Steve Hopkins & Sylvia McMeen 

Anguilla, British West Indies

26 January 2008

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I met Steve and Sylvia at CV after Daan van Rensburg had met them at the George airport after my Combi had broken down in Riviersonderend while I was travelling to George. We became aquainted very quickly and sat down to wonderful fish dinner which was prepared for us by Katrien and Pieter.

Day 2

CV to Knysna

Steve and Sylvia at the CV cottage

Sylvia, Daan and Steve at CV

We stopped in at the Map of Africa in the Wilderness on our way to Knysna

Enjoying oysters at the Oyster Factory in Knysna

After booking in at Overmeer Guesthouse we joined Dell for a wonderful meal at Firefly restaurant

Day 3

Plettenberg Bay,  Old Nicks,  Aljes,  Bloukrans and The Heads

Sylvia and Steve at Plettenbertg Bay

Shopping at Old Nicks outside of Plettenberg Bay

We found an amazing place for a cheese lnch called "Fynboshoek Cheese"
In the above picture we see Steve, Boela the local Rhodesian Ridgeback and Sylvia enjoying lunch

At the Bloukrans Bridge where we watched the bungy jumpers

At the Knysna Heads

Sylvia striding out at the Knysna Heads

Sylvia and Steve enjoying the Knysna Heads

After a short rest we joined Desiree for a great meal at Zest Restaurant

Day 3

Knysna to Cathbert

We left Knysna and travelled to Cathbert Country Inn. 
En route we first stopped in at the Scarab papermaking factory where Steve and Sylvia had some good laughts at some postcards in the factory shop

We stopped in at Botha and Barnard to see some of the lcoal furniture that was manufactured in the regionc

Sylvia shopping at the Alo Factory shop in Albertinia

Steve enjoying bobotie at La Belle Alliance in Swellendam

Sylvia helping herself to Steve's bobotie

Steve and myself at La Belle Alliance

Sylvia and Steve after enjoying Anne's great dinner at Cathbert which we enjoyed under the stars.

Day 4

Winelands and Kayamandi

At the Old Corkscrew in Franschhoek

A fun picture of Sylvia at the Old Corkscrew JJ

We stopped in for lunch at The Lucky Store in Idas Valley - Stellenbosch

With Lily in her Kayamandi home

With Thembekazi, Pienkie and their kids at the Ikamva Lethu Centre in Kayamandi

Having fun with the kids in Kayamandi

Enjoying a choir practice in Kayamandi.

After our journey to Kayamandi we visited the local Stellenbosch Spurs restaurant where we had a steak dinner before leaving to return to Cape Town.

Day 5

Drive to Cape Town and Table Mountain

We started our day with a journey up Table Mountain

In the cablecar descending from Table Mountain

After booking into David's guesthouse we moved on to Gold Restaurant for a fabulous African dinner

Day 6

Cape Peninsula

We stopped in at The Potters Way in Kalk Bay

Meeting "Just Nuisance" in Simonstown

At the penguin colony on Boulders Beach

Sylvia meets the baboons on the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve

At Cape Point

Having a late lunch at the Cape Farmhouse where it can be seen that the wind was blowing. JJ

We ended our day with a drive over Chapmans Peak and through Camps Bay. In Green Point we pickup some take-out dinner from Giovannis Deli whereafter we made our away back to Davids where we had to all bid each other a sad farewell.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant is the best way that I can describe touring with Sylvia and Steve. This couple were wonderful, generous folk and as a tourguide my feelings were that they were the greatest to tour with. No matter what happened to us we were always having a wonderful experience wherever we went. Whether the car was giving trouble or we endured slight rain Steve and Sylvia somehow always found something positive in the experience and this just made travelling with them such an incredible experience. What a wonderful tour which most certainly is going to go down as one of the big ones for me to remember. In summary all I can say is what a brilliant experience our journey was for us all.

A BIG, BIG THANK YOU

STEVE AND SYLVIA

ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY KIND AND GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR THE KIDS OF KAYAMANDI

Received 6 February 2007

Dear Selwyn,

I have just read your message after calling you. I had planned to email you last Friday night, but we lost power and I never got to the computer after packing. What you said to us is to be returned double fold! We had such a special time with you, not just seeing the Garden Route to Cape Town, but sharing as you said in your life and sharing ours with you. We both felt a loss as we traveled to Namibia and Stephen has continued to talk to others about you and how wonderful the time was. He has told all of the people we met at the two camps (UK and German) how special it was to be with you at Kayamandi. It is hard to describe the totality of the pleasure of our time together; it was for sure very personal and special.  Steve may not come back this way again, but I shall, God spare life, as they say in Anguilla.

We will be in touch as time works out; but you will be with us forever! I know that you don't want people to just toss you money for the kids in Kayamandi, but from me, should you need something special, I would love to be someone you feel free to contact. Maybe seeing the kids and seeing the faces makes me want to do whatever I can.

Love Sylvia

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