The Happy Cruisers go to South Africa

Sawubona Everyone!  Greetings from South Africa. 

 

YAY!!  The much anticipated blog is now up. 

 

We left the Big Island on the night of November 15, 2013 after nine months of planning and a lot of help from our neighbors, friends and extended family in Waimea.  We could not have made this trip without you - Georgine, Chris, Carolyn, Kim, Iva and Laurel, Mike and Erin, and everyone at Forest Solutions, thank you for holding down the fort while we are away.

 

Our first stop on the way included 3 fabulous days in Manhattan to visit Samantha, Scott, Zoe and Ryder, my "sort-of-daughter" and her family.  New York is the perfect half way point on the way to Johannesburg and we were very happy to have Sam and Scott as our hosts.  After traveling back and forth from Hawaii to South Africa numerous times, Marius and I both recommend a stop over to rejuvenate prior to the 15 hour flight from JFK to Johannesburg.  Having Charlie (Sam's brother) there was an added bonus.  He postponed practicing with his band to spend time with us.  We really appreciated it Char!!  We had a lovely time with everyone and so appreciated Sam and Scott's hospitality. 

 

A highlight of the visit was the Holiday Train

Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx.  We were amazed at the model trains whizzing around miniature replicas of New York City landmarks made from bark, twigs, leaves, seeds and all things natural.  Thanks Sam and Scott for taking us with you!!

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I am a proud Grandmama!!   And, ever so lucky to have such a great family.

 

On to South Africa.....

After saying our good-byes in New York we boarded South African Airlines and headed on. The flights were uneventful to Johannesburg and then on to Port Elizabeth where Willie and Katie, (Mom and Dad), picked us up in our cool new Land Cruiser.  We still had a two hour drive ahead of us before reaching our destination at Storms River which is along the well known Garden Route which runs from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.

Marius grew up here (a little to the right of Knysna on the map above) and spent most of his free time, when he was not away at boarding school, with a fishing pole in hand.  Willie and Katie live on a farm at Marienburg, the site of a former saw mill village and Willie's birthplace.  On the farm remain two historic buildings - the old Ryder House (the name of the saw mill) which serves as a guest house and the Marienburg Post Office.  The main house you can see below with the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the background.

 

The Marienburg Post Office at Sunset

The farm is surrounded on all sides by an eighteen hole golf course in process.  There are over 5 miles of golf cart paths great for walking and jogging, all of the streets are paved and the infrastructure in place for a golf estate/village.  We are not one bit upset about the time it is taking to develop because the golf estate has turned in to an amazing wildlife and bird sanctuary with herons, eagles, raptors, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and a huge variety of song birds.  There are also baboons, monkeys, bush buck and caracal and probably a lot of other animals that we have not yet seen. 

 

At night, on a frequent basis we hear the snorting of a porcupine which comes quite close to the house and upsets the dog, who keeps her distance.  We know because it often drops its quills and we've a good collection building.

 

The farm is in the heart of the Fynbos, one of the world's six floral kingdoms known as the Cape floral kingdom.  It is known for its exceptional degree of biodiversity and endemism and stretches from Clanwilliam to Port Elizabeth in a 100 - 200 km wide coastal belt.  This is where Protea originally come from (not Maui) and the colors, sizes and shapes are astounding.   Below are some photos of the spectacular views. 

 

The Marienburg Pond

 

Storms River Peak

Marius very happy to be here!!

View facing North from the Golf Path

 

Fynbos looking East toward Port Elizabeth

Pin Cushion Protea

LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT INSTALLMENT:

LIFE IN TSITSIKAMMA