tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41787998217425842522024-02-18T21:38:13.016-08:00NextMillionMiles... Frank, Annie and Bush Baby (our XP Camper)NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-34779630420824113952012-08-28T14:52:00.000-07:002012-09-02T05:52:49.604-07:00Namibia Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span id="goog_1774811636"></span><span id="goog_1774811637"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
T<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he border crossing was a snap; the usual go to immigration first then the police next then customs next and then repeat on the other side and pay the $30.00 carbon tax and you are on your way. It is hard to believe that up to maybe 20 years ago there wasn’t a border between <st1:country -region="-region">South Africa</st1:country> and <st1:country -region="-region">Namibia</st1:country>. It was like crossing between provinces and you only knew that you had crossed into <st1:place>South West Africa</st1:place>, as <st1:country -region="-region">Namibia</st1:country> was known then, if you were alert enough to see the sign.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once across the border we headed to the petrol station as we crossed with as little petrol as was prudent because petrol is about .50 cents a gallon cheaper in <st1:country -region="-region">Namibia</st1:country>. Unfortunately that is the only thing that is cheaper! Camping is 50% more expensive, food is more expensive and you pay a daily fee at game parks for each person and an additional fee for your camper. But, <st1:country -region="-region">Namibia</st1:country> is huge and you will drive many, many miles so cheaper petrol helps balance the budget.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90MIyegLFJN4qZb_6b2B-wYoCjy5xfS6JIkJSllUNnQO5pWYN2wvOFDZFaKMq439t6eQ4PfLVQi40-wMUaZ-wSFczUnuvlqRrb4NaA82fGhcRVccGuPTl_CWMz8TpR6z4rP3_2MxT_7Ha/s1600/Petrol+Station+Namibia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90MIyegLFJN4qZb_6b2B-wYoCjy5xfS6JIkJSllUNnQO5pWYN2wvOFDZFaKMq439t6eQ4PfLVQi40-wMUaZ-wSFczUnuvlqRrb4NaA82fGhcRVccGuPTl_CWMz8TpR6z4rP3_2MxT_7Ha/s320/Petrol+Station+Namibia.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Petrol Station Namibia style</span>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first destination was the <st1:place><st1:placename>Fish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>River</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype>Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> which <st1:country -region="-region">Namibia</st1:country> claims to be the 2<sup>nd</sup> largest canyon in the world after the <st1:place>Grand Canyon</st1:place>. Well, that claim and, as it turns out, a couple of other Namibian claims to fame, are not quite true as the Blue Nile Canyon (or is it the White Nile) in Ethiopia is the 2<sup>nd</sup> largest canyon. You reach the Fish River Canyon by taking a dirt road off the main Windhoek highway or the B1 and drive the hundred kilometers down this deserted, dusty road, and I mean deserted as we didn’t see another car in either direction for the whole ride and then suddenly out of the blue is this ‘Road House’ beside the road. Of course you must turn in and see if they have ice cream and we are amazed by the place. The owner has collected vintage cars and planted them all around his garden. He has a cactus growing out of the engine of a really old Ford and has vintage American cars parked in front of the restaurant and inside the restaurant there are all sorts of vintage auto memorabilia from petrol pumps to vintage advertisements. Man what fun and it doesn’t end there, in the men’s room there are old risqué movie posters and on one wall is a larger than life mural of Pandora! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOP7L9qFq7y3ojqgml8JQfqYzO6doP9G-IPGhRCbNJMafFrk-rGzZCWS4rcM4C0Oi5gZOjvtYb6PgYwOqKB09yt6MTG7UfIy_DHlyn3MtFnZ7fg8LMhA8dALJWJaJOJ1EsLGKYKitsghh/s1600/Lonely+Road+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOP7L9qFq7y3ojqgml8JQfqYzO6doP9G-IPGhRCbNJMafFrk-rGzZCWS4rcM4C0Oi5gZOjvtYb6PgYwOqKB09yt6MTG7UfIy_DHlyn3MtFnZ7fg8LMhA8dALJWJaJOJ1EsLGKYKitsghh/s320/Lonely+Road+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lonely, dusty road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX55DrUqWCClPI1LwlsoGpEtGgKxdo9GCBqazfCh4vPCxZ7Rj75XAYYCePADIExb73eo8GaNxFsaGlLXGg_1m_veDz2FoMvHSwASZCbqNqOywh6wAjepYzW64z0ysDaLdESWht2v4aG9oH/s1600/Lonely+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX55DrUqWCClPI1LwlsoGpEtGgKxdo9GCBqazfCh4vPCxZ7Rj75XAYYCePADIExb73eo8GaNxFsaGlLXGg_1m_veDz2FoMvHSwASZCbqNqOywh6wAjepYzW64z0ysDaLdESWht2v4aG9oH/s320/Lonely+Road.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bush Baby on Dusty Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK38vaXTSp5-TEuTKCy1E3XQFkmF5A9W9mtbcXp9StdziDEZxZcZJwnKlTMD7WI-RurlCURB4tBKjyPPG6Ippx5rhb38jqgHhDrRJ7wEYtpzEuaoSUOY5m4VvDaJ_ioL1Gvwy0s2wNR6mc/s1600/Bush+Baby+kicking+up+dust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK38vaXTSp5-TEuTKCy1E3XQFkmF5A9W9mtbcXp9StdziDEZxZcZJwnKlTMD7WI-RurlCURB4tBKjyPPG6Ippx5rhb38jqgHhDrRJ7wEYtpzEuaoSUOY5m4VvDaJ_ioL1Gvwy0s2wNR6mc/s320/Bush+Baby+kicking+up+dust.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bush Baby</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmWZnx-pcZKMksiDQFML8C0Oo1kFRTM-wGG-5LuOcgGy4Wbn914nSKBuwF1rMUWs9T860REKElGtkaTooVuEn53Sa6gkEmQ4PPDXXcN-wIFC0CHLF-EStG5nBTRIM1tY2NiyeY7KEEX7u/s1600/More+lonely+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmWZnx-pcZKMksiDQFML8C0Oo1kFRTM-wGG-5LuOcgGy4Wbn914nSKBuwF1rMUWs9T860REKElGtkaTooVuEn53Sa6gkEmQ4PPDXXcN-wIFC0CHLF-EStG5nBTRIM1tY2NiyeY7KEEX7u/s320/More+lonely+road.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8iRr8jw2vbOZX0QdOvdnodDD32APJFpAQTk93IwQ02gSzwwRoQjVav_ToOBJgCOFk1C-BOJYd_6cIWv50Nz5BST-rut1lueZsY6VroTL2xWRKI7ngXGjRRvNM9_Z733S3QjajhDyoip8/s1600/Canon+Roadhouse+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8iRr8jw2vbOZX0QdOvdnodDD32APJFpAQTk93IwQ02gSzwwRoQjVav_ToOBJgCOFk1C-BOJYd_6cIWv50Nz5BST-rut1lueZsY6VroTL2xWRKI7ngXGjRRvNM9_Z733S3QjajhDyoip8/s320/Canon+Roadhouse+2a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Canon Roadhouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4qOVNnKPN6Xug4LuCkKX78Lb-qZnNkhpKf3wRvXz5YmLsHwi8z3SV2pYZwjyLLpoY_sa9B9JgryvHJ937B5tr6jzA7i0oBYEkWmWX16FOiUgIIdGHhxGZhyphenhyphenUHYWa1vuoJj2Kh1gcBoZ0/s1600/Canon+Roadhouse+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4qOVNnKPN6Xug4LuCkKX78Lb-qZnNkhpKf3wRvXz5YmLsHwi8z3SV2pYZwjyLLpoY_sa9B9JgryvHJ937B5tr6jzA7i0oBYEkWmWX16FOiUgIIdGHhxGZhyphenhyphenUHYWa1vuoJj2Kh1gcBoZ0/s320/Canon+Roadhouse+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vintage cars in the garden at Canon Roadhouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdiQ1edkZCODzkzpXds92vEKslU7mnnqxrYkGqHJPaZuMRGnsL03H_4a5Y1dUry-y0gsmD_6A-BdbhvVU-6eZbwXkvIVg-R1QnFWC0PWl3ATphnc6Q5ToO0bdwbOOLR6E8JCeuyMCUBNg/s1600/Canon+Roadhouse+Restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdiQ1edkZCODzkzpXds92vEKslU7mnnqxrYkGqHJPaZuMRGnsL03H_4a5Y1dUry-y0gsmD_6A-BdbhvVU-6eZbwXkvIVg-R1QnFWC0PWl3ATphnc6Q5ToO0bdwbOOLR6E8JCeuyMCUBNg/s320/Canon+Roadhouse+Restaurant.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Canon Roadhouse Restaurant</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4e_qYDotXZricU4jBvBCsHQeub3aHQGmI59cJTJdGlcqZ-6LIcmp2lPQ_DA0z8RIQBIKzvJ26rISGjrQFnQk_oeYafrE0dls1oBy0NrAZpKvbAO4Kzyvu1NKOTr1v3sMo_6a2vk-7d4C/s1600/Canon+Roadhouse+Pandora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4e_qYDotXZricU4jBvBCsHQeub3aHQGmI59cJTJdGlcqZ-6LIcmp2lPQ_DA0z8RIQBIKzvJ26rISGjrQFnQk_oeYafrE0dls1oBy0NrAZpKvbAO4Kzyvu1NKOTr1v3sMo_6a2vk-7d4C/s320/Canon+Roadhouse+Pandora.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pandora inside the men's bathroom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had delicious Apple Strudel with ice cream for lunch and decided this was the place to make camp. The campground was shaded and spotless and there was a very clean swimming pool. What an introduction to </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Namibia</st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nbiTRHcR4oe79CGzr3eGbEE8eMnItSkgn-FmZzBdLsHxMlYzxLl0qtm5OWMocKUeXq_wSFlQyl6dl-wFFALcq2dL-s-J8NByTm4LjzFSXArPmh1FHnfedeumN5WVnzj_JMCaAzuI1k5t/s1600/Canon+Roadhouse+Camping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nbiTRHcR4oe79CGzr3eGbEE8eMnItSkgn-FmZzBdLsHxMlYzxLl0qtm5OWMocKUeXq_wSFlQyl6dl-wFFALcq2dL-s-J8NByTm4LjzFSXArPmh1FHnfedeumN5WVnzj_JMCaAzuI1k5t/s320/Canon+Roadhouse+Camping.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Campsite at Canon Roadhouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcEbLrPqUqN3nzE9hQOrOmSbCbIB7NffTYNZ1kVJoDO4u9aCICy07DLQzGNDM5Fc7DM46jxrSFTPVHCCaAaO6npVVsf8-9i8b7WExuf9VtJ1G3KXK-OVzihMdA4-cBKTNTs3y_-EN-jNt/s320/Canon+Roadhouse+Horse+a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Horse begging at the kitchen window outside the restaurant</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That afternoon we drove the 30 or so kilometers to the park and after paying our entrance fee we drove the last 15 kilometers on one of the worst dirt roads in <st1:place>Southern Africa</st1:place>. The road is so bad that South African car rental companies explicitly ban you from taking their rental cars to the <st1:place><st1:placename>Fish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>River</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype>Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Once there the view, although not spectacular, was nice! We spent a very pleasant hour or so chatting with the 3 or 4 other intrepid visitors exchanging stories. The best story was the one told by the young German couple on their honeymoon (Germans seem to like to take their honeymoons in <st1:place>Africa</st1:place> in a rental truck with a rooftop tent, as this must have been the third or fourth ones we had met). They took a park arranged night game drive in the Kgalagadi and when the guide heard some lions she stopped the game viewing truck, which was one of these open top and open sided trucks that are so popular in game parks. They listened to the lions for a minute or two and when the lions got quite close the guide decided to move off, but the truck wouldn’t start so she got on her radio to call for help, but the radio didn’t work either and they were out of cell phone range. The long and the short of it was they were stuck in an open air truck with lions roaming about in the pitch dark for over 4 hours!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpiR32Cd0aiRcmkmr4D5vjVDnQNwPtjrEg_1Nlf-J6Vvq6SPePd6lN36uAHljXrBj4OFcP5Ma9gpNu2bhEuOV9xZTkTKuvEj6AI_1Ijd1gBKd2T2kQT_1wDa6hnP3GEbESeAnaK7v2o1W/s1600/Fish+River+Canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpiR32Cd0aiRcmkmr4D5vjVDnQNwPtjrEg_1Nlf-J6Vvq6SPePd6lN36uAHljXrBj4OFcP5Ma9gpNu2bhEuOV9xZTkTKuvEj6AI_1Ijd1gBKd2T2kQT_1wDa6hnP3GEbESeAnaK7v2o1W/s320/Fish+River+Canyon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fish River Canyon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the <st1:place><st1:placename>Fish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>River</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype>Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> we drove to Aus to see the remains of the South African concentration camp where they kept the captured German soldiers during WWI. Not very interesting, just a plaque in the middle of the desert and some very rusty tin cans. Further east of Aus there is a wild horse sanctuary where a couple of herds of wild horses are protected and roam free. The story of how they got there isn’t quite clear but the amazing thing is that they survive in very harsh conditions and seem to be able to go without water for days on end.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_S-JRX9FEDPuwUS0AR6FziHm-fNickcqpi4mRaJiuKQy7Vpb55YZPRtxpQdAMN9KzV2n1dPNGIwVGX0WkpFO83dawWy9TcUy2DRjO7IQlA2gAT1xcr5Zov8xb08BOYvChxwbRMms7ex6/s1600/Aus+Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_S-JRX9FEDPuwUS0AR6FziHm-fNickcqpi4mRaJiuKQy7Vpb55YZPRtxpQdAMN9KzV2n1dPNGIwVGX0WkpFO83dawWy9TcUy2DRjO7IQlA2gAT1xcr5Zov8xb08BOYvChxwbRMms7ex6/s320/Aus+Memorial.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Memorial at Aus</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoPhRC5mWqfTltLZscCg5XuylYhUvpxnyLZjXRGEDWjo5B7juqQ0Px_Nkzbv8QY9Afq0RUnEz1mqIiETrVc9kh5cAOjgPo6hx8Ca4jwSLVmhDrtrNFQmYqWeVH07630M3Z5Mf-w1yIusR/s1600/Wild+Horse+Sanctuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoPhRC5mWqfTltLZscCg5XuylYhUvpxnyLZjXRGEDWjo5B7juqQ0Px_Nkzbv8QY9Afq0RUnEz1mqIiETrVc9kh5cAOjgPo6hx8Ca4jwSLVmhDrtrNFQmYqWeVH07630M3Z5Mf-w1yIusR/s320/Wild+Horse+Sanctuary.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Entrance to the wild horse sanctuary on the way to Ludritz and of course a Ostrich has to be standing in the middle of the road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIB_ewjLGbg7EHcCyq0OSUl8NIbLRLJFv-x9_68V-5ck_rEWJ3PFVR7edsNouOHt7Vkf1_1ywRfoO36HELZX6luYCw7SkPworH2fYMuLLYlje1MW92W0-PLkU5nrA97jsBOoeV51SHIkP/s1600/Wild+Horse+Sanctuary+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIB_ewjLGbg7EHcCyq0OSUl8NIbLRLJFv-x9_68V-5ck_rEWJ3PFVR7edsNouOHt7Vkf1_1ywRfoO36HELZX6luYCw7SkPworH2fYMuLLYlje1MW92W0-PLkU5nrA97jsBOoeV51SHIkP/s320/Wild+Horse+Sanctuary+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wild Horses</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbqBe7O8sWUe6exZS2MdqEswEhldkuO3vKTPKIjtlagDUjxhS6wFBB3dD3TiUmZXMeiaJX1YDykRk0kUTCLBUqFd3BAEb0iL5VtUgAmVbT2lfqf8Jt0g-2NiBbFKlV1fFJTyRnO0WqZT3/s1600/Wild+Horse+Sanstuary+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbqBe7O8sWUe6exZS2MdqEswEhldkuO3vKTPKIjtlagDUjxhS6wFBB3dD3TiUmZXMeiaJX1YDykRk0kUTCLBUqFd3BAEb0iL5VtUgAmVbT2lfqf8Jt0g-2NiBbFKlV1fFJTyRnO0WqZT3/s320/Wild+Horse+Sanstuary+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stallion with long forgotten battle scars</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our plan was to drive to the town of <st1:city>Ludritz</st1:city> and spend the night. Ludritz is an old German settlement right on the <st1:place>Atlantic Ocean</st1:place> with some famous German style architecture. About 30 kilometers from Ludritz we ran into our first sand-storm. The wind was blowing very hard and the sand was making it hard to see. Once in Ludritz it was still windy and miserable so after a quick drive around town and getting some supplies and petrol we high-tailed it back to Aus and a great campground just 15 kilometers east of town. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8qQAQmK-fFhw6M5enOAApxY2oa5U3LU00VoBFIgh4IB_Ve3szE_-h8lsTzY564N_UqfN1ODncq5iSvccqbSbB7qvLy1O9x5oBqhqySkZqEKkTLAwkqdQJ2nUxEWFrRs43U88LbHe_uLi/s1600/Ludritz+Sand+Storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8qQAQmK-fFhw6M5enOAApxY2oa5U3LU00VoBFIgh4IB_Ve3szE_-h8lsTzY564N_UqfN1ODncq5iSvccqbSbB7qvLy1O9x5oBqhqySkZqEKkTLAwkqdQJ2nUxEWFrRs43U88LbHe_uLi/s320/Ludritz+Sand+Storm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Start of the sand storm on the way to Ludritz</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRjTEy_UowyAzKfAQ0nNMEJeqOEaM-vpjNwlrZic_6AeMgPr4yZDMmdnh9LvePT38S4_6aQyMapgme6m8VgIjgDwytYoIFJfa-Ew-Yp4xGL6wVwdjSdQSCesRXzTkFiSBW3IhHBAXQwHl/s320/Ludritz+Downtown.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Downtown Ludritz</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKoF70iI9r9tBNVlgF3cqvj_EMXc14yeO8vqUm3d1nAaS7vvHyRd6RDXjLUjT0OMvVd2d-GMUNkvKLt_QBzr-Mln7r37YXRnwNP38F-8d96_cIMPzYhbVxuw1WWkMHFw3CGVVP-oy_9Z2/s320/Aus+Campsite+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Camping at Aus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Jfvsq1GTlWz_LaFWxAlcUkkkPIQLNqhyrIRmazWnMEuP4JTQlDpjXb6T_VKcVtaPpRAPLUPewCTN68aUUf_bwPp53346YZHPBKhH3lIteS_UFPetA7ZW6aIbnj0D4BgKLNBkavc2suVH/s320/Aus+Campsite.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Aus campsite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next day we set off for Keetmanshoop which really has a Wild West feel to it. It is named after a German gentleman who supported the mission in the small town by sending them supplies and helped finance the mission, so they named the town after him which translates into Keetman's Hope as he gave the mission hope. Nice story I thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVxO2u_sVs21TdChXIqTWswY-SAFd3NWBJbWaqUDQ8AEgEYo2e2dU2TMSpaCMZYZRXAhmUcLVy6a9bKDxQffKwRJJSz-QH4JmaGNmhMzFYylqepMNYuwOhveRRqpmHICrHjG3coq7hFZg/s1600/Keetmanshoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVxO2u_sVs21TdChXIqTWswY-SAFd3NWBJbWaqUDQ8AEgEYo2e2dU2TMSpaCMZYZRXAhmUcLVy6a9bKDxQffKwRJJSz-QH4JmaGNmhMzFYylqepMNYuwOhveRRqpmHICrHjG3coq7hFZg/s320/Keetmanshoop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Keetmanshoop. Shopping done. Notice the wig?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We wanted to spend the night at the <st1:place><st1:placename>Kokerboom</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> but the campground was hot and dusty, with little shade. We decided to get our money back and move on to a farm campsite 30 or so kilometers down the dirt road which was much more pleasant. The <st1:place><st1:placename>Kokerboom</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> wasn’t that great either and I think the one just outside Nieuwoudtville in the Northern <st1:place>Cape</st1:place> is not only bigger with many more trees but it is also free!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSkoDm6h_fOcxMjpOenIRB_hJBE-SJ4DPQYAEJ4Mg9CB9qP2zl9PQnbYPVJ5RJKNKN_lKQUgRQyu7i15G-bB-8NOCEI4wNs_OdYIlUSCawjZpJsrAo8x9GwbdtWz6-d5_uCJxUPHAkMlj/s1600/Keetmanshoop+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSkoDm6h_fOcxMjpOenIRB_hJBE-SJ4DPQYAEJ4Mg9CB9qP2zl9PQnbYPVJ5RJKNKN_lKQUgRQyu7i15G-bB-8NOCEI4wNs_OdYIlUSCawjZpJsrAo8x9GwbdtWz6-d5_uCJxUPHAkMlj/s320/Keetmanshoop+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Horse cart on the way to the farm campsite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8skb3Xw1mxd0UbwKQ7vKFIK6q-Li7rfCTGEu0ny07XuYeCOXcJy1NqVHAbrd7Yt9aj48w44LnkJaCnNHQMmslWsq36IEXOlJqJccHvmqfHf7SZW4x7yhp8yfnkJC2GAQkmNRaOL7FSXD/s1600/Keetmanshoop+Cowboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8skb3Xw1mxd0UbwKQ7vKFIK6q-Li7rfCTGEu0ny07XuYeCOXcJy1NqVHAbrd7Yt9aj48w44LnkJaCnNHQMmslWsq36IEXOlJqJccHvmqfHf7SZW4x7yhp8yfnkJC2GAQkmNRaOL7FSXD/s320/Keetmanshoop+Cowboy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Namibian cowboy on the way to the farm campsite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On to </span><st1:city style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Windhoek</st1:city><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for much needed supplies and an oil change and service for the Chevy. Each time we visited a dealership the excitement that the truck generated was amazing. The service guys call the salesmen over and then the manager’s show up. There is a general buzz going on with questions being thrown at you from all sides. When we were deciding to bring the Chevy to </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Africa</st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we got in touch with Chevy </span><st1:country -region="-region" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">USA</st1:country><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and questioned them about the Chevy Lumina in </span><st1:country -region="-region" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">South Africa</st1:country><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, (the Lumina also has the 6 Liter gasoline engine). They referred us to Chevy South </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Africa</st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> who assured us that the engines in the 3500 HD and the Lumina were the same, albeit tuned a little differently. They also assured us that we would be able to get parts for the engine in </span><st1:country -region="-region" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">South Africa</st1:country><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. They were right, as oil filters and such are readily available. We then offered to show the truck to select dealers in </span><st1:country -region="-region" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">South Africa</st1:country><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> so they could see what an American Chevy looked like and we would do it not wanting anything in return. We never heard back from Chevy South </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Africa</st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and I think they missed out after seeing the reaction of the staff at the couple of dealerships we have visited for a service. They show a tremendous pride in the Chevy product….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NS8Xc-h0g6JMo70OLpWdYMDiRxpz4yijNMJ2ZyK2CwgL6Cl8caXMB3fXtJFcfBCB2BkmZz0BZeqgHvkaxVHLOrM7gN3X_cMubgsOvGWGG8x9gU6h_BqfEzCqPQw-sqgrvTZahxrAOzHQ/s1600/Goes+on+Forever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NS8Xc-h0g6JMo70OLpWdYMDiRxpz4yijNMJ2ZyK2CwgL6Cl8caXMB3fXtJFcfBCB2BkmZz0BZeqgHvkaxVHLOrM7gN3X_cMubgsOvGWGG8x9gU6h_BqfEzCqPQw-sqgrvTZahxrAOzHQ/s320/Goes+on+Forever.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And the road goes on</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="goog_26927922"></span><span id="goog_26927923"></span>Finally we are on our way to Etosha which is one of the must see places during our trip. We arrived at Etosha’s Anderson Gate quite late in the afternoon and rather than pay the entrance fee for just a couple of hours of game viewing, we decided to camp about 50 kilometers outside the park at a private campground. We got up bright and early the next morning and were on our way to Etosha before sunrise. We arrived at the gate about 45 minutes before the gate was due to open. I got out to stretch my legs and heard the grunt, grunt call of a lion. Never fails to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, it must be a primeval thing, I don’t know. Now the excitement really kicked in. Lions just the other side of the fence. Oh Boy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6-X7BwxrIxMPxAWgYcJGMNKye6gVzgJjOQeSTR7V3Tq7bvO2bs7ZfUjTzjZwmiz6OTI7UKkQPFy52dj8ks-EGsOihxpQFnbDLsGsm0ucS8vY_3zaQcrqZrEQwlgE0dUSppbN9gLlA5kg/s1600/Ethosa+Sunrise+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6-X7BwxrIxMPxAWgYcJGMNKye6gVzgJjOQeSTR7V3Tq7bvO2bs7ZfUjTzjZwmiz6OTI7UKkQPFy52dj8ks-EGsOihxpQFnbDLsGsm0ucS8vY_3zaQcrqZrEQwlgE0dUSppbN9gLlA5kg/s320/Ethosa+Sunrise+a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunrise outside the Etosha gate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoui9XEATohfBR0xVLKFBJ5chfu6pO8OSHVxNIb3_AbFQioYlYSE-zvhVcpNaQ_2iGNz7Lxcg-MRBRdV_wqA5v7Bg6sQLB_fJqIa1oCCLWFrx6SgXN2ajGofi3Dxvx5-UDlH-G61MUfiJ/s320/Mossie+net.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Annie's innovative mosquito net around our bed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-42578344816833407902012-05-10T03:32:00.000-07:002012-05-10T03:32:05.533-07:00Support is Everything update 1<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the things that excited us about the XP Camper when
we went on the buying visit was that it had Webasto appliances and we were sure
we would get service for the appliances worldwide. We had the exact same diesel
stove in Australia and our friends Mike & Liz just had the same stove
installed in there camper in the U.K. So when the heat control switch on the
stove broke we were not concerned and thought we would give Webasto South
Africa a call and find out which dealer in <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region> we needed to visit to
pick-up a new one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, after going through an incredibly ill thought out phone
tree, for over 15 minutes, repeating the same sequence of buttons like a madman
expecting a different result, I eventually got through to a pleasant young man
and when I informed him of my problem he wanted me to call back and speak with the
tech department as they don’t sell the stove in South Africa and the controller
would have to be ordered from Germany or the USA. I flatly refused to call back
as I explained that their phone system stinks, “Oh, we just it installed it
this weekend and are having some problems with it” was his reply. Hmmmm, would
you please have the tech department call me back so we could work things out. 3
days later and still no call, so I thought I would get Marc involved. His
instant reply was that he would get his rep in San Fran on the case and they would have the controller shipped out the next day. O.K. great, not a very big issue
as we had set the heat controller to the medium setting and we could still boil
water, fry bacon etc. It just meant we had to hang around and wait for the
part.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we hadn’t heard from Webasto by the end of the week I
sent Marc another message asking for the tracking number. He forwarded my
message to the rep asking the rep to respond. Well, we still had heard nothing by the
following Wednesday and then Marc sent us a message and said he was going to
pull the controller from the camper he was currently building and would ship it
to us the same day. I think he, with his dry German humor, called it a donor
part. I guess Webasto had dropped the ball again. So here was Marc to the
rescue one more time and who knows where he was getting a replacement for the
camper he was building. It arrived the following Monday and was installed and
working within 20 minutes. Thanks again Marc and Toni.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Webasto needs to take a couple of lessons about what
customer service means from Marc and XPCamper…..</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Two things I have learnt to hate about <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
first day of the month. Because gas prices, which are set by the government,
go up. The price of gas started at R10.65 a liter and now, 4 months later,
it is at R12.33 a liter which is exactly $6.00 a gallon.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Ibis. When I saw my first Ibis 30 years ago in Kenya I was beside myself
with excitement, maybe because of its association with Egyptian Gods, I don’t know but I
thought it was a special moment! Not so much any more. They are everywhere
and they like to call each other, with this awful noise, constantly, but in
particular they like to call in the early morning just before sunrise.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know I am extremely privileged to be here in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place> seeing and enjoying amazing stuff, but I hate the
Ibis and the first of the month!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-37886343034481095422012-04-25T04:36:00.000-07:002012-08-29T11:21:42.317-07:00Cape Town to the Namibia border<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><u>John's Photo</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As John has requested a close-up photo of the XP I thought how better to start this update than with a John photo. As you can see we fly the American Eagle each time we raise the camper! Lots of looks but no comments yet. Actually it was a test as we wanted to add murals on the sides of the camper and we weren't sure if lowering and raising the camper would rub the murals off so we bought this cheap sticker and after hundreds of lowering and raising it is still there. Never got around to doing the murals though!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rMHBBaBzAr31tQQkD74QxuyBkt40JiBFUeGJyI3Imtytz7gy7C6W0pegq2Do74RWpFqjDwhIwzMG28x681mi-jOtkhiTzfeEdEZ_BGL7M9af-eoP1ZOrEKzwrejzHl8VFn8-4JaVetjK/s1600/Dsc00637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rMHBBaBzAr31tQQkD74QxuyBkt40JiBFUeGJyI3Imtytz7gy7C6W0pegq2Do74RWpFqjDwhIwzMG28x681mi-jOtkhiTzfeEdEZ_BGL7M9af-eoP1ZOrEKzwrejzHl8VFn8-4JaVetjK/s320/Dsc00637.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">American Eagle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Northern Cape</u></b></span></st1:state></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After leaving <st1:city w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:city> we then spent a couple of days at Yzerfontien where the beautiful white sand beach stretches for 16 miles. Great for walking and enjoying the cool ocean breeze. Our camping neighbors were cattle and wheat farmers from nearby Malmesbury and with typical South African hospitality, they gave us samples of their cooking, so we got to taste fried Snoek, which is a very large fish caught in the ocean during the winter months. They had frozen and kept it especially for their holiday week at Yzerfontien. Fresh matured beef from the farm and of course boerewors (farmer’s sausage) which was delicious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Yzerfontien we visited the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">West</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Cape</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> which is a small park that surrounds Langebaan lagoon, a turquoise large lagoon which is a known for its flamingos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLQUwzQLxFQtNCDwVIV92HAFHzt3Bgu_N0GTdfS7ALs7rQU_rLqutJWtZH33D6bDMPXLiXbFxF2C-4N9qBrqsR3_hbyyt3w6DAqu0LpBO9JvyKehKOhI0SmmNsZKtp6K_moJWvcLmFg-L/s1600/Img_3284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLQUwzQLxFQtNCDwVIV92HAFHzt3Bgu_N0GTdfS7ALs7rQU_rLqutJWtZH33D6bDMPXLiXbFxF2C-4N9qBrqsR3_hbyyt3w6DAqu0LpBO9JvyKehKOhI0SmmNsZKtp6K_moJWvcLmFg-L/s320/Img_3284.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kudu in West Coast National Park. You get some idea how thick and tall the brush is.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxVsLFa0X6DOt-T1YrIE3RRs6TwUZSgSESrKZ3-4WRGc-uwhEaKrHq9CTwX5QLcT6G9RsgNxQmSmd0pQ8Dueaz7EV6BnxcZmZow6We-GV3FNWX2dygGFJ0od6YVaYM3CyeBpDyouyvV-9/s1600/Dsc00483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxVsLFa0X6DOt-T1YrIE3RRs6TwUZSgSESrKZ3-4WRGc-uwhEaKrHq9CTwX5QLcT6G9RsgNxQmSmd0pQ8Dueaz7EV6BnxcZmZow6We-GV3FNWX2dygGFJ0od6YVaYM3CyeBpDyouyvV-9/s320/Dsc00483.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abandoned building overlooking Langebaan Lagoon in the West Coast National Park</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our campsite for the night was at Paternoster’s Columbine Nature Reserve which is a fabulous park right on the <st1:place w:st="on">Atlantic Ocean</st1:place>. The road to our site was sandy and a little rough but the destination was well worth it. We were all alone and right on the water’s edge where we enjoyed the sun setting over the ocean. Memories are made from such places.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia-XtQz234llk20LpN_O1P6sir7e2Vq9kuRWTw977DSbvM8_Hya_jE6IYx1CGwkpKglwvxPF7ldNpOBGzrcJvLMdZ3NFT7UrlwsC5woGjAgtMdpDQpyf56ui3_h1LbuPABlgtdGsTxOX1/s1600/Dsc00484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia-XtQz234llk20LpN_O1P6sir7e2Vq9kuRWTw977DSbvM8_Hya_jE6IYx1CGwkpKglwvxPF7ldNpOBGzrcJvLMdZ3NFT7UrlwsC5woGjAgtMdpDQpyf56ui3_h1LbuPABlgtdGsTxOX1/s320/Dsc00484.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paterrnoster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bYuljzY731ZUE_W98VLCAfFNaC1DEh8HHB9iSCClSyBXYv6b0eEdsnYISU-KpATff7-BsbCzIC4ND21PlURAeor48SHMIgPXa3tO4k2m3zeYpHviI04PLEZZT15_145Vfyis33c8lJh6/s1600/Dsc00487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bYuljzY731ZUE_W98VLCAfFNaC1DEh8HHB9iSCClSyBXYv6b0eEdsnYISU-KpATff7-BsbCzIC4ND21PlURAeor48SHMIgPXa3tO4k2m3zeYpHviI04PLEZZT15_145Vfyis33c8lJh6/s320/Dsc00487.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sun downers at Paternoster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtw40zIqKbKyRZcy0hzUD-DuE6G8a8HQd-Ph8hUG0eAADWb1uH581upWHbFi0AYYqEyKdSKAFN-mzPsef2YSsxlYV5LcaSL8Qb6WjPjINDqKbV41doGKg2CudNJpHgw-rj_BAVh3W6bQQD/s1600/Dsc00495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtw40zIqKbKyRZcy0hzUD-DuE6G8a8HQd-Ph8hUG0eAADWb1uH581upWHbFi0AYYqEyKdSKAFN-mzPsef2YSsxlYV5LcaSL8Qb6WjPjINDqKbV41doGKg2CudNJpHgw-rj_BAVh3W6bQQD/s320/Dsc00495.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paternoster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuJg9i1yogN9L2T93PWu3Jv_OSSmDYiYljg7kgy2cYXjxggcAIgIvKdx-Oa9GZC9Abokp0FzYBgdyhG3GMEvlS1SePKRc8W1o0FTk9vdksEH__T__ug2ywkmxMm231t1ovU9WPgDANR5-/s1600/Img_3313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuJg9i1yogN9L2T93PWu3Jv_OSSmDYiYljg7kgy2cYXjxggcAIgIvKdx-Oa9GZC9Abokp0FzYBgdyhG3GMEvlS1SePKRc8W1o0FTk9vdksEH__T__ug2ywkmxMm231t1ovU9WPgDANR5-/s320/Img_3313.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Early morning fog surrounds the lighthouse at Paternoster</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next day we drove the very rough road to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">St Helena</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> and then our first dirt road that was a toll road! Yep, dirt roads can be toll roads.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimitVjjskyFVEPI0VE_nKHP7ds0u36Nt8RTyV-KJqHADa2Gzn2wTkaaswwLh1sTFK3UYVqv8Ri3bbLqfjxnLlFKdEy4y0o-jdQLsSMoTAJ_uWaOGalyW2KTJxgdA3sMOEFsOuIDdZHfBDM/s1600/Img_3324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimitVjjskyFVEPI0VE_nKHP7ds0u36Nt8RTyV-KJqHADa2Gzn2wTkaaswwLh1sTFK3UYVqv8Ri3bbLqfjxnLlFKdEy4y0o-jdQLsSMoTAJ_uWaOGalyW2KTJxgdA3sMOEFsOuIDdZHfBDM/s320/Img_3324.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Toll Road African style</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Elands</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> we went inland to Clanwilliam and the Cedarberg mountains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then had the long drive to Springbok and it was time for laundry and grocery shopping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCqegtvOVlCtCtbynTeQKGdmIBAzg9lhosvq7oFtFEjdgrv6Lo6GYXZ9QEzc_Pnch56XKPrdDTxDrpg-4hrmX2H_PdZNK4PiCiiAoRLWECTVZdCdq892B05Tt26sb-QSHZDmBbVGFNVb5/s320/Img_3325.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vineyard at Clanwilliam with the Cedarberg in the distance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FTbI19HVJXvrgVQr3GBcfdC3Ds4gWHKC2tiTXfHg-riuW9IB_gBKmaYoVOVDOhxa8_s_KKIykP6IUfS89Apgp0tyzQ_9qcRSBNe4-_YEPApDSd_NU9f7bc5u1xJMCPwc27s63H0RKuQv/s320/Img_3335.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yellow Mongoose in the Springbok campground</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then took the N14 East to see the <st1:placename w:st="on">Augrabies</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Falls</st1:placetype> and make our way to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kgalagadi</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Transfrontier</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The N14 was an exceptional good road for being so remote and relatively little traffic and then we found out why; BMW has sponsored the road and helps pay for its upkeep as they use the road in the heat of the summer to do their high-speed heat testing. While we were at Augrabies there must have been 15 or 16 brand new BMW’s of all shape and sizes which they had shipped over to do their testing with. Boy do the Germans know how to party?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaJdW37AetTjScvUE3k0P3bUtdq2DVHvD9VTjvmL1a0yUoZ9SF52R-OeUX0wXy9VkPI0J1jfmL2kmVLAGaP-wSf-5ZxA4ent0SsKif9BHKb0MzfINJsV33-ivyFvx3Or2g7mpf5MyGUCe/s1600/Dsc00564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaJdW37AetTjScvUE3k0P3bUtdq2DVHvD9VTjvmL1a0yUoZ9SF52R-OeUX0wXy9VkPI0J1jfmL2kmVLAGaP-wSf-5ZxA4ent0SsKif9BHKb0MzfINJsV33-ivyFvx3Or2g7mpf5MyGUCe/s320/Dsc00564.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">BMW Speed and heat testing road.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf6EAhA-hn86AnjmFZ5hF2d8SQ1dX63TCiiznDcTbJFLfixplGRLLqA9p7Q2NyidpsNnrYAA3CwEeg-hT2YwXNf8jOt4_o2eL80UtlOubSJEm8Q8aVpiuHabfpBhb6c3GeNHOXx5CWIAM/s1600/Img_3356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf6EAhA-hn86AnjmFZ5hF2d8SQ1dX63TCiiznDcTbJFLfixplGRLLqA9p7Q2NyidpsNnrYAA3CwEeg-hT2YwXNf8jOt4_o2eL80UtlOubSJEm8Q8aVpiuHabfpBhb6c3GeNHOXx5CWIAM/s320/Img_3356.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Along the Orange River on the way to Augrabies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTbKneSLBxI5rHaTf316ak8VgMw5Fk5comPywLjbY-m6z1eaKftQjz2wJpi-Pd3RCIPNeOTTWOElNPggNf-_sW93Mkfw2PTLa3mxKr98KrbqoMbq5AYJP5dMUCyiVpBvgrx_kjWTskqP3/s1600/Dsc00547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTbKneSLBxI5rHaTf316ak8VgMw5Fk5comPywLjbY-m6z1eaKftQjz2wJpi-Pd3RCIPNeOTTWOElNPggNf-_sW93Mkfw2PTLa3mxKr98KrbqoMbq5AYJP5dMUCyiVpBvgrx_kjWTskqP3/s320/Dsc00547.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Workers laying the grapes out on slabs to dry into raisins.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1dB243KR0U4aKhm_srmthK8mn-O1Hu5CIv_LhfhZZB6iaxRGdEDhEusBtlC_7PwemCCNHJ9TC25b7Se4Ie9M6t5QJuCnJ__8Igk1VTEtiJBXPId8UOJ8RMZ5Y1Wvjsv2LB8L7dFmCSbd/s1600/Dsc00565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1dB243KR0U4aKhm_srmthK8mn-O1Hu5CIv_LhfhZZB6iaxRGdEDhEusBtlC_7PwemCCNHJ9TC25b7Se4Ie9M6t5QJuCnJ__8Igk1VTEtiJBXPId8UOJ8RMZ5Y1Wvjsv2LB8L7dFmCSbd/s320/Dsc00565.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Quiver Tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTwwfJ8Y-EJBBpESpi3FGAg9vLbNEmWfhb3b64vHdnRVCulvwgq_nFtuYA5bNIrgjK1MQwZDRyWaSNZFHTPt05Q26rXhZa0wmyhqZCRFN3fObYSsBRSZTjanvt6HaKpajhxzoWRNw6hdu/s1600/Dsc00532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTwwfJ8Y-EJBBpESpi3FGAg9vLbNEmWfhb3b64vHdnRVCulvwgq_nFtuYA5bNIrgjK1MQwZDRyWaSNZFHTPt05Q26rXhZa0wmyhqZCRFN3fObYSsBRSZTjanvt6HaKpajhxzoWRNw6hdu/s320/Dsc00532.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Aurgrabies Falls Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHATw86DmB5hck1Oo3SHhHqAaW7IDfJ_sbt_f9Lj0j5GcTWbQ8nw0H5rYmDu3CpisnhP1sd1CCtPM2ae5Mbon8K2UFk-GAexIPsoSLGfsxgYA1YSBsFhYMYZxP4nogTZCOrmR9B3J9Tcl/s1600/Img_3344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHATw86DmB5hck1Oo3SHhHqAaW7IDfJ_sbt_f9Lj0j5GcTWbQ8nw0H5rYmDu3CpisnhP1sd1CCtPM2ae5Mbon8K2UFk-GAexIPsoSLGfsxgYA1YSBsFhYMYZxP4nogTZCOrmR9B3J9Tcl/s320/Img_3344.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Aurgrabies Gorge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next was the Mandatory stop in the busy town of <st1:place w:st="on">Upington</st1:place> to stock up before heading to Kgalagadi.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most if not all parking lots for shopping centers have parking marshals that guide you into and out of your parking space and watch your car while you are shopping. It is </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">customary</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to give them a small tip of around .50 US cents or so. Well, while we were being guided into our parking spot in the Upington supermarket’s parking lot, there was a sudden bang and our back left just sunk down. Annie thought we had hit something real sharp and had blown a tire, but on further inspection the ground under the wheel had given way as it was over some sort of drain. The hole was so large that the entire tire was sunk up to the axle. I engaged 4 wheel drive low and the locking diff clicked in and out we came. It was quite shocking to see the size of the hole. And the adventure continues. Yes, we still tipped the parking guy, much to his surprise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKDQ1q4A78SferRDOmi0S90MaXqWHcmW8G5YDIfUw20bUUqMHwZ0_jjVuYDmOaYYahFahZQYGTgLa-37hVDZB1Xe41TIiHP_2PGyh7ZkwMTA74kDYH5b6m0JbCNKXDUTmij8gS8IUe7BI/s1600/Dsc00550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKDQ1q4A78SferRDOmi0S90MaXqWHcmW8G5YDIfUw20bUUqMHwZ0_jjVuYDmOaYYahFahZQYGTgLa-37hVDZB1Xe41TIiHP_2PGyh7ZkwMTA74kDYH5b6m0JbCNKXDUTmij8gS8IUe7BI/s320/Dsc00550.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Collapsed storm drain that almost ate Bushbaby</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had broken the key to the door of the camper and were using the spare key but knew we needed to replace the key as soon as possible. So one of our chores in Upington was to find a locksmith and see if we could get a new key. The Upington locksmith studied our key for a minute or two, shook his head and said “Nope, we don’t have this key in <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country>, but I can make you one if you like!” He then went out back and returned with what he said was an old Nissan ignition key. Filed it down to approximately our key size and then duplicated it on his key machine. We then went back to the camper and did a test fit and when it didn’t work, back we went for some more filing. We did this a couple of times and then finally the lock turned! He brushed the key off with his wire brush, oiled the lock and with a huge smile gave me the new key. When I asked how much, he just smiled and said "Welcome to my country". Typical South African hospitality and kindness. Thank you Mr. Locksmith in Upington! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had a g</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">reat campsite under a huge tree but boy it was noisy that night. Saturday night in the big town.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-yaFdBA3Y6YBsSXRvkGdePEwWaaYL2m6FGSXt-JBbTH4kqZOeHfD9CQfiVKvChcYckNHRg5a7PoHaX7_99RmKLKNJxOWY8OOyP44xz_qiaGmC1ZE_v55fp-YGMID7-0OwT2KGwTIkt0u/s1600/Dsc00552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-yaFdBA3Y6YBsSXRvkGdePEwWaaYL2m6FGSXt-JBbTH4kqZOeHfD9CQfiVKvChcYckNHRg5a7PoHaX7_99RmKLKNJxOWY8OOyP44xz_qiaGmC1ZE_v55fp-YGMID7-0OwT2KGwTIkt0u/s320/Dsc00552.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Camping in Upington. We always looked for the biggest tree.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lonely Planet Guide Book had pointed out that the last 60 kilometers to the Kgalagadi was on a very bad dirt road and that many of their readers had broken their cars along that route, with that in mind we left very early the next morning so that we could take it really slow along the bad road and not break our truck. Well surprise, surprise, since the last update to the Lonely Planet guide they have tarred the road and so we had a very easy ride all the way to the park. The last 40 kilometers or so you travel through the San Peoples land and many of them have small huts next to the road where they sell their handicrafts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had made the long trip to the Kgalagadi as it is one of the very few places where you can see the Black Mane Kalahari Lion. It is also famous for its beautiful red sand dunes. Well, I guess we should have checked the guide books a little more closely as we arrived at the end of the rainy season so the grass was knee to waist high and there was tons of water everywhere. That meant the dunes were covered in grass and the animals didn’t have to be restricted to the few water holes as there was plenty of water. So the end result was although we heard the lions calling at night we didn’t see any and of course all the dunes were as green as grass. Even though we were there at the wrong time of the year we had a great time, we especially enjoyed camping at Rooiputs which is a wild campground on the <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Botswana</st1:country> side of the park. Wild means that there are no fences between you and the animals, which is way too much fun. Although this is where we heard the lions we didn’t get see them, but we were lucky enough to see a rare African Wild Cat walk through our campsite and we were visited by a couple of male Ostriches. We now need to return to the Kgalagadi in the dry season!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_NVfUNw4IqZIHTgfx6OidxOolURe9PaJ2OieX1-1X0etrDxeezf3Jk9DNEVAdzOERICSVqa-S6UrZXWmnGI8ELlY1hS93PwBimMaNObhF9RDsKvQlhtUMvTO20jvOYhRMR8pridTmfm-/s1600/Img_3349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_NVfUNw4IqZIHTgfx6OidxOolURe9PaJ2OieX1-1X0etrDxeezf3Jk9DNEVAdzOERICSVqa-S6UrZXWmnGI8ELlY1hS93PwBimMaNObhF9RDsKvQlhtUMvTO20jvOYhRMR8pridTmfm-/s320/Img_3349.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kokerboom or Quiver Tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RZL5pkQ3vPr9m9ujBT2qXDD2X1z3yU0npm42SIsGk6AkHg4rc5DIsJV-AxG0dzBUp6x-ivnyqi_JIECA4dDi8cNsPtfGUlaThnQmI3HDoEX7IqXxA2PjXfDlG01CbIQV4TH95jpQPcOr/s1600/Img_3380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RZL5pkQ3vPr9m9ujBT2qXDD2X1z3yU0npm42SIsGk6AkHg4rc5DIsJV-AxG0dzBUp6x-ivnyqi_JIECA4dDi8cNsPtfGUlaThnQmI3HDoEX7IqXxA2PjXfDlG01CbIQV4TH95jpQPcOr/s320/Img_3380.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gemsbok using its long horns to scratch its butt</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN__8n9g7z7b26AgBW6iucnDY2G7KBO5tba6nile9iAflK7uxETiWDGpJeGoUD3CndOFJchkQvi-G9WNbbbfGerkHuf9h5sBquE6wizbSSUl7-00u7wg4fhQjZfx6laxhr_pyRZyrMs_VI/s1600/Img_3411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN__8n9g7z7b26AgBW6iucnDY2G7KBO5tba6nile9iAflK7uxETiWDGpJeGoUD3CndOFJchkQvi-G9WNbbbfGerkHuf9h5sBquE6wizbSSUl7-00u7wg4fhQjZfx6laxhr_pyRZyrMs_VI/s320/Img_3411.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gemsbok</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ghszb5emE25DFWpTDqM_M2Fl6zxES2BRrL0WNsl2lsjkJtfuDRV9JwVeeSSCpwyZ2h1MdIsrGhsVlMFZ5IhnFxvJlmbqO0HAj4-IvE0SiCGROrrWBxfeRNtinvIKs6X3VSedo4RwORh/s1600/Img_3409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ghszb5emE25DFWpTDqM_M2Fl6zxES2BRrL0WNsl2lsjkJtfuDRV9JwVeeSSCpwyZ2h1MdIsrGhsVlMFZ5IhnFxvJlmbqO0HAj4-IvE0SiCGROrrWBxfeRNtinvIKs6X3VSedo4RwORh/s320/Img_3409.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Baby Springbok amongst the wild flowers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xZ2Z5CGcgPcM4zd2h99ZlVN1smwAX4QlnaGfADAKBGeWwYqkMTHrgxP6Oi5TkVNyiD73i96Ajc7Ey8kKhkt5btL9El0Q78LlP1GHIauJ55ysC7RGHgooVyQwKA0_u-501TJpzUJtuwn7/s1600/Img_3418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xZ2Z5CGcgPcM4zd2h99ZlVN1smwAX4QlnaGfADAKBGeWwYqkMTHrgxP6Oi5TkVNyiD73i96Ajc7Ey8kKhkt5btL9El0Q78LlP1GHIauJ55ysC7RGHgooVyQwKA0_u-501TJpzUJtuwn7/s320/Img_3418.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Goshawk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLmrGF7JYUCs64ta92P5jGBb1OjOj5VLPEDke6RulpWktLKofg8te0mHYy2fVGVQKOc8kiSj13lLcaJv-0aH-9mckcTIA6ER7OcY-Dx08tUqxUWCOAQ4B564iVEsguaUjUkOaMdrCUJEu/s1600/Img_3419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLmrGF7JYUCs64ta92P5jGBb1OjOj5VLPEDke6RulpWktLKofg8te0mHYy2fVGVQKOc8kiSj13lLcaJv-0aH-9mckcTIA6ER7OcY-Dx08tUqxUWCOAQ4B564iVEsguaUjUkOaMdrCUJEu/s320/Img_3419.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blue Wildebeest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpcMIpj1V95AjYLSqwdpe6CSE8KT7cHfhZShH_8OioVvY_tNTc38eNt6_COyaHO9LHiSFefxMw5SK3y_bkKhvDUlLBIYNNSdOlHVBJykBCApdQUwOS6k0TEJ34OZyh8LMxk9nEeT50xb0/s1600/Img_3430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpcMIpj1V95AjYLSqwdpe6CSE8KT7cHfhZShH_8OioVvY_tNTc38eNt6_COyaHO9LHiSFefxMw5SK3y_bkKhvDUlLBIYNNSdOlHVBJykBCApdQUwOS6k0TEJ34OZyh8LMxk9nEeT50xb0/s320/Img_3430.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leopard Tortoise</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgclaL62NE6mZRnd9Sl8lhOb4apRNNtm8VRrmSSAXGBa-FwyyhwhBN1ane9nQSDKwCJQAACwGX7PwpWXzMInoQQ2fx0LCFtd6QT8XJ9eB9Rt7JV3wSegZDjGj55v_8DQ4OIeKSoWR3Tgk/s1600/Img_3455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgclaL62NE6mZRnd9Sl8lhOb4apRNNtm8VRrmSSAXGBa-FwyyhwhBN1ane9nQSDKwCJQAACwGX7PwpWXzMInoQQ2fx0LCFtd6QT8XJ9eB9Rt7JV3wSegZDjGj55v_8DQ4OIeKSoWR3Tgk/s320/Img_3455.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Weaver nests get so large that portions </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">drop o</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ff and th</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">en the</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">y </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">just rebuild!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgge5uRfzMIkBRICbV2UeiVpzV8zDkUELmZ4sZYCJTxFn3SeymgFT4uhmsYWBazr68eBBxjfUGG8OarZ505da_XFfHkyHmQroPkUxGS6rhqpHUc2HDNWwFT2afVKl8yxl5HRJh9wTHSqW/s1600/Img_3470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgge5uRfzMIkBRICbV2UeiVpzV8zDkUELmZ4sZYCJTxFn3SeymgFT4uhmsYWBazr68eBBxjfUGG8OarZ505da_XFfHkyHmQroPkUxGS6rhqpHUc2HDNWwFT2afVKl8yxl5HRJh9wTHSqW/s320/Img_3470.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Safety in numbers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTojXoE92ApscyNCBdzK60IDjwyftzI-u6wlfP3QCnYhMxjYDSqi6rDmG_gR0_6oxwqlYd76RLnOaYCdKtw7dNJdj5rVv-kld5sM9Jiqlzeuy8-kIqp3Kns03oVLrCdpO1OESMqd05Xq-K/s1600/Img_3488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTojXoE92ApscyNCBdzK60IDjwyftzI-u6wlfP3QCnYhMxjYDSqi6rDmG_gR0_6oxwqlYd76RLnOaYCdKtw7dNJdj5rVv-kld5sM9Jiqlzeuy8-kIqp3Kns03oVLrCdpO1OESMqd05Xq-K/s320/Img_3488.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Springbok</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x2msQdf_wZ31es1ycgHs-IMSYtC9uy7ucIEQhszwpff3y0AgvV4v9aOGbnkI2pnRsqZDAN-Ycc0JIFlzHp252TLCZl06Pk0qH54MuoMfIKjFLS10BKLkZbIyBX6chqQCJi5WM2sJfwDF/s1600/Img_3498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x2msQdf_wZ31es1ycgHs-IMSYtC9uy7ucIEQhszwpff3y0AgvV4v9aOGbnkI2pnRsqZDAN-Ycc0JIFlzHp252TLCZl06Pk0qH54MuoMfIKjFLS10BKLkZbIyBX6chqQCJi5WM2sJfwDF/s320/Img_3498.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bateleur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV15uL4B9CFq_franEATQce3uUTIc3Pw1_bT4INADqhkwSrFCOjJw4cs_-MOCCgzq128OZlaPCgjMwhc5altBE5gXMczP0r7qB7wP3Yx0sKbYLy8nBE8Po6V7e9GeEHw7QMa9gSJeeE9nf/s1600/Img_3514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV15uL4B9CFq_franEATQce3uUTIc3Pw1_bT4INADqhkwSrFCOjJw4cs_-MOCCgzq128OZlaPCgjMwhc5altBE5gXMczP0r7qB7wP3Yx0sKbYLy8nBE8Po6V7e9GeEHw7QMa9gSJeeE9nf/s320/Img_3514.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monitor Lizard</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEPp0Fc55Dklr2J0fW8_ex_MA5uAZRQypsoyDsov_STcZv5vMSoCCwdgeoxHfFpRlLOHo0-wlDDo_DFZVUc2hULyFVIEVcHHTridgw15sAV5uIM2W_wKc-egW0D3WmJZqjiEuXdGoFy8Y/s1600/Img_3527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEPp0Fc55Dklr2J0fW8_ex_MA5uAZRQypsoyDsov_STcZv5vMSoCCwdgeoxHfFpRlLOHo0-wlDDo_DFZVUc2hULyFVIEVcHHTridgw15sAV5uIM2W_wKc-egW0D3WmJZqjiEuXdGoFy8Y/s320/Img_3527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tawny Eagle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33wrJ6KIQHeShJFuyUYKv7CHBTH-3u5Fyv7ygTn371j1hmROyPoiwFao2E2euT9UWzIIu_wrY2Kz1sdb_uamjyg5MlonngEqcH24d7pdhUvElmOJalv1c3i5lSGEL230XNHwB-hFBigFb/s1600/Img_3615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33wrJ6KIQHeShJFuyUYKv7CHBTH-3u5Fyv7ygTn371j1hmROyPoiwFao2E2euT9UWzIIu_wrY2Kz1sdb_uamjyg5MlonngEqcH24d7pdhUvElmOJalv1c3i5lSGEL230XNHwB-hFBigFb/s320/Img_3615.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">T<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">awny Eagle down for a drink</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjYvZxbpCDitim5UhInvtV91Y7lb3Pf2EDotAUfYuSOHj2Ehb_-slLvhSbdhRH2hCSXDlY-AJ5I_Iduh-Jm19jxjxr43FZc8W46DKHwQ5cCOujUxx86jnbkjVRv-f2UJE7Da4QMcltSd5/s1600/Dsc00562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjYvZxbpCDitim5UhInvtV91Y7lb3Pf2EDotAUfYuSOHj2Ehb_-slLvhSbdhRH2hCSXDlY-AJ5I_Iduh-Jm19jxjxr43FZc8W46DKHwQ5cCOujUxx86jnbkjVRv-f2UJE7Da4QMcltSd5/s320/Dsc00562.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sign in Kgalagadi Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt60R_XdF9jX69RCKeg3kAAhyphenhyphenBSTX7Q4quBpyNFXzvTiXQHIB3P_qQL60XT3EMYyleoEvG_10YGj4S4TL6WAMTNDuBzLEV78dsG0Vf5OkQl6S3xk3SKYQ-CPwQdJIl4giRXgl0G5dBM8r/s1600/Img_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt60R_XdF9jX69RCKeg3kAAhyphenhyphenBSTX7Q4quBpyNFXzvTiXQHIB3P_qQL60XT3EMYyleoEvG_10YGj4S4TL6WAMTNDuBzLEV78dsG0Vf5OkQl6S3xk3SKYQ-CPwQdJIl4giRXgl0G5dBM8r/s320/Img_3556.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wild camping at Rooiputs Botswana</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTJjepTtQhsD_IO3-TXx1mX2-f6vmSHSHxLtrxlowr3Ylnu3mV-_G1EBGLuTfN6Zt47RP0QTR6jRet1jY7A_eZzxV1kORLcoa4FbP7vmuP88cy1vIbzGMg88065q2ukdazwhBPnXE_wkX/s1600/Img_3594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTJjepTtQhsD_IO3-TXx1mX2-f6vmSHSHxLtrxlowr3Ylnu3mV-_G1EBGLuTfN6Zt47RP0QTR6jRet1jY7A_eZzxV1kORLcoa4FbP7vmuP88cy1vIbzGMg88065q2ukdazwhBPnXE_wkX/s320/Img_3594.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our neighbour at Rooiputs through the long grass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Hmmm maybe the lions were closer than we thought!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNpFefKtohKd_bdpz2YbwxRspIgL1_OLY4WvuWFaaDxzqKZ8hB6T7gMNtSResVtVSJ-PNAQGmbAR8s6DOihqZNTHkhBQRrdZoi_oFTzunS1X0P0RNN6CGYFyG0FqVWR3hhoM5EF9k1Rpv/s1600/Img_3626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNpFefKtohKd_bdpz2YbwxRspIgL1_OLY4WvuWFaaDxzqKZ8hB6T7gMNtSResVtVSJ-PNAQGmbAR8s6DOihqZNTHkhBQRrdZoi_oFTzunS1X0P0RNN6CGYFyG0FqVWR3hhoM5EF9k1Rpv/s320/Img_3626.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">African Wild Cat taking a stroll through our campsite at Rooiputs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfmkGunq0Ama1HKkjwNxFeqCHNTfV3YhfOJl-V_OyhQY8ziqmfJ2UZZnAOoEspL65olHhwwlL3OTW4dVVhAxkI29QZkmVh-O6qsOHDD3QsPeLavyXZSSzMNQnidLH47yaD-wgS8lsCQMi/s1600/Img_3614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfmkGunq0Ama1HKkjwNxFeqCHNTfV3YhfOJl-V_OyhQY8ziqmfJ2UZZnAOoEspL65olHhwwlL3OTW4dVVhAxkI29QZkmVh-O6qsOHDD3QsPeLavyXZSSzMNQnidLH47yaD-wgS8lsCQMi/s320/Img_3614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXbMfbUmTkV6-wbXWPvZxkZGAr5X_H-aEU55OEX5f92o2P3-egzXCdxJ2XIQR87xSp6dI_dUN9NbFEeTl390EZE7KPesB6gId3EHR_HVY-9nwHJ-B0rqXvTn5JJy_r2to3_nqNUocdpMC/s1600/Img_3619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXbMfbUmTkV6-wbXWPvZxkZGAr5X_H-aEU55OEX5f92o2P3-egzXCdxJ2XIQR87xSp6dI_dUN9NbFEeTl390EZE7KPesB6gId3EHR_HVY-9nwHJ-B0rqXvTn5JJy_r2to3_nqNUocdpMC/s320/Img_3619.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ground Squirrel using its tail as an sunshade during the heat of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwNqkkB4zpQYqSU3NtoGAASm0UknMidkC3OmfWgbDT8HTygp0TU-rJFfIFy4XG4HJ-otRpE8NAQgriuqoZ9dj7SejTpumzJIw-hl8E_1ny2CKjY41Hi-DfY-Gd_TiouChIl5Ozn59kK00/s1600/Img_3630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwNqkkB4zpQYqSU3NtoGAASm0UknMidkC3OmfWgbDT8HTygp0TU-rJFfIFy4XG4HJ-otRpE8NAQgriuqoZ9dj7SejTpumzJIw-hl8E_1ny2CKjY41Hi-DfY-Gd_TiouChIl5Ozn59kK00/s320/Img_3630.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A family of Red Hartebeest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">After the Kgalagadi we went back West to the small seaside town of <st1:city w:st="on">Port Nolloth</st1:city> and then North to <st1:placename w:st="on">Alexander</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Bay</st1:placename> and the <st1:place w:st="on">Orange River</st1:place> mouth where many diamond mines are located. Both Port Nolloth and <st1:placename w:st="on">Alexander</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Bay</st1:placename> were cold and fogged in so off we went to Vioolsdrif and our last night in <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country> before crossing into <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Namibia</st1:country>. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-1cTmlIClBs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">
2 Minute video of the Orange River Detour</div>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nwJ6xnBPQUWAqhR59C65KDoO9VSmna7hJe_E_6lWUp39e8HV47tbFsxv4mOHsZ8NYrDAbSVfyzudb1ECpB5fhNexoexen6SFhkKGlsbjdh0x46gGqTsSSot8J5mUvpEipC1Tbf_zx8bg/s320/Dsc00570.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A surprise through the fog at the Orange River Mouth</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-38156917663436485772012-04-04T06:44:00.000-07:002012-04-04T06:44:31.145-07:00What has worked for us and what has not worked.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>The Chevy</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We opted for the Chevy 1 ton over other platforms solely
because the Chevy 6.0L gas engine is sold in <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region> in the Chevy Lumina,
and therefore parts, for the engine, would be available. Now if this was sound
thinking or not I can’t say as having anything major going wrong with any
modern day engine is mush less likely than say 15 or 20 years ago. I think the
harsh conditions here in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place> are more
likely to cause peripheral parts to fail, i.e. drive train or suspension.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 3 months and about 9,000 miles and easily 2,500 of
them on dirt, the Chevy has exceeded our expectations. It has carried the load
of the XP over and through everything and anything including axle deep sticky
mud in Etosha, soft slippery sand in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Alexander</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Bay</st1:placename></st1:place>, Etosha & the
Kgalagadi and not once has she given up and said no more. Now probably any
platform would have done the same, but we know what the Chevy can do and we are
pleased.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did receive a fair amount of
criticism from naysayers pointing out, amongst other things, that the gearbox was going to fail, that
the front suspension was not built for what we are asking it to do, and then we
had the examples of others who have done similar Overland journeys in their
Chevys and encouraged us to be brave and, as Nike says, just do it! Rick &
Kathy of Travelling Tortuga fame <a href="http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/">www.travelin-tortuga.com</a>
have taken their Chevy from <st1:state w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state> to the tip
of South America and back to <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>, shipped it
to Europe, explored the Atlas Mountains in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Morocco</st1:country-region>
and then traveled to <st1:place w:st="on">Eastern Europe</st1:place>. There is
also The White Acorn who rode the <st1:street w:st="on">Ice
Road</st1:street> of <st1:state w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state>
before completing a similar journey to the tip of <st1:place w:st="on">South
America</st1:place> in their Chevy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did modify the suspension a little
including adding Super Springs at the back. They have worked great as they not
only help carry the load (our springs are a good 1/8 inch off the helper
springs) but they also help control the rocking and rolling which could have
been severe on the off-road situations. We installed Bilstiens all round and
everyone swears by them, as do we. We also raised the front-end about 2 inches
by having Central 4 Wheel Drive in <st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place>
install a new key. We had Suma Springs installed in the front which I think was
a waste as the new key did all the real raising of the front end. Then of
course, we installed the Rickson steel wheels and Michelin XDS tires. I can’t
express how much peace of mind these babies have given me. The roads, both dirt
and black-top, can be very rough and knowing the problems others have had with
stock wheels and having the steel wheels between us and disaster is such a
relief. The Rickson’s are not all sweetness and light as they do give you a
stiffer ride and restrict how much you can air-down, however this does not
compare to the benefits we have received.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our modifications to the cab,
removing the back seat and installing the 4 drawers on each side have worked
great. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Dometic fridge/freezer, we
have between the drawer systems in the cab, has been brilliant. We have it
running 24/7 at 0 degrees (the lowest setting) and use it as our freezer. We
easily have 2 weeks of meat in there at any one time, which is great as you can
never be sure when you are going to get good meat again. Actually that hasn’t
been much of a problem except in Kgalagadi, but just having multiple choices of
what to cook for supper is such a luxury. It also has a small shelf that
doesn’t freeze and that is where the day’s beer lives. We have a sealable
ice-tray and the freezer makes ice everyday. Oh what luxury in the 116 degrees
of the <st1:place w:st="on">Namib Desert</st1:place>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seat covers have been O.K. but I
guess we haven’t been out long enough to give an honest opinion on their
usefulness, but we have them and like them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dash Mat on the other hand is
really something you should not do without, especially if you have a black
dashboard like us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Front window shades have been
great and again necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Layne’s extremely large front
bumper sure looks cool and gets a ton of attention here, but thankfully it
hasn’t been put to use yet. Again peace-of-mind can’t be measured.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have not used the sand-ladders
yet. The locking diff and low 4 wheel drive has gotten us out of all of our
sticky situations. I think I tend to run in 2 wheel drive a little too long
where a more prudent fellow would have switched to 4 wheel drive a little
earlier and not have got stuck in the sand or mud. All is well that ends well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this stage not having a winch
has not presented a problem. I have sat and chatted with many other Overlanders
here in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place> and most don’t have winches,
many used to carry them and now don’t and those that do haven’t used them much
if at all. I think the cool factor for winches is the main selling point. Maybe
we will regret it but so far I am happy with our decision to save the weight.
We have one on the Xplorer and after 9 years we didn’t use it once to help us,
did use it a couple of other times to help others though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Biggest regret is not getting a
new windscreen in the <st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place>
before leaving after getting a small star crack. This decision is going to bite
me in the ass real soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have not used the small 1000 watt
Yamaha generator and probably won’t. That was a waste I think.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Haven’t needed the engine code
reader yet, but that was a good investment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The converter from 220 to 110 has
worked great and I would recommend getting one for when you have the chance to
get power. They call them power-points here and they are readily available at
most campgrounds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interesting enough the solar
panels are a dilemma here in Africa as the sun is so hot that you always look
for the biggest tree to park under for the shade and then of course block the
solar panels. We are very glad to have them though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>The XP</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love our XP and know we made the right decision in our choice
of campers regardless of what vehicle is carrying it. With that said lets get
the very few things that we have problems with out the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stove Control Switch. On our camper the switch is located
beneath the stove right next to the bed and because the switch is a push button
affair it is real easy to turn the stove on accidently while making the bed or
accessing the clothes storage under the bed. We both have turned the stove on
accidentally, once with almost disastrous results as I had left the cloth
curtain that Annie had made, on the stove while I was changing the sheets on
the bed and the curtain smoldered and caught on fire and if I hadn’t returned
to the camper with more just washed laundry right about then, we could have
lost everything. We now switch the stove on and off with the toggle fuse switch
and we haven’t had any more problems. I believe Marc has moved the stove switch
on newer builds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go-Lights on the rear of the camper. We haven’t used them
once and really are unlikely to. The intention was that they would work great
for game viewing in the dark as they are remote controlled and we could sit at
the dinette and watch game. Not so much. They do draw a tremendous amount of
power and if you intend to use them over about say 5 minutes you have to run
the engine or you will surely have a flat battery. All except one campsite in
the game parks are fenced in to protect you from the animals so therefore no
animals to watch and when we wild camped in The Kgalagadi we heard lions in the
distance but nothing came close. We find the back-up lights on the flatbed more
than adequate if we need to park after sunset which is very seldom. Others
might find these lights invaluable, but for us they just haven’t been used and
therefore a waste other than for the “cool factor”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Grey Water Drain. On our build the drain is poorly
located and we need to park with the left side higher than the right for it to
be able to drain. This definitely has been fixed on later builds. Marc
installed a water pump for us which has helped but still we need to raise the
left side on blocks when we want to drain the water. Really not a big deal, but
needs, mentioning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now for what we like in no particular order.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diesel stove. Works every time and we use it every day even
if it is just to make coffee in the morning. It takes some getting used to, but
we both like it and would get it again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diesel Dual Top hot water heater and furnace. Furnace is
unbelievable, it heats our little home in minutes and it is really very quiet
compared to the propane versions we have owned. Hot water heater has worked
well for us as well. It too has been used every day as Annie only showers in
the XP and we do dishes most times in the XP too. There are some excellent
sculleries available at some campgrounds and we will use those when given the
chance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fridge. 12 volt compressor is great and the positive lock on
the door is invaluable. After spending
all day on real rough roads we have come back to chaos in the camper with stuff
getting dislodged, but the fridge door has always stayed closed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPr4uYuQbPzwixMINv8e4nbNbrWW0nYad4pBpktNIAUvH8sH0_si-gO9ZYf0Aq3PBprKeNPzMRIAiYH1NQLXtVsRTSLwDy1xHOoU-KIQm0e4Y5m5V-7XzbZG6RQ8P7QW2xDmoMv1X5IiD/s1600/Img_3355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPr4uYuQbPzwixMINv8e4nbNbrWW0nYad4pBpktNIAUvH8sH0_si-gO9ZYf0Aq3PBprKeNPzMRIAiYH1NQLXtVsRTSLwDy1xHOoU-KIQm0e4Y5m5V-7XzbZG6RQ8P7QW2xDmoMv1X5IiD/s320/Img_3355.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cabin after a particularly bad road.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Water Filter System. The R.O. system with the ceramic filter
in front of it for all our drinking water is great and again gives us
tremendous peace of mind. The pressure switch that turns it off when the holding
tank is full is a little faulty and temperamental but the system works.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Under floor storage and actually all the storage has been
more than adequate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shower and Cassette toilet. I would never get another rig
without a cassette toilet again. Have dumped the cassette in pit toilets,
regular toilets and chemical toilet drains without ever having a spill. The
system is great.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Froli mattress system is brilliant. As matter of fact it
is the thing that gets the most comments when we show the XP to others, and we
have shown it many, many times. It is comfortable and extremely functional.
Keeping the foam mattress away from the fiberglass and any moisture that can
cause mildew is what it is all about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hydraulic System. Never failed and really a big wow factor.
It has sat a little uneven when we have lowered it a couple of times and we
spoke to the manufacture in <st1:state w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:state>
about this and he said not to worry as it would correct itself after a couple
of times of lifting and lowering it. He was absolutely right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Table under the flatbed with the storage bin light. Love it and
use it almost daily to BBQ on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrLIKLhQ2Lye-TKL3pVZ1u1Q-F6aAccgN6ukgoDbYM8bB1XTs-tyYrG8WpdQjzGCvBIZkTwbEf3TFWePAdj3wDXVQpLJOjrT5xHaMOunpH69WQtIwoRontJOkpV-bM_zzd-nqndqInap3/s1600/Img_2795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrLIKLhQ2Lye-TKL3pVZ1u1Q-F6aAccgN6ukgoDbYM8bB1XTs-tyYrG8WpdQjzGCvBIZkTwbEf3TFWePAdj3wDXVQpLJOjrT5xHaMOunpH69WQtIwoRontJOkpV-bM_zzd-nqndqInap3/s320/Img_2795.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Table out with Cobb grill doing its stuff.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dual fans. The location and idea is great, I just wish they
were Fantastic Vents as we never had problems with them which I can’t say is
true for these ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Windows with integrated blinds and mossie nets. Great….
Especially the large window in the back. Really missed it when it broke and we had to
have garbage bags taped over it to keep the rain out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annie says she loves
the shower and cassette toilet and really wouldn’t know what she would have
done without them. Plus she really likes the big skylight over the bed for the
all light it lets in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peripheral stuff like the collapsible bucket and Cobb Grill
are both indispensible. It is funny how the little stuff makes life on the road
easier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving down the road I don’t even know we have the XP on
the truck. Everything is very balanced and feels very safe. Parked we have more
than enough room and seldom get in each others way. Having hard sides in the
living area makes us feel very safe at night and yes we have soft sides around
the bed but it is pretty high off the ground and also feels very safe. Not
having a crawl-through from the cab to the cabin is a bit of an issue, I think,
in a very dangerous situation but hopefully we will never find out. The remote
start of the Chevy engine might be an interesting ploy……</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We do not regret any decisions we have made and are truly
happy with both the XP and the Chevy. If we haven’t made ourselves clear on
anything, please comment as we will do our best to explain things a little better.
Once again we are not sponsored by anyone and as such are free from restraints. </span></div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-1341500738643716272012-03-20T07:25:00.000-07:002012-03-20T07:25:20.546-07:00Our Beloved Cape Town.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyJ0zr3t6OjPrIQlbE4kOQEjvXbFHCdHtz3pi6s4RWT4Ojw7aDLGpJe-F3T_7SeZyLFUZadZf8PKjn4kz3lBex0Xy8lNXRLEcdbT94sxnyMlsvwqVNGTgod_iJ82uXiv_iQyYdaEiL9fz/s1600/Dsc00394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyJ0zr3t6OjPrIQlbE4kOQEjvXbFHCdHtz3pi6s4RWT4Ojw7aDLGpJe-F3T_7SeZyLFUZadZf8PKjn4kz3lBex0Xy8lNXRLEcdbT94sxnyMlsvwqVNGTgod_iJ82uXiv_iQyYdaEiL9fz/s320/Dsc00394.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">On the way to Cape Town on the North side of False Bay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much has been written about this amazingly beautiful city it seems silly for me to say anything, but of course I will! There are so many ways to enjoy </span><st1:city style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:city><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, tourists came in by the thousands on cruise ships, dock in the restored </span><st1:state style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Victoria</st1:state><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> & </span><st1:placename style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Albert</st1:placename><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Basin</st1:placename><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and get taken on great excursions to the Cable Car which whisks them up to the top of </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Table</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> where they enjoy unparallel views of the city and its two oceans. Other excursions include visits to Stellenbosch and the wine country, Cape Point Nature Reserve, the penguins at Boulders, City Tours, a boat ride to </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Robben</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and unforgettable walks through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Then there are the hundreds of tourists who came to </span><st1:city style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:city><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on organized </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tours</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> from all over the world and enjoy much of the same sights included in their tours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then of course there are the few Overlanders who camp right next to the famous beaches, like Fish Hoek, Bloubergstrand & Kommetjie and get to do early morning walks along these beaches and interact with the locals like the surf fisherman which row out into the surf with their nets and then row back and pull the nets back in with help of anyone who wishes to join in the fun. </span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczfA42KzvSTTex7S3Qe48bj_91fZIh3pKo-ZlC-TaWZjAB7cZ_0bG68HdV05zUqOBi4VnOgESkC_AzZJeL064p-biN_O7F8gw3Xqeh_McB5_TIM7IKy8qAB7cglrdOGIB-Rzf3l3ofxcO/s1600/Img_3001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczfA42KzvSTTex7S3Qe48bj_91fZIh3pKo-ZlC-TaWZjAB7cZ_0bG68HdV05zUqOBi4VnOgESkC_AzZJeL064p-biN_O7F8gw3Xqeh_McB5_TIM7IKy8qAB7cglrdOGIB-Rzf3l3ofxcO/s320/Img_3001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Early morning walk on Fish Hoek beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiAY-NF2zyV-9pk2fSYQpYv8Xkfb6OLNBVuzmeMrpHykU2NPOMkvkwylWn2keKygpBPkXgKnrnT3xuCEk6S2Uo4x9v_DaPUbtBVNuCSRqkxYntji5xiUf6YV60IrO-pRQXuDIyd6a-moh/s1600/Img_3010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiAY-NF2zyV-9pk2fSYQpYv8Xkfb6OLNBVuzmeMrpHykU2NPOMkvkwylWn2keKygpBPkXgKnrnT3xuCEk6S2Uo4x9v_DaPUbtBVNuCSRqkxYntji5xiUf6YV60IrO-pRQXuDIyd6a-moh/s320/Img_3010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Surf fisherman's boat with its net and rope ready</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD8jxfqeqSTFE52T6Hlf_b4OPMVhfq7S5XoCHJ2v2xBHHnVafhQLjDgi5HFGOtGHege20Sl2iRg67Cd2gjcoZezgTmFlEeBueCy4e-DLHeHBdFqfGrm9D2syr-H01y90_ISRCl_pUrIOg/s1600/Img_3020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD8jxfqeqSTFE52T6Hlf_b4OPMVhfq7S5XoCHJ2v2xBHHnVafhQLjDgi5HFGOtGHege20Sl2iRg67Cd2gjcoZezgTmFlEeBueCy4e-DLHeHBdFqfGrm9D2syr-H01y90_ISRCl_pUrIOg/s320/Img_3020.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Beach huts for changing and the shark<br />
warning flag. Black means the water is not clear<br />
enough for the shark spotters on the mountain to see the<br />
sharks so swim at your own risk!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We, as Overlanders also do all the same sights but at a much more leisurely pace and maybe at times before the tourist’s busses get there. But then we also have to put up with the troops of baboons which come down off the mountain and raid the garbage cans at some campsites. These nuisances, which are protected by law, have worked out how to open “Baboon Proof” garbage cans. They can’t get the lids off as there are two latches that must be held back simultaneously and they just can’t do that! But they have worked out if they charge the cans with enough force they will knock the can flying and the lid will pop off. They will also attempt to enter any unattended camper and steal eggs and fruit out of the refrigerator which they have found much easier to open than the garbage cans. We had one jump up to our side window and bear its teeth at me, but I stood my ground with my trusty broom stick and snarled and growled at it. Thankfully it jumped off and looked for easier pickings. Ah, the joys of Overlanding!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLcG4XFN5tKiPMFiGJ6nt2dhB4v4RulRKhjEvWtpfLJqi_HOh5CBTDlBniagSqTiFJh0ayWYa-BWPHuDRzczx2tj1ttTHcM3fkYizkzeIxHO8QAF5HpGjSivekJ9mKc6EwbYVIv0zQNDA/s1600/Img_2987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLcG4XFN5tKiPMFiGJ6nt2dhB4v4RulRKhjEvWtpfLJqi_HOh5CBTDlBniagSqTiFJh0ayWYa-BWPHuDRzczx2tj1ttTHcM3fkYizkzeIxHO8QAF5HpGjSivekJ9mKc6EwbYVIv0zQNDA/s320/Img_2987.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Baboons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent a glorious day at <st1:placename w:st="on">Kistenbosch</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype> enjoying the quiet beauty
framed by <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Table</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>. As Annie says everywhere you
go in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>
the mountain is always there and then you are also never far from the ocean. The day
was topped off with tea and scones at the Kirstenbosch tearoom. I have been
waiting a lifetime to enjoy these treats again. Of course there was homemade
strawberry jam and clotted cream. My mouth waters, just thinking about scones,
jam and cream.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLsMft3DIMSQ_8hkymjgQVQPaiJI5fC3c3frPwqHC-MNnfwETp5KH7K22Rvk8aPUPMNRXgsWCbUXFPQHAjO6HmQIEPP34YbvQyPpBWzKvabmYyUQP_gHtb2FddKwq-qTUhSCN5pyyZXOR/s1600/Img_3080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLsMft3DIMSQ_8hkymjgQVQPaiJI5fC3c3frPwqHC-MNnfwETp5KH7K22Rvk8aPUPMNRXgsWCbUXFPQHAjO6HmQIEPP34YbvQyPpBWzKvabmYyUQP_gHtb2FddKwq-qTUhSCN5pyyZXOR/s320/Img_3080.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Kirstenbosch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OOikVBiaH_NDUg4c3htTsRe_mk2krgniob50lZ9-chsVfB0RZZE4ZxNO360jMjSA1qT7Z_6gnWdyCxwItMk-kxizMJFNLHxfHpI3gP4Grwd8HeAQBchopZf0AnWv5mhsdTAVutxcwAhP/s1600/Img_3097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OOikVBiaH_NDUg4c3htTsRe_mk2krgniob50lZ9-chsVfB0RZZE4ZxNO360jMjSA1qT7Z_6gnWdyCxwItMk-kxizMJFNLHxfHpI3gP4Grwd8HeAQBchopZf0AnWv5mhsdTAVutxcwAhP/s320/Img_3097.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Back side of Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNqSSwyDXxNXCXENAITbPqORlmHINHVtJ8FRQS8kY91ygp0Buj0hxfZNxDjI8lnTh8CbFed0r2APcZwF5zU_34hi5Ub4g_o-b5BwtnXanRs0xslVhSP9LkAIE2ONhUP32qCSJnyC8amkv/s1600/Img_3086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNqSSwyDXxNXCXENAITbPqORlmHINHVtJ8FRQS8kY91ygp0Buj0hxfZNxDjI8lnTh8CbFed0r2APcZwF5zU_34hi5Ub4g_o-b5BwtnXanRs0xslVhSP9LkAIE2ONhUP32qCSJnyC8amkv/s320/Img_3086.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Kirstenbosch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGVtsOMVToKi84yjvlsJg9ezm1LRueO6b5a-tHdmlmfybiQ7YtH9Qky8EYcWZwt9SgDl2VGgr8ni2WzEBcX6H8vkTEu5tAK6-4EE01q6ETevxnY32DHbG9v4Sph1i0FWHNzGFxSqSvrNT/s1600/Img_3168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGVtsOMVToKi84yjvlsJg9ezm1LRueO6b5a-tHdmlmfybiQ7YtH9Qky8EYcWZwt9SgDl2VGgr8ni2WzEBcX6H8vkTEu5tAK6-4EE01q6ETevxnY32DHbG9v4Sph1i0FWHNzGFxSqSvrNT/s320/Img_3168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sunbird at Kirstenbosch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAqb3usJxU3catubWAoAe9fcamY_ohC8fpOCchCZaesMALQLIAiCf-Je5gOAhlyxcIXfL92FtPUIsXeMMHDtKnawHosk2_K3KgYHB23ovpHeAot9REFb55yuH4T5wnQsnWzDBG-Mb4se3/s1600/Img_3124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAqb3usJxU3catubWAoAe9fcamY_ohC8fpOCchCZaesMALQLIAiCf-Je5gOAhlyxcIXfL92FtPUIsXeMMHDtKnawHosk2_K3KgYHB23ovpHeAot9REFb55yuH4T5wnQsnWzDBG-Mb4se3/s320/Img_3124.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Kirstenbosch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent 3 glorious weeks in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> and probably will find someway to return real soon.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm6Qcx32Yiw1F_1akmMBgp2XibJxr8LnvhqmMzCen3bcIJeQO2mCkYsjDHBunNZ6TeGMmpqy93a-EAE9kU7Nf6R31V7PVDIjqWCtsz-nEQpqo0zqYnIH8p9f3JLP-MeazNNZ65Z0m0yOa/s1600/Dsc00339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm6Qcx32Yiw1F_1akmMBgp2XibJxr8LnvhqmMzCen3bcIJeQO2mCkYsjDHBunNZ6TeGMmpqy93a-EAE9kU7Nf6R31V7PVDIjqWCtsz-nEQpqo0zqYnIH8p9f3JLP-MeazNNZ65Z0m0yOa/s320/Dsc00339.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groot Constantia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwDB0kz_VZMeuhuhlw6o8b79ML5fwQyOpyxfB95ZCUY2ZoUzuJR16sw7Af2_dBRgCqXjFa0UCLMgBJ9hJZlV_TaPvOdvr-UiKJJUQ_lfUSSc40GwQx6rLXVxd0Y1T_z5f3B6kv5zNQOLA/s1600/Dsc00343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwDB0kz_VZMeuhuhlw6o8b79ML5fwQyOpyxfB95ZCUY2ZoUzuJR16sw7Af2_dBRgCqXjFa0UCLMgBJ9hJZlV_TaPvOdvr-UiKJJUQ_lfUSSc40GwQx6rLXVxd0Y1T_z5f3B6kv5zNQOLA/s320/Dsc00343.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The courtyard at Groot Constantia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwDuE2y9OeT6zrLeiwR4Pf5yS5Ve3T3Xn0229BXr9qp9aI5-impZwS7ZJc6Q8EBUPRt46gTB-Xkr9dVaEkbip5U6OIn0Y3z98SJpKywPeW9T47LZ-FjOjLGlefp797KJPSDXepjhyVMSz/s1600/Dsc00351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwDuE2y9OeT6zrLeiwR4Pf5yS5Ve3T3Xn0229BXr9qp9aI5-impZwS7ZJc6Q8EBUPRt46gTB-Xkr9dVaEkbip5U6OIn0Y3z98SJpKywPeW9T47LZ-FjOjLGlefp797KJPSDXepjhyVMSz/s320/Dsc00351.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slave bell at Spier Winery, Stellenbosch<br />
The bell was used to call the salves in from the fields</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DokU0MbLmC95sk9pRIKHWJN2YMaXIFotiPyahb7ljTqG_NZL9f1Wcr5YrXqgXEBHlmSNT3-lKHOBOwfNePEduuW6zNzhBqyDNmRKdK7gbxefZ1vYbTfr3V4C6NLWnCmf_dAWoc9d5OIo/s1600/Dsc00355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DokU0MbLmC95sk9pRIKHWJN2YMaXIFotiPyahb7ljTqG_NZL9f1Wcr5YrXqgXEBHlmSNT3-lKHOBOwfNePEduuW6zNzhBqyDNmRKdK7gbxefZ1vYbTfr3V4C6NLWnCmf_dAWoc9d5OIo/s320/Dsc00355.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ostrich traffic jam at Cape Point.<br />
They walk slowly in front of the cars. I told you they were stupid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi4_fhWHa_k4dLSm6XXY1oPcEOHHeewVjxlPyJQ12kYXRcu1snLHBT0FBu1b3kHuF0xsEcuYP8iUe2yShjiP5nO-JJ6zyrt8WLsGzq1m9qrzp63PyIr_36ERWjeUjoeredXRPZJAc-zsd/s1600/Dsc00357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi4_fhWHa_k4dLSm6XXY1oPcEOHHeewVjxlPyJQ12kYXRcu1snLHBT0FBu1b3kHuF0xsEcuYP8iUe2yShjiP5nO-JJ6zyrt8WLsGzq1m9qrzp63PyIr_36ERWjeUjoeredXRPZJAc-zsd/s320/Dsc00357.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Condos in Sea Point. <br />
The light blue on top of the building is the glass wall to a roof-top swimming pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGk-cyPUmh7Xg4vLYQ_x3be0U_omLQv2TZlbx8tbv-H2c5bulAIb7KjDQfNnMwCXIFuHRsiYXylGWEqy4pzL1KPrTfsnxcqwdnmIXpe9sPV61jVOp4CbXdb5CaaSg-VscBHwaW_oa1sXTA/s1600/Dsc00395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGk-cyPUmh7Xg4vLYQ_x3be0U_omLQv2TZlbx8tbv-H2c5bulAIb7KjDQfNnMwCXIFuHRsiYXylGWEqy4pzL1KPrTfsnxcqwdnmIXpe9sPV61jVOp4CbXdb5CaaSg-VscBHwaW_oa1sXTA/s320/Dsc00395.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful bay at Cape Point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FYW1Zw8IuPgkEWl1hRtQiGfIeBO7prTk2tXquVsjyuQ3ztYie-btLhcWcZUQu1gO-v3DLHB1WFZtHZRTJHi70scMJxpSiIHBaQEIsFPq_BlgoFzs-qpmuxJX83z3Z_9d1Ljep8NjEC9F/s1600/Dsc00422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FYW1Zw8IuPgkEWl1hRtQiGfIeBO7prTk2tXquVsjyuQ3ztYie-btLhcWcZUQu1gO-v3DLHB1WFZtHZRTJHi70scMJxpSiIHBaQEIsFPq_BlgoFzs-qpmuxJX83z3Z_9d1Ljep8NjEC9F/s320/Dsc00422.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tidal swimming pool. Each new high tide refreshes the water inside the pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrk_CuEwFCtVoEGa_m00H6XER_Esl8NJ95qwYw1eTfKwi7ebl1AL5gtuyNMYzZkHsofwijco3_mxqrenBFds7671vkMUGYrLUyHFdVDkjJ0vft95PDnxR6-_aTKr8PiB0pGgMCIyp9lVA/s1600/Dsc00423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrk_CuEwFCtVoEGa_m00H6XER_Esl8NJ95qwYw1eTfKwi7ebl1AL5gtuyNMYzZkHsofwijco3_mxqrenBFds7671vkMUGYrLUyHFdVDkjJ0vft95PDnxR6-_aTKr8PiB0pGgMCIyp9lVA/s320/Dsc00423.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Point. View of both oceans.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76CTPnA19eezJ4gEF-UXUxx7aBLF_GdyuJSuNr-CPPhbshZhot0o_TmT3Ch9yZJ_cifPIM17Gdruj5GashzO5mmijvm8ubRWKCBVNAalEc23U5OtNKwuc6GqdIQlbke_IVAYIK1LdTPUS/s1600/Dsc00466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76CTPnA19eezJ4gEF-UXUxx7aBLF_GdyuJSuNr-CPPhbshZhot0o_TmT3Ch9yZJ_cifPIM17Gdruj5GashzO5mmijvm8ubRWKCBVNAalEc23U5OtNKwuc6GqdIQlbke_IVAYIK1LdTPUS/s320/Dsc00466.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach at sunset.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJa_bB7n30HoPYa9KWwoWAvvFRyGFeowZgNlNNDDnrolMGdC9ndaH_Y9yhQL3X1rAz0fsgxhTVCLG3KyBn9FI6kSav6PFLZ8_WEex_MUiFXUeMb_p_bZVuxWELFHxbXXeoOuH3hUHm831_/s1600/Dsc00475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJa_bB7n30HoPYa9KWwoWAvvFRyGFeowZgNlNNDDnrolMGdC9ndaH_Y9yhQL3X1rAz0fsgxhTVCLG3KyBn9FI6kSav6PFLZ8_WEex_MUiFXUeMb_p_bZVuxWELFHxbXXeoOuH3hUHm831_/s320/Dsc00475.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking security guard on top of his innovate guard post.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG3jnRNL3H0nlZxIQ3gIoekDSVRfC9mMh4bbp4ILLgh7-haR8L7NmrI72Tozv1O1Tn4POdQlb-n3od1tXVnwxlVNP7uFbY1lV56mUtLZtrcSZzgRpSEiWW6SpP3jkvjq3nJ1ni6xuYB-r/s1600/Dsc00409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG3jnRNL3H0nlZxIQ3gIoekDSVRfC9mMh4bbp4ILLgh7-haR8L7NmrI72Tozv1O1Tn4POdQlb-n3od1tXVnwxlVNP7uFbY1lV56mUtLZtrcSZzgRpSEiWW6SpP3jkvjq3nJ1ni6xuYB-r/s320/Dsc00409.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite at Miller's Point with the full moon raising</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZGi1SNxZ7zaomAEBJjeqwaZhDXnsPjhYeOEUwKr7B3GEpDsVayVnf_lP1jN5VhGAT_m0jthv44s3H3KYPQubDuejHrA0xmVCHecsKk8kh4oT5FC8rMpaWrScoy2RkeyxLQWn1hAT1rCd/s1600/Img_2860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZGi1SNxZ7zaomAEBJjeqwaZhDXnsPjhYeOEUwKr7B3GEpDsVayVnf_lP1jN5VhGAT_m0jthv44s3H3KYPQubDuejHrA0xmVCHecsKk8kh4oT5FC8rMpaWrScoy2RkeyxLQWn1hAT1rCd/s320/Img_2860.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tortoise at Cape Point. Its brain is surly bigger than its eyeball</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyt-DS8UZxIKMapL2AjW51HySyf6fypGQcsxOOLSmEVzcIzd66cNgnzfD8YMU5oDlZYFKXuXzm1R-A97baIc4eHzeIurZKueBxhfmlHGtWg8-9DQ8TXtxMOGJcFUrBuQoNSBKLxAgQeCf/s1600/Img_2864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyt-DS8UZxIKMapL2AjW51HySyf6fypGQcsxOOLSmEVzcIzd66cNgnzfD8YMU5oDlZYFKXuXzm1R-A97baIc4eHzeIurZKueBxhfmlHGtWg8-9DQ8TXtxMOGJcFUrBuQoNSBKLxAgQeCf/s320/Img_2864.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelp beds at Cape Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcqZHtKuR9LlGCICH9ZuLH7YCe7BeKa34X5VJA9t4uP_yGTEDZFo2vrs0vc5txrcjCS2ok-eu2pNGZc1y1Ss1cW98GVMYzT1tsbCII1fkbDv4mX4yEYixzGLHJO92LQAM8Yc-fujj8cGh/s1600/Img_2881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcqZHtKuR9LlGCICH9ZuLH7YCe7BeKa34X5VJA9t4uP_yGTEDZFo2vrs0vc5txrcjCS2ok-eu2pNGZc1y1Ss1cW98GVMYzT1tsbCII1fkbDv4mX4yEYixzGLHJO92LQAM8Yc-fujj8cGh/s320/Img_2881.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoPqq9KVIPS_qYtQvmaezLvJ_EJQODriO782hUxDBmCZ5kVH0036x4PAl7NgWFwsyrPFNslv9DBHWXs9k3I2LhE7xk_R3GHbaO8JTkBvKD1xpL1NjEMtFhYE5AWSy0hHhF-y5HEQpON9z/s1600/Img_2894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoPqq9KVIPS_qYtQvmaezLvJ_EJQODriO782hUxDBmCZ5kVH0036x4PAl7NgWFwsyrPFNslv9DBHWXs9k3I2LhE7xk_R3GHbaO8JTkBvKD1xpL1NjEMtFhYE5AWSy0hHhF-y5HEQpON9z/s320/Img_2894.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hundreds of Cormorants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9oc5Tm_zjKqxNbX5ZYspgqoXqPAhjhi9zIyqo8HEL9CCX6G_nAmw43T0rVZr3K6ZEI1o0YpS-7CeFaeUQsZ56UhDN729OPAOFn3cbCLyc_mUjYlNmPUgOVsK2asyfJNhpnGJhwp36Xfn/s1600/Img_2902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9oc5Tm_zjKqxNbX5ZYspgqoXqPAhjhi9zIyqo8HEL9CCX6G_nAmw43T0rVZr3K6ZEI1o0YpS-7CeFaeUQsZ56UhDN729OPAOFn3cbCLyc_mUjYlNmPUgOVsK2asyfJNhpnGJhwp36Xfn/s320/Img_2902.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape of Good Hope. The most South Western point of the African continent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavoQtEoKPn9EUZhlItpqq5iyxX8zJDBnCeYLKOESaP0wB9zdmKVnqqWm7bWnrawn3FF0guAaPDAPlIHGoIBWVZXY1g7iplVDCFWqbUj84L1v_9_x7sXMoEbdMHMP4sfaGeYJ5m4_nFD-n/s1600/Img_2914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavoQtEoKPn9EUZhlItpqq5iyxX8zJDBnCeYLKOESaP0wB9zdmKVnqqWm7bWnrawn3FF0guAaPDAPlIHGoIBWVZXY1g7iplVDCFWqbUj84L1v_9_x7sXMoEbdMHMP4sfaGeYJ5m4_nFD-n/s320/Img_2914.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch stop view out our door.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ixbNDnK99LZiW42qLTwZ4kJKeLRjL3GX9PbYB8_cXwalOIYkBR_2rwV5Bj4xXiH6KbpWQZhqzfmXCVs1isRgkpESISCaOzR0ELQ-Zw4-VQZ7Y0x_OqPMXSsTVVlyW7C2dXvXqdszfyOZ/s1600/Img_2925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ixbNDnK99LZiW42qLTwZ4kJKeLRjL3GX9PbYB8_cXwalOIYkBR_2rwV5Bj4xXiH6KbpWQZhqzfmXCVs1isRgkpESISCaOzR0ELQ-Zw4-VQZ7Y0x_OqPMXSsTVVlyW7C2dXvXqdszfyOZ/s320/Img_2925.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent ship wreck on the stormy Atlantic side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-Fd1OkIIN4uSsFUWxBHlZjyF4j1xWrBoeCrbLPXTVE5F_eemM-doTGOvo7LdZh05L_-bYjw4Pzz_3c_jXOGGGwmLuW1r8t2Jm_yXRrKRSgQy8mYDYjpSgjHrMIvmtxZs4anedOYD2Z5r/s1600/Img_2945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-Fd1OkIIN4uSsFUWxBHlZjyF4j1xWrBoeCrbLPXTVE5F_eemM-doTGOvo7LdZh05L_-bYjw4Pzz_3c_jXOGGGwmLuW1r8t2Jm_yXRrKRSgQy8mYDYjpSgjHrMIvmtxZs4anedOYD2Z5r/s320/Img_2945.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just real pretty flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofI2TpESMCDcMSWLYwimveKkRumzJpTsG7CQejCDdS71Zd8ITcr7mEjpczdFBhURXgWY01bvxUaUvuu_b0RNYjyH3kaYTmeqZ3DykohGdwpy0I2_mHofkjsSqXLqtRkVBjUx7ZKqzGXp3/s1600/Img_2950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofI2TpESMCDcMSWLYwimveKkRumzJpTsG7CQejCDdS71Zd8ITcr7mEjpczdFBhURXgWY01bvxUaUvuu_b0RNYjyH3kaYTmeqZ3DykohGdwpy0I2_mHofkjsSqXLqtRkVBjUx7ZKqzGXp3/s320/Img_2950.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqrb74ncb6CIJoXMoKWsEzyscXuyrOXdEcGfnQ8WjqbibDvJrf6i2sTUO3Ll3deTU614MQJPOSQrHKa4Sdfx3U_aBHTIhdF2DBTGWuXLfO3y3dAj92GjVVf3tGdIX57vTnW3tW3W5zi8l/s1600/Img_3024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqrb74ncb6CIJoXMoKWsEzyscXuyrOXdEcGfnQ8WjqbibDvJrf6i2sTUO3Ll3deTU614MQJPOSQrHKa4Sdfx3U_aBHTIhdF2DBTGWuXLfO3y3dAj92GjVVf3tGdIX57vTnW3tW3W5zi8l/s320/Img_3024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muizenberg Beach from Kalk Bay Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbYOd3JTohBj2x0DT1h8l-EmGHFuT2fWpLUSB9WnH4hTINrHJNss7s3fUJHj91VKCxcwvmBSV7GKbqKbHZKmoN7r31-faeDGggF8kUQyBErHembFXmPVmYl3IRL4-bRl44cpakYt1sjmg/s1600/Img_3035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbYOd3JTohBj2x0DT1h8l-EmGHFuT2fWpLUSB9WnH4hTINrHJNss7s3fUJHj91VKCxcwvmBSV7GKbqKbHZKmoN7r31-faeDGggF8kUQyBErHembFXmPVmYl3IRL4-bRl44cpakYt1sjmg/s320/Img_3035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biggest tent-peg I have ever seen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhzHPpcRr6KjZ2xR0t44pVwiJQ6UVbUdBnnzAG7bhJsoSCKNNN7SeQJW-1y75yhlWP7WZ0671VtC_WDyQ9CwJac-UDfGKkLNCLaHEoawHQZ6q68MCFQ-MVI0hnt2SwciDlU6aGm1dt1zF/s1600/Img_3223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhzHPpcRr6KjZ2xR0t44pVwiJQ6UVbUdBnnzAG7bhJsoSCKNNN7SeQJW-1y75yhlWP7WZ0671VtC_WDyQ9CwJac-UDfGKkLNCLaHEoawHQZ6q68MCFQ-MVI0hnt2SwciDlU6aGm1dt1zF/s320/Img_3223.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huguenot Memorial, Franschhoek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEcUAhdnUDGZIOtAUilbwM_jOp54zxQ39sl1WUh7GwO_Js0lLqWZDI025YAqWo9y0QnE5bEnmQ1NvL8Uwpdd2YfEztTms6fowbmvAD7ONXbbxSML_XfFewFvwcyVQqovVBYpIcOZEUH0D/s1600/Img_3231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEcUAhdnUDGZIOtAUilbwM_jOp54zxQ39sl1WUh7GwO_Js0lLqWZDI025YAqWo9y0QnE5bEnmQ1NvL8Uwpdd2YfEztTms6fowbmvAD7ONXbbxSML_XfFewFvwcyVQqovVBYpIcOZEUH0D/s320/Img_3231.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huguenot Memorial, Franschhoek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz2d59xKZCzkZ4g-q5_rKL_Sj4T8TVbA8N849CZqiYWaYc_dDP7sU-AaxWYHPfG-yl33twbYDa5Y5mnBVF7_0PHzsNjVvK0aXjV0G56i5n_NVNtM1YDVz2rO3QGxuBITJp-yQR75DLEUp/s1600/Img_3242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz2d59xKZCzkZ4g-q5_rKL_Sj4T8TVbA8N849CZqiYWaYc_dDP7sU-AaxWYHPfG-yl33twbYDa5Y5mnBVF7_0PHzsNjVvK0aXjV0G56i5n_NVNtM1YDVz2rO3QGxuBITJp-yQR75DLEUp/s320/Img_3242.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huguenot Memorial, Franschhoek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrZyLLW13BeIQaiyZ_4rdUjZZgfPPbJYIJRymg9FTIUic7GCt5w0OWSERIfzxZKl3atyNdcQtst4ALM6df7rpgVv2GxoBGdjknIdUTHG_kCQLKelvDO4Vh9myRmEIEmnlEj65RbUxVr9-/s1600/Dsc00460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrZyLLW13BeIQaiyZ_4rdUjZZgfPPbJYIJRymg9FTIUic7GCt5w0OWSERIfzxZKl3atyNdcQtst4ALM6df7rpgVv2GxoBGdjknIdUTHG_kCQLKelvDO4Vh9myRmEIEmnlEj65RbUxVr9-/s320/Dsc00460.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Our mascot. Wire bicycle bought for $5.00</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-40570228251007138702012-03-19T04:24:00.000-07:002012-03-20T05:47:29.194-07:00Storms River to Cape Town.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"> </st1:place></st1:city></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY5yFytegEFCyjx-xX5paWRbsD-lkN_029T_5ZAIcgAF-K85bHLJwpCvLRtJcxTH1V7MpxJWCBBzKKRmvwUpE99sFs9pBXyDGRU9iJOnxfxFkSN7o7usWsTLkuMiAFi6Umliyol1k7zPs/s1600/Storms+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY5yFytegEFCyjx-xX5paWRbsD-lkN_029T_5ZAIcgAF-K85bHLJwpCvLRtJcxTH1V7MpxJWCBBzKKRmvwUpE99sFs9pBXyDGRU9iJOnxfxFkSN7o7usWsTLkuMiAFi6Umliyol1k7zPs/s320/Storms+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Storms River Mouth</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Addo we went down the coast to The Tstitskamma National
Park. This is one of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s premium National Parks as your
campsite is right on the ocean affording some really spectacular sunsets. We
did the walk to the river’s mouth and a great view of the suspension bridge over
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Storms</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>. While we were there a river
dolphin swam under the bridge giving us a real nice memory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf2001PNQ-759eQ-S5T0-cC9A3s6UCSOg654W9M9Ei4NZy2NgbXwPd-J7ApuECcmu3cm2AxLJh1CGoRT_5689vCAwzkpt3qP9tnPahjrmnvxHGd1LXWiCkVNAdvhb3yORaIeElHX5IpRA/s1600/Storms+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf2001PNQ-759eQ-S5T0-cC9A3s6UCSOg654W9M9Ei4NZy2NgbXwPd-J7ApuECcmu3cm2AxLJh1CGoRT_5689vCAwzkpt3qP9tnPahjrmnvxHGd1LXWiCkVNAdvhb3yORaIeElHX5IpRA/s320/Storms+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a rock.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our campsite was visited by a family of Rock Hyrax or as they are called in Afrikaans Dassies. When one of the young ones climbed on our front wheel we imagined
all sorts of advertising slogans like: ”Even a Rock Hyrax knows that a Chevy is
Built like a Rock!” or “The Rock Hyrax approves of Rickson wheels as they are Rock-Solid!” but that seemed too silly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EHhYgRyVcH9neM6KtxjAp3JulEgMYqJM4Oz2ijpkbJIvFOiHxFQ6Yl1XGj4VmLCwpvD85bs3qCPFtzyi2BU_rtgOfBorYDG9WDCb31ytEWf_a3lUiY9gf_USYqhCjsdHxXKjjD6BJYOK/s1600/Storms+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EHhYgRyVcH9neM6KtxjAp3JulEgMYqJM4Oz2ijpkbJIvFOiHxFQ6Yl1XGj4VmLCwpvD85bs3qCPFtzyi2BU_rtgOfBorYDG9WDCb31ytEWf_a3lUiY9gf_USYqhCjsdHxXKjjD6BJYOK/s320/Storms+1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bushbuck</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the morning we were surprised by a Bushbuck exploring
around our site. We later found out that they are really very shy and we were
lucky to have seen it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also paid a visit to the Big Tree which in Afrikaans is
Die Groot Boom which definitely has a nice ring to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NemhOg5TsukK5JkkVY5v41nO_5xw6Y5p2EUMK4JEP71QUK-KEyWzhP1JmD6uwRF0QEGJ3IiuiEMVipj027zo_yHDjbesIykFnzF1OAdzzrWWgC6nUidarLJWyOKASj7NOzmN8B7ssL2d/s1600/Storms+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NemhOg5TsukK5JkkVY5v41nO_5xw6Y5p2EUMK4JEP71QUK-KEyWzhP1JmD6uwRF0QEGJ3IiuiEMVipj027zo_yHDjbesIykFnzF1OAdzzrWWgC6nUidarLJWyOKASj7NOzmN8B7ssL2d/s320/Storms+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start of Baviaanskloof. Little did we know</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then went inland to Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area. This
remote drive transverses 3 Hair Raising mountain passes on a very narrow (one
car wide) dirt road. I really don’t know what we would have done if another car
had been coming in the opposite direction while we were on the pass as there
wasn’t any room for more than 1 car and no guard rail with a sheer drop-off to the bottom. What little hair I have left definitely stood
up and why we don’t have any photo’s is anyone’s guess or was it because of Annie’s white knuckling
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmGNmKsudYnGKz-TLmP7cN4MKTuopEBBKE4G1agbSeV17DaTSueiHwQVsXNjCK3vgz9mfCc4QOqIh16oc4s8FK9nfO0y8DEGQG5R9S_2l2ZMU9tR7Cs5vKDlf1UkedTjVzVn27czxnbKl/s1600/Img_2769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmGNmKsudYnGKz-TLmP7cN4MKTuopEBBKE4G1agbSeV17DaTSueiHwQVsXNjCK3vgz9mfCc4QOqIh16oc4s8FK9nfO0y8DEGQG5R9S_2l2ZMU9tR7Cs5vKDlf1UkedTjVzVn27czxnbKl/s320/Img_2769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Farm workers house on Route 62</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UqRYzl54WLjKLqtpjmi3xPE5-99xm47u_6cyLEadUoAxLbonCBv0k43wnec6S_jGVKBUCj1Oi_mqZux-rqo-0hhuaDRKrcHT8zSQOB5oIV3euoPPn_qtjITMcWnar4JZWtt4SCez_XqQ/s1600/Dsc00323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UqRYzl54WLjKLqtpjmi3xPE5-99xm47u_6cyLEadUoAxLbonCBv0k43wnec6S_jGVKBUCj1Oi_mqZux-rqo-0hhuaDRKrcHT8zSQOB5oIV3euoPPn_qtjITMcWnar4JZWtt4SCez_XqQ/s320/Dsc00323.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Street sellers in Oudtshoorn selling Ostrich feather dusters.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On to Oudtshoorn via the scenic Route 62. Oudtshoorn is
famous for its Ostrich Farms and The Cango Caves. We visited both and the
Ostrich Farm was much more interesting than the caves which are really showing
the abuse of years of over exposure to human contact. We were told by the guide
that in its heyday the caves would have over 1,000 people in each group and
there would be a group every hour from 9am to 4pm. Our group that day consisted
of about 15 to 20 people. I can’t imagine a group of 1,000. The most memorable
fact I took away from the Ostrich Farm was that an Ostrich is really stupid and
that its brain is smaller than its eyeball….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLDsM_du2ooKZcJxmLjF9HXdytw2j3GTFh254IOqodToViBBTJgE8os2iMxafXNnJMECyb45VcNejV_KvZFSLayAPEKI5SqvS6Vl4xjs-dLkTjEUVrzbB7grWbN2nFQIj7IEB9dbnizDQ/s1600/Img_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLDsM_du2ooKZcJxmLjF9HXdytw2j3GTFh254IOqodToViBBTJgE8os2iMxafXNnJMECyb45VcNejV_KvZFSLayAPEKI5SqvS6Vl4xjs-dLkTjEUVrzbB7grWbN2nFQIj7IEB9dbnizDQ/s320/Img_2935.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smaller than its eye-ball, really?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6l5BEzDcKZ01cuMlmKH4HNHPQobSZBcCAu0fbtPdxq_jIuFtWeCMTwc0RfotiU7ouTY2xlP2jL9iO3pMD40c10PfVJ7zdvPwJWkaQjUbILK7P0uQ-Hmrdnbhu-WvB8FPlLqBpvQdwB-Y/s1600/Dsc00364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6l5BEzDcKZ01cuMlmKH4HNHPQobSZBcCAu0fbtPdxq_jIuFtWeCMTwc0RfotiU7ouTY2xlP2jL9iO3pMD40c10PfVJ7zdvPwJWkaQjUbILK7P0uQ-Hmrdnbhu-WvB8FPlLqBpvQdwB-Y/s320/Dsc00364.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The boat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the coast for a couple of days at the pleasant town of
George and then further down the coast to Mossel Bay where we visited the Bartholomew
Diaz museum where they house a replica of his ship which was rebuilt a couple of
years back in Portugal and then they sailed his exact route to Mossel Bay and donated the boat to the museum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JuGFUkBvVBT7Haksb8qOZygrlD82jm3huyeZHC7uVGVce174S02co-7AAOwhDmr7p7aP-7F26D8jHRqHwwPQGlGOICY46n51sGxpfMTBecFGJK4FsJKIAIJWmBZnbkcdJt9t54zY28g1/s1600/DSC00323a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JuGFUkBvVBT7Haksb8qOZygrlD82jm3huyeZHC7uVGVce174S02co-7AAOwhDmr7p7aP-7F26D8jHRqHwwPQGlGOICY46n51sGxpfMTBecFGJK4FsJKIAIJWmBZnbkcdJt9t54zY28g1/s320/DSC00323a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cape Agulhas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFROLY42bkz6zAN-tso9PvguwUIVQl-L0ch6i1-rDn6wOm0EcUPYqhJa6lZssirk47OWq0mNOr9HqbPAk2yFR5Njd2Jqb7Z7tHdFD_xsbKYSNHEfG7HzNyD54f7585ObOerq_YmPkhM2Tm/s1600/Dsc00366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFROLY42bkz6zAN-tso9PvguwUIVQl-L0ch6i1-rDn6wOm0EcUPYqhJa6lZssirk47OWq0mNOr9HqbPAk2yFR5Njd2Jqb7Z7tHdFD_xsbKYSNHEfG7HzNyD54f7585ObOerq_YmPkhM2Tm/s320/Dsc00366.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Oceans meet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then we continued further south to Cape Agulhas which is the
Southernmost point of Africa and where the Indian and <st1:place w:st="on">Atlantic</st1:place>
oceans meet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYm7Z-7ERF_eOlDucYU3M1QnTsS_iIGIh3ChUX-8Pxr-mGKttb2Ke9Iv6ih46IkLkSz3tcNNiqVw2Vlb9HTrJvRrpseDYJsu4SaYipOW23XdJTK-RDQYshFz-F2LFwb8I1BMEGxYEvyjR/s1600/Dsc00329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYm7Z-7ERF_eOlDucYU3M1QnTsS_iIGIh3ChUX-8Pxr-mGKttb2Ke9Iv6ih46IkLkSz3tcNNiqVw2Vlb9HTrJvRrpseDYJsu4SaYipOW23XdJTK-RDQYshFz-F2LFwb8I1BMEGxYEvyjR/s320/Dsc00329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We feel so little.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was an Overland Tour Truck there at the same time filled with young people from all over the world which was really cool.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After an
overnight at a campground right on the beach we went on to Gansbaai where
most of the White Shark tour boats depart. It was fun to see them prepare
the shark cage for the next trip and then we watched them load up with the tour
takers and head out to the off shore seal islands where the Great Whites hang
out. Not for me though!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFiJbLra1juknvSCDNmhOO0Ht_lwipJlHfJ2CAfmMtz0ENt_a-XFkXlnxO6jDJdZijbhX9lkHHrw9K5bY7JIdIz4gJ4mf3DEQPaWi6EXrLdOTuUArWzk9kDf6H7KVS0RxjfR0sYO6U3jM/s1600/Img_2816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFiJbLra1juknvSCDNmhOO0Ht_lwipJlHfJ2CAfmMtz0ENt_a-XFkXlnxO6jDJdZijbhX9lkHHrw9K5bY7JIdIz4gJ4mf3DEQPaWi6EXrLdOTuUArWzk9kDf6H7KVS0RxjfR0sYO6U3jM/s320/Img_2816.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waves breaking at Klienmond.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of nights in Klienmond and then around the
mountain and the little town of Rooiels and we were on the north side of False
Bay and across the bay was the fabulous city of Cape Town where we spent the
next 3 or 4 weeks. </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVejZV15Fe3Bc99IzPHrQYVFbrqkOfpMYrIyKdTWh8M8bpXjlrhhzKld8GNS2qptkIEwuTXhNxiIHcv4NYo_vdPyVIPNb2Bj73i5gDCwrF9EzMkKHKPohAykiyYIcDXGT81lsosvRVK0o/s1600/Dsc00443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVejZV15Fe3Bc99IzPHrQYVFbrqkOfpMYrIyKdTWh8M8bpXjlrhhzKld8GNS2qptkIEwuTXhNxiIHcv4NYo_vdPyVIPNb2Bj73i5gDCwrF9EzMkKHKPohAykiyYIcDXGT81lsosvRVK0o/s320/Dsc00443.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Famous Table Mountain and Bush Baby</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-18016905759117789852012-02-10T07:04:00.000-08:002012-05-10T11:30:10.246-07:00Amazing Addo<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><placename w:st="on">Addo</placename> <placename w:st="on">Elephant</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype> was established in 1935 when there were only 11 individual elephants remaining from the vast herds that roamed the <state w:st="on">Eastern Cape</state> in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region>. That small herd of 11 has now grown to over 500 and share the park with Lions, Leopards, <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Buffalo</place></city> and Black Rhino making Addo the only National Park that you can see all of the Big Five in a malaria free zone. It has also grown in size to where it is now <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region>’s third largest National Park encompassing some off-shore islands and by so doing has added the Great White Shark (protected in South African waters) and the Southern Right Whale to the Big Five making it now the Big Seven.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEdzFUWfI4qCcxjsTlmnLHC9-6dEmmFPzVKbTemNuR7iL6_HDmK8uBOVAAYjY22QmVH5DQUxR83765RpJ4ItiFK3e3WoMkrgh9WyP5Z2rITB6TxDpc-9egv6MXbsayizajZS0OwDB7jhR/s1600/Addo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEdzFUWfI4qCcxjsTlmnLHC9-6dEmmFPzVKbTemNuR7iL6_HDmK8uBOVAAYjY22QmVH5DQUxR83765RpJ4ItiFK3e3WoMkrgh9WyP5Z2rITB6TxDpc-9egv6MXbsayizajZS0OwDB7jhR/s320/Addo+2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bush Baby at the Gate to Addo</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although during our 4 day stay at Addo we only saw Elephant and <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Buffalo</place></city> the encounters we had with them were numerous and exciting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzTbyJ_TatBzNoyn-7lo_ozBoBGYRL9cRIDTeDORX4G-kjT8MRYvsnFzclzxN-bS4_9YypigrzyaYDsQSopn05pZtBj5fOUrxb5bgZNrp7mo2VuEgZD1qJjO30bIdtdtjQ2lN6jfxj7aK/s1600/Addo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzTbyJ_TatBzNoyn-7lo_ozBoBGYRL9cRIDTeDORX4G-kjT8MRYvsnFzclzxN-bS4_9YypigrzyaYDsQSopn05pZtBj5fOUrxb5bgZNrp7mo2VuEgZD1qJjO30bIdtdtjQ2lN6jfxj7aK/s320/Addo+1.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stately Matriarch</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd3gI9hUpSMbRWpoo5agYJLGSQpT-tnt3_sooaDM-PNXXcW7R8lVNnr3f6qMndD3xaUj76yJnIlHp5r0VU8InyIOSPdQh8UfIYGSIiGyCzcnKXIAI804piURSY88-D4CbHLgVlgxmUe3A/s1600/Buffalo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd3gI9hUpSMbRWpoo5agYJLGSQpT-tnt3_sooaDM-PNXXcW7R8lVNnr3f6qMndD3xaUj76yJnIlHp5r0VU8InyIOSPdQh8UfIYGSIiGyCzcnKXIAI804piURSY88-D4CbHLgVlgxmUe3A/s320/Buffalo+1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Always trying to get the upper hand</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NdkIOrlRLAggrDNAYjNaF97WN_dR2yn6BI8wMpf8n0lRXH28cMiaTx7Ren5snhPUhdCW_HGMU5jfKWm_BqeOwYRAHO_DuzgQsZt9_BJU77q5sBjNyQyLuD515z2QN_Yfq6w0ScsNP4mj/s1600/Buffalo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NdkIOrlRLAggrDNAYjNaF97WN_dR2yn6BI8wMpf8n0lRXH28cMiaTx7Ren5snhPUhdCW_HGMU5jfKWm_BqeOwYRAHO_DuzgQsZt9_BJU77q5sBjNyQyLuD515z2QN_Yfq6w0ScsNP4mj/s320/Buffalo+2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprise out of the scrub bush</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our early morning game drives, the camp gates open at 6 am and we were one of the first in line, we were lucky enough to see Kudu, Meerkats, Yellow Mongoose and tons of birds. Although about 80% of the roads were dirt they were good and easily driven on by any vehicle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TKgV0BY48dKVyYvUz6ClWbZaeyixCwkLRU6lsE4pazWgHue2IQbmH2LwyrNsDYP6BavYc82DbZtvpBHocujL65iHbHfRhXyQMKYOioN6nHRmjI0EGvmU2qDbiEBfR9LT5cYeSKbdQPKx/s1600/Kudo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TKgV0BY48dKVyYvUz6ClWbZaeyixCwkLRU6lsE4pazWgHue2IQbmH2LwyrNsDYP6BavYc82DbZtvpBHocujL65iHbHfRhXyQMKYOioN6nHRmjI0EGvmU2qDbiEBfR9LT5cYeSKbdQPKx/s320/Kudo+1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nice Kudu</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTqy9O9WekdzzGNi85arM-GZuE4z3vvpdhRQR2YPWXqK2NP9Em7tpW16L-WSfbw-DO3x8eb9oxyWJDtdrz3wznthyphenhyphenBP8KWlRYTBHZp8CbAHvQ2W7pSwKT6OhbrlyEFMlFx6OO0avp_MBk/s1600/Kudo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTqy9O9WekdzzGNi85arM-GZuE4z3vvpdhRQR2YPWXqK2NP9Em7tpW16L-WSfbw-DO3x8eb9oxyWJDtdrz3wznthyphenhyphenBP8KWlRYTBHZp8CbAHvQ2W7pSwKT6OhbrlyEFMlFx6OO0avp_MBk/s320/Kudo+2.jpg" width="212px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Large Kudu right beside the road</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ3SCgQKD2vc-XhNvS4ytGrqwfTYQ-HPIPw6ER6VxxourvPCP49nao3MSN-PDKcj0mkaREhyphenhyphenjF5T7TOIsOhPq52LZCJdDbQDtd7xz5s3SgZ1N7uYoypjeCY_-ZY4Tk1stwz28FGC4BUa3/s1600/Img_2663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ3SCgQKD2vc-XhNvS4ytGrqwfTYQ-HPIPw6ER6VxxourvPCP49nao3MSN-PDKcj0mkaREhyphenhyphenjF5T7TOIsOhPq52LZCJdDbQDtd7xz5s3SgZ1N7uYoypjeCY_-ZY4Tk1stwz28FGC4BUa3/s320/Img_2663.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Young male just popped his head up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0GTwaGaGD5dWM8xMxJG9oc7ft-ShFcU_Ta6uJWGfSeTpDebGse0ZxVXUNjkXB8hRGrZNl3nOkllUPJ9wg0-ySBKXsOFIHMw9PHqprkXoeZfGKEp2FFv_KNel1bPNE2hhz5tCvgW1QgRo/s1600/Lion+Kill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0GTwaGaGD5dWM8xMxJG9oc7ft-ShFcU_Ta6uJWGfSeTpDebGse0ZxVXUNjkXB8hRGrZNl3nOkllUPJ9wg0-ySBKXsOFIHMw9PHqprkXoeZfGKEp2FFv_KNel1bPNE2hhz5tCvgW1QgRo/s320/Lion+Kill.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night's Lion kill!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_skzE3SivohE1gKlAPUFwkjBH_Hqd0klFYeOp589VJyPOuo5JTTLB3jqywcM-QB1usAGhz3s-Ch0xHXRBKbAglyN-24XTNBb6EYGrA4qB9-jm8YtZ7HhbZ8U6-sZwIxiQ7UAeOg-lU9w/s1600/Early+Bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_skzE3SivohE1gKlAPUFwkjBH_Hqd0klFYeOp589VJyPOuo5JTTLB3jqywcM-QB1usAGhz3s-Ch0xHXRBKbAglyN-24XTNBb6EYGrA4qB9-jm8YtZ7HhbZ8U6-sZwIxiQ7UAeOg-lU9w/s320/Early+Bird.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black Shouldered Kite</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYR8i8Cvgh7v-8X7jrPlnow8tUjMsp_kVQqAar1cWARjufLKOFr4CLqG8k09twYWELgFr1YFIj_RT-Ryk5jlJHbOBRBokSHqtVbN3XDdovsdskwaPhL6JXEspzqZIHDcv11N9a22_s-Aa/s1600/Mongoose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYR8i8Cvgh7v-8X7jrPlnow8tUjMsp_kVQqAar1cWARjufLKOFr4CLqG8k09twYWELgFr1YFIj_RT-Ryk5jlJHbOBRBokSHqtVbN3XDdovsdskwaPhL6JXEspzqZIHDcv11N9a22_s-Aa/s320/Mongoose.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yellow Mongoose</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rest camp was superb for camping, with each site separated from the next with a row of high bush and trees. The communal bathrooms or ablutions as they called in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region> were large, clean and well maintained. Each site had its own electric plug and water wasn’t too far away. The restaurant and store served the campers and day trippers with a variety of food and liquid refreshment. Books, maps and souvenirs were readily available. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Elephants come down to the water holes in droves and although we never counted them we think we easily saw 80 to 100 elephants at one time. The teenagers play in the deep-end which is deep enough to almost cover them completely and the elders and very young hang out at the edge splashing water over their hot bodies with their trunks. As new groups arrive they either wait their turn especially if they have very young or they greet the others with low growls and touches of their trunks and get their fill of water too. Amazing and exciting hours spent at the water holes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRYy4kyPdhyphenhyphenxIzCZvUv3MvN3IG35P95nOrtZjRPzeDOz_V02PKb1eRxUYeWp_i3EfQADNdwXt5ithJZp_gcdzByeTTW6urtWpuPWZdd46cvE-4BWqB7BvxnGEfJRJdYUjgUYfwF-tFo0F/s1600/Elephants+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRYy4kyPdhyphenhyphenxIzCZvUv3MvN3IG35P95nOrtZjRPzeDOz_V02PKb1eRxUYeWp_i3EfQADNdwXt5ithJZp_gcdzByeTTW6urtWpuPWZdd46cvE-4BWqB7BvxnGEfJRJdYUjgUYfwF-tFo0F/s320/Elephants+4.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teenagers in the deep end.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT4k7rqzhZ_r9YrpIfouC9XWPp5m8Rd0VCJZ-FCA0CaGs0sdeuxdZIBcQx4lA1YXDksIUvyNR6vHse4eWKyqUiXBKq_Tcen0er3KBswIzVNpC8JErvIu6mEwQ7pQbLrJ0uZwYaX4hs61x/s1600/Elephants+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT4k7rqzhZ_r9YrpIfouC9XWPp5m8Rd0VCJZ-FCA0CaGs0sdeuxdZIBcQx4lA1YXDksIUvyNR6vHse4eWKyqUiXBKq_Tcen0er3KBswIzVNpC8JErvIu6mEwQ7pQbLrJ0uZwYaX4hs61x/s320/Elephants+2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little ones with their mother at the edge</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm05_kxGq7DNCkryUU2_oNy1qUc5_vZumXs9B_a23vXSkgUUGO63Mooqil4q3oqcrgExBb-nKP8o85JOj3oEtJGk-It_H5vyAp3SbnLHQP3PIaxFdkLsv9kIwiOMSmiwFaAubPHSW7quI/s1600/Elephants+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm05_kxGq7DNCkryUU2_oNy1qUc5_vZumXs9B_a23vXSkgUUGO63Mooqil4q3oqcrgExBb-nKP8o85JOj3oEtJGk-It_H5vyAp3SbnLHQP3PIaxFdkLsv9kIwiOMSmiwFaAubPHSW7quI/s320/Elephants+1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in line for a drink</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZAaMgrRa9qfZC54B4d2ZKUXBnqWI2214UHZan8o03yju7O-3q71GrN9jQBofdMb9U2-silcbenYHS-EUQpHip9QH-_DpHb5WNyRcJJR3xg8NXLFVEeq-SXuMgjv8dG9nFc72JLHzHNnP/s1600/Elephants+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZAaMgrRa9qfZC54B4d2ZKUXBnqWI2214UHZan8o03yju7O-3q71GrN9jQBofdMb9U2-silcbenYHS-EUQpHip9QH-_DpHb5WNyRcJJR3xg8NXLFVEeq-SXuMgjv8dG9nFc72JLHzHNnP/s320/Elephants+3.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morning greeting</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On one of our early mornings at the water hole Annie spotted a large gang of Meerkats hunting on the edge of the area where the Elephants came out of the scrub and we spent a good part of the morning watching Meerkats being Meerkats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFShLPo76vjabe4T07SLO9BnhRcGsk-OrVbSQcgUkxHkYwOobWBtyMJEFFOdxhiIoL1KrWdJft8Ed8r8wzJHCCJnYbvrrbhlyib1_OK6zpYCbKgxTehDSPUBHcyFa7tO8uksD97dHjkxKe/s1600/Meerkats+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFShLPo76vjabe4T07SLO9BnhRcGsk-OrVbSQcgUkxHkYwOobWBtyMJEFFOdxhiIoL1KrWdJft8Ed8r8wzJHCCJnYbvrrbhlyib1_OK6zpYCbKgxTehDSPUBHcyFa7tO8uksD97dHjkxKe/s320/Meerkats+1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meerkat gang on the hunt.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE7jMFv2Chw5ZaECYC9nFH9T5lOil5kbsLD9erZPznqC6DXkdNUnfZIkfOPsHV9N8RrQfw3te8MQKn5BdTUpC1g4sjg8RV213K7YWRMGra8kc222k-SxRtRfXpnoGR46m8vT8LE0HVQ_W/s1600/Meerkats+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE7jMFv2Chw5ZaECYC9nFH9T5lOil5kbsLD9erZPznqC6DXkdNUnfZIkfOPsHV9N8RrQfw3te8MQKn5BdTUpC1g4sjg8RV213K7YWRMGra8kc222k-SxRtRfXpnoGR46m8vT8LE0HVQ_W/s320/Meerkats+2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forever vigilant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Addo was our first <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">African</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></place> and it certainly exceeded our expectations, being so close to the big city of Port Elizabeth and the famous <street w:st="on"></street></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garden Route</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVGNkrBH6togsn3MdoPsNXrBk0xlWIIRudH7bQFTDAeywLDMdl5dEudwChZjAoI3wxKhbbjPM6LlDYQkRPX_0d9ry0aNW3J2FKhCGpY1I9VZD-lt-KMEDmHYsrVuX7fjpyAYnb-0LKVVT/s1600/Afternoon+snooze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVGNkrBH6togsn3MdoPsNXrBk0xlWIIRudH7bQFTDAeywLDMdl5dEudwChZjAoI3wxKhbbjPM6LlDYQkRPX_0d9ry0aNW3J2FKhCGpY1I9VZD-lt-KMEDmHYsrVuX7fjpyAYnb-0LKVVT/s320/Afternoon+snooze.jpg" width="212px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Old man taking a afternoon snooze.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photos by Annie and text by Frank.</span></div>
<br />
<address w:st="on">
</address>
.</div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-86346355829786437842012-02-08T22:07:00.000-08:002012-02-08T22:07:40.241-08:00Support is Everything<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f your computer stops working, the support from tech
support is everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your water pipes burst support from your plumber is
everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, nothing compares to breaking something 10,000 miles
from the nearest repair shop or retail agent. That’s when the support of your
manufacture is critical. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We broke our back window beyond repair and sent an urgent
email to Marc at XP asking for support. The very next day we heard back from
him and he had found a replacement window, worked out the shipping and customs
arrangements and here we are 2 weeks later 10,000 miles away with the replacement window
installed in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
When you are 10,000 miles away a caring reliable manufacture is everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please realize that we have no sponsors and pay our own way
so that we may say everything we may need to say when it necessary! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-24447036700137747462012-01-21T22:09:00.000-08:002012-01-21T22:09:41.474-08:00The Mysterious Carnet.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While sitting around a campfire with other Overlanders it is often not long before the subject of carnets is brought up. Whether it is someone thinking of going to a country where a carnet might be required or stories of some fellow traveler opting to wing it without a carnet and the adventures they had travelling with an armed guard from the port of entry directly to the nearest border. In all our travels and campfire chats I have never met anyone who had ever even seen this mysterious document. It is almost as if it is the Holy Grail of Overlanders, or that is the way it seemed to me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when we started serious planning for our expedition, the carnet, or to use its more formal name Carnet de Passage, was one of our top priorities. A carnet broken down to the simplest terms is a passport for your vehicle to enter a country without paying import duties at the border. Most countries in <place w:st="on">Africa</place> require either a bond guaranteeing that you will not sell your vehicle in their country or payment of the import duty before you can enter their country with your vehicle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A carnet guarantees that if you don’t export the vehicle from the country you are entering, the export duty will be paid by the issuer of the carnet. The issuing body of the carnet, in our case CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) calculates the highest import duty of all the countries you will be travelling to and then either requires you to buy an insurance bond or make a cash deposit for that amount. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our case there were several countries that required 100% of the value of the vehicle as their import duty, others required as little as 50% so CAA charged us 100% of our vehicle’s value. You might think that you could come up with a made-up value and have that suffice. No such luck. The CAA makes good use of Kelly’s Blue Book and the NADA Used Vehicle Guide to get an extremely accurate value. Once you have returned from your trip and have had the carnet correctly stamped you must return it to CAA and then they will release you from the carnet and either return your cash deposit or if you bought the insurance they will send you back about 40% of your premium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To get our carnet we contacted CAA in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ottawa</place></city> and they pointed us to their website where we downloaded the application. We attached a couple of photos of the truck with the camper on it to the application, wrote them a check for the processing fee and sent them via Fedex to Ottawa. Within a couple weeks they came-up with the bond or cash payment price. We then sent them the payment and within another 6 weeks we had our carnet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cover is quite simple as you can see:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJS1DyQECbfT4eUbB0Rx5GA8UCkKWVqaIdufq_l7fi7jbZqp__SwDbD__GBc_znRhL2IT6xJuEjkA8tcY0H8JrJy3Yxd8I5r0iuYRn83IliOApoW3RwnQ83QjFELtslBC_sHiMm622J-k/s1600/Carnet+Cover1.JPg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJS1DyQECbfT4eUbB0Rx5GA8UCkKWVqaIdufq_l7fi7jbZqp__SwDbD__GBc_znRhL2IT6xJuEjkA8tcY0H8JrJy3Yxd8I5r0iuYRn83IliOApoW3RwnQ83QjFELtslBC_sHiMm622J-k/s400/Carnet+Cover1.JPg" width="283px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The individual pages are the heart of the document. They consist of 3 parts. The bottom part is detached by customs when you enter a country and they stamp and sign the left hand side of the top part. Then the middle section is detached by customs when you leave a country and they stamp and sign the right hand side of the top section. This is the most important task that needs to be done when you leave a country. They won’t ask for the carnet when you leave only when you arrive so it is up to you to get it signed and stamped upon exiting a country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PZvNrvcm8q7ZTOYAZRbBDiOLtz9P_wckd5M8fGex7SRPWGua5qQJ3q4Vc9knpY5I2RS94I34xQgxk-GErEh9VpQ3jkiwVs2T45etktKge5J1eCDXK0FmcVNq3xPd5I1ssts1BBYFvJhP/s1600/Carnet+Pages1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PZvNrvcm8q7ZTOYAZRbBDiOLtz9P_wckd5M8fGex7SRPWGua5qQJ3q4Vc9knpY5I2RS94I34xQgxk-GErEh9VpQ3jkiwVs2T45etktKge5J1eCDXK0FmcVNq3xPd5I1ssts1BBYFvJhP/s320/Carnet+Pages1.JPG" width="226px" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The back cover page lists the countries that the carnet is valid for.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see the carnet is only valid for a year, but it is possible to renew it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were very pleased to have a carnet when the vehicle arrived in <place w:st="on">East London</place> and so was the customs clearing agent as it made his job much easier. I am not sure what it would have cost or how long it would have taken to clear customs without the carnet, but with it all fees including the agents fees, customs fees, dock fees and stevedore fees it came to under $700.00 and it took about a day to complete all the necessary paper work and of course the inspection of the camper.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not bad I thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7Cf6Ya4RQD63G3QrQJ8zkGmIEJA9HYzrFU6UEatW9EWeHcIxUZohHR84dX_v-K14uMyB6m8YC0MNTfPo4nCJ3GdZswifDLTOPT9YgIu994Eek4RBidiAWiFNoUBe3T84jlp-27OkGzRs/s1600/Docks+in+East+London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7Cf6Ya4RQD63G3QrQJ8zkGmIEJA9HYzrFU6UEatW9EWeHcIxUZohHR84dX_v-K14uMyB6m8YC0MNTfPo4nCJ3GdZswifDLTOPT9YgIu994Eek4RBidiAWiFNoUBe3T84jlp-27OkGzRs/s320/Docks+in+East+London.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bush Baby with Jonathan, our agent, on the docks in <place w:st="on">East London</place> right after they had released her to us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv_4nx35qA5VxRefONp7XDnH_w8wujPIqgf37nh0WMVM9f2ZR18ELisvZT9DVTiQOOf0VMUwKkanCvO3HHK8Jpakvit3fo_Zt5Jgc4_UrYrrcLvumxiAq6oKbwhsc50pgudwHxGhJaWp7/s1600/Bush+Baby+with+stickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv_4nx35qA5VxRefONp7XDnH_w8wujPIqgf37nh0WMVM9f2ZR18ELisvZT9DVTiQOOf0VMUwKkanCvO3HHK8Jpakvit3fo_Zt5Jgc4_UrYrrcLvumxiAq6oKbwhsc50pgudwHxGhJaWp7/s320/Bush+Baby+with+stickers.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bush Baby in the courtyard of the Guest House in <place w:st="on">East London. We</place> had just added the Left Hand Drive </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sticker and the South African flag.</span><br />
</div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-8456800484917405922011-12-30T16:19:00.000-08:002011-12-31T13:26:37.893-08:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>The XP Camper Build</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We started with 2010 Chevy 4X4 3500HD long bed, extended cab with a 6 liter gas engine. We have the snow-plow package which beefs-up the front suspension for the Off-Road Bumper. It also included most of what you get with the off-road package like the locking-diff.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHNu2JNbJXwX84uWemzi_gYYCeVgwwZx8ofGQGKn2WJoRYKQ_FhK1iBIKk2Bgyr1NpI3CTMQp4IHG26wFFq0dRveb_si7kjPN-vNSiIsbJAOwvflZzeyXZ1Gy-cKjtheHzc085-mYHHCU/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHNu2JNbJXwX84uWemzi_gYYCeVgwwZx8ofGQGKn2WJoRYKQ_FhK1iBIKk2Bgyr1NpI3CTMQp4IHG26wFFq0dRveb_si7kjPN-vNSiIsbJAOwvflZzeyXZ1Gy-cKjtheHzc085-mYHHCU/s320/IMG_2456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ripped out the back seats and installed a 3/4 inch plywood sub-floor.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0YvAVaqA6FMRY0FpnaktugbzntEkgimk814Y9WNErbUVJfT4dOuP9Y7ZaNq8DOElSBVsorUGEpZQz2B-Hj5cMwGYoDCQSgR71bw_nU0u7xclCxGfNwTU_HvOPbvkXLaTHrEkY78zl75k/s1600/IMG_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0YvAVaqA6FMRY0FpnaktugbzntEkgimk814Y9WNErbUVJfT4dOuP9Y7ZaNq8DOElSBVsorUGEpZQz2B-Hj5cMwGYoDCQSgR71bw_nU0u7xclCxGfNwTU_HvOPbvkXLaTHrEkY78zl75k/s320/IMG_2448.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut some insulation for the back side windows, not only to keep the heat out but to also hide the stuff in the back from prying eyes.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKNIb4qGJRjn8nCExqHGi_LLaoUN_Fcy12JyUL0h_3UtLh_JCoaCExqKgE7NxB8fk_SEsdtpeYdu2gjdfMkvT5Kl0buqAO0Zb-WqRHS_7dZ0y7fG7CEH5RomckWoB2f4OjlMI4UZK73Q9/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKNIb4qGJRjn8nCExqHGi_LLaoUN_Fcy12JyUL0h_3UtLh_JCoaCExqKgE7NxB8fk_SEsdtpeYdu2gjdfMkvT5Kl0buqAO0Zb-WqRHS_7dZ0y7fG7CEH5RomckWoB2f4OjlMI4UZK73Q9/s320/IMG_2471.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the original plan and would have worked, but we found this fantastic stuff called Smash and Grab film that not only darkens the windows so you can't see in but also protects the glass from being smashed by an intruder! Watch this incredible YouTube video to see what I mean:</span><br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN1TnQtRUfw">www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN1TnQtRUfw</a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We couldn't get this stuff anywhere on the East coast so we had it installed on all 4 side windows by RD Window Tint in Colorado Springs on our way out to have the flatbed done. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Next stop Layne of Denver Off Road in Grand Junction CO to get the flatbed and bumpers installed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09O1rLBaW6Nr31MLV8CJPMfVsbXKQYPamGx3c6kZggZReUV9vQQLZABg5DslxN3XpOykQ9TnHN_nnsAHTSLdpEAn_1bAv9E_jETUxvt1x47peTIWRFZpUiC1EHcD0oDKthN4nNy6qpPds/s1600/DSC00028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09O1rLBaW6Nr31MLV8CJPMfVsbXKQYPamGx3c6kZggZReUV9vQQLZABg5DslxN3XpOykQ9TnHN_nnsAHTSLdpEAn_1bAv9E_jETUxvt1x47peTIWRFZpUiC1EHcD0oDKthN4nNy6qpPds/s320/DSC00028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Off with the bumper</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jD-le6_SvCr7vnM-a_LdamFCvG0ugM9Jlhw8KFenUynBfzGgSJOc4B56maFjwonF0allcVqOvlBQ6MC8z_g41qNiqXEq68oucxKg0gRgHQLij0F1AUyRr4vqVbt1uJVttwPFQ6rdHJxA/s1600/DSC00046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jD-le6_SvCr7vnM-a_LdamFCvG0ugM9Jlhw8KFenUynBfzGgSJOc4B56maFjwonF0allcVqOvlBQ6MC8z_g41qNiqXEq68oucxKg0gRgHQLij0F1AUyRr4vqVbt1uJVttwPFQ6rdHJxA/s320/DSC00046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Off with the bed</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMwA-cXMbjtpp04Mh0F3YA1BM2ZSNvu7CfDi2bzz7EFrmafDKwDQRZzCOKliqJoub6-HYMNrRtqiDJUIkHw-K4qkmid9hQV_SkZGkt5pLgilfn1hb3x940ycNcU6OSc6n2tD277T692sH/s1600/DSC00027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMwA-cXMbjtpp04Mh0F3YA1BM2ZSNvu7CfDi2bzz7EFrmafDKwDQRZzCOKliqJoub6-HYMNrRtqiDJUIkHw-K4qkmid9hQV_SkZGkt5pLgilfn1hb3x940ycNcU6OSc6n2tD277T692sH/s320/DSC00027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On with the flatbed</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile Marc is building the XP in California</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr-_XjejcREtxcwwhwe2vns4KjXTKJARm4oAiMkqc1vZmOaGVydE5G2xZpcOo90OxgnGAR0lAihqDZ3v8k27MZM9yAt_HCcv3iyf5Ss0n0_akRcBQKisRaet7-le2RjgzCQEuR0OYpzzi/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr-_XjejcREtxcwwhwe2vns4KjXTKJARm4oAiMkqc1vZmOaGVydE5G2xZpcOo90OxgnGAR0lAihqDZ3v8k27MZM9yAt_HCcv3iyf5Ss0n0_akRcBQKisRaet7-le2RjgzCQEuR0OYpzzi/s320/IMG_0275.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Popping it out of its mold</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vOSEf4Xhy_gTZAaaoKO0KZeXruKPRS_2zWDWzzKLi5DK00Z3_EK31tmNJqDiz3Jmpf4pTzCRLjKCurliq5E6-XgOXu0jlwfs0hxYSlTrIbowgTGA_0Xy_lyHMAH45JAMQzc0DX7NgDjq/s1600/Interior+set+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vOSEf4Xhy_gTZAaaoKO0KZeXruKPRS_2zWDWzzKLi5DK00Z3_EK31tmNJqDiz3Jmpf4pTzCRLjKCurliq5E6-XgOXu0jlwfs0hxYSlTrIbowgTGA_0Xy_lyHMAH45JAMQzc0DX7NgDjq/s320/Interior+set+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then putting the pieces together like Lego blocks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gYnGiolPUoxVVcJq5PFM54PeuYrhFbvCZEqKWFnLnr7X3lSTvg88HodrYlRz-lDEgG2XsWkqkke46fkr3lYKNF3HJF7hj2jowQxxzV4FE1qcFeKOc5b8LOGxmGuevkP6tkxOrGCFd4OY/s1600/DSC00052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gYnGiolPUoxVVcJq5PFM54PeuYrhFbvCZEqKWFnLnr7X3lSTvg88HodrYlRz-lDEgG2XsWkqkke46fkr3lYKNF3HJF7hj2jowQxxzV4FE1qcFeKOc5b8LOGxmGuevkP6tkxOrGCFd4OY/s320/DSC00052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annie and Marc discussing where the toilet paper holder should go. I kid you not, this was a half-hour conversation. That is what happens when a German who is fanatical about detail and a New Englander who is equally fanatical about detail get together. God bless them both.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia93PVW1-KledHWO_wk2H0NYpcPSkcRMsXDyOnOtRCNfz3MRDoBWWLvbmkpALEB6ICTCax5HVdHnc21IoSgGfSOGUHpDyFDX2Y-o6cb_p4Y54HY8Cg9ZnUNozSSBTTSHPIdlQNfJ-AkFpa/s1600/DSC00050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia93PVW1-KledHWO_wk2H0NYpcPSkcRMsXDyOnOtRCNfz3MRDoBWWLvbmkpALEB6ICTCax5HVdHnc21IoSgGfSOGUHpDyFDX2Y-o6cb_p4Y54HY8Cg9ZnUNozSSBTTSHPIdlQNfJ-AkFpa/s320/DSC00050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTzfloihSEubTEfvy07b9W2nZQyg_aReMpVOrKoyTwOd-b0dLcmYrQ31BihLg5TIVMblNiIQvk7rc7AarFzSFSuF_vczo13UaLg8GtNGC13Hxym7n18zRTKr5j4IZKSQU7nVdYbZHX8fA/s1600/DSC00051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTzfloihSEubTEfvy07b9W2nZQyg_aReMpVOrKoyTwOd-b0dLcmYrQ31BihLg5TIVMblNiIQvk7rc7AarFzSFSuF_vczo13UaLg8GtNGC13Hxym7n18zRTKr5j4IZKSQU7nVdYbZHX8fA/s320/DSC00051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EVz7h6qLvhvel2Pn9lNHWm83dXS8AMqy0Yc50LaG0yai6j2LZhR2gEc1Xs9WRzLmYXrMw-FWTWkNgkEHXTS3XWaTWl6QaX2tyRgXwnDVvrvnu98Kk4Zc69XwdbEnwHKzKo32CJd9yPx8/s1600/DSC00078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EVz7h6qLvhvel2Pn9lNHWm83dXS8AMqy0Yc50LaG0yai6j2LZhR2gEc1Xs9WRzLmYXrMw-FWTWkNgkEHXTS3XWaTWl6QaX2tyRgXwnDVvrvnu98Kk4Zc69XwdbEnwHKzKo32CJd9yPx8/s320/DSC00078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That damn door</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMb1x5VEp6w_UjioMtQoh5HohSLwQboKct_jVlhUpEXUJwwqk1lqBWhMfE9JtC_2AdF4goXVoBfvJWcUIX8raXuIZrOtkHfOvqCf9kCjdBsIigk089q9AQ9W9ukDQCOn2JoW0NJLavD_v/s1600/DSC00079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMb1x5VEp6w_UjioMtQoh5HohSLwQboKct_jVlhUpEXUJwwqk1lqBWhMfE9JtC_2AdF4goXVoBfvJWcUIX8raXuIZrOtkHfOvqCf9kCjdBsIigk089q9AQ9W9ukDQCOn2JoW0NJLavD_v/s320/DSC00079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Final touches before we do a test load onto the truck</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuCDXW39odnTW00TV_DEKS2wC212ujN1WX2FFr1k-rSNTXnGivdf7cFU6fNRn_ZL07GstWrhWahx0atsD-iQOjqYpOivmUv6JHKNE-uiOTtYu27S5M2Ia641zn4M7D1RJ91YP23xlwHRx/s1600/DSC00082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuCDXW39odnTW00TV_DEKS2wC212ujN1WX2FFr1k-rSNTXnGivdf7cFU6fNRn_ZL07GstWrhWahx0atsD-iQOjqYpOivmUv6JHKNE-uiOTtYu27S5M2Ia641zn4M7D1RJ91YP23xlwHRx/s320/DSC00082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinette cushions and kitchen sink</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeKcwzZzZcNA3BN7R9yJltxq8jxtnK5CK2t29eAYPvQ-EI0jGgHawlcRCgXGljrS8XJrD02OzhB8quJ7w5ssGlFDSrDqQ92aUg9nL40IXL2O9VYpu7wH5-4VtbO5ktLx5mbidGHRcE1GM/s1600/DSC00085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeKcwzZzZcNA3BN7R9yJltxq8jxtnK5CK2t29eAYPvQ-EI0jGgHawlcRCgXGljrS8XJrD02OzhB8quJ7w5ssGlFDSrDqQ92aUg9nL40IXL2O9VYpu7wH5-4VtbO5ktLx5mbidGHRcE1GM/s320/DSC00085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Great teak floor</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw6pM8rHFAbk6RkfjTdKMVG5PuBZnGo8HQgHwKwDjzqUwJwISlsFZ5pCyddbs2VfOjwKK-qyY9UIbr47HSzOHOe7fzt8Ca6IOkwOY0VndW6reOd1H3b60DlKxfVR1wQNeFTfY5144bznE/s1600/xp4+019+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw6pM8rHFAbk6RkfjTdKMVG5PuBZnGo8HQgHwKwDjzqUwJwISlsFZ5pCyddbs2VfOjwKK-qyY9UIbr47HSzOHOe7fzt8Ca6IOkwOY0VndW6reOd1H3b60DlKxfVR1wQNeFTfY5144bznE/s320/xp4+019+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shower and toilet with real teak slats on floor</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO-xOnIfDaYd2LxTaeW-0tHI4dkOa2Y-6v37dSfdjQkhHRayGGkkdaZtU40_mz6j7q0viT8ISgxabOFrlFyiTWtaZxtmUCFEasA2JOD6hW1lT9ZavjdQ3b5rD1nTqBgxjjmXsE44KBgIW/s1600/DSC00087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO-xOnIfDaYd2LxTaeW-0tHI4dkOa2Y-6v37dSfdjQkhHRayGGkkdaZtU40_mz6j7q0viT8ISgxabOFrlFyiTWtaZxtmUCFEasA2JOD6hW1lT9ZavjdQ3b5rD1nTqBgxjjmXsE44KBgIW/s320/DSC00087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to Layne in Colorado to replace the ladder with a beefier version.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> That is Layne on the right.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRppI9wA2zSwSwL3-NlvdnLXxeXTFqGj-jx8iCXQJzZ7jQaPD8ewUrMuwtROvD9nTYTIYVJw7OakZbU0HZafbzmKwteP8KUWRyJyJSjVEDtbr8-ls4ncKI1TkQAwBMwB-BV8o_Ol-Krdpg/s1600/DSC00135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRppI9wA2zSwSwL3-NlvdnLXxeXTFqGj-jx8iCXQJzZ7jQaPD8ewUrMuwtROvD9nTYTIYVJw7OakZbU0HZafbzmKwteP8KUWRyJyJSjVEDtbr8-ls4ncKI1TkQAwBMwB-BV8o_Ol-Krdpg/s320/DSC00135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sand-ladders bolted under the flatbed on slides.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">They became the foundation for our slide-out table but that is another story.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2jTzcbAI_VcA8TW60A9PNKyUYaJRQKSh55OGRNw9kFQiz0T0h0oR95jH_VhsqKUQ1lSprckX-_6yEiAi2Wl1fefMTsHgEYANPr7WZWZpgpeC1RQWyQvFC_fR_uiF_lALt-nvgfMmRwkW/s1600/DSC00132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2jTzcbAI_VcA8TW60A9PNKyUYaJRQKSh55OGRNw9kFQiz0T0h0oR95jH_VhsqKUQ1lSprckX-_6yEiAi2Wl1fefMTsHgEYANPr7WZWZpgpeC1RQWyQvFC_fR_uiF_lALt-nvgfMmRwkW/s320/DSC00132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New steps with skid pads installed</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_lUDUeQIZHpTHDA0BRSRFIXgM_v7wVj1bN6tUA29ey6xDfOXUMYsnY87uK4JY4n2BwcOcWK1nfHrMOSCxczOd9fMys4hU8tHFVLOaUpCvIB4GQ2KXQyMW39etIaZkmgdIivJU59rM7Uf/s1600/DSC00133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_lUDUeQIZHpTHDA0BRSRFIXgM_v7wVj1bN6tUA29ey6xDfOXUMYsnY87uK4JY4n2BwcOcWK1nfHrMOSCxczOd9fMys4hU8tHFVLOaUpCvIB4GQ2KXQyMW39etIaZkmgdIivJU59rM7Uf/s320/DSC00133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rear bumper and the back door on flatbed that hides my slide-out table.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_cCflKDaId6eJT1HQN0UJL4Dk6k-VJEKLSSQmxvxSRbtHqvaRpH7TCBHgYeCHoDcKBjpoZY9gmNjwrRbO6vbMqz6rtjUvVcbQ7JbbQ0wmYsB8vjwtECoA2YbiFfhFB0I4Ncg4lSDrQPh/s1600/DSC00088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_cCflKDaId6eJT1HQN0UJL4Dk6k-VJEKLSSQmxvxSRbtHqvaRpH7TCBHgYeCHoDcKBjpoZY9gmNjwrRbO6vbMqz6rtjUvVcbQ7JbbQ0wmYsB8vjwtECoA2YbiFfhFB0I4Ncg4lSDrQPh/s320/DSC00088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here we have the 'almost' finished expedition Camper.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I say 'almost' because there is always something else that you need.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In our case we wanted to beef up the suspension for our expedition so we had Super Springs installed on the rear, Sumo springs on the front and we raised the front end 3 inches with a new key from Central 4 Wheel Drive in Sacramento.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We also bought steel 19.5" wheels from Rickson with Michelin XDS2 245/75/19.5 tires. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ITNCNeywabozjFX7OKaQfAHy79SaHBu8kOqD_hN7wFJVsfim235jE-hpfaAHirbS5to7nfz-rXMYnnSc8jlhqOvK31gPXyMVqFuh2_F0Bu1CLGvadCZOP-b2D-TRSiXYsknHkLLrNVR/s1600/DSC00267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ITNCNeywabozjFX7OKaQfAHy79SaHBu8kOqD_hN7wFJVsfim235jE-hpfaAHirbS5to7nfz-rXMYnnSc8jlhqOvK31gPXyMVqFuh2_F0Bu1CLGvadCZOP-b2D-TRSiXYsknHkLLrNVR/s320/DSC00267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBfZyo1EyJuKI_VWbE92GFsYjzopcHt0oZrqyA1AI6KF3RIM0cgYdtCH4__I30IkqPTzykOacBllMVHTEVJwI9sw22ow8isyRWbC5eiPGHPXxTiwSbBYGyp5S8efGnoly4AL10P-mAF1f/s1600/DSC00268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBfZyo1EyJuKI_VWbE92GFsYjzopcHt0oZrqyA1AI6KF3RIM0cgYdtCH4__I30IkqPTzykOacBllMVHTEVJwI9sw22ow8isyRWbC5eiPGHPXxTiwSbBYGyp5S8efGnoly4AL10P-mAF1f/s320/DSC00268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rickson wheels installed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now we are ready to ship her, but what about tools and spare parts? It is so hard to decide what to take and what to leave behind when we are going to be gone for 2 years and maybe longer!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87-1Jx8yfk_q2i4UhGVGFaB5UxVHG6aZMcPAuYhUShhrHT0joz0byR4xRPXYTSvWXKc56umTw9vz44x04VFnJ-_Pk-mtNsHjB5pZscgKLXfa8SJ2hFdQzcDpWh2eia0HFdEtLKluySSWk/s1600/DSC00130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87-1Jx8yfk_q2i4UhGVGFaB5UxVHG6aZMcPAuYhUShhrHT0joz0byR4xRPXYTSvWXKc56umTw9vz44x04VFnJ-_Pk-mtNsHjB5pZscgKLXfa8SJ2hFdQzcDpWh2eia0HFdEtLKluySSWk/s320/DSC00130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the collection I am taking. Spanners and screwdrivers have their own wrap-around cloth/canvas bags that Annie made to stop them banging into each other on the rough roads and it also keeps them well organized.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thankfully everything fits in 2 tool boxes that slide under the sub-floor in the back of the cab.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSprV1Sa8aXojAyPWua10il66CnFCRLjkLBsp4ZZk1ZbmYfAJNWf-q8LtjPmyc9Up4kCpyvom5odej3SzeIt4X0hRWkol31E6X-sIhpOlnQnNsDCgkN339qjMNpiAsP_9sqJJlO2MGJv-u/s1600/DSC00270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSprV1Sa8aXojAyPWua10il66CnFCRLjkLBsp4ZZk1ZbmYfAJNWf-q8LtjPmyc9Up4kCpyvom5odej3SzeIt4X0hRWkol31E6X-sIhpOlnQnNsDCgkN339qjMNpiAsP_9sqJJlO2MGJv-u/s320/DSC00270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is Bush Baby on the dock in Baltimore waiting for the ship to arrive. She does have a campervan from Germany and a motorhome from Norway to keep her company.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now what do we do for 3 weeks while she is in transit, oh I know let's update the blog in between getting all the other things that need to be done for international travel.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-77705767281098041552011-10-11T11:31:00.000-07:002011-10-11T14:18:17.112-07:00Farewell Australia<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our original plan was to ship the Trakka to <city w:st="on">Durban</city>, <country-region w:st="on">South Africa</country-region> and then continue our Adventure in <place w:st="on">Africa</place>. However, best laid plans.... Once back in the United States Annie got very sick and we thought our travels were over with! So, we had Martin sell our beloved Trakka for us. Again there was a huge trust involved as we gave him all the authority and he could have said or done anything, but in just a few short weeks he had our camper sold for a very fair price and we had the money in our bank account. Thanks again Martin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some final photos from our Australian adventure and it truly was an exciting adventure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>OMG:</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxmpl_nEmGJjdXobX619wsNUTGcvV5H-iLEarzfY9V1SpZIJIMp9XYEK752965vBV0bELAVwqQIahq_y9CdoghPj42f4q7Cr_lmVfEpnWeV1GWgd6bqXUR5WNzo6ZHjxyRoC6zJcceS-O/s1600/IMG_0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxmpl_nEmGJjdXobX619wsNUTGcvV5H-iLEarzfY9V1SpZIJIMp9XYEK752965vBV0bELAVwqQIahq_y9CdoghPj42f4q7Cr_lmVfEpnWeV1GWgd6bqXUR5WNzo6ZHjxyRoC6zJcceS-O/s320/IMG_0584.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf94L1tPw2BcmesfIP5jPdc1FN0WNLozvSsOnfMNE8IR0mDAaulaEJR4YzL3z64tNTrVril6M_tcxC1mqdl2oFQiupCLkIBbvW6Rw4IkVx9ILCoQR-KAb9MLqUEinUPS68D5Ls_GVMwOC6/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf94L1tPw2BcmesfIP5jPdc1FN0WNLozvSsOnfMNE8IR0mDAaulaEJR4YzL3z64tNTrVril6M_tcxC1mqdl2oFQiupCLkIBbvW6Rw4IkVx9ILCoQR-KAb9MLqUEinUPS68D5Ls_GVMwOC6/s320/IMG_0528.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Around every corner is another surprise:</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMLNyCs-ntQZ2xbtBFQmvCwccge_upZRvSS9vgN0kWckJQ3eDwdc4-4HfgpKVDsJYBG4TI0rOej235TZEKec2Z7kkm9FwdfdK77Y8XxHalmmIWLuZts7j2jp908U1Wuoc4W6d5QYBg09B/s1600/IMG_0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMLNyCs-ntQZ2xbtBFQmvCwccge_upZRvSS9vgN0kWckJQ3eDwdc4-4HfgpKVDsJYBG4TI0rOej235TZEKec2Z7kkm9FwdfdK77Y8XxHalmmIWLuZts7j2jp908U1Wuoc4W6d5QYBg09B/s320/IMG_0694.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Piano in tree marks the exact spot where one landed during a 100 year flood!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZGIONoroFnDakvSIvdAinP4pb_n1yi0BjvZoGIEo3pEeEawXMEUEUrAs8BYfcQ015Yo6Hsaop_Gh77bNzzohtPMR9VzPFFBpkZNY3_I7Dm7FbsnlAef0CZGXtmQAyv7NdYXhVKeML8dB/s1600/IMG_9267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZGIONoroFnDakvSIvdAinP4pb_n1yi0BjvZoGIEo3pEeEawXMEUEUrAs8BYfcQ015Yo6Hsaop_Gh77bNzzohtPMR9VzPFFBpkZNY3_I7Dm7FbsnlAef0CZGXtmQAyv7NdYXhVKeML8dB/s320/IMG_9267.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzZoNGGc_Jl0uSI8gQolZnF56j5PTD7SgIZsZuCBONj1FNY3PFnz5fQ9Z0du6x9R5bPwOy1BRDEyOLdQrX7AO2MUw9Ao_bYGNNneDDGgeXFHiz8jO7hRrGt-Dpj6IpOmuQPRJo4a2g7bh/s1600/IMG_9329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzZoNGGc_Jl0uSI8gQolZnF56j5PTD7SgIZsZuCBONj1FNY3PFnz5fQ9Z0du6x9R5bPwOy1BRDEyOLdQrX7AO2MUw9Ao_bYGNNneDDGgeXFHiz8jO7hRrGt-Dpj6IpOmuQPRJo4a2g7bh/s320/IMG_9329.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm92R5HTtuMp7aqn1svq9fsvWrTzgcWDITvKu8OiM24Ar2VE5ZRyz9oC8EbpJoPxb8U_9IkpTHabRaT5hNFMlFJOzOz577EpgUBYkUSYDyK8thXEpmOq1aUNjiAtRHL4HA7AoJRoSRRtHb/s1600/IMG_9179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm92R5HTtuMp7aqn1svq9fsvWrTzgcWDITvKu8OiM24Ar2VE5ZRyz9oC8EbpJoPxb8U_9IkpTHabRaT5hNFMlFJOzOz577EpgUBYkUSYDyK8thXEpmOq1aUNjiAtRHL4HA7AoJRoSRRtHb/s320/IMG_9179.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWWJNowBnQFGlvw5ASeKa_XUMviWW7oEQb6YbbxJzA07fpffuE0TeigKq5xwP3g7SISipjAiUc6QW-gT1WrX6ZElQWtaS9QEEBPptvS6znUv5HFvrV3UUOip5jFvctQBqCodLEQ0Tlvzg/s1600/IMG_7723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWWJNowBnQFGlvw5ASeKa_XUMviWW7oEQb6YbbxJzA07fpffuE0TeigKq5xwP3g7SISipjAiUc6QW-gT1WrX6ZElQWtaS9QEEBPptvS6znUv5HFvrV3UUOip5jFvctQBqCodLEQ0Tlvzg/s320/IMG_7723.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only dingo we saw in 3 months.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CIFxf44NgnAzNaDbu9QxLsbPnCsHuWezPbX1XiBLTFZrvcnLfLvoZjwNwwaxQmQpGk_W2vV3n0lJsnO1IPfDGN5XLmRg_sMSm0IjacpvoNI3uaKntJaY551zo82EqUn10XnY6jnuOx92/s1600/IMG_0655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CIFxf44NgnAzNaDbu9QxLsbPnCsHuWezPbX1XiBLTFZrvcnLfLvoZjwNwwaxQmQpGk_W2vV3n0lJsnO1IPfDGN5XLmRg_sMSm0IjacpvoNI3uaKntJaY551zo82EqUn10XnY6jnuOx92/s320/IMG_0655.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the road to Emerald.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zF-nAaC8veNsn0a5iDprAPGuCSSkMbaf-cH5y9vxFSSySJhz3ZYDV2JacoszdBvClajup2NklcuoZzWi0G-vUbkcAEl-2qIrI5hcZNo8Tii8QzaYX42L2FsOYLVk_ENC0F8w-mNziDlE/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zF-nAaC8veNsn0a5iDprAPGuCSSkMbaf-cH5y9vxFSSySJhz3ZYDV2JacoszdBvClajup2NklcuoZzWi0G-vUbkcAEl-2qIrI5hcZNo8Tii8QzaYX42L2FsOYLVk_ENC0F8w-mNziDlE/s320/IMG_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxEve-OdJ89aw_rU8z8CaXWgZIJgkFt7U9CXD6g1pxd1SbTBwidQSI46F_sf_xFf7ppkUw45HMwUQfTxUHvjsvdPuWXv2GSNQpqSjEMwc6u16w1aNSlf23LEImtWQg2dkahygQJzN3rYZ/s1600/IMG_9378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxEve-OdJ89aw_rU8z8CaXWgZIJgkFt7U9CXD6g1pxd1SbTBwidQSI46F_sf_xFf7ppkUw45HMwUQfTxUHvjsvdPuWXv2GSNQpqSjEMwc6u16w1aNSlf23LEImtWQg2dkahygQJzN3rYZ/s320/IMG_9378.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australian possum visited our camp.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhempESFgRvVktig4vrhTZ4oWZ3bomOTq2i1rNLi_vYApIwk-tS91E3COy3HDvMn3hHgyHHMji1vJeGramzmpPn-AxEhwTIl1IDdHIMNeV6He0o21WunowHKcyFXnBQpS_u9Xx-yklbaj/s1600/IMG_9554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhempESFgRvVktig4vrhTZ4oWZ3bomOTq2i1rNLi_vYApIwk-tS91E3COy3HDvMn3hHgyHHMji1vJeGramzmpPn-AxEhwTIl1IDdHIMNeV6He0o21WunowHKcyFXnBQpS_u9Xx-yklbaj/s320/IMG_9554.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were lucky to see tons of Koala bears in the wild.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HkFJeA9uEtHTLEZxAdAV1YO7l9F1yAXBNgA6nRDPTIv-G36oohunzsWuZsZUzsZabGaCeHj_6_fRpeeO3SsoU_8deaxq7ksHsNgPsrLHihxA1YOzYwVNcHEUKMDkYVKJ61prqm3mFU87/s1600/IMG_9591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HkFJeA9uEtHTLEZxAdAV1YO7l9F1yAXBNgA6nRDPTIv-G36oohunzsWuZsZUzsZabGaCeHj_6_fRpeeO3SsoU_8deaxq7ksHsNgPsrLHihxA1YOzYwVNcHEUKMDkYVKJ61prqm3mFU87/s320/IMG_9591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk09OgdJvWsKZ8qjbjoVc0Slj1MAsVdxY2GhlCPifIFI1KEndiMpsy_z0o0jXCSL3OKbnL9Qc_GQ5U1wWUra3yNQpuiH7AAV0pq8E23Ecui6KF-oRdKguHIbUhdokD_Oht07I1dcGQ34m/s1600/IMG_9626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk09OgdJvWsKZ8qjbjoVc0Slj1MAsVdxY2GhlCPifIFI1KEndiMpsy_z0o0jXCSL3OKbnL9Qc_GQ5U1wWUra3yNQpuiH7AAV0pq8E23Ecui6KF-oRdKguHIbUhdokD_Oht07I1dcGQ34m/s320/IMG_9626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdkrXCY1GTCH2MvQgwrhUKi7afvnvfvdBQSkCX5VJrDG91dwoBhcOsPGXBN9bRsAebHOdOpUpjpc4ETPH4JGbMcPBScm4Qe1lqmXDEgWUhBPMcO_za1TWxsS_koKs0bxDqk2KlGWRM45g/s1600/IMG_9764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdkrXCY1GTCH2MvQgwrhUKi7afvnvfvdBQSkCX5VJrDG91dwoBhcOsPGXBN9bRsAebHOdOpUpjpc4ETPH4JGbMcPBScm4Qe1lqmXDEgWUhBPMcO_za1TWxsS_koKs0bxDqk2KlGWRM45g/s320/IMG_9764.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-S7nIUGO1erTp3ezeuKreTEgVP4zYID4DHdoiOmMlzxm8ugzG6meBE8TS56Ceo__o0-d0GWcyPeyT-hUemBhIQubA-YEbpPboNq6njlwV6oFY68M161lDkTpqFPOqmvdOjhStqRFrzDD/s1600/IMG_9817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-S7nIUGO1erTp3ezeuKreTEgVP4zYID4DHdoiOmMlzxm8ugzG6meBE8TS56Ceo__o0-d0GWcyPeyT-hUemBhIQubA-YEbpPboNq6njlwV6oFY68M161lDkTpqFPOqmvdOjhStqRFrzDD/s320/IMG_9817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guess what he is selling!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Wide variety of noisy Australian birds:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd4adjgrMPgw9eICYboHqv-MLZgXTvU3p6t61q4E2lijOQNFXhclFaxms_2wiesgPTnoinCC9PZARkW3s_j1P-cSSxF6BvwSCmq0jk7FnfhSti-x1bUtfaBphwywghGyL9LGix88k9_8r/s1600/IMG_0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd4adjgrMPgw9eICYboHqv-MLZgXTvU3p6t61q4E2lijOQNFXhclFaxms_2wiesgPTnoinCC9PZARkW3s_j1P-cSSxF6BvwSCmq0jk7FnfhSti-x1bUtfaBphwywghGyL9LGix88k9_8r/s320/IMG_0520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNwef_b_cJ1TTcdffEhxebLc2TEjGcfT0LqDF7hOpT-T0TiNG-WOLF-rMNjFoLw0Z_Gh4D26br6h0cXMCoMDcKKb_D4K76Y0BlcOQfHyXVa8WCkr7p8g4RcwyepAJEsxQ3R-E2HF8G7oU/s1600/IMG_7557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNwef_b_cJ1TTcdffEhxebLc2TEjGcfT0LqDF7hOpT-T0TiNG-WOLF-rMNjFoLw0Z_Gh4D26br6h0cXMCoMDcKKb_D4K76Y0BlcOQfHyXVa8WCkr7p8g4RcwyepAJEsxQ3R-E2HF8G7oU/s320/IMG_7557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdgj0_gz7_PAe-vie8k2dnXHjVfa5C-rgsxkfi58GvUB4yZX-F2FPhYsFSSYrKFX3zjHIg08krXlIzzvRSlQosd9G8n_QbKkz3LC_1hf-yF55XN6P53EeV6n50ZU8vEkH58APxvNhXpJ7/s1600/IMG_7686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdgj0_gz7_PAe-vie8k2dnXHjVfa5C-rgsxkfi58GvUB4yZX-F2FPhYsFSSYrKFX3zjHIg08krXlIzzvRSlQosd9G8n_QbKkz3LC_1hf-yF55XN6P53EeV6n50ZU8vEkH58APxvNhXpJ7/s320/IMG_7686.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkrphlG4sxrVxayj-w5xR2DTndWvgBo88-KNpECEeCRV2XO-vXVA0bNQheutPSVY-EfyjpTO-ycFaV0EQ1m0cP4LHNwCf0EUdKGi6kMyM1v2U68tin8Ao9KJNOn8-MN6h_ZdvQYPh8W3W/s1600/IMG_7716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkrphlG4sxrVxayj-w5xR2DTndWvgBo88-KNpECEeCRV2XO-vXVA0bNQheutPSVY-EfyjpTO-ycFaV0EQ1m0cP4LHNwCf0EUdKGi6kMyM1v2U68tin8Ao9KJNOn8-MN6h_ZdvQYPh8W3W/s320/IMG_7716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcEh8hLPDZa0zICs4esNijHtLgagxNoTMKiwFQG9IE6v7uXwKpcWNRWXJWWbVNDAEGJAHOyD8UNlQ-ujKPnNAjCOagjJZY-jvtesAF89XK3Ewf6DjvjyHA8JTPj4MsA2yyq5tJrlYV-oP/s1600/IMG_7737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcEh8hLPDZa0zICs4esNijHtLgagxNoTMKiwFQG9IE6v7uXwKpcWNRWXJWWbVNDAEGJAHOyD8UNlQ-ujKPnNAjCOagjJZY-jvtesAF89XK3Ewf6DjvjyHA8JTPj4MsA2yyq5tJrlYV-oP/s320/IMG_7737.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgpzRyFRKVVCaO9SOC57OpO_ufsdyM06vDqpK4TOR2MQnfEKY9jKh1cjaLYAGg5b4JSaVm8J54mjEj_gDv1Y3zGhSH5KiLXd_PVTvfaTG8k22seu2GEXw46cGowyio5XLKO4zSZlEVbE8/s1600/IMG_9119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgpzRyFRKVVCaO9SOC57OpO_ufsdyM06vDqpK4TOR2MQnfEKY9jKh1cjaLYAGg5b4JSaVm8J54mjEj_gDv1Y3zGhSH5KiLXd_PVTvfaTG8k22seu2GEXw46cGowyio5XLKO4zSZlEVbE8/s320/IMG_9119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYsnrh6s8VWJmajuAQmlzChNduZg0e09skgKqZP_fGUa8qE2kc0WQtfp-Kx4XwEmAGCXqQCkBBPKS_qOzGezZf8OsKaCrAhE3DME1wO_lRqcFdIjrBlTk8WqA1Jd_c4npSBCjeS5tWgo8/s1600/IMG_9190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYsnrh6s8VWJmajuAQmlzChNduZg0e09skgKqZP_fGUa8qE2kc0WQtfp-Kx4XwEmAGCXqQCkBBPKS_qOzGezZf8OsKaCrAhE3DME1wO_lRqcFdIjrBlTk8WqA1Jd_c4npSBCjeS5tWgo8/s320/IMG_9190.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwTHffg5f16z5ZBiO9hgQ-l-ptFcrF3VrfH0ryknHURF_8wfbN3Ge70iQXLccFoa4bSXU0dJ7BioFeoBaEAbRsY8JVXBHqu8XEi2SmRfDl5LTqz0dCKYFiNCaMp-Fghriqpk6nVrbNq0H/s1600/IMG_9351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwTHffg5f16z5ZBiO9hgQ-l-ptFcrF3VrfH0ryknHURF_8wfbN3Ge70iQXLccFoa4bSXU0dJ7BioFeoBaEAbRsY8JVXBHqu8XEi2SmRfDl5LTqz0dCKYFiNCaMp-Fghriqpk6nVrbNq0H/s320/IMG_9351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>And some not so noisy birds:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj5RCJ7hwTyUgtOQ1dzIpkfWd9fVPHUywtsAGYzqRnD-_c1LCeO2HKP53P1ZRPkx3BkQEgekY34PEMwrWS49gf1rrtmJwk5O904EFFuqIzu3lQQVGEdTHukqQDw6vsGoaBl0SBVwHRtHD/s1600/IMG_0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj5RCJ7hwTyUgtOQ1dzIpkfWd9fVPHUywtsAGYzqRnD-_c1LCeO2HKP53P1ZRPkx3BkQEgekY34PEMwrWS49gf1rrtmJwk5O904EFFuqIzu3lQQVGEdTHukqQDw6vsGoaBl0SBVwHRtHD/s320/IMG_0533.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Family of ducks came visiting.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OIclZYjW5FT68O1sqKjaXBnocRXF9tvqeJCvBTsTbVMkby2fK9f-vHvh7XxKeZT_ED1wdQikEGllSD10Yv-NU0TNTqsHwTMRIf0byiFvy_rTvap8b0Q9oGvNJW_cSFXt3BVTa4iRT-mD/s1600/IMG_9200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OIclZYjW5FT68O1sqKjaXBnocRXF9tvqeJCvBTsTbVMkby2fK9f-vHvh7XxKeZT_ED1wdQikEGllSD10Yv-NU0TNTqsHwTMRIf0byiFvy_rTvap8b0Q9oGvNJW_cSFXt3BVTa4iRT-mD/s320/IMG_9200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLxhf6JJOM20i4UBQ5kjq55-vlt-YxvPFhPFM57GMifdRp20WPqorB1ZqWv1JUbpjF_kEFbint2M5IIbGh4_5bS7VhiIrHc_P91SDBthXJ0WO3RBHtbcWtRQWVk0DxLgAl_DnLEaR6l5Q/s1600/IMG_9270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLxhf6JJOM20i4UBQ5kjq55-vlt-YxvPFhPFM57GMifdRp20WPqorB1ZqWv1JUbpjF_kEFbint2M5IIbGh4_5bS7VhiIrHc_P91SDBthXJ0WO3RBHtbcWtRQWVk0DxLgAl_DnLEaR6l5Q/s320/IMG_9270.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ArKZzJJeArxl_nrvpVnv1AHrjM71lgHAP-xo84voVa5DrGJvmpCzM_4mCLSVmqv0XUFpOeOPVffiQeK_lz5z2fIdgP84SNoZbTgN9Bsvg6M-h7eUoqjvGxeZv41k_dhLLuoa-cEDIm_z/s1600/IMG_9459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ArKZzJJeArxl_nrvpVnv1AHrjM71lgHAP-xo84voVa5DrGJvmpCzM_4mCLSVmqv0XUFpOeOPVffiQeK_lz5z2fIdgP84SNoZbTgN9Bsvg6M-h7eUoqjvGxeZv41k_dhLLuoa-cEDIm_z/s320/IMG_9459.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sfQP90AH-MqHxd13u2Jv_J281SO_EAlArOPfvqK2WjNk-7RhKRR37qj6SdAM3fERMT1ePoNsHIWwEh8DJnZpwpcmn8YHKp0aKRs6kN9ItocyfiKK7Y8kEstyIlek7FdVHAsMP6h2JvRo/s1600/IMG_7539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sfQP90AH-MqHxd13u2Jv_J281SO_EAlArOPfvqK2WjNk-7RhKRR37qj6SdAM3fERMT1ePoNsHIWwEh8DJnZpwpcmn8YHKp0aKRs6kN9ItocyfiKK7Y8kEstyIlek7FdVHAsMP6h2JvRo/s320/IMG_7539.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-39730832913721063572011-10-08T12:32:00.000-07:002011-10-11T11:33:44.259-07:00Australia First<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We thought before we posted our travels in The XP we would post some of our travels in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Australia</place></country-region> in our Trakka back in 2008. We had a 4 Motion VW T5 Trakka which we wandered around in for about 3 months. In 2007 we went to the Brisbane Camping Show to find a camper for our Australian travels and that was where we met Martin Poate of Trakka and struck up an amazing relationship of trust which resulted in us buying the Trakka while we were in America all by email and bank transfers. Martin is a remarkable fellow who, when we look back, we were lucky to meet and do business with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We went to the factory in Sydney to pick-up our Trakka and there it was all shiny and new waiting for us, which is quite a relief when all you have in your possession is a couple of emails and some bank transfer transactions. Thanks Martin.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqP84giAakYvnpJaxmKf5Pzzq_eP-v4egKHmxLgKxGXFnGKS6pdnJ2WzTpf7zralxEC3_BmsEPuffxup4jF13oVQDhVhk9qxvbyWEnXqfEXA6uBy1urQ0dqHi1fQm9PuNnG5OUQbwxH7Y/s1600/IMG_9060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqP84giAakYvnpJaxmKf5Pzzq_eP-v4egKHmxLgKxGXFnGKS6pdnJ2WzTpf7zralxEC3_BmsEPuffxup4jF13oVQDhVhk9qxvbyWEnXqfEXA6uBy1urQ0dqHi1fQm9PuNnG5OUQbwxH7Y/s320/IMG_9060.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Australian Adventure begins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKz8xKysDtcnHwRZccsbffrLxBAYEglnch4iY6FbeUl8J4QIWpPOxVYOOamJQNdo9lvmg-vKOh-fc20Rylixe40vSGqFQlVhCjin7qTLxfGMcCn4eFXYpd8yAfbxvtVoo1-5HV24POizhj/s1600/IMG_9061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKz8xKysDtcnHwRZccsbffrLxBAYEglnch4iY6FbeUl8J4QIWpPOxVYOOamJQNdo9lvmg-vKOh-fc20Rylixe40vSGqFQlVhCjin7qTLxfGMcCn4eFXYpd8yAfbxvtVoo1-5HV24POizhj/s320/IMG_9061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON6pfAo094xxXiDcYguURJ_3VRiYLX_fh5X4LbRtTs0xBe-0ZQ-JF_de-yvwfIm2dZLan00KuQ0xPMB5sSvh8zqnX291zcQBIwXtFYIQfSLcFChu-SvPzyziLnVD57otqkdMPESt6vj9_/s1600/IMG_9288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON6pfAo094xxXiDcYguURJ_3VRiYLX_fh5X4LbRtTs0xBe-0ZQ-JF_de-yvwfIm2dZLan00KuQ0xPMB5sSvh8zqnX291zcQBIwXtFYIQfSLcFChu-SvPzyziLnVD57otqkdMPESt6vj9_/s320/IMG_9288.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXimFitpceKKUQD74MC3zqoNJVnHyYvhyphenhyphenzrDYQ15rsvlzAZ5VOft6OxpnSa1RiQx75Qultw9CZ5SJ7kbcmZ9gbbmWNCp6W2202B72wQd8IaEHNnRbBXv_bY8kQpDe8bzLX4Y6k5Dvkuuc0/s1600/IMG_9287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXimFitpceKKUQD74MC3zqoNJVnHyYvhyphenhyphenzrDYQ15rsvlzAZ5VOft6OxpnSa1RiQx75Qultw9CZ5SJ7kbcmZ9gbbmWNCp6W2202B72wQd8IaEHNnRbBXv_bY8kQpDe8bzLX4Y6k5Dvkuuc0/s320/IMG_9287.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fridge to left, stove above dish cloth and sink above the fridge. What more do you need?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2NkC_RdJpMHzEdWaRbYm7FSyx0a6OZWGqT5XVAjgqv-9ujGtNjlk7lMTAHB0OJVr0tv5BDbby16DYRNRtEe_bBd81A48a9yifvLiuuUAjpX5nXXMzl8rBqMv08TOwahRyMbeA5JwKH_p/s1600/IMG_0374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2NkC_RdJpMHzEdWaRbYm7FSyx0a6OZWGqT5XVAjgqv-9ujGtNjlk7lMTAHB0OJVr0tv5BDbby16DYRNRtEe_bBd81A48a9yifvLiuuUAjpX5nXXMzl8rBqMv08TOwahRyMbeA5JwKH_p/s320/IMG_0374.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bed all made up! Snug as a bug in a rug!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of bugs, we had just left our camping spot when I rolled up my window and with the glass came this huge (OK huge to us) spider! In our exictment we couldn't tell if it was on the inside or the outside of the glass, so we rolled the window back down and then back up, and there it stll was...... We pulled over to the side, it jumped off just as Annie jumped out, she shrieked, it ran away and Annie jumped back in and off we went laughing hysterically. The Adventure continues</span>!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODDrPBCPTRZFmiMtr6KyfLhojAhQgjouRVB3FZ4HXhhg8mDIzqVTcay8CtZRG3xMLOWshgfMfmkXWfuPeTDA250kydqgHeRVD4gZ7wrw8cAIbCcBpqagfvXhDF6sutTlXdbCpC5jAzewj/s1600/IMG_9451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODDrPBCPTRZFmiMtr6KyfLhojAhQgjouRVB3FZ4HXhhg8mDIzqVTcay8CtZRG3xMLOWshgfMfmkXWfuPeTDA250kydqgHeRVD4gZ7wrw8cAIbCcBpqagfvXhDF6sutTlXdbCpC5jAzewj/s320/IMG_9451.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty scary company, hey!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world famous Road Trains. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We met up with quite a few of these guys in our travels and they were all very considerate and really not a problem at all.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYk8g0xlopcaT8nvsSMxcXEGXJSby-az4yTJRBoDvjdOpG3YXBaCQwSWrafVN2Bkemr-CuVZhh3Z9pCtd8S3KpN7WRHU8g-IxJmKqjPZ2lIzYN7Si0xtOxRcEfGOK00R9r7BULkoYijoz/s1600/IMG_0686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYk8g0xlopcaT8nvsSMxcXEGXJSby-az4yTJRBoDvjdOpG3YXBaCQwSWrafVN2Bkemr-CuVZhh3Z9pCtd8S3KpN7WRHU8g-IxJmKqjPZ2lIzYN7Si0xtOxRcEfGOK00R9r7BULkoYijoz/s320/IMG_0686.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Count the wheels. I come up with 70.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ37RBqdJZIxyABUjD98OI7pt8H84ugqM3IJSF1saEU5VwGM7N9lveCSXT7W-28BSYBoJnyO_NuzKEE4Rsn5sxcByThHL7RqA2_STx1KBe0jphdiaSewVUV6yDBKVrR51kmaGLg_e7kvg/s1600/IMG_0689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ37RBqdJZIxyABUjD98OI7pt8H84ugqM3IJSF1saEU5VwGM7N9lveCSXT7W-28BSYBoJnyO_NuzKEE4Rsn5sxcByThHL7RqA2_STx1KBe0jphdiaSewVUV6yDBKVrR51kmaGLg_e7kvg/s320/IMG_0689.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Somehow everyone gets by.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaZv06fgYpUwmiRfASHCftEc13106bXnBiuR3fQdqxUQLmo4FwY4yOFYlWH9l9Z071rTzPFjdQzfjTFJ_yqNSh0TjDFq3FiblzeRdO_RrROJQomd5sYP3HVX30F_ZT3JOjASWcxUOY8KE/s1600/IMG_0703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaZv06fgYpUwmiRfASHCftEc13106bXnBiuR3fQdqxUQLmo4FwY4yOFYlWH9l9Z071rTzPFjdQzfjTFJ_yqNSh0TjDFq3FiblzeRdO_RrROJQomd5sYP3HVX30F_ZT3JOjASWcxUOY8KE/s320/IMG_0703.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This trumps any Road Train.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some camping spots:</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcfqA2w2HLycIZWMiJIYQpVf2MsmIS8gWSHfuptbxrkuW5geAsz_RHtE3vCdG8pSUehm09iY1Hfp77yYDgL9W7adedWzAR1eDmiLIOwCj68z2GKtmIl0RyUeMviVapsXzHsoS8Cp1cywY/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcfqA2w2HLycIZWMiJIYQpVf2MsmIS8gWSHfuptbxrkuW5geAsz_RHtE3vCdG8pSUehm09iY1Hfp77yYDgL9W7adedWzAR1eDmiLIOwCj68z2GKtmIl0RyUeMviVapsXzHsoS8Cp1cywY/s320/IMG_0059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beside a stream in Tassie.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Nz8uTeAXGGPXTOXwJokf2vH5FljYmVzl45FzwQR411DxkgIXZQDBE3XNk1dXXWlPy4l_yAaAcWglsPgDn7_3Mi7xF1i5MhUenvgTCkNt-HfOvuLrjZzFZDNXOIb60nHs3ACIwEr25OCZ/s1600/IMG_9375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Nz8uTeAXGGPXTOXwJokf2vH5FljYmVzl45FzwQR411DxkgIXZQDBE3XNk1dXXWlPy4l_yAaAcWglsPgDn7_3Mi7xF1i5MhUenvgTCkNt-HfOvuLrjZzFZDNXOIb60nHs3ACIwEr25OCZ/s320/IMG_9375.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC5OdMzN1W_MHJGJ9TZEJa0tu8KXYzjMHKoa_oIc7XNsVnWODt7ss5ViJHieZGmafCYxVstecTHbj_KlorT0FQ4UVlOToWTnzwloPLqeHbaqoIc7IYsfzMjqd2ESBIKCJ3xMYlV9uTYaf/s1600/IMG_0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC5OdMzN1W_MHJGJ9TZEJa0tu8KXYzjMHKoa_oIc7XNsVnWODt7ss5ViJHieZGmafCYxVstecTHbj_KlorT0FQ4UVlOToWTnzwloPLqeHbaqoIc7IYsfzMjqd2ESBIKCJ3xMYlV9uTYaf/s320/IMG_0286.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waiting for the sunset</span>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkuYfX99OauTe4yth_Jcb5LWo2R4zvGNCmWlML7XXRnDBnmm-emsQFLU3X3PdqHbyPJfy2BsQ3RswEmQNF3IdHBHmR54q0DEIsWE5_01U48OZt53Dc0kF-r96Q4Bo3RyaTVq9QG7fbezL/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkuYfX99OauTe4yth_Jcb5LWo2R4zvGNCmWlML7XXRnDBnmm-emsQFLU3X3PdqHbyPJfy2BsQ3RswEmQNF3IdHBHmR54q0DEIsWE5_01U48OZt53Dc0kF-r96Q4Bo3RyaTVq9QG7fbezL/s320/IMG_0289.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well worth the wait.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some signs:</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5IHlmit0WppORpR5jt-mcq7k1ukrEJrk7rLL4-C5S5aG-96XxVjc5tOnGrXU0VHUq5gyM8FQjei4lmNuJdRHhE9oTI77dPFfKcMPYIdbvyuahOkx6TVjG1sQ0737LgTfm5XVE3lXYyE2/s1600/IMG_9493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5IHlmit0WppORpR5jt-mcq7k1ukrEJrk7rLL4-C5S5aG-96XxVjc5tOnGrXU0VHUq5gyM8FQjei4lmNuJdRHhE9oTI77dPFfKcMPYIdbvyuahOkx6TVjG1sQ0737LgTfm5XVE3lXYyE2/s320/IMG_9493.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guess what they sell here.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTlcIqrh70abzB667e6vD_pBYTY_bpYwgDX62e2nuL8yr4gQiKBRfH8_8k6vWWNoRYX0LPQ2KSshm9agdjFXYzhAlbVmNT0o2ELhHwHqNgzdpNxfT6rU2It4aIBqHWfXlaDWXQ0FlEobm/s1600/IMG_9499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTlcIqrh70abzB667e6vD_pBYTY_bpYwgDX62e2nuL8yr4gQiKBRfH8_8k6vWWNoRYX0LPQ2KSshm9agdjFXYzhAlbVmNT0o2ELhHwHqNgzdpNxfT6rU2It4aIBqHWfXlaDWXQ0FlEobm/s320/IMG_9499.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This sign was miles from any port of entry. Just a reminder I guess.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfljdlFKJ6GE39vmQ7fglcD5h5HzlFMlH-a_vGEG6LRocn51s-_s8KYzRIMqOkbdb73HYc1btmc3cMVma4VHO5Fp1gNzmMVmbtghUeWg600ANnVsvRIJSyXemWrLVVtDpZvRtOflzSijH/s1600/IMG_9787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfljdlFKJ6GE39vmQ7fglcD5h5HzlFMlH-a_vGEG6LRocn51s-_s8KYzRIMqOkbdb73HYc1btmc3cMVma4VHO5Fp1gNzmMVmbtghUeWg600ANnVsvRIJSyXemWrLVVtDpZvRtOflzSijH/s320/IMG_9787.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australian humor.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0DUbfuiUrHHtqK5IbqHw4SkDJNLz3JbbmxfKdVGsPBL7DUNTPhaKXU2rGAa3oP3I63WzB-O9OLyF1YDAMdZRTzUI9KDRZqv-FZp2Jsp8vUHW6yEDdXtbHrkBdCJc7OLcTYDVEo7MSZud/s1600/IMG_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0DUbfuiUrHHtqK5IbqHw4SkDJNLz3JbbmxfKdVGsPBL7DUNTPhaKXU2rGAa3oP3I63WzB-O9OLyF1YDAMdZRTzUI9KDRZqv-FZp2Jsp8vUHW6yEDdXtbHrkBdCJc7OLcTYDVEo7MSZud/s320/IMG_0247.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaks volumes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some wildlife shots:</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdGoq1wsjXK_OTnhyphenhyphenr2HUbiGzTTrxNEbiDDGLElqcZGnXbHa3HGcFCVoCkYKVhyqWSnUmh1ntZ3PqsUE4TOh_CFKWP3L7Jtpi6QnQshngNGcoBOC8AbR1qq9AMD-3eABruIN0saU9hQOp/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdGoq1wsjXK_OTnhyphenhyphenr2HUbiGzTTrxNEbiDDGLElqcZGnXbHa3HGcFCVoCkYKVhyqWSnUmh1ntZ3PqsUE4TOh_CFKWP3L7Jtpi6QnQshngNGcoBOC8AbR1qq9AMD-3eABruIN0saU9hQOp/s320/IMG_0179.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Female Fairy Wren. Just steals your heart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2Z_8-2NKhtelG45ZwQWsUrCqWhToZGfoWh6GthJvio4uFuN-O39ejNkjVBxUceH9ZEgocgeeZX5sCRyBrB8tmI7YVN4fZfrzd5NPnOxwI5CwUtCfWuT5t-nEr7nqhKXHv1rFnBtB0a0b/s1600/IMG_0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2Z_8-2NKhtelG45ZwQWsUrCqWhToZGfoWh6GthJvio4uFuN-O39ejNkjVBxUceH9ZEgocgeeZX5sCRyBrB8tmI7YVN4fZfrzd5NPnOxwI5CwUtCfWuT5t-nEr7nqhKXHv1rFnBtB0a0b/s320/IMG_0177.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVRMxz7h0zjqYwcBaTb2FbqZZtDs1gm5-bt3WzQ10dqVlYk8G7iMctwQieAMEdJx1x1UZnvOwfuu2bA0colNFUwHh3OYKHQG0yJ7zJwVcYYXQA_xdRgZKzV9pc3hQGCvPc4L9yibOGOHt/s1600/IMG_0313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVRMxz7h0zjqYwcBaTb2FbqZZtDs1gm5-bt3WzQ10dqVlYk8G7iMctwQieAMEdJx1x1UZnvOwfuu2bA0colNFUwHh3OYKHQG0yJ7zJwVcYYXQA_xdRgZKzV9pc3hQGCvPc4L9yibOGOHt/s320/IMG_0313.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">White Wallaby in the wild</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvCwokvpWxPyxwrctfBr9KyU2vJI8NwSdfd5o6YFfJ9K4am8nJC7ZHhPrDQx1SRF-fdquwgY_GWz6qY-ZIckvDluIr84iNoCpvOV621R7bOhmFQ2DLQbZbFJIW1nP6apPImn4bis1Xf5N/s1600/IMG_0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvCwokvpWxPyxwrctfBr9KyU2vJI8NwSdfd5o6YFfJ9K4am8nJC7ZHhPrDQx1SRF-fdquwgY_GWz6qY-ZIckvDluIr84iNoCpvOV621R7bOhmFQ2DLQbZbFJIW1nP6apPImn4bis1Xf5N/s320/IMG_0315.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part of the same gang. Finds his tail very interesting.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsIsAzfcohG9XECxymEOW2fh3_5DcidhXA67ZT8aQEWKKV46j85BaeFba75bV1gG1NO04EZcyf0fZiPdpxU8Iyk35tyEhJonn7VIQWZXNwxtxOnkWJMXt7jcejOMaYGYZt7kpK0QexJqA/s1600/IMG_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsIsAzfcohG9XECxymEOW2fh3_5DcidhXA67ZT8aQEWKKV46j85BaeFba75bV1gG1NO04EZcyf0fZiPdpxU8Iyk35tyEhJonn7VIQWZXNwxtxOnkWJMXt7jcejOMaYGYZt7kpK0QexJqA/s320/IMG_0336.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australian Robin dwarfed by a Gum tree. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtgQd439EjGfAWhNhAGeigWXRKtrdeJ_ZIk0JDYbKnbIanhFYDEVoDnVS6-SqeDQkbnqJJcDO8ORqUsqzRe93MTMrW7OqIqpA0nfri5g_92trvOlQEsmW2nPtK0CNO4ZOvJHYLgNviG6p/s1600/IMG_9424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtgQd439EjGfAWhNhAGeigWXRKtrdeJ_ZIk0JDYbKnbIanhFYDEVoDnVS6-SqeDQkbnqJJcDO8ORqUsqzRe93MTMrW7OqIqpA0nfri5g_92trvOlQEsmW2nPtK0CNO4ZOvJHYLgNviG6p/s320/IMG_9424.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big lizard!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnhvPxzEzCmStHNTHyBaEkpUcNYGi4ZsrNwMoKqzGYbQ6_gxZsm_2V2dHk0JahWo_xz08zLyLmFXlxhFj0KopKS9ehyVO8dkYlsVm0V079KFXPUn1ULTMPjFLJSZSfhgDoAG3ss7es8ro/s1600/IMG_9831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnhvPxzEzCmStHNTHyBaEkpUcNYGi4ZsrNwMoKqzGYbQ6_gxZsm_2V2dHk0JahWo_xz08zLyLmFXlxhFj0KopKS9ehyVO8dkYlsVm0V079KFXPUn1ULTMPjFLJSZSfhgDoAG3ss7es8ro/s320/IMG_9831.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wedge Tail Eagle. Often feed off carasses of road kill.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R5Z-kI1gS_ARPK0RILg5zSavHXdvwj408afLnTqRQ5985q3H6Xqx9gm4AYxtZ9PVt0dOF8qAcMZnkEM3r0bu-0M7SpU7XirfquoJTpEr8BioW75nlpC_vrCzvLUwsDORdLkRfXa-k96G/s1600/IMG_9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R5Z-kI1gS_ARPK0RILg5zSavHXdvwj408afLnTqRQ5985q3H6Xqx9gm4AYxtZ9PVt0dOF8qAcMZnkEM3r0bu-0M7SpU7XirfquoJTpEr8BioW75nlpC_vrCzvLUwsDORdLkRfXa-k96G/s320/IMG_9875.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wedge Tail Eagle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEsx6vBJdye4sj2urOAshUAqzVUodilG3MP3WiGSt3MaA-vdLHOrxR8aR-MBXANLJ-dzFmKybQHuI17LQrv45_yt5UqzV0b0lj-hsN3OIJQuzMeonh35qesAO03Io7KT2aS5rihS39MR8/s1600/IMG_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEsx6vBJdye4sj2urOAshUAqzVUodilG3MP3WiGSt3MaA-vdLHOrxR8aR-MBXANLJ-dzFmKybQHuI17LQrv45_yt5UqzV0b0lj-hsN3OIJQuzMeonh35qesAO03Io7KT2aS5rihS39MR8/s320/IMG_0071.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baby Tasmanian Devil sunning himself at a sanctuary. The year we there the population of Tasmanian Devils was being decimated by a outbreak of cancer.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzrohZgyKKM9ND0SOWHkI101Ups5flf9zOfK1B_amyoY0joHJhLimG6KVFd7XToxFnQgC9ObmCsfp8Rw8xQGwIpvf3uJejVGNNxRsShu8EtqsOLBQkwzml7jfB_uySe7XSKMlZwD-y-Z5/s1600/IMG_9769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzrohZgyKKM9ND0SOWHkI101Ups5flf9zOfK1B_amyoY0joHJhLimG6KVFd7XToxFnQgC9ObmCsfp8Rw8xQGwIpvf3uJejVGNNxRsShu8EtqsOLBQkwzml7jfB_uySe7XSKMlZwD-y-Z5/s320/IMG_9769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hundreds of White Cockatoos invade a cricket pitch.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir1uACqLON3XxGTD1w7G-Hy0mLaZKGGPd2lhCtpJAY0Hc99LPlwDF9k4mGSz7VkIW7_UqkG4czVUFUm2XAvUP8ncEijL3HPLr5lB54jx_q_tI9SxwJGhdHMqynYAX9o7Ti7tVmw1rAZ_W/s1600/IMG_0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir1uACqLON3XxGTD1w7G-Hy0mLaZKGGPd2lhCtpJAY0Hc99LPlwDF9k4mGSz7VkIW7_UqkG4czVUFUm2XAvUP8ncEijL3HPLr5lB54jx_q_tI9SxwJGhdHMqynYAX9o7Ti7tVmw1rAZ_W/s320/IMG_0096.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annie just loves Wombats!</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other shots:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQdx1jDkPDYpcXGBJkZGpshXdVGzl5-nMkS0XeV1SzorAbd9iG_iZGsruFLziiP5fV17pGdw6S7x6T7hXNOSnfCr__hOEBVx6FJde4wsGDzKM8ZoCcU-kizr2y-VkHmkaGpJ70x-M1ypS/s1600/IMG_0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQdx1jDkPDYpcXGBJkZGpshXdVGzl5-nMkS0XeV1SzorAbd9iG_iZGsruFLziiP5fV17pGdw6S7x6T7hXNOSnfCr__hOEBVx6FJde4wsGDzKM8ZoCcU-kizr2y-VkHmkaGpJ70x-M1ypS/s320/IMG_0283.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCbqE8pFLIME9KNmikMa_WIV4aZtEzZAKank31yfSGtE3EVlVUZtN-cUH30u4QgNO2IzQGW2ftB1d3w7-6tx1ZjfezKUb7YcFvSyz-yzZJlXrC0n3JqfZ-vXJWeFp1ybSQiTNuAL7qnRP/s1600/IMG_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCbqE8pFLIME9KNmikMa_WIV4aZtEzZAKank31yfSGtE3EVlVUZtN-cUH30u4QgNO2IzQGW2ftB1d3w7-6tx1ZjfezKUb7YcFvSyz-yzZJlXrC0n3JqfZ-vXJWeFp1ybSQiTNuAL7qnRP/s320/IMG_0269.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihbQ0YDCyGc8r_pLOYIxhCZnT2PBBEM-6QQv3KA9xO7Z6qegAOssh-e776TNsMqJa1BaZAvLOMemJpCmOh_QEfhvE5U3b_MHYm36TXWlGHGFTn7I5HsRlxMI4BE459QN9AEl-CTCPhyphenhyphenqT/s1600/IMG_0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihbQ0YDCyGc8r_pLOYIxhCZnT2PBBEM-6QQv3KA9xO7Z6qegAOssh-e776TNsMqJa1BaZAvLOMemJpCmOh_QEfhvE5U3b_MHYm36TXWlGHGFTn7I5HsRlxMI4BE459QN9AEl-CTCPhyphenhyphenqT/s320/IMG_0355.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Idyllic Tasmania</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V5FXunTl8qe_YltkXoiTPqapcmrei6XBniXPev0ckBN0yvW6TKh3r7sH_yO2JKWB4mGeL1gKrN8B4qvdVANCnOtWYIrPifA3F3AgMpCCTbk-sRAkWsAwQDdoblUbsrwME0myhK5OLFBx/s1600/IMG_0513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V5FXunTl8qe_YltkXoiTPqapcmrei6XBniXPev0ckBN0yvW6TKh3r7sH_yO2JKWB4mGeL1gKrN8B4qvdVANCnOtWYIrPifA3F3AgMpCCTbk-sRAkWsAwQDdoblUbsrwME0myhK5OLFBx/s320/IMG_0513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo5CPwOvsgMuBz58JYbrncTODU9V9FtZgrETC7Osky4PQEQmzujYrj0PXuQOExyOSy7Sn8cv0CeJ6jCwNKgzDOZALwsvBTBL3OYHMf3f92papRtFlolrr0JIG11fSYZ2i8_yCC-so6wz_/s1600/IMG_9891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo5CPwOvsgMuBz58JYbrncTODU9V9FtZgrETC7Osky4PQEQmzujYrj0PXuQOExyOSy7Sn8cv0CeJ6jCwNKgzDOZALwsvBTBL3OYHMf3f92papRtFlolrr0JIG11fSYZ2i8_yCC-so6wz_/s320/IMG_9891.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQbvl5aU6yKGS54Fs0Zn0iM6wHN01KfFB-mivTsQzFg8BIjG6WqsWJMXhAPTcz6eEY-wyxDqKbvuzSJhi9Z_ky5zVkAQCZQPTqu67hYvwjGNBoqNBtki2_jhxmJ2SfpJmTsHlsFo_LLJ0/s1600/IMG_9893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQbvl5aU6yKGS54Fs0Zn0iM6wHN01KfFB-mivTsQzFg8BIjG6WqsWJMXhAPTcz6eEY-wyxDqKbvuzSJhi9Z_ky5zVkAQCZQPTqu67hYvwjGNBoqNBtki2_jhxmJ2SfpJmTsHlsFo_LLJ0/s320/IMG_9893.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Opal mining town in the middle of the Outback. Opals at the best prices anywhere.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVOgawPuKu4JXlg1HWqYwQ1jEx3OisBjGVYi6J3i8SnSuIWBJNxFUgc12sTkQn3ZwhhgmBGMHEPAbl2hMkshVN61OeXDHqBweqOd4mUjVB9FXwt8_mWl0VMPep4sZM3z7CSsEPJDHn8jM/s1600/IMG_9895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVOgawPuKu4JXlg1HWqYwQ1jEx3OisBjGVYi6J3i8SnSuIWBJNxFUgc12sTkQn3ZwhhgmBGMHEPAbl2hMkshVN61OeXDHqBweqOd4mUjVB9FXwt8_mWl0VMPep4sZM3z7CSsEPJDHn8jM/s320/IMG_9895.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deserted road in the Outback.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcXYDX5YUUcV9xI5v6XUSixSiP4MDJAgyrc5J0yDln9upSVOE-mNKrO2gFtv5CG7AZH08cnZh42UiczKFkzKSBTpAYfPcNyrBrqDah-kSzbJk5dJdeja7oIr5rnQzXuRJm1vttPfbXk_j/s1600/IMG_9993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcXYDX5YUUcV9xI5v6XUSixSiP4MDJAgyrc5J0yDln9upSVOE-mNKrO2gFtv5CG7AZH08cnZh42UiczKFkzKSBTpAYfPcNyrBrqDah-kSzbJk5dJdeja7oIr5rnQzXuRJm1vttPfbXk_j/s320/IMG_9993.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tasmania</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI19dXXmXtAY3tdUwX0XqeaxaOUjvp-QLRrJ0bYftU6pDE9NyEV_IY8q5y0Qpkrwivpw96bDf6eNcyvYZfDb8vFgtemDSaXs7oXBv2tr3LTwD4u6r2C1IA85bsEdzXQ8Hg_Lcv8O1iuEhc/s1600/IMG_9906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI19dXXmXtAY3tdUwX0XqeaxaOUjvp-QLRrJ0bYftU6pDE9NyEV_IY8q5y0Qpkrwivpw96bDf6eNcyvYZfDb8vFgtemDSaXs7oXBv2tr3LTwD4u6r2C1IA85bsEdzXQ8Hg_Lcv8O1iuEhc/s320/IMG_9906.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we remember correctly a guy and his family of 6 lived under/in this tree for a number of years!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H34-1Fq0MT4VOc0l9I7QD_7ySeOBWW8hF4ieHam2ihk6IJBs6NU8UlKsZk7BfufMDjI8c-ZmvpxTN7E6ryDK38h589vcrUY6n37Rtep71FMvX3Q9l51moKOHyHMEqmWeL7-naC93qhWl/s1600/IMG_9945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H34-1Fq0MT4VOc0l9I7QD_7ySeOBWW8hF4ieHam2ihk6IJBs6NU8UlKsZk7BfufMDjI8c-ZmvpxTN7E6ryDK38h589vcrUY6n37Rtep71FMvX3Q9l51moKOHyHMEqmWeL7-naC93qhWl/s320/IMG_9945.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Murray River.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GbYb51U69SZ7wNzMy_EqAhhuoAsvvq-XWEfWbjWbTjGLAL4F6wiOXzIVKYWg2IVCOZNLB135as4eG_WfVgEQibqq3QVc17m3pJtXeAYVGmeSEsEmbsGyOMoOHLzUr8Is5nCUwo_-wWvW/s1600/IMG_9997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GbYb51U69SZ7wNzMy_EqAhhuoAsvvq-XWEfWbjWbTjGLAL4F6wiOXzIVKYWg2IVCOZNLB135as4eG_WfVgEQibqq3QVc17m3pJtXeAYVGmeSEsEmbsGyOMoOHLzUr8Is5nCUwo_-wWvW/s320/IMG_9997.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They do love thier Harleys in Australia even if they can't spell. Then again maybe its just another example of Australian humor!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ubeieVl1TO3xbBB2FzWs3xZ7wKeEWW_Q79L0w7c-nPVsGKBQz_Fn_efuaEWBkm2jTp3jjIzIbndRz0nZoOHN9MD1J443t7gP7CZmhFz8cyCdXXbSLvSyIHxCZnEjd5hBxwiZZWd7kFp8/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ubeieVl1TO3xbBB2FzWs3xZ7wKeEWW_Q79L0w7c-nPVsGKBQz_Fn_efuaEWBkm2jTp3jjIzIbndRz0nZoOHN9MD1J443t7gP7CZmhFz8cyCdXXbSLvSyIHxCZnEjd5hBxwiZZWd7kFp8/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another amazing sunset.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4178799821742584252.post-9948239938513830512011-10-06T18:54:00.000-07:002011-10-06T18:54:42.993-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwHPXwg_WXlMkgB722pvseFe-rgIgLmIlHRB_11T4bmPdv4Phkah5od0XYOHazVEcV_sLGZP47DpsKnLvN1wHjEdMmH3To72l7nhKItjvm0z3V5ObUVZTHLxquyLEhO4es78svVPwnadX/s1600/beside+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwHPXwg_WXlMkgB722pvseFe-rgIgLmIlHRB_11T4bmPdv4Phkah5od0XYOHazVEcV_sLGZP47DpsKnLvN1wHjEdMmH3To72l7nhKItjvm0z3V5ObUVZTHLxquyLEhO4es78svVPwnadX/s320/beside+the+road.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our XP beside the road at Capital Reef</span></div>NextMillionMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03480237089275599751noreply@blogger.com0