Monday 21st - 13 DAYS WHEW!

The problem with getting closer to your destination is that you think about it all the time and you want to rush there. I think that is why I was particularly frustrated with the route. Bredasdorp is just out of my reach and Oupoort is too close. I have asked absolutely everywhere and there is nowhere to stay between Oupoort and Bredasdorp. The landscape is very open and crops are grown mostly so no shelter to camp on the road. So I have reluctantly decided to stay on the only farm in the area which caters for guests and it is near Oupoort.

Another beautiful sunrise!

Road to Malgas

I got to Malgas just before lunch and what a place it is. The only way to cross to it is by pont. It is a wonderfully serene place and you get the distinct feeling that time slows down there. Two colourful gentleman pull the ferry along while harnessed in a type of pulley system. I was on my own on the pont and as usual the two blokes asked what the hell I was doing there. After a few expletives and then a quiet pause the older of the two declared proudly that they were donating the R13 to Dumela's education - how cool is that!

Another moving story that I forgot to tell you about happened two days ago when I was fighting the wind in the Herbetsdale area. I was sitting on the side of the road when a beat -up old bakkie pulled up next to me. A beast of a man got out and declared that he was the farmer and what was I doing in the middle of nowhere. After explaining to me he invited me, in his broken English, to stay the night. At that stage I had not covered enough ground so declined the offer. We had a great chat about his different cattle and how he had mixed the breeds to create what he thought was the best cattle for the area. He was full of passion for his farm and the animals and genuinely interested in my trip. I eventually said goodbye to the bearded giant but not before planning a prank. He told me that one of his workers didn't smile enough and was bringing some cows down the road with his dog Brusso, a collie. When I came across them I was to get off my bike and greet Elijah and Brusso like old best friends. About 10km down the dirt track I saw them and called out loudly. Brusso almost knocked me off the bike while Elijah stared nonchalantly up at the clouds. I giggled and he laughed - "That blerrie bossman of mine -he does this all da time cause he says I miss my Mummy in Llolongwe, Malawi too much- he cares too much that big bossman". Anyway we chatted about AIDS prevention in Malawi and then he said that normally he would ask people like me if they could take something back to his family but in this case could he take something to mine. We roared with laughter and I parted company feeling light. My how things have changed over the years!

I am staying on a dairy farm owned by Niel and Saartjie - Niel has taken me for a walk to see a baby Eland that was caught in a fence and now thinks it is a cow. He has also shown me the Cape Vultures with a wingspan of two metres. Maybe there was a reason for me ending up here and I must admit it is incredibly peaceful. Have a new best friend who won't leave me - a cat.

My new best friend

Eland / Cow

Lots of Love

Me