The South West Coastal Path 2015

The South West Coastal Path 2014

The Great Wall of China

Le Chemin de la Liberte (The Freedom Trail) July 2013

Had I done enough training? Did I have all the correct equipment? Were my loaded backpack and I going to be good friends, or hated enemies? All these questions were whirring through my head as Debs, Sally, and I boarded the plane to Toulouse for the start of our anticipated hiking adventure - Le Chemin de la Liberte. We would be retracing the steps of many a brave man, woman, and child who had clambered over the cols of the Pyrenees from France to Spain in search of freedom from the Nazis.
The adventure began in St. Girons when we crossed the bridge that marked the beginning of the historic trail: a trail that had offered so many the freedom that they never thought possible.

The day was perfect. Clear blue skies, sunshine, and warmth greeted us as we exited the pension and began the hike that we had been anticipating for so many months. The trail led through gently undulating terrain: green fields with mountains in the distance, all of which belied the challenges ahead of us all.
The sound of our boots against the pathway, and of our hiking poles clicking on the stones, competed with the natural sounds of the wind and the birds. The mountains in the distance stood like sentinels, watching over our group as we began the 16 mile hike to the Gite d'Aunac, our first night's accommodation. Little did we know how exhausted we would feel on arrival there, and how attractive a dormitory with 18 beds could look to our weary bodies!
After meeting our hosts, we were welcomed to the terrace

Anticipating a New Adventure

Anticipating a New Adventure

I have returned to a blog post that I meant to write BEFORE going back to South Africa in January 2012. Now I am writing about my observations in retrospect while I enjoy a few days of r&r in downtown Indianapolis courtesy of Sean and Jen.

How do I describe my feelings about a experience re-lived after a hiatus of 23 years? Yes, the changes were massive: mainly positive - South Africa is truly the rainbow nation that it claims to be. On the other hand, there are also negative aspects to the daily life of so many people in this astoundingly beautiful country. Social changes are taking place and a black middle class is evolving--an evolution that can only be good for the country's future. But, there are still millions of unskilled and uneducated members of society who have minimal prospects of gainful employment, therefore relying on the government to provide free housing, water, and electricity. The big question is: can the social infrastructure of the country maintain the situation where the ratio of unemployed citizens far outweighs the rules of economics? How long can the few provide for the many? With an unemployment rate of 23.9% reported in the last quarter of 2011, the government faces an incredible challenge.

Noordhoek

As a visitor to South Africa, it is easy to notice these social challenges but the natural beauty of the country soon saps away any social conscience the observer may have and focuses a person's attention on the physical advantages that bless this tip of the African continent. Where else can tourists enjoy unspoiled beaches where the sound of crashing waves fills the senses, interrupted only by the touch of the wind on one's skin, the taste of salt in one's mouth, and the vision of white sand ahead for as far as the eye can see? If this image is attractive to you, just visit Noordhoek and you will be physically and metaphorically blown away.

Sultry sunset in River Club

Nick and I were incredibly spoiled by our friends in South Africa. We began our stay with the Fane Hervey's in River Club, Gauteng with whom we enjoyed a typical braai under sultry, humid, South African skies. They also supplied my birthday treat which was 18-holes at Bryanston Country Club followed by a wonderful dinner with the additional of yet another member of the family--Debbie.

We also enjoyed a memorable tour of Soweto the area where all black South Africans were forced to live when we were there during the 70s and 80s. Post 1994 and the election of Nelson Mandela as President, apartheid is now a thing of the past. It was good to see the situation through different eyes and both Nick and I came away much enriched by the experience.
From there we flew to Cape Town, spending the night at the Ambassador hotel in Bantry Bay where I got to know the local pharmacist fairly well! It was definitely a case of better living through chemistry as he managed to solve my issues of spending the whole night in the bathroom--thank goodness for the South African medical system!

The daily view from the Smith's balcony

The Smith's gave us a wonderful weekend at their home in Hout Bay where yet again the sound of the sea was a constant, and the 180 degree view from their balcony was an unbeatable mix of mountains and sea. How do you ever move on from a daily view of such magnificence?


Rooi Els was the next port of call: a small beach hamlet with one general store, a pub, and a restaurant. The peace and tranquillity of the area was magical. Early morning walks past the rocky outcrops near the house began the day. The rocky terrain soon morphed into a small, intimate, sandy beach where it was a shock to meet more than a couple of other walkers. Bliss!

Rooi Els - the rocky outcrop

The more upscale Pringle Bay provided both rekindling of great friendships and unbeatable hospitality courtesy of the Venning/West contingent. Their company was a wonderful complement to our experience at the neighboring hamlet of Rooi Els.
There was a definite continuation of the theme of peace and tranquillity in our next destination: Onrus. The Teares opened up their holiday home and generously shared their personal love of the area with us. A trip to Hermanus and a wonderful lunch at the water's edge courtesy of Bientang's Cave Restaurant made the day.

For whale-watching enthusiasts, a trip to Hermanus is a must. Check their webpage for the best times of the year and you will not be disappointed.Nick got his golfing fix at Hermanus and Arabella with our good friends Colin Rosslee and the Wests. Both rounds were played under perfect conditions: good weather and excellent company!

Sadly, the time had come for Nick and I to head back to Johannesburg and for Nick the shock of returning to work in the States. I, however, had a different agenda: four days with my great friend Judy in Bedfordview. She and I share a wonderful history of being work colleagues at ICL, traveling buddies on Greyhound busses in the States, and jolling partners in England. We reconnected instantly after all the years that have passed. My time with her felt just like yesterday--and now I can't wait for the next meeting, hopefully stateside. Old friendships never die, no matter how much water has flowed under the bridge of Time. 

    

Unbeatable Mother's Day!

Best Mother's Day Ever!

What does every mother want for Mother's Day? The obvious answer is to be with her children and her husband. This year my day was ultra-special because it was Ross's graduation day. Not only was I surrounded by my children and their partners, but I also had the satisfying experience of watching my youngest child receive his degree from Miami University. Yeah, another milestone reached! Hopefully after today's interview he will be crossing the threshold into the the world of the great employed - fingers crossed.

One Ga Tech grad + Two Miami grads - yeah!

What will Nick and I do with all that extra mula?

A Retrospective Glance

Three months have passed since I returned to the States, and tonight I have been on a trip down memory lane courtesy of blogger.com. A blog is a wonderful tool for rekindling past emotions by transporting the mind back into history. How do I feel as I leave my September 2011 life, and time-travel back to May/June of this year? If I look retrospectively, is it easier to understand the value of the experience and what I learned from it?
The best way to learn about yourself is to be taken out of your normal routine, and your own culture. Being immersed in a culture that speaks a different language requires adaptation. The key to social acceptance is the visitor's use of that language. What starts as a self-conscious effort to greet someone in the street in German, becomes a self-confident effort by the end of the trip. Bakery assistants smiled and returned my greeting when I made the effort to ask in German, and eyes lit up when I added a short (very) comment about the weather! By making an effort, I broke down any preconceived ideas that exist about the inability of Americans to use any other language except their own.
My own ideas of accommodation also went through an adaptation process. I soon realized how much space a person really needs to live comfortably--and it certainly is nowhere near the space that is considered the norm in America. My studio apartment became the 'norm,' providing me with everything that I needed, and then some. It was large enough to have friends around for dinner, yet intimate enough for the times when I was its only inhabitant. The green space outside was large, communal, and perfectly adequate for enjoying the sunshine and relaxing. The excesses of my previous life soon gave way to the efficiency of German culture, and I did not suffer one iota!