South Africa 2014

5 airports, 24 hrs flying in a huge arc over Fort McMurray, the North Pole, northern Finland, Russia, and Afghanistan via Dubai to SA, as many hours waiting, waiting in queues, waiting in transit......and we arrived on Sunday September 21st in Durban at the Cabana Beach timeshare in Umhlanaga.

Luckily there was a brief 5hr sleep in a bed followed by a refreshing shower in Dubai thanks to Emirate's generous policy for weary economy plebs.

We are definitely not in Victoria anymore......some observations:

The ocean off Umhlanga roars with surf built up over thousands of miles of open ocean.

The hired car came with special safety instructions in bold red font....how not be robbed or hijacked.

Pedestrians get hooted out....one must be cautious even in pedestrian crossings.

The grocery shops sell wine/beer but not after 1350 on Sundays.

There are palm trees outside our window.

Vervet monkeys scurry up trees, wrestle with each other and scavenge for bits of food from discarded packaging at the corner.....we are warned about keeping doors and windows closed when we leave our flat.

The ocean water is warm.....no wetsuits on the surfers.

It has been hectic.....but we have met up with many friends and relatives and shared lots of fond memories.  Lunch with Pete and Susan, Kel and Sue,  Hester, dinner with Rod and Dawn, Rusty and Bridget, Sunny and Bev, Pete and Shelley.

More proof we are not in Victoria:
The speed limit is 120kms/hr.......and nearly everybody is going a LOT faster.
On the highway to Empangeni we passed through 5 toll booths.
Perimeter electrified fences, outside heat sensors, trellie burglar guards on all doors and windows & inside sensors to make one feel safe living on a farm.
Witnessing the birth of an Nguni calf.
Discovery of a scorpion under the suitcase on the floor!
Snake stories:  cobra in the chest of drawers, mambas under the front steps, night adder bite on the foot, python in the kitchen, puff adder on the bathroom carpet, etc etc.....yikes!
Night market in mini mall square with 5 vendors offering liquor...wine, beer, vodka and lemonade, champagne to compliment the various food items and make shopping a bit easier.
Guards along the beach promenade.
Enterprising individuals collecting garbage from your car at traffic lights.....money to be made recycling.
Up to 23 ocean-going freighters waiting their turn in Durban harbour.

Biking in Germany 2013

Passau.....we have arrived after 665 Kms...

The 60 Kms today didn't seem very long so we must be fitter.

But it really rained and was cold and so we were glad that we didn't need to think about cycling in the same tomorrow.

Some observations:

Cigarette smoking is not allowed inside bars, restaurants etc but it is not as frowned upon as at home......one can buy cigarettes on the roadside in vending machines.

Pedestrians and cyclists share the same pathway in a lot of urban areas without a problem.

Ragweg-Reisen should be commended for their organization of accommodation in clean, friendly guest houses/hotels in different locales and with different decors.

Our luggage arrived before us every day.

Most of the young people speak excellent English.

The cakes seem less sweet than at home.

Towels warmers are a great idea.

White asparagus is in season now and is delicious.

A lot of towns (including Passau) have pedestrian-only streets in the center.

Young, old, men, women enjoy beer.

Once again we are reminded of how little we need to carry around with us in order to survive/be comfortable.

The weather could have been kinder.....more sun, warmer, no wet days......but we were prepared and everything is available here if needed (Derek felt a lot warmer with his new underwear top!)

Most of the places we have stayed in or eaten in have some sort of stuffed animal/skull/antlers or the like somewhere in the decor.

Artificial flowers are used in the decor.

Orchids popular....on window sills

2 days to go

Here we are in Straubing and about 545kms down the Danube.  10 days of cycling and we have developed definition of our thigh muscles.

The past 2 days have been very cool and overcast but we have been dry despite the dark clouds hovering over us.

Last night we were in Regensburg which was a bigger city with a lovely old town of cobbled streets and alleyways.

We peddled (okay one of us walked) up a steep hill today to have a look at Walhalla.....an Acropolis look-alike with busts of influential Germans.

In a 4star hotel right in the center of town tonight.....and it has a rare bath which we are going to soak our weary muscles.

Hard to believe that we are just 2 days cycling away from the end of this adventure.

Day 8

Day 8 completed in the rain....we are here in Kelheim in a pension right on the Danube. 

Yesterday was a long day in the saddle ....about 70 Kms...luckily for a kind guy on his bike we found 

our hotel.. a very different one from the others we have stayed in...an Art Hotel....and  we lucked into a 

fabulous Tues. night buffet....in bed by 8pm and up at 6:30am.....we needed the sleep. While it has 

threatened with rain for a few days we have been lucky....but today we did most of our cycling in the 

rain.....derek saw a pheasant crossing the path and we saw deer on 2 occasions....surprisingly because 

we have seen deer skulls in most places including the art hotel. Had smoked trout (served whole with 

head,skin attached) in Weltenberg -an abbey....very touristy.....took a ferry down the Danube to 

Kelheim...overcast & cool but not raining.  Kelheim a lovely little spot but very touristy. Already over 

400 Kms done.....and no problems except for tender areas on the backside.

More photos on our way to Donauworth

5th Day

Fifth day cycling

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day for cycling....after overnighting in Obermarchtal & meeting Tony & Brenda Whithers from England again.....we headed out over the fields to Ulm....about 60 Kms....but mostly flat.

Ulm lovely.....promenade next to the Danube.  Hotel close to the tower and with a glimpse of the river. Climbed up Munster but only 250 steps of the 768!

Legs wobbly after cycling 60 +Kms.

Beautiful cathedral.  lots of people enjoying the sunshine.

Day 5 to Dillingen looks to be flat along the Danube.....but it does look like we are in for some rain again.

Was flat got lost recovered no rain till after arrival ...good wine at dinner ...Riesling dry and fruity..Weingartner Flein- Talheim....local venison for dinner.

Pics from day 3