What a weekend! This really was the weekend trip that all of us were looking forward to – our last hoorah before we fly out next week. On Friday, Johnny picked us up for our 5-6 hour trek out to Sedgefield, where we stayed at the Afrovibe Adventure Lodge. It reminded us all of being at camp as little kids, complete with 12 girls sleeping in bunk beds in the same room. It was a very rainy day, but it stopped shortly after we arrived and didn’t rain for the rest of the weekend! They had a bonfire going, which kept us warm, and the lodge was located along a little stretch of beach, which we took a little stroll along before dinner. After dinner, we were treated to two chocolate cakes made by Nate’s host mom! That and some Milo (similar to hot chocolate) made for a relaxing night together. I truly love everyone in our group – we have so much fun catching up on our weekend reunions. We were all exhausted after a day of travelling and we had an early morning (keep reading!), so we hit the sack pretty early.
On Saturday morning, breakfast was at 7am (so much for sleeping in)! Our choice was museli (a combination of granola, oats, fruit, and nuts) and yogurt or eggs and bacon. I opted for the museli for breakfast... it’s my new favorite thing! We had to leave early on Saturday so we could drive out to the Eastern Cape to go BUNGY JUMPING!!! What a way to start the day! 12 from our group of 16 jumped from the highest bungy bridge in the world (including me!). It was insane! We got all harnessed up (you do wear a waist and shoulder harness as back up) and then walked out to the infamous Bloukrans Bridge. Our walk included a very sketchy looking walking bridge, which was honestly scarier than the jump – it was like walking on wire mesh above nothing but trees and mountains. Then, we all stood on a big platform underneath the bridge and waited, one by one, for our turn to jump (or be pushed…) off. Unfortunately, Kristin was randomly chosen to go first! We were all so scared for her! The bungy workers are crazy! They play loud party music and dance and jump around the whole time – it pumps you up, but everyone was all nerves! My turn came about halfway through the group and I had had the chance to perfect my jumping technique by watching everyone else. I wasn’t nearly as scared as I thought I would be. I was so ready to go. Mind you, I haven’t done anything like this in my life before, but apparently I have turned a new daredevil leaf while in South Africa. So they tied my ankles up, told me I was “100% safe” and helped me hop over to the jumping ledge. You have to put your toes OVER the edge and then they hold onto your arms (which are out like a bird), count down from 5, and give you a push if you haven’t jumped yet. I was determined to jump on my own accord, rather than wimp out and be pushed… and surprisingly I did! They got to one and I just pushed off with my feet, spread my arms, and did my best swan dive off of the world’s highest bungy bridge! I didn’t even scream – just took a deep breath in and made up my mind to jump. It was incredible! After jumping, you free fall for about 5 seconds, a distance of 216 meters (709 feet)! I kept my eyes open and the view was breathtaking – although it’s hard to appreciate the mountains and river when you’re freefalling through the air. Then you bounce up and down 4-5 times and end up hanging there upside down until they send a guy down to get you. That was probably the scariest part because you are just dangling by your ankles and spinning and feeling like you could drop into the mountains at any second. I bought a video of my jump, so I will have to show all of you when I get back home! I also got a shirt from the bungy place that says “Face Fear” and on the back it says “Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.” I think this is my new life motto.
Believe it or not, our day wasn’t over after bungy jumping! Next, we went to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where we took a (very cold) ferry trip out to the Knysna Heads (part of the Outeniqua Mountains) and went on a short hike. The mountains were beautiful and we got to use a walking stick on this hike. I kind of felt like Moses, but I could have used one of those things on Table Mountain! We saw a neat cave and crashing waves in the bay area. Another great hike for the South Africa crew! We went back to Afrovibe and had a braai for dinner – it’s like a barbeque. We had chicken, porkchops, and beef sausage.
On Sunday, we packed up and headed to Oudtshoorn for the next two days. We spent the whole day at the Botlierskop Game Farm, starting with a 3-hour safari. It was really cold out, but we had blankets for the ride. We got to see elephants, water buffalo, zebras, giraffes, rhinoceros, and different antelope. It was crazy! The rhinos got so close to our safari truck! Then the safari took us to the lion reserve, which had three lions (2 female, 1 male). We literally drove the truck right into the enclosure! One lion came right toward the truck and the driver had to scare it away – I think it was ready to attack us. But they were so pretty! I’ve never been so close to lions! Did you know they sleep for 22 hours a day? After the safari, we had lunch and then got to ride the elephants! Two people rode on one elephant. There was a dad (Sam), mama (Tsotsi), and baby Tshima (4 years old). Kayla and I rode on Tsotsi together while Caitlin and Erin rode on Sam, and it was quite an experience! They are so high up, but it wasn’t all that different from riding a horse. You sit on a “saddle” and I couldn’t even touch the elephant from where I was sitting. But I got to feel its ear after the ride and elephant skin is so weird! It’s 3 cm thick – the said the elephant didn’t feel anything even though two of us plus the guide were on top of it! Tshima followed his mama the whole time and it was really cute.
When we finally went to leave... our red van (Stephanie) had a flat tire. Bummer. So we hung around for a while, while Johnny and Corvell put on the spare. Then we were on our way... until the spare tire went flat about 10 minutes later. So then, Stephanie was stranded on the side of the dirt road and half of us went in the white van (Daphne) to find a gas station that could repair the tire so we could get to our next hostel in Oudtshoorn. This all took quite some time, but we had some good tunes in Daphne. Our theme song for the night was “Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean... “Chillin’ on a dirt road, laid back, swervin’ like I’m George Jones...” Finally, we were on our way and made the drive to our next accommodations – Backpacker’s Paradise. I thought this was a pretty nice place, but I had the nicer room with 10 or so of the girls. We went out to Spur (our third time this trip!) for a late dinner around 9:00! Most of us got quesadillas... we’re all missing that Mexican food since they don’t really have it here!
On Monday, breakfast again was either eggs and bacon or museli. But this time, the eggs were not chicken eggs... they were ostrich eggs! Ostrich eggs are enormous and equivalent to about 18 chicken eggs! I actually bought a hallowed out ostrich egg there to show how big and indestructible they are. There were mixed feeling on the ostrich egg... I should have tried it, but I stuck to my museli. Then we were off to Cango Caves, where we were given the option of going on the Standard or Adventure Tour. Regretfully, I went on the standard tour, which was neat, but really not adventurous at all. But I still had fun with Michelle, Megan D., and Caitlin – my fellow claustrophobics! It was about an hour-long walk through the cave, which was paved and flat. We got to see some very cool stalactites and stalagmites and the large rooms even used to be used for concerts! The natural beauty is amazing! Those on the Adventure Tour did a lot more crawling and squeezing through small spaces. There’s even a part called the Letter Box, where they wiggled their way through a 10.5 inch opening! I wasn’t feeling the tight spaces, but I kind of wish I’d don’t the Adventure Tour. See, my shirt is right... “Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.”
After caving, we were off to the Cango Wildlife Ranch! Here we went on a guided tour around the reserve where we saw weird birds, bats, a hog (Pumba!), an ugly Cape Vulture, a stork, some lemurs, flamingos, crocodiles, otters, a hippo, cheetas, lions, baby Bengal Tigers, and leopards! Then we had the opportunity to go in and “encounter” the cheetahs or tigers! Kristin and I went in with the baby cheetahs (9 months old). We got to pet Lea for a while and have our photo taken... Lusi wasn’t as friendly, so she just hung out in the corner. It was so soft! And Lea just lay there, purring and purring – like a big old cat! The cheetah guy even told me to put my head down right by Lea’s head and took a picture! Eek, my head was within inches of a cheetah’s mouth! After that, I was still feeling like a wimp for chickening out on the Adventure Tour, so I went in for the Snake Encounter. Yes siree, I held an 18-pound Albino Burmese Python! I told you, I turned a daredevil leaf! It’s like I was Jack Hannah, Animal Adventurer!
Then we went back for another braai. This time, the choice of meat was ostrich. Marleigha and I split the ostrich and vegetarian meal of spinach/feta pie. They were both really good! The ostrich was best on a kabob, but the sausage was ok, too. Then we went back to our little lounge area, rearranged the couches, snuggled up with some blankets, and curled up for 27 Dresses. Us girls were feeling the need for a good chic flick – the boys opted out.
Tuesday was another day of driving. We started off going to an Ostrich Farm, where we were all hoping to share the experience of riding ostriches. Sadly, it didn’t work out and only four of us were allowed to go. So Jamie, Megan D., Abby, and Kristin literally rode on ostriches! They said it was just bizarre. The rest of us were bummed, but honestly, we can’t complain after a weekend like that! The drive home was long, but I slept for most of us. We made a stop at McDonald’s for lunch, had a short reflection, and then were dropped back off at our families’ homes! It was nice to be back and unpack all of our stuff – I’m sick of living out of a suitcase! Kristin and I showed our family the bungy videos, which they got a kick out of.
Today (Wednesday), it was back to Belvue for our last three days! My mentor teacher was out today, so I had the class to myself. Quite a few kids were absent, so it was an easier day, although the kids were rowdy after a long weekend (it was Women’s Day on Tuesday). They finished up the Afrikaans Alphabet book for me and I did a lot of writing with them. I had them write letters to a character in Charlotte’s Web and we did a comparison of different Cinderella stories. We also played math bingo! To top it off, it we had a birthday in the class and her parents came by with treats for the whole class! I also took individual pictures with the students, which I am going to develop and give to them on my last day. I just love them!
Oh my Gosh! All I can say is you are crazy ! Were those bats hanging upside down in the latest pictures ?? Can't wait for you to come home. Miss you - Love - Mom and Dad
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