It was great to see Annuka and her dad (they were heading back to cape town the next day and then on for the next part of their holiday), but after a long journey i was ready for bed, so didn’t hang around for long, before heading off to the dorm (only 1 other in), i know it was only 8.30-9 but i was tired.
I hadn’t done much planning as in detail for each section, but had an idea of what i wanted to do. I had booked in for 3 nights at Storms River, so there was 2 days to fill. This area is a National Park, with many indigenous trees, so a walk was on the plan, and also there was a Canopy Tour, moving around the tops of the trees. So something to do on each day.
(Mon) The backpackers didn’t cater so it was off to the village in the morning, the day staff had not been hugely helpful when i was asking about trails for a walk (i later discovered that the best place was neared the coast where you could cross the river mouth by bridge! And zip wire across it as well – next time). Storms River village is not very big, and the shop has limited rations, so with biscuits and fish paste, i eventually set off for an 8km walk in the forest. You have to self permit, which you find someway down the road. Then you head off along the road (which is the start of the cycle track). The sun was shining, but it was pleasant to walk through the trees, eventually taking a path off from the road, and then down by a narrow path. It was great hearing the birds (and probably the levret monkeys as well). I reached the halfway point which had met back with the road (which i would walk back up) and sat in the picnic area, with my snack, and my book. It is easy to wile away an hour in this place. The sun was shining, and it was peaceful.
Eventually about 12ish i decided i ought to head back, so took the track back up. There were no major stunning views, but it was great getting out for a walk. I was thinking that it could have been a walk in any woods, anywhere, when i looked up and saw a monkey sat in a tree, actually there were a few. So i stood for about 10 mins watching them (and took some pictures) go about getting their food, eating it, watching the world go by (and making sure i wasn’t going to go after them). So this wasn’t a forest anywhere...
Heading back into the village, i found a cafe for a late lunch. I ordered the chicken salad, but it was enormous and took some time to get through it. The weather was now turning, threat of rain, but the wind had picked up. It meant having to wear a jumper! So returned to the backpackers, and sat outside, as the rain didn’t arrive, but it was cool and overcast. A quiet night in.
(Tue) The plan for today was to do the Canopy Tour, be in the canopy of the trees and move amongst the trees, from one platform to another. So having found out that things do not move early in the village (or the backpackers – i couldn’t get out of the gate (didn’t have the no) until staff arrived near 8.30), but found the hotel did serve breakfast before 9, what a spread, and a hearty breakfast was in order. Whilst wondering out to get out of the backpackers i got chatting to the other guests (having a smoke), i found out that he was a policeman from another area doing an investigation – i didn’t dare ask too much...
My trip was at 10.30, there were 7 (a South African couple, 2 American couples & me) in our group + 2 guides (Werner & Cassie). So we had our intro and first part of the safety briefing (as well as deciding about lunch!), then it was time to get kitted up and off to the woods. My concern had been about climbing up a big tree to start off with (don’t do going up heights, although love being up there), but concerns were soon put to one side when we walked down the path onto the first platform....From here we had another briefing about safety and how to brake. Then it was our first wire, quite short and not too steep – a practice run. Then it was a 2nd practice run, before we did our 40m zip, followed by a short walk across a “bridge”, before we did the 65m zip. At each zip, Cassie went down first, and Werner told us details about the trees, conservation, animals etc and then 1 by 1 we crossed, before Werner followed on. The platform between wires 2 and 3 was our highest at 19m. All the platforms and wires were secured on to the trees by weight, but also much padding so the trees were not harmed in any way. Having completed the 65m wire the video guy left and we carried on. We had our first wire where we didn’t need to break before we started on the faster wires, longer and steeper. We went on the 3rd, then 2nd and finally the fastest and longest at 91m. I loved doing them all, although my braking was not as good as it could have been. Then finally we had 2 gentle wires, where no braking was required, the last to a platform on the ground, from the we walked 500m back to the vehicle to go back to hq. We saw a family of baboons on our walk back, but these had been the only animals that we saw today.
There are a lot of trees indigenous to South Africa, the main ones that we saw and grew really big are the Yellowwood trees (Outeniqua and Common). But the most amazing thing was the moss that is air growing, but only grows where there is no air pollution!!
Back for lunch. The thing about the company that does these tours & adventures, is about the community, investing in the locals, employing them and them having a share in all that goes on with the company etc, they also run the backpackers where i stayed and also 1 of the cafes and a shop in the village, selling local made stuff or outdoor gear with name on and is for the locals.
So having done another challenge, it was back to relax in the garden, or not (ie on the porch), whilst having dinner it started to rain or should i say drizzle and the mist came down so you couldn’t see the mountains, so chill out time again.
Lucy arrived on the Baz bus so time to catch up on what we’d been upto and find out what lucy was doing next, canopy tour and a bungee jump(this is not on my list of activities!).
(Weds) dawned, and it was time to pack up the bags again, as the bus was due at 10.15 So breakfast in the village with Lucy as she made up mind what she would be doing, bungee or canopy first, and then back to the hostel. The morning was cloudy but clearer than the previous afternoon. The bus was on time (for once, but it was going in the opposite direction). It was fully by the time we left Storms River with many heading back to Cape for the Festival. The weather was improving, but not conducive to bus travel. At Natures Valley several people changed their minds getting off here and causing much confusion for the driver.
Then it was onto Plettenburg bay. Awesome beach. Having booked it i headed down to the beach, the town is up on the cliff, so a good walk down (and back up!). Walking onto the beach area, i saw dolphin watching boat trips so thought great, but was warned that the winds were not good. They had seen over 500 dolphins in one pod the day before. So Ice cream and sit walk down the beach until it was time. As i was about to turn back, i got a SMS saying it was cancelled due to high winds. Oh well not meant to be. So i climbed over the Lookout Rocks and over to the other beach, where i found a spot on the beach, just to chill out and relax. It was an amazing time for contemplation.
After a couple of hours on the beach, it was a nice walk back up the hill (!) – oh the ache in the calf muscles. Followed by a walk down the high street and a bite to eat.
The next day i would be on the move again by lunch time, so no time really for activities, so earlish to bed, and probably early up. The dorms this time were mixed, with only 2 showers/wash area and 1 toilet for the two dorms. I got a shock whilst cleaning my teeth, i suddenly looked up and there was a bloke the spit image of Richard Chinn, with slightly longer blond hair!
(Thurs) A day conducive to a bus ride, it was cloudy so i headed down the road and found the path to the Lookout Restaurant. The tide was on it’s way out, and the fishermen where trying to fish off the rocks. Having sat down i was then informed that the dolphins had been around a few minutes earlier in the estuary. I’m obviously not meant to see them in South Africa! But i had amazing Eggs Benedict for breakfast (don’t forget that you also get fruit, juice and yoghurt) with coffee. Then it was a stroll back Up the hill to wait for the bus. Again on time. Time to move onto Knysna – don’t know where it is...then find out as England are there in 2010.
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