South Coast

Third week here already, moving to Paradise on the 4th which doesn't mean I'm about to become a suicide bomber.  Spent a couple of nights in a little chalet just outside Shelley Beach checking out spots and decided on Paradise Caravan Park about 20 k's this side of Port Edward.  Have already selected a site which is up on a hill with sea views but some distance away from the shoreline so won't be able to hear the surf.  Could not believe how Shelly Beach has changed, massive shopping centres and wall to wall traffic.  Found a small craft harbour and watched a couple of fishermen landing and loading their boats, quite a process.  They zoom in onto the beach then use a snatch block to tow the boat up onto a scissor trailer with a 4x4 bakkie, then hitch up and pull the thing up a very steep concrete slip-way.  First time I've seen all four wheels spinning!

Decided to go walkies along the beach the other morning and noticed someone with two dogs coming the other way.  When she got closer I saw she was wearing an apron - the maid, the height of laziness I'd say.  Then the following day I was walking back from the shop and he comes a guy with no legs on his motorised wheel-chair also walking two dogs, wonder if he's ever run out of battery.

Was outside on the "veranda" the other day and noticed a trail of ants moving along the lower edge under the door and disappearing underneath by the wheel arch.  Decided to try and find out what they were up to but could see so backtracked to see where the were coming from.  This led up the rear, then under the awning all the way to the front across the horizontal pole to the vertical one down onto the ground and under the ground sheet! Whoever figured out that route was really in it for the long haul. And next day they were gone.

Had a visit from Richard Boon and Wendy van Elden on Saturday and took them to Umdoni forest.  Seems the Australian authorities have been asking questions about why he has not yet taken up residence, so now he is moving to Melbourne - again.  No more farewell parties though as we've already had two.  He has a contract position there for a year so I expect he'll be back fairly soon.  Took them up to what must be one of the most spectacular 18th hole tee boxes in the world.

Pennington

Moved here on Monday, all of 25 k's from where I was but it was one of Jo's favourite places and I just wanted to spend time here.  Haven't done much as I've had a dose of flu which of course arrived on Sunday night and made packing up so much more special.  Fortunately had assistants here who put of the tent for me and I just went to bed and stayed there till morning.  Fiddled all day Tuesday but managed to get locked onto the DSTV satellite all by myself which was an achievement.  Went out early on Wednesday to get a pic of sun-up and had a bit of a walk, beach not quite as nice as Scottburgh and I doubt that I'd be able to get past the back-line..

A couple of differences between the two parks Clansthal was sandwiched between the Old South Coast Road and the railway line and the passenger service started at around 4:30 am.  There was also a huge troop of monkeys who carried out regular raids so everything had to be put away.  There was one large male who was particularly aggressive and I was having a lie down one afternoon when the van rocked as the sod landed on the inside table.  I yelled and he grabbed something and took off, though for the life of me I couldn't figure out what he had nicked.  Only later when I needed one did I remember the tissues, which come in a plastic bag.  I went for a stroll and found them with the corners chewed off and a few pulled out but otherwise none the worse. Hope he enjoyed the meal.  A few days later I was on the "veranda" eating a naartjie and probably the same fellow marched threateningly towards me with his eyes firmly on the fruit.  When I went to chase him off he crouched and bared his teeth - after which I retired.  Though I am still next to the railway line, the passenger service stops in Scottburgh and there are only two trains a day here, at about 10 am and 3 pm, very civilized.

When I was sussing out places to stay I came down to Pennington and went for a walk in the beautiful Umdoni Forest and spent a couple of hours atlassing.  I was driving out when I noticed a sign that I'd never seen before that said Otter Viewing Sight, so stopped and took a wander but discovered that it was a long way off and my legs had about had it so decided to leave it for another day.  I was just about back at the bakkie when I spotted a couple of lady bushbuck in the road who then wandered off into the forest.  I watched them for a while then saw a goat, WTF.  On closer inspection it turned out to be a almost totally albinistic male bushbuck, stunning creature with just a trace of brown on his neck and head, and where was the camera?  At home of course, I will however go back and see if I can find him again.

Will be here until 4th June as the winter rates are just two grand for the month and will spend a bit of time further down the coast looking for the next spot somewhere around Margate, will probably stay in a B&B for a couple of nights as it's nearly 100 k's away!