding around all cute and cuddly with chocolate eggs in his kangaroo type pouch but instead it was an Easter cockroach that vomited out the eggs. Hence the reason nobody ever sees the bunny. This morning I told Kyle that I seen the roach running around in the garage and stepped on him by accident so no eggs. He just looked at me for a moment then asked his mother where she had hidden his clues.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tough Times
29 Mar. 11
We haven’t managed to get down to the boat in a while but last weekend was three days long so we managed to sneak off from work for the four week days and took the long road down to the boat. Its seems to be in our destiny to battle roaches and have electrical problems every time we arrive. This time the plug on the walk on melted and thus the fridges again had to be disinfected and cleaned.
The Saturday night before we left we had our ‘bon voyage’ bash at our house and invited all our friends and relatives around to say goodbye. Even though we are not leaving in the next three months there is just so much going on and things to get completed that we may not find time to get around to seeing all of them again, so we figured that by inviting them all around at the same time we could say goodbye to everyone at the same time.
Thanks to all you guys that came to the bash, at least we won’t starve with all the great presents of tin food and other provisions that you brought.
11 Apr. 11
Just too much going on at the moment and finding all the changes quite daunting. We have been busy negotiating with the buyers of our business and trying to make sure that the transition runs as smooth as possible. The difficulties in my mind are that I have to accept that I will no longer have a job and thus no income. This is tough and I am petrified. Other influences have been that some of my friends seem to have a problem coping with our decision and have decided that they no longer want to remain our friends. This too has been hard to deal with. I am not sure if anyone that has made a choice like this has had similar experiences with their friends but I don’t believe I am the only person on earth to have this happen. Perhaps I wasn’t a good enough friend anyway and this was the perfect opportunity to find an excuse to end the friendship. Who knows.
We haven’t managed to get down to the boat in a while but last weekend was three days long so we managed to sneak off from work for the four week days and took the long road down to the boat. Its seems to be in our destiny to battle roaches and have electrical problems every time we arrive. This time the plug on the walk on melted and thus the fridges again had to be disinfected and cleaned.
The Saturday night before we left we had our ‘bon voyage’ bash at our house and invited all our friends and relatives around to say goodbye. Even though we are not leaving in the next three months there is just so much going on and things to get completed that we may not find time to get around to seeing all of them again, so we figured that by inviting them all around at the same time we could say goodbye to everyone at the same time.
Thanks to all you guys that came to the bash, at least we won’t starve with all the great presents of tin food and other provisions that you brought.
11 Apr. 11
Just too much going on at the moment and finding all the changes quite daunting. We have been busy negotiating with the buyers of our business and trying to make sure that the transition runs as smooth as possible. The difficulties in my mind are that I have to accept that I will no longer have a job and thus no income. This is tough and I am petrified. Other influences have been that some of my friends seem to have a problem coping with our decision and have decided that they no longer want to remain our friends. This too has been hard to deal with. I am not sure if anyone that has made a choice like this has had similar experiences with their friends but I don’t believe I am the only person on earth to have this happen. Perhaps I wasn’t a good enough friend anyway and this was the perfect opportunity to find an excuse to end the friendship. Who knows.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Climbing the mast
08 Feb. 11
On Sunday we emptied out our store room trying to decide what we needed on the boat and what we could get rid off. A lot of the stuff I had never seen before and would have no idea when or where to use these things. Luckily we met a young guy that was going to open a chandlery in town and he went through each item with us explaining the use and purpose of everything. Afterward we managed to swap some of the things for a second hand outboard motor for our dingy.
By the time we had finished unpacking and repacking the store room it was about two o clock and we decided that we would go off to the yacht club for lunch instead of cooking. We ordered hamburgers and after Rauen found a fly in his patty he couldn’t finish his burger. Don’t blame him actually I am not sure if I would be able to continue eating after finding a fly. After lunch we went for a cool down swim in the pool. When we finished swimming and as we headed back for the boat I felt my stomach start to churn. Both Rauen and I got sick after that, Rauen for about two hours, and me for almost two days.
13 Feb. 11
Well we just arrived back home again today after just ten days on the boat. At least it feels as if we are starting to make some headway on the list of things to do. We had North Sails come out and measure the cut required on the main sail. After they left we removed the main sail and put in it a sail bag ready to go to them for repairs.
We also had to remove the head sail. I have never had to remove a roller furler sail before so I have been trying to find out what to do. At one point I lay on the deck with a pair of binoculars trying to see how the sail is attached up at the mast head. I checked and rechecked the bottom of the mast for a halyard or rope or anything that should be attached at the top of the mast onto the sail. This rope would then be used to pull the sail back up once it has been removed and would need to be released in order for the sail to come down. But I just couldn’t find one anywhere. We even took some photos of the mast head to try and figure out the puzzle. Anyway eventually I decided that I would have to climb the mast and loosen the shackle at the top of the sail and then I would tie a halyard onto the sail. So I climbed the mast and did just that, having to shout a warning to Lola at the bottom of the mast to get out of the way when I dropped the shackle pin nearly killing her. I am just glad it wasn’t the shifting spanner.
After getting down from the mast we discussed our next step only to discover that I would have to climb the mast again to remove the halyard I had tied onto the sail because it would wrap itself around the pole when we unrolled the furler, and the rope was down at the bottom already in any case so me taking it up just to bring it back down again was a pretty stupid exercise. Now the wind suddenly started to pick up and because I still wasn’t sure that the sail would come down I phoned a friend for some advice and he told me that I shouldn’t have removed the shackle as the drum is supposed to come down with the sail. The more he spoke on the phone about a drum and all other goodies the more confused I became since I hadn’t seen anything resembling a drum or a slide or in fact anything that he mentioned up there. Eventually I asked him if the sail would come down if I pulled at the bottom and he said yes but we would have to retrieve the drum afterwards. So before the wind picked up some more and without further ado we unrolled the sail and pulled it down onto the deck.
Later that day we had a rigger come out to check the rigging and he explained that our furler system didn’t have a drum as it was of an older design. So you learn something new everyday.
On Sunday we emptied out our store room trying to decide what we needed on the boat and what we could get rid off. A lot of the stuff I had never seen before and would have no idea when or where to use these things. Luckily we met a young guy that was going to open a chandlery in town and he went through each item with us explaining the use and purpose of everything. Afterward we managed to swap some of the things for a second hand outboard motor for our dingy.
By the time we had finished unpacking and repacking the store room it was about two o clock and we decided that we would go off to the yacht club for lunch instead of cooking. We ordered hamburgers and after Rauen found a fly in his patty he couldn’t finish his burger. Don’t blame him actually I am not sure if I would be able to continue eating after finding a fly. After lunch we went for a cool down swim in the pool. When we finished swimming and as we headed back for the boat I felt my stomach start to churn. Both Rauen and I got sick after that, Rauen for about two hours, and me for almost two days.
13 Feb. 11
Well we just arrived back home again today after just ten days on the boat. At least it feels as if we are starting to make some headway on the list of things to do. We had North Sails come out and measure the cut required on the main sail. After they left we removed the main sail and put in it a sail bag ready to go to them for repairs.
We also had to remove the head sail. I have never had to remove a roller furler sail before so I have been trying to find out what to do. At one point I lay on the deck with a pair of binoculars trying to see how the sail is attached up at the mast head. I checked and rechecked the bottom of the mast for a halyard or rope or anything that should be attached at the top of the mast onto the sail. This rope would then be used to pull the sail back up once it has been removed and would need to be released in order for the sail to come down. But I just couldn’t find one anywhere. We even took some photos of the mast head to try and figure out the puzzle. Anyway eventually I decided that I would have to climb the mast and loosen the shackle at the top of the sail and then I would tie a halyard onto the sail. So I climbed the mast and did just that, having to shout a warning to Lola at the bottom of the mast to get out of the way when I dropped the shackle pin nearly killing her. I am just glad it wasn’t the shifting spanner.
 |
| Up the mast |
After getting down from the mast we discussed our next step only to discover that I would have to climb the mast again to remove the halyard I had tied onto the sail because it would wrap itself around the pole when we unrolled the furler, and the rope was down at the bottom already in any case so me taking it up just to bring it back down again was a pretty stupid exercise. Now the wind suddenly started to pick up and because I still wasn’t sure that the sail would come down I phoned a friend for some advice and he told me that I shouldn’t have removed the shackle as the drum is supposed to come down with the sail. The more he spoke on the phone about a drum and all other goodies the more confused I became since I hadn’t seen anything resembling a drum or a slide or in fact anything that he mentioned up there. Eventually I asked him if the sail would come down if I pulled at the bottom and he said yes but we would have to retrieve the drum afterwards. So before the wind picked up some more and without further ado we unrolled the sail and pulled it down onto the deck.
 |
| Up the mast again |
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Boat work
05 Feb. 11
So here we are back at the boat again. Today being Saturday there seems to be a party going on at the yacht club tonight because as I sit here on the boat I can hear loud music playing in the background. We haven’t gone down there to look because I know that I will spend more money than we have and will probably drink a bit too much and not be able to face anyone in the morning, so better avoided. Anyway we arrived on Thursday afternoon to a stinking maggot and cockroach infested boat. Last time we left we decided that since the power was quite stable we would be able to leave the fridges stocked with some meat and pies for the next time we came down. Well we didn’t calculate that the stupid clowns working on the boat across from ours would unplug our boat and leave it unplugged for long enough to make everything rotten and stink. Even now after two days the fridge still has a “special” smell every time the door is opened.
We had some boat work to complete in order to tick the jobs off our list. So yesterday we started measuring for a book shelve to put the kid’s home school books onto. After we cut the wood to size we had to paint a few coats of undercoat and allow for each coat to dry, so the shelf still isn’t up yet but at least the undercoat is done.
At the moment I feel as if we are not making any progress toward the trip but rather that things are going in reverse. The boat, as I sit here and think about it, is at the moment an oversized extremely underpowered and slow “power boat” with a huge pole sticking up in the middle of it. I cannot use any sails as both the head sail and the main sail aren’t working at the moment. The main sail has to be cut shorter at the foot by about 300mm due to the bimmini and then the bridle has to be sorted out so I can use it. The head sail has got worn out cars so I removed one to find out if it can be repaired or has to be replaced. Guess what, yes nothing can ever be repaired and always has to be replaced at an astronomical amount so no head sail at the moment either.
06 Feb. 11
I don’t know what has happened to me lately but it seems as if I have become completely incompetent. We had to by a new catch for the geyser cover because the last one broke while we were out sailing. The old catch was a swivel catch and not very strong so when we were looking for a new one I picked on up at the marine chandlery and inspected it to make sure that it would be strong enough and not of the same swivel type. We found one that would do the job and bought it along with some other stuff. I don’t know how it happened but when we got back to the boat and started fitting the new latch we were surprised to discovered that it was a swivel latch exactly the same as the previous one that broke. I even checked the till slip to try and find out how this happened and even on the slip it said swivel latch so my only explanation can be that I must have gone blind and stupid in the shop.
Next we decided that we should move the chartplotter screen to the outside next to the helm. A simple job really that should have taken about a half hour to do. Well after drilling the holes about 5mm to much to the one side we discovered that the plotter fits exactly and now the cover has no space to fit and has to be forced on. Next we had to drill a hole to fit the wiring through and even this didn’t work out as planned and I landed up having to fill extra holes afterwards. So it’s become official, when it comes to boat work, I am an idiot with two left hands.
So here we are back at the boat again. Today being Saturday there seems to be a party going on at the yacht club tonight because as I sit here on the boat I can hear loud music playing in the background. We haven’t gone down there to look because I know that I will spend more money than we have and will probably drink a bit too much and not be able to face anyone in the morning, so better avoided. Anyway we arrived on Thursday afternoon to a stinking maggot and cockroach infested boat. Last time we left we decided that since the power was quite stable we would be able to leave the fridges stocked with some meat and pies for the next time we came down. Well we didn’t calculate that the stupid clowns working on the boat across from ours would unplug our boat and leave it unplugged for long enough to make everything rotten and stink. Even now after two days the fridge still has a “special” smell every time the door is opened.
We had some boat work to complete in order to tick the jobs off our list. So yesterday we started measuring for a book shelve to put the kid’s home school books onto. After we cut the wood to size we had to paint a few coats of undercoat and allow for each coat to dry, so the shelf still isn’t up yet but at least the undercoat is done.
At the moment I feel as if we are not making any progress toward the trip but rather that things are going in reverse. The boat, as I sit here and think about it, is at the moment an oversized extremely underpowered and slow “power boat” with a huge pole sticking up in the middle of it. I cannot use any sails as both the head sail and the main sail aren’t working at the moment. The main sail has to be cut shorter at the foot by about 300mm due to the bimmini and then the bridle has to be sorted out so I can use it. The head sail has got worn out cars so I removed one to find out if it can be repaired or has to be replaced. Guess what, yes nothing can ever be repaired and always has to be replaced at an astronomical amount so no head sail at the moment either.
06 Feb. 11
I don’t know what has happened to me lately but it seems as if I have become completely incompetent. We had to by a new catch for the geyser cover because the last one broke while we were out sailing. The old catch was a swivel catch and not very strong so when we were looking for a new one I picked on up at the marine chandlery and inspected it to make sure that it would be strong enough and not of the same swivel type. We found one that would do the job and bought it along with some other stuff. I don’t know how it happened but when we got back to the boat and started fitting the new latch we were surprised to discovered that it was a swivel latch exactly the same as the previous one that broke. I even checked the till slip to try and find out how this happened and even on the slip it said swivel latch so my only explanation can be that I must have gone blind and stupid in the shop.
Next we decided that we should move the chartplotter screen to the outside next to the helm. A simple job really that should have taken about a half hour to do. Well after drilling the holes about 5mm to much to the one side we discovered that the plotter fits exactly and now the cover has no space to fit and has to be forced on. Next we had to drill a hole to fit the wiring through and even this didn’t work out as planned and I landed up having to fill extra holes afterwards. So it’s become official, when it comes to boat work, I am an idiot with two left hands.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wow what a trip!
28 Jan. 11
At the moment I am sitting at the dining room table in a self catering accommodation named Monia in a small town named Graskop in what used to be the eastern Transvaal but is now called Mpumalanga. The accommodation is unusual in that it is a three bedroom house that has been converted to take guests but everybody shares the kitchen and dining facilities. Luckily we happen to be the only guests so we managed to avoid having to battle with somebody over who drank who’s coke from the fridge.
Anyway we left home on Wednesday morning at 04h30 and drove here. We arrived at eight in the morning at the Sudwala caves and had to loiter about until nine thirty for them to open. We all enjoyed a casual stroll through the dinosaur park before exploring the caves with a guide. Then we took a scenic drive through the mountain towards Sabie. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see much scenery because the mist was so thick that we just managed to see the road most of the time. After having Wimpy breakfast in Sabie we headed to Graskop and booked into our accommodation. On the way we passed by Mac Mac falls but the mist was still too thick so we didn’t stop to look. Once we had unpacked the car we decided to head of to Burkes luck potholes and the Blyde river canyon. The mist was still too thick to stop at Gods window when we passed but lifted as we went down into the valley and by the time we came past Lisbon falls it was clear so we stopped to look at the falls.
I was surprised to have to pay R10 per person to look at the falls as this used to be free the last time I was here. I suppose this is part of the government’s new job creation plan so we paid. Lisbon falls are quite impressive with the roar of the water rushing over the rocky cliffs and the shear drop into the gorge being about 40 meters down so I didn’t feel too badly ripped of. The next waterfall on the way is Berlin falls also R10 per person. Berlin falls is a single stream of water dropping about 40 meters and wasn’t half as impressive as Lisbon falls so I think the price should be adjusted accordingly. It also started raining so we had to run back to the car and leave just after getting to the falls. Anyway the sign clearly states “no refunds” so we didn’t ask for one and just headed on to the potholes instead.
Bourkes luck potholes were named after a guy that wasn’t very lucky so I suppose the name is ironic. The holes are formed when the two rivers meet and the swirling water causes large round holes to be cut out of the rocks in the cliff. The potholes are in the Blyde river canyon which is the third largest canyon in the world and the views of the canyon are stunning. The two rivers that meet are the Treuer and the Blyde river and history tells us that when the Voortrekkers arrived at the canyon they told the women that the men would have to continue on alone as the journey was too treacherous. If the men didn’t return after some time then the woman would turn around and head back. The woman waited at the one river and when the men failed to return on the discussed date the woman mourned and the river was named Treuer meaning “to cry”. The men however caught up to the woman at the next river and that river was then named Blyde meaning happy.
After the potholes we had booked a ghost tour of the Pilgrims rest graveyard but the tour operator called and told us that it was raining in Pilgrims rest so we postponed the tour till the next night.
In the morning we thought we would be able to go to Gods window but the mist was still too thick so we hung about Graskop town instead and went for pancakes at Harries pancakes before heading off at about lunch time to Pilgrims rest for our booked tours of the town.
The tour was very interesting and informative but the night visit to the graveyard was the most exciting. The tour guide had told us that a ghost of a young man lived in her house some way down the hill from the graveyard. Near the end of the tour some “ghosts” appeared at the top of the cemetery and when we left the gates Kyle spun around and closed the gates. The tour guide then told Kyle that by closing the gates the “ghosts” would stay inside the graveyard and he wouldn’t have to panic when he promptly reminded her that one of them had obviously escaped and lived in her house.
29 Jan. 11
We got back home to the land of the big smoke yesterday. Wow what a trip! Both Lola and I were finished our bodies not used to all the walking and climbing of steps. Before we embarked on the journey back home we decided to try Gods window one more time and even though it was still misted up everywhere we stopped at the pinnacle and the mist lifted just long enough for us to view this tall finger of rock standing in the middle of a deep 60 meter gorge. There had been so much rain that the usual stream that ran through the gorge provided a roaring river with wild rapids flowing past the pinnacle and away into the valley. After the pinnacle we drove through the thick mist on to Gods window. When we stopped the mist was still thick but we proceeded to climb the steps up to the top to the many view points anyway. Lola suffered along having to stop every so often to catch her breath and I decided to go on ahead with the kids to the rain forest at the top hoping to catch a glimpse of the great view.
We reached the top lookout spot but the mist was just not going to give us a chance so we gave up and went back down to find an angry Lola on her way up towards us. After being in trouble for a while because we had left her behind and did not return promptly enough to fetch her, she calmed down and forgave but somehow I felt that I would probably be on rations for a while. The mist had cleared sufficiently by the time we passed MacMac falls so we decided to stop and take a look. Unbeknown to us this also included a hike across some rocky terrain. The view was spectacular and worth the struggle.
The rest of the car journey home wasn’t as pleasant because firstly we took a wrong turn that added some kilometres to the already uncomfortable journey and then we had to take an unpleasant phone call from an irate client. Sadly my aching body caused by a combination of the extremely uncomfortable bed at the place we were staying and all the exercise that I wasn’t used to had made my mood dark and when Lola was trying to collect answers for the client I snapped and started shouting at her as if it was her fault. You know what they say “don’t kill the messenger”. Well lets just say I forgot that saying. I think I must have apologised later because she is still talking to me.
30 Jan. 11
All those of you that know me well can visualise me sitting in the garage on one of the green plastic chairs. The garage has always been my entertainment area of the house and I sometimes wonder why we even built the rest of the house because it only serves as sleeping quarters. When we are awake be it alone or with visitors, we are sitting in the garage on the green plastic garden furniture. Anyway this morning I am up earlier than everyone else in the house and I’m sitting in the garage thinking about leaving on the boat when suddenly the reality of the situation dawns on me and I can feel the emotions well up inside. I don’t know how I am going to say goodbye to my kids Amy and Keagan. Its one thing to say goodbye in the morning when they are off to school and will be home that afternoon. Being divorced from their mother has also allowed me to get used to not seeing them for about a week at a time and this has been okay. But now I have to say goodbye and not be able to see them for an indefinite period. I have joked with them about the situation by saying that I not going to tell them when we leave and just phone from Brazil or send an sms saying “oh by the way we are in Brazil at the moment so I wont be able to pick you up from school this afternoon, hope this message gets to you in time for you to arrange a lift”. Funny ha ha, but I really have no idea what I am going to do. So here I am standing at the forefront of the greatest adventure of my life so far, but feeling like I am treading water at the same time.
At the moment I am sitting at the dining room table in a self catering accommodation named Monia in a small town named Graskop in what used to be the eastern Transvaal but is now called Mpumalanga. The accommodation is unusual in that it is a three bedroom house that has been converted to take guests but everybody shares the kitchen and dining facilities. Luckily we happen to be the only guests so we managed to avoid having to battle with somebody over who drank who’s coke from the fridge.
Anyway we left home on Wednesday morning at 04h30 and drove here. We arrived at eight in the morning at the Sudwala caves and had to loiter about until nine thirty for them to open. We all enjoyed a casual stroll through the dinosaur park before exploring the caves with a guide. Then we took a scenic drive through the mountain towards Sabie. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see much scenery because the mist was so thick that we just managed to see the road most of the time. After having Wimpy breakfast in Sabie we headed to Graskop and booked into our accommodation. On the way we passed by Mac Mac falls but the mist was still too thick so we didn’t stop to look. Once we had unpacked the car we decided to head of to Burkes luck potholes and the Blyde river canyon. The mist was still too thick to stop at Gods window when we passed but lifted as we went down into the valley and by the time we came past Lisbon falls it was clear so we stopped to look at the falls.
I was surprised to have to pay R10 per person to look at the falls as this used to be free the last time I was here. I suppose this is part of the government’s new job creation plan so we paid. Lisbon falls are quite impressive with the roar of the water rushing over the rocky cliffs and the shear drop into the gorge being about 40 meters down so I didn’t feel too badly ripped of. The next waterfall on the way is Berlin falls also R10 per person. Berlin falls is a single stream of water dropping about 40 meters and wasn’t half as impressive as Lisbon falls so I think the price should be adjusted accordingly. It also started raining so we had to run back to the car and leave just after getting to the falls. Anyway the sign clearly states “no refunds” so we didn’t ask for one and just headed on to the potholes instead.
Bourkes luck potholes were named after a guy that wasn’t very lucky so I suppose the name is ironic. The holes are formed when the two rivers meet and the swirling water causes large round holes to be cut out of the rocks in the cliff. The potholes are in the Blyde river canyon which is the third largest canyon in the world and the views of the canyon are stunning. The two rivers that meet are the Treuer and the Blyde river and history tells us that when the Voortrekkers arrived at the canyon they told the women that the men would have to continue on alone as the journey was too treacherous. If the men didn’t return after some time then the woman would turn around and head back. The woman waited at the one river and when the men failed to return on the discussed date the woman mourned and the river was named Treuer meaning “to cry”. The men however caught up to the woman at the next river and that river was then named Blyde meaning happy.
After the potholes we had booked a ghost tour of the Pilgrims rest graveyard but the tour operator called and told us that it was raining in Pilgrims rest so we postponed the tour till the next night.
In the morning we thought we would be able to go to Gods window but the mist was still too thick so we hung about Graskop town instead and went for pancakes at Harries pancakes before heading off at about lunch time to Pilgrims rest for our booked tours of the town.
The tour was very interesting and informative but the night visit to the graveyard was the most exciting. The tour guide had told us that a ghost of a young man lived in her house some way down the hill from the graveyard. Near the end of the tour some “ghosts” appeared at the top of the cemetery and when we left the gates Kyle spun around and closed the gates. The tour guide then told Kyle that by closing the gates the “ghosts” would stay inside the graveyard and he wouldn’t have to panic when he promptly reminded her that one of them had obviously escaped and lived in her house.
29 Jan. 11
We got back home to the land of the big smoke yesterday. Wow what a trip! Both Lola and I were finished our bodies not used to all the walking and climbing of steps. Before we embarked on the journey back home we decided to try Gods window one more time and even though it was still misted up everywhere we stopped at the pinnacle and the mist lifted just long enough for us to view this tall finger of rock standing in the middle of a deep 60 meter gorge. There had been so much rain that the usual stream that ran through the gorge provided a roaring river with wild rapids flowing past the pinnacle and away into the valley. After the pinnacle we drove through the thick mist on to Gods window. When we stopped the mist was still thick but we proceeded to climb the steps up to the top to the many view points anyway. Lola suffered along having to stop every so often to catch her breath and I decided to go on ahead with the kids to the rain forest at the top hoping to catch a glimpse of the great view.
We reached the top lookout spot but the mist was just not going to give us a chance so we gave up and went back down to find an angry Lola on her way up towards us. After being in trouble for a while because we had left her behind and did not return promptly enough to fetch her, she calmed down and forgave but somehow I felt that I would probably be on rations for a while. The mist had cleared sufficiently by the time we passed MacMac falls so we decided to stop and take a look. Unbeknown to us this also included a hike across some rocky terrain. The view was spectacular and worth the struggle.
The rest of the car journey home wasn’t as pleasant because firstly we took a wrong turn that added some kilometres to the already uncomfortable journey and then we had to take an unpleasant phone call from an irate client. Sadly my aching body caused by a combination of the extremely uncomfortable bed at the place we were staying and all the exercise that I wasn’t used to had made my mood dark and when Lola was trying to collect answers for the client I snapped and started shouting at her as if it was her fault. You know what they say “don’t kill the messenger”. Well lets just say I forgot that saying. I think I must have apologised later because she is still talking to me.
30 Jan. 11
All those of you that know me well can visualise me sitting in the garage on one of the green plastic chairs. The garage has always been my entertainment area of the house and I sometimes wonder why we even built the rest of the house because it only serves as sleeping quarters. When we are awake be it alone or with visitors, we are sitting in the garage on the green plastic garden furniture. Anyway this morning I am up earlier than everyone else in the house and I’m sitting in the garage thinking about leaving on the boat when suddenly the reality of the situation dawns on me and I can feel the emotions well up inside. I don’t know how I am going to say goodbye to my kids Amy and Keagan. Its one thing to say goodbye in the morning when they are off to school and will be home that afternoon. Being divorced from their mother has also allowed me to get used to not seeing them for about a week at a time and this has been okay. But now I have to say goodbye and not be able to see them for an indefinite period. I have joked with them about the situation by saying that I not going to tell them when we leave and just phone from Brazil or send an sms saying “oh by the way we are in Brazil at the moment so I wont be able to pick you up from school this afternoon, hope this message gets to you in time for you to arrange a lift”. Funny ha ha, but I really have no idea what I am going to do. So here I am standing at the forefront of the greatest adventure of my life so far, but feeling like I am treading water at the same time.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Catch up after computer failure
26 Nov. 10
Yesterday we went off to a shop in Aeroport, Kempton called AMT to look at the different types of fibreglass, and to find out from the experts how to correctly apply their products. We also received a book from another supplier, Flowcrete, about their products and applications. Flowcrete was closing at twelve for their Christmas function so we didn’t get to see any of their products first hand. I like to touch, feel and see things with my own eyes as this makes it easier for me to visualise what is required when I plan a task. At AMT the sales rep explained all the various processes and techniques that are required as well as showing me the various products.
Now when I call to order a ‘SM106B’ at least I have some sort of idea as to what it may be. Next we compiled a ‘short’ list of the most essential repairs and modifications that have to be made to the boat in order for us to leave. The list started at about five items but ended up at about twenty. Something tells me that we will have to have another look at that list.
12 Dec. 10
We arrived back at the boat at last the day before yesterday after what felt like the longest road trip of all times. There wasn’t all that much traffic on the way down but we just didn’t seem to be able to make any progress. Due to some or other problem on the main road the traffic police re-directed us onto a sand, or shall I say muddy side road between some farms and across railway lines. At one point we almost got stuck in the mud when we had to leave the road and drive through the ploughed field. Some trucks were obstructing that piece of the sand road and were already stuck in the mud. I can never understand how the traffic police can send you down a road that isn’t actually usable.
Anyway we arrived to the same scene as every other time with the boat still floating happily on the water but covered in layers of black coal dust. You can’t see that dust in the air but it definitely exists and the boat is testimony to this. I wonder how long your lungs will last breathing that dust in all the time.
Yesterday was a real scorcher at 34 degrees but it cooled down in the afternoon with the arrival of the south westerly wind bringing along with it some rain which was a welcome relief after the sweltering heat.
19 Dec. 10
The weather over the past few days went from sweltering heat to continuous rain to soft drizzle to overcast and back to sweltering heat so we spent our time either indoors or at the swimming pool.
One of our employees, Wiekus, got married last week and I had offered the bride and groom some time on the boat so they came down and spent a few days with us. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal we did however manage to take our visitors for a harbour tour and then a short wet sail in the rain.
30 Dec. 10
Well our last visitors, the honeymoon couple, had barely left when the next set of visitors arrived. This time we were joined by Rauen’s gran, Lella, Vicky and the baby Michael. They only stayed a few days and had never been on a boat before so we decided to give them the whole sailing experience. We started by losing one of the fenders overboard as we motored out of the marina, but managed to recover it. So that would be the man overboard practice done. After motoring around the harbour for a while I tried to hoist the main sail and after much fussing and swearing managed to snap one of the reefing lines and tear the main sail stack pack. We eventually got the sail hoisted with two reefs in as this was our only available option. We then set sail toward the harbour mouth and out into the ocean.
Windfind had predicted 10 knot of winds with the wave height of 1.7 metres spaced 7 seconds apart. This was almost perfect sailing conditions. Well the closer we got to the harbour mouth the more the boat tossed and jostled about. The wave height was probably about 1.7 meters but the spacing was definitely not 7 seconds more like 3 or 4 seconds. The boat was pitching so much that the waves were crashing through the trampolines and onto the deck.
I could see out into the ocean and there was white caps all over the place so obviously not 10 knots of wind as predicted either. But anyway we continued in our quest. I tried to keep the boat pointed in between the channel markers but the wind was just that little too much on the nose for me to stay in the channel. We had already rolled out the head sail and I realised that we would have to tack once or perhaps even twice, in order to get through the entrance. So I decided that I would make the head sail a bit smaller to make tacking easier when we have to tack and to prevent the Sail from catching against the baby stay in front. As I was winching the sail in the rope tangled around the winch and knotted itself into an unusable state. Now I couldn’t winch the sail in more using that winch and I also couldn’t let the sail back out.
At this point Lola suggested that we turn around and call it a day. I had to agree. So we turned around and headed back to the marina. I went to the foredeck and managed to roll in the head sail from there, leaving the tangled rope till we had stopped. We dropped the main sail without to much fuss and motored around the harbour for a short while longer to watch two large coal ships enter and exit at the same time. Those ships have anchors the size of our little boat.
The last incident for the day came as we were pulling into our slip. I needed more power on the port engine and as I tried to open the throttle it came off in my hand. I shouted to Lola that we had lost the port engine and for a second everybody panicked. But then the crew jumped into action, grabbing lines left, right and centre, and quick as a flash we had the boat safely tied up seconds later.
03 Jan. 11
Well, new year came and went as with every other year before. No end of the world as predicted every year by some or other doom sayer. This was our first new year on Yrumoar and we were in two minds as to whether or not we wanted to stay on board or head off to the party at the yacht club. Earlier in the day Frank on the boat next to ours asked me to keep an eye out for flares that may fall on his boat and at the time I thought he was joking. Later in the evening when we ran around on board swatting flares out of the sky I realised that he had obviously been here before during the new year celebrations. We therefore opted to stay on board and were treated to the biggest fireworks display I have ever seen. All around us different groups of people had gathered and it seems as if they had a secret competition going between them to see who had the most spectacular display. At twelve there must have been about 20 flares in the sky at the same time as well as explosions from rockets and bomb crackers coming from all directions. Something weird that we happened to notice was the reaction to the flares that the fish had. At first we thought that the fish were just excited by the new year celebrations but then we noticed that every time a flare came near the water the water came alive with fish jumping all over the place, some of them jumping as high as two meters out of the water. I was glad that we had seen this phenomenon first hand because I wouldn’t have believed anybody had they told me this and also, God forbid, if we ever have to use a flare during distress and all the fish start going mad we may have started to panic that the fish were getting excited because they now have the chance to eat us for a change.
Our new years quit smoking lasted till 3 pm on the first, and then until 4 pm on the second. By 10 am today we were little coughing chimneys again. Maybe the beginning of the year isn’t the time to try changing old bad habits into new good ones.
Next Lola’s laptop decided that it had enough and died on us yesterday, so this morning we had to go out and by a new one. The problem with these gadgets is not the gadget itself but all the info that you have on it. All our photo’s and short video clips gone. Mine died just the other day but I found someone to give it CPR and he brought it back to life without losing any of my info. When we go back to the land of the big smoke next week I will find this guy again and hope he can sort Lola’s out to.
10 Jan. 11
Rowing with the other slaves again today. I struggled to get going this morning but once we got started at the office I managed to get some of my back log caught up.
Yesterday we went off to a shop in Aeroport, Kempton called AMT to look at the different types of fibreglass, and to find out from the experts how to correctly apply their products. We also received a book from another supplier, Flowcrete, about their products and applications. Flowcrete was closing at twelve for their Christmas function so we didn’t get to see any of their products first hand. I like to touch, feel and see things with my own eyes as this makes it easier for me to visualise what is required when I plan a task. At AMT the sales rep explained all the various processes and techniques that are required as well as showing me the various products.
Now when I call to order a ‘SM106B’ at least I have some sort of idea as to what it may be. Next we compiled a ‘short’ list of the most essential repairs and modifications that have to be made to the boat in order for us to leave. The list started at about five items but ended up at about twenty. Something tells me that we will have to have another look at that list.
12 Dec. 10
We arrived back at the boat at last the day before yesterday after what felt like the longest road trip of all times. There wasn’t all that much traffic on the way down but we just didn’t seem to be able to make any progress. Due to some or other problem on the main road the traffic police re-directed us onto a sand, or shall I say muddy side road between some farms and across railway lines. At one point we almost got stuck in the mud when we had to leave the road and drive through the ploughed field. Some trucks were obstructing that piece of the sand road and were already stuck in the mud. I can never understand how the traffic police can send you down a road that isn’t actually usable.
Anyway we arrived to the same scene as every other time with the boat still floating happily on the water but covered in layers of black coal dust. You can’t see that dust in the air but it definitely exists and the boat is testimony to this. I wonder how long your lungs will last breathing that dust in all the time.
Yesterday was a real scorcher at 34 degrees but it cooled down in the afternoon with the arrival of the south westerly wind bringing along with it some rain which was a welcome relief after the sweltering heat.
19 Dec. 10
The weather over the past few days went from sweltering heat to continuous rain to soft drizzle to overcast and back to sweltering heat so we spent our time either indoors or at the swimming pool.
One of our employees, Wiekus, got married last week and I had offered the bride and groom some time on the boat so they came down and spent a few days with us. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal we did however manage to take our visitors for a harbour tour and then a short wet sail in the rain.
30 Dec. 10
Well our last visitors, the honeymoon couple, had barely left when the next set of visitors arrived. This time we were joined by Rauen’s gran, Lella, Vicky and the baby Michael. They only stayed a few days and had never been on a boat before so we decided to give them the whole sailing experience. We started by losing one of the fenders overboard as we motored out of the marina, but managed to recover it. So that would be the man overboard practice done. After motoring around the harbour for a while I tried to hoist the main sail and after much fussing and swearing managed to snap one of the reefing lines and tear the main sail stack pack. We eventually got the sail hoisted with two reefs in as this was our only available option. We then set sail toward the harbour mouth and out into the ocean.
Windfind had predicted 10 knot of winds with the wave height of 1.7 metres spaced 7 seconds apart. This was almost perfect sailing conditions. Well the closer we got to the harbour mouth the more the boat tossed and jostled about. The wave height was probably about 1.7 meters but the spacing was definitely not 7 seconds more like 3 or 4 seconds. The boat was pitching so much that the waves were crashing through the trampolines and onto the deck.
I could see out into the ocean and there was white caps all over the place so obviously not 10 knots of wind as predicted either. But anyway we continued in our quest. I tried to keep the boat pointed in between the channel markers but the wind was just that little too much on the nose for me to stay in the channel. We had already rolled out the head sail and I realised that we would have to tack once or perhaps even twice, in order to get through the entrance. So I decided that I would make the head sail a bit smaller to make tacking easier when we have to tack and to prevent the Sail from catching against the baby stay in front. As I was winching the sail in the rope tangled around the winch and knotted itself into an unusable state. Now I couldn’t winch the sail in more using that winch and I also couldn’t let the sail back out.
At this point Lola suggested that we turn around and call it a day. I had to agree. So we turned around and headed back to the marina. I went to the foredeck and managed to roll in the head sail from there, leaving the tangled rope till we had stopped. We dropped the main sail without to much fuss and motored around the harbour for a short while longer to watch two large coal ships enter and exit at the same time. Those ships have anchors the size of our little boat.
The last incident for the day came as we were pulling into our slip. I needed more power on the port engine and as I tried to open the throttle it came off in my hand. I shouted to Lola that we had lost the port engine and for a second everybody panicked. But then the crew jumped into action, grabbing lines left, right and centre, and quick as a flash we had the boat safely tied up seconds later.
03 Jan. 11
Well, new year came and went as with every other year before. No end of the world as predicted every year by some or other doom sayer. This was our first new year on Yrumoar and we were in two minds as to whether or not we wanted to stay on board or head off to the party at the yacht club. Earlier in the day Frank on the boat next to ours asked me to keep an eye out for flares that may fall on his boat and at the time I thought he was joking. Later in the evening when we ran around on board swatting flares out of the sky I realised that he had obviously been here before during the new year celebrations. We therefore opted to stay on board and were treated to the biggest fireworks display I have ever seen. All around us different groups of people had gathered and it seems as if they had a secret competition going between them to see who had the most spectacular display. At twelve there must have been about 20 flares in the sky at the same time as well as explosions from rockets and bomb crackers coming from all directions. Something weird that we happened to notice was the reaction to the flares that the fish had. At first we thought that the fish were just excited by the new year celebrations but then we noticed that every time a flare came near the water the water came alive with fish jumping all over the place, some of them jumping as high as two meters out of the water. I was glad that we had seen this phenomenon first hand because I wouldn’t have believed anybody had they told me this and also, God forbid, if we ever have to use a flare during distress and all the fish start going mad we may have started to panic that the fish were getting excited because they now have the chance to eat us for a change.
Our new years quit smoking lasted till 3 pm on the first, and then until 4 pm on the second. By 10 am today we were little coughing chimneys again. Maybe the beginning of the year isn’t the time to try changing old bad habits into new good ones.
Next Lola’s laptop decided that it had enough and died on us yesterday, so this morning we had to go out and by a new one. The problem with these gadgets is not the gadget itself but all the info that you have on it. All our photo’s and short video clips gone. Mine died just the other day but I found someone to give it CPR and he brought it back to life without losing any of my info. When we go back to the land of the big smoke next week I will find this guy again and hope he can sort Lola’s out to.
10 Jan. 11
Rowing with the other slaves again today. I struggled to get going this morning but once we got started at the office I managed to get some of my back log caught up.
The look of trepidation
16 Nov. 10
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to write. Firstly I had nothing to say about our trip, and then secondly my computer packed up and had to be repaired. Now all I have to write about would be the day to day trials and tribulations that have occurred at work. Needless to say more tribulations than trials. Or I could make up some wild story from my endless imagination.
23 Nov. 10
Another three weeks to go until we can go down to the boat again. This must have been the longest time away so far and I’ve had the DT’s more than once. Still not much to say though just that work is so bad at the moment that we find ourselves not able to go in to the office for two or three days at a time and when we do manage to drag ourselves there we don’t stay very long, just grab up my paperwork and get out as soon as possible. It’s a terrible thing to loose interest in something that you used to love.
This morning was one of those days that again we didn’t manage to get to the office and instead we find things to occupy ourselves with at home. I was watching a short video clip that Lola had made at the Vaal when the wind was howling and I noticed the look of trepidation on my face for a brief second before I managed to put on the brave face. See if you can spot it. The chewing was one of the many “I’m going to quit smoking” attempts.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to write. Firstly I had nothing to say about our trip, and then secondly my computer packed up and had to be repaired. Now all I have to write about would be the day to day trials and tribulations that have occurred at work. Needless to say more tribulations than trials. Or I could make up some wild story from my endless imagination.
23 Nov. 10
Another three weeks to go until we can go down to the boat again. This must have been the longest time away so far and I’ve had the DT’s more than once. Still not much to say though just that work is so bad at the moment that we find ourselves not able to go in to the office for two or three days at a time and when we do manage to drag ourselves there we don’t stay very long, just grab up my paperwork and get out as soon as possible. It’s a terrible thing to loose interest in something that you used to love.
This morning was one of those days that again we didn’t manage to get to the office and instead we find things to occupy ourselves with at home. I was watching a short video clip that Lola had made at the Vaal when the wind was howling and I noticed the look of trepidation on my face for a brief second before I managed to put on the brave face. See if you can spot it. The chewing was one of the many “I’m going to quit smoking” attempts.
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