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Showing posts with label Cape Town visits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cape Town visits. Show all posts

24 May 2025

Summary of my South Africa visits from overseas




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23 May 2025

Cape Town 2025 Highlights


 
A wonderful 7 weeks in Cape Town. One of the great highlights was my week at Afrikaburn. I met up with two special people from the past; Julian and Ross.  It was lovely to celebrate Jo and Sam's birthdays in person and be with mum on Mother's Day.  Some wonderful photo excursions including Betties Bay, Bo Kaap and Strandfontein Sewerage Works. Two super hikes: Echo Valley above Kalk Bay and a night on Table Mountain. Lots of beach and tidal pool visits including Fish Hoek, St James, Llandudno, Camps Bay and Clifton. Some delicious meals out including my favourite; The Cattle Baron. Some sad events too including Jason passing away and Sheila getting ill.


Date

  • 3 April to 20 May 2025  (7 weeks)

Arrival


Afrikaburn


Photography outings


Hiking


Walking



The Beach


Nostalgia


Eating out and food


Family


Friends



Favourite meals

  • Red Curry for Afrikaburn
  • Cattle Baron Madagascar 300g fillet x 2
  • Chicken and Prawn Curry with lychees (With Rory at Millers Thumb)
  • Chocolate brownies
  • Mum's Gammon and mustard sauce
  • Wedgwood nougat
  • Chorizo and pineapple pizza at St James
  • Roasted vegetables at Hussar Grill
  • Brandon's roast chicken with 6 vegetables
  • Mums fridge cheesecake
  • Jo's amazing salads including Thai salad
  • Flame grilled chicken
  • Chicken Sosaties from Checkers
  • Salad and veg bowl in Kalk Bay with Sam
  • Jo's marmite scones
  • Braai buffet at Russell's board game friend's home


End of trip


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    10 February 2024

    Cape Town 2023 & 2024 Highlights



    A wonderful 10 weeks in Cape Town and further afield. Lovely to spend Xmas with the family and Matt's 21st birthday. We went kloofing at Riviersonderend with the Hardcore Hikers. A weekend in Wolseley Fynbos Farm with Russell and Heather.  A fantastic roadtrip to Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass and Ladismith with the family.  A trip to Kleinmond to stay with Mary-Ann.  4 nights in Simons Town with mum and Mike.  And the greatest hightlights were doing Die Hel hike in the Groot Winterhoek with Ivor and Russell and Devil's Peak with Russell and Brandon.



    Dates

    • 27 Nov 2023 - 7 Feb 2024  (10 weeks)


    Family



    Friends



    Nights away



    Hikes



    Walks



    Beaches and swimming


     

    Nostalgia



    Events in order



    2023


    2024


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    4 November 2022

    Cape Town 2022 Highlights


    A lovely 4.5 weeks in Cape Town. Highlights included doing The Wolfberg Cracks in the Cedarberg with Russell and caving in the Ystervark Grot at Silvermine with Russell and Brandon. Also visiting the Strandfontein Sewerage Works, a mecca for birders and getting photos of mating Malachite Kingfishers at Rondevlei.  Listening to the Ndlovu Choir was also sublime.


    Date

    • 2 Oct - 3 Nov 2022  (4.5 weeks)


    Flight and arrival 



    Hikes



    Walks



    Beach 



    Birding outings



    Shows



    Woodside

    • Tour of Woodside Village
    • Lunch at Woodside Village
    • Meeting with Jill van Syl to discuss Antarctica
    • Dinner at Woodside



    Social



    Meals



    All posts


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    15 January 2020

    Cape Town, Plett, Victoria Falls, Chobe 2019 & 2020 Highlights

    A glorious 6.5 weeks in the Western Cape, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Highlights included camping at Beaverlac, ziplining in Ceres, beaching and boating with the Boting family in Plett and doing the Robberg Hike. Futher afield, we flew to Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe and we did wildlife viewing in Chobe.



    Date

    • 28 Nov 2019 - 12 Jan 2020  (6.5 weeks)


    Arrival


    Hiking


    Outings


    Camping tip


    Family and friends


    Trip to Plett


    Victoria Falls and Chobe


    Flying home


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    26 July 2018

    Cape Town and Mauritius 2018 Highlights

    The highlights of this month long trip was a fantastic time in Mauritius celebrating Mike's birthday with the family. Jo and I also went to Aquila Game Reserve and I spent a lovely weekend in Wellington with Russell.




    Date

    • 24 June - 23 July 2018  (4 weeks)


    Arrival


    Walking


    Hiking


    Meals


    Trips away


    Family holiday


    Back to Sydney


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    17 January 2017

    Cape Town & Garden Route 2016 & 2017 Highlights

    It's been a wonderful two months that has flown by.  Lots of quality time with the family. Some great outings and swims at the beach and Silvermine. A fabulous roadtrip. to Sedgefield.  And I even managed to get plenty of work done.




    Date

    • 20 Nov 2016 - 15 Jan 2017  (8 weeks)


    Outings


    Road trip to Sedgefield



    Walks



    Family



    Food

    • Mum's orgasmic Xmas cake
    • The Spur (Pecan Nut Sundae!! x2)
    • Pizza at Pomodoro (Wilderness): blue cheese, onion, ham and sweet fig and the best base ever.
    • Kudu, Ostrich and Steak in Stellenbosch
    • Fish and chips at Woodside
    • Braaid fish and Kalamari with Jo at Kalkbay
    • Pizza at Kelvin with Liz and family
    • The Eatery for lunch with mum
    • Facachia with the Botings
    • Peddlers
    • Forries
    • Lunch at Katima 


    School



    Friends



    Purchases

    • New sunglasses
    • New reading glasses
    • Shoes with mum
    • Battle Field 1 for Matt


    Admin

    • Getting new passport and ID


    Movies

    • Star Wars Rogue 1  (*)
    • Planet Earth 2
    • Happy People, a year of the Tiagra
    • Miss Saigon
    • Girl on a Train
    • Nocturnal Animals
    • Forrest Gump
    • Brooklyn
    • The Lego Movie
    • Miss Saigon
    • Hell or Highwater
    • Sicario
    • Eye in the Sky
    • Zootopia
    • The Accountant
    • The Light Between Oceans
    • Suicide Squad
    • Black Mirror ("Playtest" with Matt, then "Be Right Back" with Jo)
    • Hunger Games Mocking Jay 2
    • Tickled


    All posts from the trip

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    31 May 2015

    South Africa 2015 Highlights

    What a time in South Africa. First the Tsitsikama Trail with the family and Chrisel. Then Storms River, Addo Elephant Park and Mosselbay with Chrisel. Then back to Cape Town do enjoy outings to Kirstenbosch, Lion's Head, Table Mountain, the beaches and Hermanus. Then a super trip on the Baz Bus to Jeffrey's Bay, Cintsa, Hogs Back, Port St Johns, Southern Drakensberg, Northern Drakensberg and Joberg. Finally some more time in Cape Town with the family.




    Date

    • 22 March 2015 - 31 May 2015  (10 weeks)


    Cape Town



    Garden Route

    Cape Town with Chrisèl



    Baz bus



    Cape Town



    All posts from the trip

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    23 May 2014

    Cape Town 2014 Highlights



    Wow, what an amazing 7.5 weeks I've had in Cape Town.  Non stop special memories to savour.  Thanks so much to the generosity and hospitality of my family.  It's been so, so wonderful to spend such quality time with family and friends.  And what a gift that Russell that could be here at the same time.

    Some of the highlights included a photographic outing to Bo Kaap and a weekend at the Brede River with Russell and Brandon.  Some high octane experiences including tobogganing with the family and getting shot off by the Sling Shot with Matt and Sam at Ratanga Junction.



    Date

    • 31 March - 22 May 2014  (7.5 weeks)

    Photography outings



    Sunset over ...



    Adventure



    Hikes and walks



    The beach



    Great meals



    More special times with family and friends



    All posts from this trip


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    1 December 2012

    Cape Town, Orange River, Kruger 2012 Highlights

    A super 6 weeks spent in South Africa including the amazing Kruger National Park by myself and paddling the Orange River with the family.




    Date

    • 26 Sept - 5 Nov (6 weeks)



    Cape Town



    Orange River Adventure



    Kruger National Park Adventure



    All posts from this visit


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    27 February 2010

    Cape Town and Garden Route 2009 & 2010 Highlights



    After a wonderful Christmas with the family in December 2009, I remained in Cape Town for another 5 weeks.  I was able to share in Matt's 7th birthday party with a water slide and lots of splashing and fun.  I also went taboggening with the family which was a great adrenaline rush, especially when I discovered that Sam has no fear of speed and sees no need to apply the brake on corners!

    Other family outings included a trip up Signal Hill to see the new World Cup  football stadium, a picnic at  Llandadno Beach and a day out with mum and the kids at the Waterfront and Oceanarium.  We also did a a lovely Constantia Nek walk as well as walks at Silvermine.

    I also got to see Ivor and I caught up with the people from the Hardcore Hiking club at a braai with James and Fiona.  We also went to Scarborough for the day to see Sean.

    In addition to family activities, I took many photos in and around Cape Town at places like Table Mountain, Paarl, the Muizenberg to Kalk Bay walk, Kirstenbosch, Franschhoek, Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, Camps Bay, Boulders Beach and the World of Birds.

    During the last part of my holiday, I did the Garden Route including Knysna, Nature's Valley, Oudshoorn and Robberg (in Plett). It was good to see this beautiful part of the world again. As usual, a highlight for me was the gorgeous Storm's River National Park where I did the first day of the Otter Trail. I love the way the ocean pounds the coast along this park's rocky shoreline and the sensation of walking across the suspension bridge.

    In Cape Town, I did my first official photoshoot which produced some nice portraits of Meggan's children.  It was my first paying "gig"   I got a great shirt out of the deal!


    Date
    • 19 Dec 2009 - 21 Jan 2010  (5 weeks)

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    30 April 2007

    Cape Town 2007 Highlights


    A short trip to attend Colleen and Steve's wedding. Also a wonderful hike to Myburgh's Ravine where Russell took the ultimate photo of me leaping.


    Myburgh's Ravine with Russell

    Leaping

    Colleen and Steve's wedding

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    13 July 2006

    Cape Town Mid 2006 Highlights (before emigrating to Australia)



    Betties Bay
    • Geocaching with Russel, Aaron and Nicky (the professional photographer) at Betties Bay - running down the dunes, climbing the hill at Gordon's Bay, the Botanical Garden and penguin colony, and walking in the reserve

    Admin
    • Packing the boxes
    • Burning all my papers from way back
    • Getting Skype (at long last)

    Dinner & Food
    • Sushi dinner with Jo and Anthony
    • Delicious SPUR meal with Robyn - with peacan nut sundae
    • Lovely dinners at mum and Mike's
    • Dinner at James
    • Madagascan steak with mum and Mike at Barristers - steak and pepper sauce doesn't come better
    • Dinner at Marrianne - and her adorable dogs
    • Dinner at Jo and Steve and seeing their beautiful new kitchen
    • Jo's amazing biscotti and date balls and mum's chocolate mousse and soup
    • More of that amazing strawberry juice - thanks Steve!!
    • Appletizer - how I miss it!

    Theatre
    • Jesus Christ Superstar at Camps Bay theatre
    • Watching Annie with the kids

    With the family
    • Seeing our wonderful family again. I cannot get enough of Sammy and Matthew. They are absolutely adorable and we are having so much fun together.
    • Snogging in the car wash
    • Ring a ring a roses on the trampoline with Matthew and Sam and many games of hide and seek
    • Some icey dips in the pool (done to impress Sammy and Matthew)
    • Taking Sammy to school
    • Playing with the kids at West Lake and rolling around on the castles
    • Ice skating, "horse racing" and go-cart racing at Grand West - and Anthony's winning of "Hot Stuff" the devil for Matthew
    • Dancing to Abba songs with the Boting clan
    • Mike's birthday party where we got all the family together
    • Taking the kids to visit the fire station and getting to ride in the fire engine and blow the siren - not sure who was more excited, Antony and me or the kids!
    • Gardening with Sammy
    • A visit to St Jame's beach with Jo and the kids

    Friends
    • Seeing all our friends at our Pudding and Punch party
    • Catching up with Julian who has just had a new son.
    • A lovely lunch with Russel, the Boet and Lucy
    • Jeans shopping with Sally. Stretch jeans rule. Thanks Sally!!
    • Seeing Ivor and Janice, Jessica and their new baby
    • Visiting Nicola's new house and catching up with her and Shirly


    Flying into Cape Town




    Outing to St James







    Partying to Abba music with the Boting clan





    Visiting Nicola's new house




    Geocaching with Russel in Betties Bay








    Check out the heron eating a rat!



    And we saw some very cute penguins





    And a dassie. Apparently dassies are related to elephants.



    Family Outing to Grand West - ice skating and fun fare









    Dinner at Marianne






    Out for Sushi dinner




    Playing at West Lake









    Visiting Ivor, Janice, Jessica and their adorable new baby. The cutie in the photos is Jessica.




    Visiting the fire station with the kids and getting to drive in the fire engine with the siren on (very exciting for us adults, let alone the kids!)




    Mike's birthday party   









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