Blog update 19 August – 10 September 2013

Last time I blogged, we had just concluded our trip at the Kruger Park.   John and I were on our way back from Pinda Gate to Nelspruit.  We decided to stay at Natures Gate again, for one night, after picking up the dogs from Palipa Ranch, as it was quite late.  We also decided to do a shop in Nelpsruit as we still had two weeks back at Sabie River Camp before heading for Gauteng.   The ‘gals’ and the ‘staff’ of Sabie were so excited to see us again, of course, top of the list was our tales from Kruger.  The dogs soon adjusted back into campervan life at Sabie, but this time John and I chose a different campsite, with a different ‘view of the world’ LOL.  We decided to use the fence from the hot rock pool as part of our boma.  Worked very well as it gave stability to our boma, especially when the dogs decided to do a ‘bullie thing’ and mock charge the staff or visitors using the pool, this time with the pool fence in front, they couldn’t push it over.

The days were starting to get longer and warmer, the nights not as cold.  This made for ‘braai’ weather, YAY.  The Spar in Sabie makes really awesome sosaties, probably the chunkiest and most tasty we have had in a long time, so, that became our favourite braai food, along with cous-cous and a yummy salad filled with avos, readily available in Sabie for round R20 a bag of 8 big ones….who could resist that.

Mandy and John decided to try their hand a fly fishing again…however this time only ‘catch and release’ as John and I had no space for trout on board, especially seeing we would be heading to Jo’burg in a coupla days. Mandy caught a few nice big ones and couldn’t resist giving John one for his dinner.

All too soon it was time to big farewell to Mandy and Zillah who left a couple of days before us..we would be meeting up with them again in Hogsback during December.

Our last couple of days in Sabie were gorgeous, the weather played its part and we were able to take the dogs for some really lovely walks.   Raymond (the owner), Heila (front of office), Zelda and Dylan (Raymonds daugther and grandson) and Erica (front of office), treated John and I to a farewell dinner in the boma.   Heila put together the most scrumptious Suid Afrikaanse boerekos dinner, complete with neck of lamb, spinach, cauliflower done in a sweet sauce, rice as well a pud.   Shoo’ we certainly ate like kings.  What a magic sendoff, thank you Sabie River Camp for the awesome time spent with you all.

We left for Gauteng on Wednesday the 28 August 2013 (Gran’s birthday), but we were too late to spend time with her.  We saved that for Thursday when John and I took her shopping for some clothes she wanted for New Zealand.   We knew our two weeks in Gauteng were going to fly past at a rate of knots, so many people to see, so many things to do and to prepare for our trip to Australia.

On Friday the 30th John and I took a ride out to Pin Oaks Kennels to meet Michael.  This is where Quince and Gyps’ will be spending the 12 weeks while John and I visit our son and his family in Australia.  I was feeling very nervous about the whole thing, especially after Palipa Ranch. My problem child being Quince who pines, even tho’ he eats well.    WOW, is all I can say….what a stunning, stunning kennel.  Michael is awesome and the kennels are about the size of a small flat.  Their little house in the middle is heated, if necessary.  All kennels have a grassed patch and a play area.   Happy chappy was I.  The dogs took to Michael straight away.

We stayed at a caravan park called Country Park, just of Beyers Naude Drive.   We found a really nice spot with a view.  The only negative for me was the dry grass which seemed to fill every crevice and very quickly.  We were also fortunate to be able to reserve some vehicle storage at Country Park while we are in Australia, for our zook and campervan.   We were also close enough to visit family and friends.

Saturday the 1 September 2013 the family got together at Broadacres for a family farewell to Mom, Lawrence, Jen and Shane.  They were all packed and ready to emigrate to New Zealand to be with John’s sister Norma and family.    It was a sad day for Viv and the kids, however John and I knew we would be visiting them in November, before returning to South Africa.

John and I managed to hook up with Ali our hairdresser of many years, for a spruce up and of course old friends Gisela and Debbie.  Thank you Gis’ for making time to take me shopping…don’t think I would have stepped far  had it not been for you…the traffic in Gauteng gets me shivering and shaking LOL.   Had an awesome day shopping for Lakai and Luella…hmmmm just hope it all fits into our suitcases LOL.

The weekend before we left, we had the ‘remainder’ of our family over for a braai at Country Park…was so nice chatting and catching up…has been a while since we saw everybody.

So just a few more days left before we fly out…we had to drop the dogs off at Pin Oaks on Monday the 9 September 2013.  Even tho’ I loved the kennels, I was still nervous and just a little emotional.  Its like leaving your kids for a long time.   We arrived round lunch time.  Michael greeted us and allowed the dogs out of our zook, with no leads.  They had the whole space to run around.  Michael doesn’t believe in putting the dogs in the kennel straight away, he feels it is important that the dogs get a feel for where they will be staying.  First of all we took their beds to their kennel, let them sniff around.  Quince of course had already marked his territory.

No sooner had they had their sniffs and picked up on their ‘pee-mail’, they shot out the kennel to investigate the garden.   Michael’s Mom came out to greet us.  She is in charge of making BARF and assisting Michael.  We were given the ‘royal tour’ …all the time, our dogs were allowed to follow us around ‘off lead’, no stress or pressure.  When it came time to say good bye, they were nowhere to be seen.    JOhn and I caught a glimpse of them shooting up towards the house to investigate one of the staff members who just so happened to put foot on their ‘new turf’.  Talk about making themselves at home..LOL.

So, with happy hearts and peaceful minds we left our dogs in the very capable and loving hands of Michal and his Mom.

Monday afternoon we spent ‘mothballing’ the campervan.   By mothballing I mean preparing it for a long stay, completely closed up.  Everything had to be cleaned, including the water tanks.  Here it is important to fill your main water tank and pour a bottle of Miltons into it.  Let it stand for a while, then open up the taps and let the water run…until you can smell the Miltons.   Refill the tank and close all the plugs.  Remember to empty your porta loo and disinfect.

Then put your normal toilet sanitiser in.  Close the flap and leave.  John and I were going to use a Doom Fogger, but once we had read the label, we decided the area was too small, so instead we just gave it a good spray of insecticide, just to make sure that any little creepie crawlies making a home there, were soon making a bee line for the door.   Our fridge/freezer was thoroughly cleaned and left with the doors open.    We had made arrangements with John and Viv to open up the van and zook once a month and to start the engines, just to make sure the batteries didn’t go flat.  We were also advised by Vista Motorhomes to move the campervan from time to time.  This prevents the tyres from bulging, being in one place for too long.  A very imporant tip.

So with our mothballing complete, a yummy dinner of spagbol, we dived into bed to dream of our flight to Australia the next day.

Tuesday the 10 September, we were awake early, not having slept much…I had too many things on my tick box agenda in my head.  We still needed to do a final pack and weigh of our suitcases (care of Donny and Lynne Vergers, thanks guys).

Well…we were about 3kgs over, or so we thought LOL.

Viv collected us round noon to take us to OR Tambo airport.  We decided to arrive a little early, check in, then spend some time in the slow lounge (care of First National Bank).  Thanks Viv.

We could only check in round 2pm for our flight at 6.15pm, so had a quick coffee before joining the already long queue at Quantas.    Thank goodness we had booked through SAA, we were about 4kgs over and had to pay excess baggage amounting to R832.   The ground attendant checking us in informed us, had we booked through Quantas, we would have been paying in Dollars, we would have ended up paying about R4000.   We had nothing to complain about.

All checked in, we made our way to the FNB Slow lounge.   What luxury…we had wonderful snacks, coffee, juice, wine, beers and a ‘hot menu’ with an on board chef who cooks.  This all costs the princely sum of R125 per person, if you are an FNB account holder, well worth it.

All too soon it was time to board Flight SA7700 to Sydney leaving at 6.15pm, arriving in Sydney 6.15am the next day, remembering of course there is an 8 hour time difference.  We would soon be meeting our son.

In my next blog, I will be chatting about out trip to Australia.  John and I have decided to do a link to SARoad Trip, so that you can all enjoy our journey here in Australia as well as New Zealand.

Until next time…..cheers for now