WILD AND TAMED

KERRIDENE

On this yr's visit to SA we connected on to Durban & then checked in at the Protea Hotel in Karridene on the South Coast of Natal.

There, we met up with Christo & Ria Botha who were pastors with LCG.

The next day at dawn, Christo baptised Char & I, although innitialy we tried the sea only for Christo & me to be completely hammered by the powerful Indian Ocean...I had forgoten how dangerous it could be. I lost a sandal...floating somewhere in the world or a gift for a 1 legged soul. 

We found the lagoon nearby & were dunked there...2nd time for me but LCG wanted it their way...we shall know in the future whether that was correct. I had already felt God had accepted me through my 1st baptism...a very personal decision.

PRINGLE BAY

After a few days back up north visiting our friends, we jetted down to Cape Town & drove the rental to our gorgeous apartment in this pretty little town nestling near the southern point of the eastern part of the giant False Bay.

Whilst Char & her mum pottered about the house, I toured the area,checking out penguins @ Betty Bay, the fancy boats back at Gordons Bay, now a playground for the rich...Back in the 70's/80's it was a quiet & affordable place.

Helped out a deliciously pretty girl with car trouble on the way back to Pringle😎

SWAKOPMUND

From CT we flew back to JNB,connected on a flight to Windhoek in Namibia.

Stayed in a very rural apartment for the night...including giant bugs,much to the horror of the women & my delight (still a little boy)😋

The next day...early I drove the rental through the desert incl.various stops which also incl. Windhoek...which had grown so much since I was in this country in 1974.

It was HOT!!

Finally we reached the Atlantic Ocean & Swakop & our beautiful apartment which was at the back of a home run by a friendly family.

The town still has some of the old German feel,generally clean & felt safe.

We flew out of Walvis Bay,connecting in Windhoek for our return back to SA & then flights home to Scotland.

Our 3 flights on Air Namibia were a refreshing & delightful experience.

DELFZYL

After flying into Amsterdam , we took the train over to the east side of Holland in the Province of Gronningen...to the coastal town of Delfzijl.

A really nice place & friendly.

We stayed right at the top of a unique hotel on stilts over the water...steep stairs but really fun.

Hired a bike & did loads of touring. We had our usual uitsmuiter & catered in our room. The port was good viewing & had a Festival of the Sea...DELFSAIL on while we were there.

Took a ferry over to Emden in Germany across the Delf...nice looking town but not too friendly to Brits...

During WWII some Allied bomber mistakenly dropped bombs on housing.

We had to take trains & buses back to Delfzijl.

NOVA SCOTIA

Embarked on what would be one of the best trips.

I had never been to Canada so this was a 1st of many things.

I landed in Montreal & sped through immigration.

A night's stay in a local hotel refreshed me & I was back at the airport early next day.

My Westjet flight was a delight & flying over NS looked stunning from the air.

At Halifax I picked up my rental which was upgraded to a people carrier. 

Stopped off at Walmart for supplies & bought a Lenova laptop for less than £300...which was amazing...Canada is known for NOT RIPPING OFF PRICES FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT..

Motored on down to Liverpool...this one a small town,beautiful,even the river was called the Mersey.

My place was a very comfortable cabin near the river. I was here for the FOT. This was held in a hotel. Again such friendly people...made friends with a couple from S Carolina.

Took trips everywhere,incl Yarmouth which was nice as apposed to its heritage in Norfolk,UK.

Made my way back to Halifax to drop off the car & bussed into the city.

Great looking town with a fascinating history,as does NS. Walked along the river front & cruise terminals,into the giant indoor market & back to the station for my VIA Ocean train to Montreal.

Everything was great on this trip & the journey on the train was going really well...ETA...10am next day. We would cross through New Brunswick into Quebec & onto Montreal. I awoke at 6am that morning to find we were stopped...where & why...I was soon to find out from the lovely girl who conducted my carriage. We had broken down now for over 4 hrs & were still in New Brunswick...My flight was at 21.00😮

It was well past 16.00 before a replacement loco arrived & we were off, but I could see the flight leaving without me. Darkness encompassed us through the rest of Quebec. Many others had air or train connections & as the dinning car was where wifi was & I had my laptop,many were asking for help online...I obliged & also had to reschedule. BA...the meanies made me pay another full fare...You can be sure they sold my unused seat to a standby as well.

Still, made some very interresting aquaintences in times of adversity... incl. the Speaker for the Canadian Parliament

Finally we arrived in Montreal @ midnight. VIA kindly put me up at a 5 star in the airport...I was allowed to stay till late the next day.

I was back in the air & back at Heathrow only to nearly miss my connection because of a Go Slow at LHR or was it their normal pace😠.

What a trip & what a surprise. I recieved an email from the President of VIA Rail appologising profusely for my problems & REFUNDING me the full train fare which then off set my rebooked flight fares & a bit to spare ...Go Canadians & VIA🤩

GOODBYE FOGGIE HOME

A sad day came when our beautiful home was sold in Foggie...😥

We think we see the end from the beginning...But only God knows that