And now the end is near, and so I face the finale - Cape Town!

16 May 2007 The morning is spent sorting photos and typing like a man possessed so I can get my blog up to date. Eventually complete the task at 5 in the evening and go to a bar with Tommy P to celebrate the latest release of what is rapidly becoming a blockbuster....if only in terms of size rather than quality. It's my turn to cook (shock horror) and there is no escape on this occasion so it's back to camp where me, Fraser and Michelle are very ably assisted by the kind help of Katie and knock up a huge feast of Fajitas. The evening descends into pool games, fights with Tom (that boy took one hell of a beating!) and drinking games with the locals. 17 May 2007 It's my sister's 43rd birthday - Lordy! Scrubs up ok for her age though.... Head south across the Namib desert and it starts to warm up. We cross the Topic of Capricorn just after lunch, stopping for the traditional photo shoot. Arriving in Sensiem (think that's right but need to check the map), it is only the desert breeze that limits the heat of the sun. The backdrop of the campsite is stunning, being right at the start of the National Park with red hills and stunning sunsets. Early to bed as it is freezing once the sun goes and we have to be up at 5 in the morning. Self explanatory..... 18 May 2007 Pack the tent away still half asleep and very cold. The park gates open at 5:20 (yes that's a.m) and we still have 45km to cover before we get to climb one of the world's biggest sand dunes (they get to about 350m in Namibia - obviously this changes depending on the conditions). Still bleary eyed we arrive at the dunes and even in the dark the silhouettes look stunning. The climb starts and is pretty tough and not just because it's just 6 in the morning - the sand moves backwards with every step so the effort to climb is three times what it would be just walking up a hill. The whole group of us sound like serious ill asthmatics and it takes a good half hour before we are perched on the dunes ledge. Staying at the top for a good hour to take photos and watch the sun rise it is certainly worth the climb and I hope the photo reflects this. Coming down is a lot easier with Tom and I two of the last to leave, bouncing down the dunes at high speed....not sure quite how we stayed on our feet and there were a fair few at the bottom just waiting for us to go head first down the dune. Sunrise on Dune 45 The Namib desert

After eggy bread for breakfast we head south again, driving for most of the day before arriving at the campsite near Fish River Canyon just as the sun is setting.

19 May 2007

Up at 5:30 so we can get to see the sun rise over the world's second biggest canyon (Gran Canyon being the biggest). The question of when a valley becomes a canyon is not really answered by anyone on the truck. Amazing sight and I am pretty sure that the photos on this occasion in no way do it justice. After a walk along the canyon edge (a definite lack of fences) we have breakfast before stopping for the almost end of tour truck photo.

Fish River Canyon

Group Photo with truck at Fish River Canyon

We leave the canyon at about 9 and head south to the Namibian border with South Africa where we stop just on the Namibian side on the banks of the Orange river. Not a lot to do for the afternoon and not able to watch the FA cup final or the Bulls v Sharks rugby 14 final as the TV is broken....instead we play the cardboard box game - have to pick up a box with your teeth without putting a hand on the floor. Every round an inch is torn off the box. A high standard was set by all....apart from Tom who has the spine of a ninety year old and was pretty much the first one out!

With a music ban in the bar and the campsite the evening's entertainment is provided by Fraser on the mouth organ!!!

20 May 2007

A long day in store so we break camp at 6.30 and cross the border into South Africa with little fuss. 800km to cover and it's cold as we head south through the rain and the wind. Highlight of the day was probably the stop for a wimpy fry up We eventually arrive in Stellenbosch around 7 and it's our turn to cook again. Unfortunately with all the shops shut we have to order in Pizza so I escape once again!

The Orange River and the Rainbow Nation

21 May 2007

It's the wine tour. Su, Tom and I are on the way back from a walk around Stellenbosch and we meet 3 people dressed up in giant pink bunny outfits. Not recognising them at first we realise when back at the Backpackers that this is Fraser, Katie and Steffan. It does not take a genius to work out how the rest of the day went. My lasting memory of the four vineyards we visited is the bloke who works there being chased acorss the gardens of the final vineyard by Stef in a giant rabbit outfit. Stef fails to take the corner and ends up in the stream..... All a little the worse for wear and will definitely add the photo that Su has when I get my hands on it (thanks Su!).

After the wine tour it was a curry and bed.....

22 May 2007

The final day of our trip and the large numer of hangovers on the coach only serves to add to the depression as we roll into Cape Town. After 6 months on the truck very solid friendships have been made and we are all a little nervous of the large slice of reality that will hit us as various people say goodbye and we all make our merry way home. The view of Table Mountain is a fitting sight and I will add a photo when I get an internet that is fully working.

23-28 May 2007

Apologies for the brevity of the last few days but I am now in Mozambique and wanted to get something down on screen. The week spent in Cape Town was something of a blur....mainly because it went so quickly and also because of the amount of leaving dos that we had. Lots of tears were shed during the various goodbyes and in between that we managed the customary trips to places like Robben Island, Table Mountain and District Six. I will add info on all these when I get the chance although I only did District 6 and Table Mountain as I had already done Robben Island.

29 May onwards....

With most people heading home only Dave, Stef, Mich, Tom and I are left. Mich is off surfing, Dave will make his merry way along the garden route and Steff has blagged a mansion to stay in in Cape Town the lucky sod. This leaves Tom and I to head off for the rugby in Pretoria but not before we pay his cousin in Franchoek a visit. Unfortunately she owns a pub and a small vineyard so all very tough. Fantastic hospitality from Jenny, Martin and the three kids - Max, Ryan and Luke.

Pretoria was a little scary. Very much the home of the Afrikaaners and unlike Lizette who I met last time I was here they all seema little less socially aware and Truth and Reconciliation has clearly not reached these parts yet. Things were particularly hairy whan England were ahead at half time and the fact that Tom and I had flags, painted faces (cross of St George) and Tom was sporting a rather natty red and white wig do not help our cause. We had abuse from most quarters but also met some great South Africans (although most were regrettably not Afrikaaners). We sang our hearts out from start to finish and generally took the mick. Got bottles (only plastic) thrown at us, had our photos taken with loads of people (so keep a look out in the Rugby magazines) and got abused (verbally) in the toilets where one kind sole accused me of putting his gran parents in concentration camps....I did point out to him that if we were responsible for the acts of our ancestors then we were all in trouble but I am not sure he quite got the point.

Anyway...after a last night in Pretoria listening to gun and machine gun fire from the townships (all very normal I understand) we headed for Swaziland and are now in Maputo in Mozambique. Heading to Tofo and the beaches for ten days and then its back to South Africa for a speedy flight home. I will add more photos and a general overview of the trip when I get back but for now can I just say a huge thank you to everyone who has made the trip such a hugely enjoyable experience and a big thanks to friends and family and all you blog readers who I have not met yet for your support and kind words over the last 6 months. If you have read all of this blog (well over 50,000 words) then thanks but you really should get out more.

All the very best and hope to see you all in the very near future.

Cheers

John