News

Saturday October 16, 2004
Saturday morning we went over and just relaxed at the open market in downtown Cape Town. Breakfast at Wimpys! Killed time at the yacht club drinking beer then we went off to Newlands for the quarter final Currie Cup match between WP and the Freestate. Doggone and it was raining. We were dry though high up in Vodacom's private suite. BUT, WP lost and that was it. Not much running rugby this time due to a wet ball and a lot of kicking was the order of the day!! Went to sleep early.

Friday October 15, 2004
Friday morning dad's wife Marie and co-worker came over for coffee. Marie had a
conference here in Cape Town. She dropped off her suitcase as Dad would be flying in later that evening. Pieter and Leonie van der Merwe, my late Mother's brother, came over and with them were their friends Willem and Louina Malherbe. Also joining us were my other nephews Helen, Bez, Jan and Piet van der Merwe. We all had lunch together and shared pictures of memories. After giving them a tour of IT they left. Marie got back from the conference and Dad joined us at 5 pm. We had supper here at the club and Dad and Marie slept in the V-berth.

Thursday October 14, 2004
Thursday morning I woke with a headache!!
I paddled around IT, trying to stop the diesel leak at the engine injector pump. No go! I checked the battery acid levels etc. The whole inside of the boat was turned inside out! IT looked a complete mess!
Jack from Australia joined my later in the afternoon. We had all u can eat BBQ ribs here at the club. Food just fantastic here!! Another long nite talking about everything. Amy was not well so she did not come.

Wednesday 13 October, 2004
On Wednesday morning, Terryl met me at the yacht club. Morne came by returning my clean laundry. Baie dankie ou pel!
Terryl and I then drove the 30 min to the Skydive Cape Town dropzone. There I reunited with Jaco whom I met in Waller Texas. After arguing with Terryl as I wanted to jump and Bev had asked her not to let me jump, we went up to 9000 ft with Long Pete piloting the Cessna 210. We then exited and turned beautiful rotating donut formations in freefall with the majestic Table Mountain in the background!! It was pure magic! It was also my first jump in a year.
Terryl and I then drove back to the Waterfront where old time friend and pilot of the Citrusdal skydiving club, Rocky joined us. We shared a lot of memories!! fter shusi, hot too, we said our goodbyes and Terryl dropped me off at the yacht club.
I then joined Thomas Boecker on his 30 foot sailboat and we set off to the entrance of the harbor. Sailing with us was my new deaf friend, Douglas De Wet. Every Wed there is a twilight race in the Bay and more than 50 yachts participated. It was really fun and I experienced my first sailing race ever. The race lasted about an hour and a half and that nite at the club there was lots of R and R. It was a big party with very inexpensive and good food. There were also more than 500 people. Can you believe that??

Tuesday, 12 October, 2004
On Tuesday morning I shot some footage of Morne and Lindley's garden. After breakfast we left and dropped Lara off at a private girls' school. Morne then took me to the university and there he showed me around his offices. He then took me back to the yacht club and Alma and Eric and Alma's sister joined us for tea on the yacht club's deck. Nico came by and we had a chat then he left for a conference. I paddled around IT and Toni came to pick me up and took me around to some yacht stores where I bought parts etc. I changed the oil on the engine, the messiest job on board!
Later in the day Zac and Piet also joined me and we had some R and R. Nico came by again and joined us for a cold frostie before heading back home to Swellendam.

Monday October 11, 2004
I paddled around IT, trying to find the constantly dripping diesel leak. I suspected the brass washers.
Vodacom's representatives came over and returned my repaired satphone. They took pics with Vodacom's Cape district manager around IT. The phone is working as good as gold again. Thanks Vodacom!!
Toni came over and took me to get spares, new straps and whatever.
Morne du Plessis, my old std 6 and 7 schoolbuddy, now Prof of Ornothology (birds) and director of the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute at the University of Cape Town paid me a visit. Zac and Piet joined us and there I was with 2 headboys from different schools that I had attended. I went home with Morne and after a hearty supper that his wife Lindy had prepared, we sat back and talked about the good old days.

Fri/ Sat/ Sun October 8 - 10
I was the first one up on Friday morning and I went outside to take video footage of the sun coming up, throwing its rays on the beautiful mountain.
Four inches of rain had fallen and the waterfalls were cascading at their fullest.
As soon as I said my goodbyes to Nico and Jeanne's kids, who had to leave for school, Nico took Bev and I for a sightseeing ride around the ranch.
First he showed us the brand new dairy stall being built to comply with the new milk regulations. We then drove up the hill where Nico showed and explained how they build the dam. Fascinating to know that the whole irrigation system is powered by gravity pressure. Not a single pump is being used! Nico has developed this ranch the past 10 years into a state of the art modern farming facility. Besides the dairy unit, wheat, prunes, citrus and broccoli are the major crops. 60 percent of the ranch is mountain territory, so there is never a shortage of water.
After a hearty brunch we had to say goodbye and Bev and I took another scenic road back to CapeTown.
We visited Miss Schemper in Bellville one more time and said our goodbyes.
On Saturday morning it was Bev who had to pack! I received a surprise visit from an old friend, Thuys who flew down all the way from Johannesburg, especially to see me! Steve and Toni, Jennifer de Villiers and Mom joined us and we took IT out in the Bay joining 42 other sailboats for the Opening ceremony of the season's sailing. We saw a whale! I kept my distance! All sailboats then passed the anchored yacht where the RCYC's Commodore was sitting and gave the traditional salute. It was Thuys's first time out on the water and he truly enjoyed it. Later we drove over to Steve and Jane's house and watched the Currie Cup rugby on TV.
I then took Thuys back to his in-laws in Blouberg Strand.
Then it was Bev and Mom off to the airport. I hate goodbyes!! It was so motional having to say goodbye to my love once again.
Slept on the boat. Very lonely.
Sunday morning Zac came by and we returned the car to the rental company. Long time neighbors Louw and Gwen Burger as well as their son, Boetie came by and we had a wonderful re-union. I showed them IT and took pics.
Slept early that nite. Still sad.

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