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)

Diary

• Diary

Photography outings

• The colourful world of Bo Kaap
• Kirstenbosch
• Beautiful birds at World of Birds and cute monkeys

Sunset over ...

• Lion's Head
• Clifton
• Llandudno

Adventure

• Paragliding off Signal Hill and then watching Jo do it too
• Ratanga Junction - especially the Sling Shot!
• Leaping on an overhanging rock
• Two Ocean's Fun Run
• Paddling on the Breede River
• Tobogganing

Hikes and walks

• Climbing Table Mountain with Russell
• Walk at Silvermine with Russell
• Walks in the Constantia Greenbelt
• Multiple walks around the block

The beach

• Fishhoek with mum
• Boulder's Beach with mum, Jo and Matt
• Volleyball at Camps Bay with Ev, Brendan and co
• Llandudno with Russell
• Chapman's Peak and Noordhoek with Jo
• Llandudno with Jo and Sam
• Clifton
• 100's of dolphins, including back flips!

Great meals

• Lunch at Buitenverwachting - Gnocchi
• Easter dinner - delicious lamb and the best trifle ever (thanks mum!)
• Constantia Glen - cheese platter
• Easter breakfast at Groot Constantia - French toast (then playing in the "dungeons")
• Beau Constantia - Cheese platter
• Ocean Basket with Jo - Fish platter
• The Cattle Baron (x 2) with mum and Mike, and the Botings - steak and ribs
• Thai restaurant with mum, Mike and Liz - crispy duck
• Lunch with the Pater and Kobus - prawn salad and home-made ice cream

More special times with family and friends

• Reunited again
• Harvest Festival with the family
• Sam's birthday
• World of Birds with Matthew and Jo
• Games with Matt including army trucks, shooting and Xbox tennis
• Fun at the top of Signal Hill with Russell and Jo
• Party at an Elgin apple farm
• Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak with Russell
• Shopping for shoes and clothes with mum and Jo
• Watching Matt play hockey
• Seeing Joanna and Steve
• Meeting up with Rory at Peddlars
• Lunch with Heather in Hout Bay
• Hint Hunt with Russell
• Lunch with Derek and Kobus

All posts from this trip

• All posts from Cape Town 2014 visit

Cape Town Diary 2004

31-Mar	Flight to Cape Town. The Railway Man and docos.
1-Apr	First day in Cape Town. Kids for breakfast. Pick up Matt. Mum & Mike come for dinner.
2-Apr	Restaurant: Buitenverwachting for lunch with Colin, Ant and girls. Table tennis in evening.
3-Apr	Shopping for shoes with mum and Mike. Kelvin for snack.
4-Apr	Photos for mum. Xbox with Matt (shoot dog!) Harvest Festival.
5-Apr	Tennnis (Xbox) with Matt. Kirstenbosch for photography.
6-Apr	Swim. Tennnis, FIFA , skiiing with Matt. Restaurant: Beau Constantia for lunch. Shop for Tshirt.
7-Apr	Bo Kaap for photography. . Waterfront. Vikings.
8-Apr	Mary Ann visited. Fishhoek with mum. Vikings.
9-Apr	Worked.
10-Apr	Did mum's photos. Spoke to Trish. Vikings.
11-Apr	Clifton beach for sundowners
12-Apr	Party at Apple farm in Elgin (Richard and Kerry)
13-Apr	Good day at work. Llandadno sunset
14-Apr	World of Birds photography. Amazing lunch (restaurant). Spoke to Trish
15-Apr	Boulders Beach with mum. Play with Matt with gun. Baby sit.
16-Apr	Worked today. Vikings, Game of Thrones
17-Apr	Spent day and night with mum. Walk dog with mum.
18-Apr	Home from mum. 5.6 km fun run. Houtbay, icecream, Chapmans Peak, restaurant (Panarotti) with Rusell.
19-Apr	Supported Antony in Two Oceans. Worked hard.
20-Apr	Restaurant: Groot Constantia for Easter breakfast. Lamb dinner with mum.
21-Apr	Work. Walked with Jo & Ant. Army trucks with Matt.
22-Apr	Hint Hunt with Russell. Llandadno caching.
23-Apr	Walk in Tokia with M&M. Restaurant: Constantia Glen with family.
24-Apr	Hike up Table Mountain with Russell. Hobit cache. Volleyball at Camp's Bay.
25-Apr	Lunch with Pater and Kobus. Drive to Montagu for weekend away with Russell, Corrin, Daana (Peet se Plek).
26-Apr	Drive round farms (frustrating, walk in farm, paddle along river with Russell.
27-Apr	Paddling with Russell and Brandon - rapids. Sex confessions. Religion talk. Swim.
28-Apr	Drove home via coffee place and Willow Creek (olive oil.) Sam's dinner - Restaurant: Cattle Barren
29-Apr	To mum's for night. Walk. Out to Thai restaurant with Liz.
30-Apr	Ratanga Junction - sling shot!
1-May	Hike at Silvermine with Russell, Heather, Brendan etc.
2-May	Paragliding with Russell. Sunset over Lion's Head. Lovely takeaway dinner and photos with Jo.
3-May	Noordhoek and Chapman's Peak with Jo. Bye Russell.
4-May	Vist Joanna and Steve. Mum & Mike for dinner. Show photo presentation.
5-May	Walked in green belt.
6-May	Dentist. To mum, crochet. Help with comp. Restaurant: Cattle Baron for dinner.
7-May	Walk in Green Belt. LeeAnn and Steve to dinner at Jo's.
8-May	Worked a lot. Saw Rory at Peddlers.
9-May	Mum visited. Waterfront in evening with Jo.
10-May	Matt's hockey. Blog labels. FIFA with Matt.
11-May	Mum for mothers day - Club house lunch. Watched Jo paraglide.
12-May	Thank you letter to mum. Help with Matt project (Egypt.)
13-May	Admin day. Shop to buy paper. Ivor came round.
14-May	To mum's for night. Play crochet. Walk at field. Dinner with Norman and Pam.
15-May	Home from mum. Watch Matt play hockey. Write Jo thank you letter. Finish Breaking Bad.
16-May	Finish thank you letters. Buy Matt game. Mum and Mike for dinner - chocolate mousse!
17-May	To Pater & Kobus for lunch. Meet Frida.
18-May	Farewell to M&M. Tabogoning.
19-May	Heather for lunch at La Cuccina (restaurant) Walk at Houtbay.
20-May	Allison in Camp's Bay. Then massage.
21-May	Sick (nausea and flu like sypmtoms)
22-May	FLY. Travel back to Sydney. Watch Black List.

Hout Bay with Heather

I met up with Heather (Russell's lovely mum) at La Cuccina for a delicious lunch, followed by a lovely walk along the beach.  It was great to have a good chat.

Matt playing hockey

It was wonderful to watch Matt play hockey and take some photos. What a champion he is.

Taboggoning

I love tobogganing in Cape Town, it's such a great way to bond with the kids. We last did it in 2010 and had such a blast. And this time was no different. I put my little camera to the test and got some video footage. I love how it came out.
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Jo goes paragliding

Inspired by my paragliding adventure, Jo went up today.  It was a birthday present from the kids.  Jo enjoyed it, but had a couple of wobbly moments where she flipped out a bit, and said she was very glad to be back on the ground.

What a leaping time I've had in Cape Town

It's been so wonderful to be reunited with my dear friend, Russell, and to leap with him again - sometimes in some pretty hairy places!
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