On the road

We've hit the road...finally. It has been a little over 5 weeks since we arrived in Cape Town, wide eyed and unfamiliar with the rhythms of this beautiful city. Yet once we begin to feel like locals, it is time to move on. Cape Town was a wonderful home base; we are now able to navigate through the city, we now know where to buy what, and we've met some wonderful friends whom we dearly hope to see again...maybe even on American soil where we will have the pleasure to return the gracious hospitality we received. 


Initially we decided to take the newly registered Land Cruiser on a 'test drive' that took us up the west coast of South Africa to the Namibian boarder. We spent a few days in the picturesque desserts of the Richardsveld National Park adjusting to the heat, working out the kinks of our new home and soaking up the beautiful African sun. But sun without wind and waves is a little bit of a tease, so we pointed it toward the south east coast and took off through the mountains heading toward the garden route where the surfs big and the wind steady.


So here we are, two weeks later, wi-fi hot spotting it up at a darling little internet cafe in Port Alfred. Although the surf was up and the wind blowing when we arrived, the future forecast isn't promising. So we are taking the morning to catch-up on correspondence, wrapping up the insurance policy for our car so we can move 'freely' between countries and 'planning' our route; not so much for ourselves, but for the insurance company that will provide coverage for 'some' of the countries we'll be calling home. 


We still don't know where tomorrow will take us, and probably won't for the next year, but all roads lead somewhere. And we like the adventure of not knowing where we'll end up, sleep or even in what form our next bath will take. And I must say, as far as baths go, we've had some good ones. The best has been a perfectly round swimming hole (with frogs!) bored out of the bedrock by a huge year-round waterfall. We just happened upon it as we pulled off the road to get a shot of a beautifully thatched Rondavell. Such luck. But the funniest dip was during a lunch stop; as we were waiting for our sandwiches to arrive Glenn (who had been eying a shimmering pool just beyond the restaurant's terrace) asked the waiter if we could take a pre-lunch dip in their pool. He agreed,so we did. Good stuff, we were fed and bathed all in one stop. Ah the joy of being on the road. 


We've had a nice time in South Africa so far, but are ready to shed the 'Colonial Lifestyle' and head north. I think we'll duck into the mountains of Lethoso, a tiny country surrounded by South Africa like a little island nation. From there I think we'll head NW into Namibia. We've been told that we can take a brief paragliding lesson before being set free to soar above the enormous sand dunes of Swakopmund, along Namibia's west coast. Stoked! If we can't kite surf, at least we'll be able to fly.


I'll post again soon. We miss and love you all like crazy!


Big BIG love,
CP + GP

Is he murdering you?

Asked a British gentleman as I clawed my way across the invisible 'finish line' at the top of Glenn's 10,000 step race up Table Mountain. His question actually answered an earlier question to Glenn, "Is my face purple?" What started innocently as a hike up Plattekloof Gorge an hour or so earlier quickly turned into a race with two Americans in the lead. We barely stopped for water, lest someone pass us, and a 3 hour climb turned into a very brisk 1 hour death march. You guys know what I am talking about. GP takes no prisoners, but we won. We made it to the top without getting passed...even team spandex failed to keep up.

So today marks the end of our first week in Cape Town. So far we have hiked both Table Mountain and Lion's Head, had our fare share of fabulous and awful food, tasted the local beer/wine, GP got his hair cut, I took a cooking class and we waited in line for 2 hours to get a form, that we are not sure we actually need, to extend our visa (never mind the lines for returning the completed form or awaiting the conclusion of said form). As cosmopolitan as this city is, it is still Africa.

Of course, you can hardly get a feel for the place having spent only a week here, but the best part of our trip thus far has been the people. We have met the most incredible people from all around Africa, refugees from the war torn Congo, transplants, locals, hilarious cab drivers, Faldela who welcomed me into her house and taught me about Cape Malay food, Catherine who serves up a loving breakkie and the most beautiful smile EVER, Toni, one of the owners of The Backpack, who is kindly educating me on the human rights attrocities and triumphs here in town, and the rest of the wonderfully hospitable staff here at The Backpack - the best backpacker we've ever been to, hands down. The people have all been exceptional, kind, welcoming and gracious. Tomorrow morning Lea, the other owner here, is going to pick me up and show me around the Organic Market, CapeTown's Saturday market; where I've been told every rich white person shops for food (Toni says she wouldn't step foot in such a place), but I am excited and only a bit reluctant; you know that I can't resist a market day with the girls.

We have also been up the west coast to the suburb Blouberg, where our future 'home' resides. Of course, G and I are not mechanical, so we kicked the tires and looked under the hood (not sure of what we were looking for). Since we are going to be taking this well loved Toyota Land Cruiser for a long, long drive, we decided to have the LC expert of South Africa give his blessing (or not) before we head out. So Monday is the day we find out if this car will make it. If so, we will become the proud new owners of a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser Camper which we will spend the next week or so kitting out for it's long journey north. Wish us luck, we just might need it.

We love and miss you all,
Glenn + Corrin

Preparations

Today I pulled the trigger on our safari camera. Going from a point and click to big gun was a little unnerving, since I contemplated the gorgeous piece of art that I could have for a similar investment, and basically know NOTHING about cameras. Well, let the photo art collection begin...I better be good. Say cheese.

We also settled on a GPS to help guide us around the continent, are narrowing down our vehicle options, reading travel blogs and stocking up on a few items that I can't seem to live without: disposable contact lenses, sunscreen, face lotion, a full on pharmacy (learned this lesson the hard way), a few 'other' items that remain nameless. Wow, is that all we really need to live for an entire year? It is amazing how light you can pack when flying into a major metropolitan city. If we think we'll need it when we get there, we'll have plenty of opportunities in Cape Town, SA.

So the countdown is on. We haven't purchased our tickets yet, but will soon. Glenn has spent a good portion of his days researching the vehicle that will take us nearly around the African continent, if not the entire continent. Four wheel drive is a must, as is reliability. Neither of us are mechanics, or desire to be. I am sure we will have to adapt, as there are several bush mechanics courses available in and around Cape Town. I think one of them was how to fix a 'tyre' puncture with gum tree sap, or something like it. Apparently we need a vehicle light enough to drive on vast expanses of sand tracks, loaded enough to carry a variety of spare parts (a very long list), our necessities (a fairly short list), a second change of oil, all lubricants, gallons and gallons of drinking water, diesel for several hundred miles, my pantry (don't laugh, this is serious business), our BigAss camera, us and everything else that entails.  In addition to all of the other little necessities that make living out of a car for a year a wee more luxurious [read: hammock, down pillows]. You can rest assured, if we forget something major, you'll eventually hear about it. And I thought learning how to use this camera was going to be a challenge.

Bring on the love, the clock is ticking; we want to see each of your beautiful faces before we leave. It is your loving friendship that encourages us to grow, remain connected and truly live in happiness. We're going to miss you like crazy!

Big, huge love,
US

The difference between ordeal and adventure is merely a matter of perspective.