Day 82: Cape Town – Eastbourne, UK

Against all the odds, I’m not hung over for my last day in Africa, and my taxi is collecting me at a very reasonable 11:30. I’m sad to be leaving, but glad I’ve made it, and very much looking forwards to Christmas with the family back home.

Thanks to anyone who’s read the blog, I hope you’ve found some of it enjoyable, and perhaps it may even inspire you a little to get out there and see the world too!

Day 81: Cape Town

I’ve got an afternoon of wine tasting ahead, a friend of a friend is picking me up at 11:30. They arrive on time, in a sparklingly new supercharged Mercedes. I’m pretty sure most travellers don’t roll like this!

The wine tasting is brilliant, Cape Town is truly stunning, and the locals very hospitable and good fun! I’m not sure how my heads going to feel tomorrow morning though....

Big thanks to Ginette, Mark, Adrian and Pam for looking after me and being such good fun! I'm looking forwards to the next time we meet!

Day 80: Cape Town

We’ve packed Kirsty up for her journey home. I’m genuinely sad to be parting ways with her, but we’ve two days left to make the most of our time. So I’ll be starting my Christmas shopping today and then heading out to sample the CT night life....

A friend of a friend, Hema, takes me to some brilliant night spots in Cape Town. From drinks on a sandy beach in The Grand, to drinks on the side of a mountain watching the sun set, a brilliant brilliant evening. Cape Town is a brilliant place....

Day 79: Oudtshoorn – Cape Town

The final ride.

With 250 miles to cover, it’ll be our last early start of the trip. Breakfast and out the door by about half eight, it’s already hot. It’s a sparklingly beautiful day, all helped by the route 62 road we’re taking which cuts back through the mountains. The scenery is breath taking, Kirsty is faultless, the iPod playing brilliant tunes and the road inspiring. The trip couldn’t be coming to an end any better. About one o’clock we’re pulling into Gordon’s Bay, and down in the marina, in the scorching sunshine, it’s time for lunch and a pint. Perfect.

The marina’s only about five minutes from the overlander’s place where I’m staying, and I can’t resist popping a few childish wheelies during the short journey back. I don’t think anyone’s impressed!

Day 78: Wilderness – Oudtshoorn

A healthy breakfast (muesli and yoghurt) with the most stunning views, a great start to the day. And I’m aware that the days are fast running out. It’s going to be a shock to the system the end of this trip, I’m having the best time ever! Oudtshoorn is only about 50 miles away, but I’ve a few activities for the day, and it leaves a nice run into Cape Town, perfect.

The road running north from the coast towards Oudtshorn is brilliant. We’re going up into the mountains, and I so wish I had more appropriate tires to really enjoy it. But as is, it’s still great fun and highly recommended. 10km outside of Oudt, I see a sign for Ostrich Rides, suhweet! My first activity of the day!

This, has got to be one of the most hilarious experiences ever, it’s utterly brilliant. You’ve got to do it! There’s a weight limit though, but fortunately I’m 80kg (ahem) sir. Mounting the beast is amazing. A hood is placed over the creatures head, to keep it calm, and then I mount it from behind. It’s legs are so powerful, it doesn’t even notice, and before you can say “Wait a sec”, the handler pulls the hood off. Booya, freedom, run!! Is what I imagine the bird is thinking as it launches itself forwards. Wooooooo hoooooooooo, I’m riding an ostrich! For about three seconds, before being turfed off the back and onto the dirt. And, unfortunately, falling off the big bird is exactly like falling off a motorbike. To the point where I land on exactly the same bruises, ouch.

I’m offered another go, but I’m actually hurting quite a bit and decline. Although, I pretend to be perfectly OK.

Utterly brilliant fun though, and rolling into town ten minutes later, I find my hostel and get into the pool as quickly as poss to ease the bruises.

And as my second activity was going for a ride into the mountains, I skip that to help my bruises recover!

For dinner? Ostrich kebab of course J

Day 77: Cape Agulhas – Wilderness

Another tough day on the Garden Route. Scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, and then a 200 mile drive to Knysna for lunch. Knysna is a little seaside/coastal town. It’s not your traditional English seaside town, being protected from the ocean by some small mountainous islands about 200 meters off the coast. But we find a nice restaurant and have a very enjoyable springbok shank, nice!  They have Eton Mess on the deserts list, it’d be rude not to....

We then trek 50kms back on ourselves to Wilderness for our backpackers lodge. A very friendly place, The Beach House, has some of the most stunning views.

Tomorrow, fingers crossed, ostrich riding!

Day 76: Hugeanus Bay – Cape Agulhas

Sharks!!!!

The End of Africa!!!!!

Bed.