South Africa - Cape Town, Staying with Jenny

I couldn’t resist a drive past our old house in Bantry Bay, Cape Town. The house looks well with window cleaners dangling from the roof cleaning the Lounge window.

I was however aghast that the Ravine next to our house was being developed with 6 Condos. A huge construction, and I am so thankful not be be living next to the development which I understand has been going on for 3 years.

We are staying with Jenny, Nicholas’ sister in her lovely, well appointed home in Flamingo Vlei, Table View.

One item we seriously missed aboard was a good Lamb Roast, and Jenny had this well cooked for our pleasure! Thanks Jenny !

Bees at work in Jenny’s Lavender plants

Thank you Jenny for your warm hospitality!

South Africa - Cape Town, Deidre has a Bunion Op

I’m in awe of the constantly amazing winter weather we are having here in Cape Town. So far, in the 3 weeks we’ve been here there have been NO Low Pressures coming through from the Antarctic. Just beautiful sunshine, a bit chilly at around 16 deg C every day ( for my American Friends, that’s 60 deg F)

Table Mountain has been glorious to see, as we are staying with Jenny, Nicholas’ sister on the West Coast of Cape Town in Tableview. Prior to Cruising, our house, where Nicholas and I lived, was on the western slopes of Lions Head, (the sharp pointed mountain on the RHS in the photo below), so we never got to see Table Mountain from our house.

In our 3 weeks in Cape Town, we have been seeing Doctors, Doctors and Dentists.

On Sunday, Nicholas flew to Johannesburg to see staff, and on Monday I had a Bunion op on my Left Big Toe, and a screw taken out of my Right Big Toe, from a Bunion op I had had done 6 years ago. The screw was coming out and pressing against the skin, causing pain when I wear shoes. So I’ve been on crutches, but I’ve been able to drive and get around as we have an Automatic Hire Vehicle.

It was wonderful to catch-up with my good friend Melissa Lehr. She is looking stunning as always.
 

Jenny cold on the Terrace having drinks and early dinner with Melissa.

South Africa - Cape Town, Lunch with the Maces

A beautiful winters day in Cape Town.

Table Mountain and Lions Head

En-route to Hout Bay

 

We got to Dunes Restuarant early as they don’t take bookings, and Restuarants under Lockdown 3 are at 50% capacity so even fewer tables available. It was no problem for the Wait Staff to rustle up a table for 10 people. 

Pano of Hout Bay from our table in Dunes. 

Not sure why it uploaded a two photos.

Jenny with Hout Bay Beach and Bay behind her

The Mace Family

Mandy & Chris with son Cameron, Robyn, Nicholas, Penny & Mike, JP, Jenny and me

South Africa - Durban, RIP Max du Plooy

 It is with great sadness that my nephew Max du Plooy was involved in a bicycle crash on Saturday 7 August 2021.

An amazing child, a wonderful young man. My heart is sore. 

My love, strength and peace to my brother Mark, sister-in-law Laura, niece Gina and nephew Theo.

One killed after driver crashes into group of cyclists on KZN’s R102

By IOL Reporter  Aug 8, 2021

DURBAN - One person was killed at least three more left with major to minor injuries following a horrific crash on the R102 in Frasers, on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast yesterday. 

IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, Paul Herbst said they responded to the crash and upon arrival, paramedics, they were greeted by a chaotic scene.

“It was reported that a vehicle has allegedly been overtaking several cars on a blind rise, when the vehicle struck a group of cyclists,” he said. 

Herbst said a young cyclist was unfortunately pinned under the vehicle and dragged for several metres, where he remained trapped under the car. 

“IPSS advanced life support paramedics and rescue crews worked to free the boy. Unfortunately he has sustained multiple injuries and was declared dead on scene,” he said.

Max with girlfriend Sarah

Max aboard Meshugga in Thailand, 2006

Max, me, Gina and Theo in Durban 2010

South Africa - Cape Town

 Our days are busy with Doctors appointments, but in between we managed to pop into the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC), for lunch and see a few people.  Nicholas hair is still long from the Bahamas and quite a few people did not recognize him, haha.

RCYC Terrace

RCYC’s excellent Fried Fish (hake) and chips

We took a drive a bit up the West Coast to Melbos Strand with Jenny and had a superb lunch at the Melkbos Kitchen

Right on the Ocean edge, the day was a typical Cape Town winter day, overcast, cold, with a Sea Fog, however wonderful with no wind blowing for a change. The Vista was amazing with the Rock and Kelp.

The food was amazing, and even though there were these wonderful specials, I just had to have Sushi followed by West Coast Mussels in Cream and Garlic. Yum

Nicholas and Jenny (Nicholas’ sister)

USA, Catskills to South Africa, Cape Town

 What a LONG day.

After spending a busy morning closing up Meshugga we caught a Taxi to Hudson Amtrak Station for the first leg of out long trip to Cape Town. 

We were informed that the train had hit a fallen tree and would be 30 minutes late, so everyone sat down to wait.

After boarding, about a mile down the track, the train stopped and we were informed that the front Snow Plough was damaged and scraping on the track and that a maintenance crew would be coming to inspect it to check whether it was safe for the train to continue. Short story is that it was not, and that they cut the Snow Plough off, taking over 3 hours.

By this stage I was getting worried. We’d had a allowed 5 hours at JFK incase of any delays, and now we would be running.

After Amtrak, we caught the Metro Long Island Rail Road from New York Penn Station to Jamacia Station which links to the JFK Airtrain.

We arrived 90 minutes before our flight, and still had to check in with Qatar, as although they did do On-line Check-ins, we still had to present at the Qatars’ Counter for Covid Checks and Luggage Hand-ins, as well as TSA Security.

We made it to our gate with Boarding already well under way. 

The flight was good, and even though we had 3 seats for the two of us, a middle row of 3 seats was completely vacant alongside us, and I quickly moved there - so was able to lay down on the 3 seats to sleep, Nicholas the same.

In Doha, we had a 5 and half hour wait, and thankfully our Visa cards allowed us into the Onyx Lounge where we could get drinks, food, seats, and a welcome shower.

The giant yellow bear in Doha airport

Onyx Business Class Lounge

The second long leg was okay too. We were stuck with our 3 seats for Nicholas and I, and the food was okay. I popped a Sleeping Pill to try get into the South African Time Zone to help with Jet Lag and slept for 7 hours.

Arriving to a beautiful winters day in the Mother City, Cape Town