Mary, Ali and Roger Garland
Sarah Jeffers

Sussex - UK

2 October 2003

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I met this great foursome very briefly at the Africa Cafe on the night of the 30th of September.

On 2 October I fetched them from their guesthouse (Walden House) in the Gardens and we started out on our journey through the Winelands while making our way to Hermanus.

Day 1 

Thursday -  2 October 2003

Our first stop in the Winelands was in the township of Kayamandi where the following photos were taken.

At the Kayamandi Creche

At the craft centre in Kayamandi

We visited Prochorus Bead factory

Apple time in Kayamandi

Roger views the local meat dishes in Kaya with some skepticism  JJ

We travelled on to Rust en Vrede winefarm where we had a great winetasting and enjoyed touring the cellar on the farm

On arrival in Hermanus we booked into the Auberge Burgundy and had a great meal that evening at Seafood at the Marine" 

Day 2 

Friday -  3 October 2003

We started our day in Hermanus with a whale watching experience and saw lots of whales as the next couple of photos attest.

Sarah admiring a breaching whale

On our way to Oudtshoorn we stopped in the Tradouw Pass and took this fun picture

We had a sloppy chips lunch at a local cafe in Barrydale.

Sarah and Ali admiring the Klapperbos (Clapping bush) along the way to Oudtshoorn

We arrived at our guesthouse viz Shades of Africa and dined that evening at the wonderful Jemimas

Day 3

Saturday -  4 October 2003

The foursome in front of Shades of Africa

Roger on top of the world (or should I say Combi) JJ on the Swartberg pass

Rogers true position in the above photo revealed JJ

The foursome admiring the view from the Swartberg Pass.

Falling off the Swartberg Pass JJJJJJ

Sarah, Mary and Alison standing in front of the awesome rock formations in the Swartberg Pass.

We had a light lunch at the Swartberg Hotel after arriving in Prince Albert.

After Prince Albert we made our way via Meiringspoort and George to Knysna where we booked into the Overmeer guesthouse. That evening we had dinner at Tsala where the above picture was taken.

Day 4
Sunday - 5 October 2003

Breakfast at Overmeer

The foursome started the day on the Featherbeds hike where the following pictures were taken.

On returning to the Knysna Harbour we travelled up to the Sparrenbosch Golf course where I took this scenic photo of the foursome in front of Knysna

Everybody enjoying the Knysna Heads

Roger, Sarah, Marty and Alison at the Round Church on the Belvedere Estate

Roger doing the "Billy Bowden six" on the village cricket field at Belvedere

Mary was always on hand to feed us with winegums JJ

Roger opted for biltong  JJJJ

We stopped for tea at Renay and Lionel Booth's house where the local ladies of Belvedere were having an open day in the houses serving tea for Hospice funds.

We then went to the Belvedere Manor on the Belvedere Estate

Mary reliving a nostalgic past visit to the Manor House by finding her name in the visitors book

The foursome in front of the fabulous view from the Manor House

Mary posing in front of the house at the Manor House where she stayed on her last visit to the venue

That evening we all went for dinner to JJ's restaurant in the Waterfront

Day 5
Monday - 6 October 2003

This was BUNGI JUMP day

Sarah and Roger were determined to jump the 216 Meter Bloukrans Bridge which is the highest bungi jump in the world. The below picture tell the rest of the story

Sarah preparing fro the Bloukrans bridge

The certificate says it all!

Nervous energy. before the jump????  JJ

David, Sarah and Roger leaving to go to the jump point.

ROGER FLYING THROUGH THE AIR!

SARAH DIVES OFF BLOUKRANS.

ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS ALL WAS THAT IT WAS
 WONDERFULLY BEDORNERD!!!
(Private joke between me and the foursome)  JJJ

We then travelled down to the Stormsriver where the foursome went on the Treetop Safari

THE RIGHT STUFF!!

Mary flies through the trees

Roger sailing in the forest

We had lunch at the Treetop Adventure Village and moved on to the Bloukrans valley as well as Natures Valley

Mary on Natures Valley Beach

Alison enjoying the sea at Natures Valley

The foursome admiring the Natures Valley Beach
Please use your arrow keys to view this panoramic picture.

The foursome enjoy the views at Plettenberg Bay
Please use your arrow keys to view this panoramic picture.

That evening we had a wonderful dinner at La Loerie in Knysna

Day 6
Tuesday - 7 October 2003

We stopped in at the Elephant dung paper factory on our way to CV. 
( CV = My own secret awesome venue )  JJ

Alison outside the Botha and Barnard woodwork showroom

Alison in the lounge/dining area at CV

That evening we had a wonderful dinner cooked by a local lady, Katrien, which we enjoyed in front of the fireplace at CV while the wind was howling outside and the sea was rolling up about 10 meters from our front door. What a wonderful atmosphere to end such an enjoyable tour

Day 7
Wednesday - 8 October 2003

We all chilled out in the morning enjoying the natural wonders of CV where after I took the foursome to the George airport where we unfortunately had to bade each other farewell.

Mary, Roger, Alison and Sarah were absolutely wonderful people to tour with. We had enormous fun in the vehicle while touring and had a fabulous time seeing some of the great spots on the Garden Route. The foursome were such easy going people to travel with that they made my own life so easy in that whatever happened on tour just had to be a success. What a great group these four truly were.

Mary, Roger, Sarah and Ali,

It REALLY was A BEDORNERDE event to travel with you all.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Received 21 October 2003

Dear Selwyn,

Yes it really is me replying to your e mail. Thanks so very much for
giving the four of us so many wonderful experiences. It would be impossible
to pick a favourite, as we enjoyed everything so much. Like yourself , we
are all watching our waistlines or what is left of them, after eating like
kings for three weeks.

The time we spent with my aunt at White River has also been fantastic.
Roger has some awesome photos taken on our game drives, and of the dramatic local scenery. He says to tell you that he will be sending the bungi video
as soon as he can organise the loan of a recorder. He will also send some
pics of the second part of our holiday if you would like. Let us know.

Well, we have been back to work for two days now and Africa seems a long
time ago. Looking up the photos brings us right back again, lovely.

Thanks again, 

Kind regards, 

Mary

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