Bring on the silly season!

So we're into December already, and yet things don't seem to be slowing down at all. If anything, the rush is now on to get things wrapped up (no pun intended) for the year. Workwise, I'm pushing my team to get all of our projects delivered by the 15th of the month, so that we can all take a bit of a break. There are a lot of grumpy people in the office at the moment - I guess everyone is feeling the pressure. Not long now...

Being this time of year, and with the shopping centre's well into the "decorating" spirit, K and I decided to put up our Christmas tree today, and its taken its usual spot in the corner of our lounge. Its only been one day, but we're slowly starting to feel that silly season is upon us- hell yeah! Bring it on is what I say!

Its the mongoose

I've been wanting to get a bicycle for a while now, but have put it off due to the fact that we really don't have much storage space in our place. It would either have to be kept in the spare room, or on the balcony upstairs. Putting in the room would mean that we would not really be able to move in the spare room, as its not the biggest of rooms - and putting it outside on the balcony, would mean lugging it up two sets of stairs each time I used it. Then there was the option of clearing out the space under the stairs - but again, where would I put all that stuff.

Anyway, I discovered that the guy who lives in the unit below us was moving out, and there is a storeroom next to his unit that would be available to use. That's when the decision was made.

Right, so would it be a road bike, or a mountain bike? In my mind, and being the type of guy who likes to spend time outdoors, and go exploring, I figured a mountain bike was the way to go.

I ended up ordering a Mongoose Tyax Super, 2005 model. Its classified as entry level, but falls into the sport range, which is one up from the leisure range, and one down from the racing range. Its exactly what I need - not too expensive, something that I can use on the road if I want (it has lockable front shocks), as well as on various off-road trails. Its what they call a "hardtail" model, with an 18 inch frame, rapid fire shifters, and Shimano Deore rear derailleur components. I should take delivery of the bike on Monday 5th Dec if all goes according to plan - an early xmas present to myself... :-)

Otter trail - hold thumbs.....

My first memories of the Tsitsikamma National Park was in 1988 on a Standard 4 school tour which took us from Johannesburg along the Garden Route to Cape Town. It was late afternoon as the sun was setting and a massive storm was building up over the sea that we entered the Nature reserve and as we sat on the bus watching the waves crash against the coastline, I remember thinking to myself what a beautiful place this was.

15 years later I entered the National Park again this time with Alan, Kerryn, Lauren, Stuart and G, and all my previous memories of this beautiful place came flooding back. It was just as I remembered. It was round about this time that I was told about the Otter Trail described as follows:

The Otter Trail is a dream come true for any nature lover and a worthwhile experience for all outdoor enthusiasts. It is undoubtedly unique, one of the most beautiful nature trails in any national park. It leads from Storms river rest camp to the Groot River, crossing ravines, skirting bays, weaving through magnificent indigenous forest and fording numerous streams. It hugs the Tsitsikamma coast as close to the pounding surf as possible, but where the cliffs drop too steeply into the sea below, the trail zig zags upwards to an elevation of 200m on the coastal plateau.

Since then I have always wanted to experience this hike. From the information I have received the cost is R525 per person bookings can only be made 11 months in advance however they take in applications 14 months prior to that. Applications get logged and the day the bookings open the system runs a random selection and notifies the applicants who have been able to secure a spot. I'm hoping our application is successful and this time next year we will be gearing up for our big adventure - hold thumbs!!

Living in Africa...

After a fantastic festive season lunch this afternoon with K's friend Sandra, we had to rush to be at the airport by 4:15pm, as I am going down to Cape Town for a budget meeting tomorrow morning. All was on track, until I got to the airport, only to discover that all flights to Cape Town have been delayed - reason being is that there are potholes on the runway. Potholes! I would believe that if we were living in a place like Tanzania, or Kenya - but South Africa!

Anyway, so here I am, sitting at the airport, in the new domestic departures terminals, in a wi-fi enabled hotspot, with my laptop - whilst they fix the potholes in Cape Town! I'm only going to find out at 6pm, whether they have fixed them to the extent that they can land a plane on the runway - if not, well, there goes that budget meeting tomorrow.

Yup - only in Africa...