Dag 64, 30 Augustus

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Na Mosambiek

Die verblyf by Deon en Martha was uitstekend. Maar die derde skof lê voor – Mosambiek.

Ons pak op en vertrek. Ons ontmoet Chris Hougaard en sy vriendin Lettie by ‘n winkelsentrum in Harare en neem die groot pad oos, rigting Mosambiek.

Die afstand vir die dag is ongeveer 600 km. Ons moet eers tot by die grens, Nyamapanda, dan in die rigting van Tete, maar voor die stad weer regs draai na Cahora Bassa. Dis ‘n geweldige ompad, maar ons enigste uitweg om weer by die Zambezi uit te kom..

Op pad na Nyamapanda gee Chris se Hilux skielik probleme. Daar is fout met die stuur. Francois en Streicher spring aan die werk en los die probleem op. Iets het net vasgehaak aan die stuur meganisme. Maar dit vertraag ons met ‘n uur.

Toe kom ons by die grenspos aan. Dis stil, maar dit beteken nie sake verloop vinnig nie. COVID veroorsaak vele vertragings. Maar Chris het vir ons alles gereël. Streicher maak toe ‘n fout – hy neem ‘n foto van die vlag. Van die veiligheidspolisie, in gewone klere, sien hom. Hulle wil hom arresteer.

Ons het gewoond geraak dat sake in Zimbabwe vandag anders is. Mens word nie meer by padblokkades gestop en gevra om omkoopgeld te betaal nie. Maar ou gewoontes sterf maar stadig af. Streicher het bloot ‘n wapperende vlag afgeneem. Maar kameras en grensposte gaan nie lekker saam nie. Geen foto’s word toegelaat nie.

Streicher wys vir hulle hy vee die foto uit. Hulle wil nie luister nie. Hy moet nou saamkom Harare toe waar hy formeel aangekla sal word. Dis baie duidelik net ‘n versoek tot omkoopgeld. $30 later, en eindelose argumente wat eintlik maar net in sirkels gegaan het, is ons verder.

Aan Mosambiek se kant is dit nie veel beter nie. Hier word ons daarop gewys dat die grenspos eintlik nog toe is. Dit is nie die waarheid nie. Maar die amptenare weier om ons paspoorte te stempel. Slegs met ‘n geldige “werkpermit”, of met $ 30 in elkeen van die paspoorte, kan ons verder. COVID 19 het net soveel meer geleentheid geskep vir mense om omkoopgeld te ontvang.

Die hele grenskruising het amper twee en ‘n half uur geduur. Belangrikste is – ons is in Mosambiek. Ons reis tot by Changara. Vandaar, noord na Tete. Toe weer wes na Chitima. Dis reeds donker met ons aankoms by Chris se huis op die oewer van die Cahora Bassa meer. Ons kan nie wag om te sien hoe lyk dit as die son môre opkom nie.

oOo

The stay with Deon and Martha was excellent, but the third leg of our journey, to Mozambique, lies ahead.

We pack up and leave. We meet Chris Hougaard and his girlfriend Lettie at a shopping centre in Harare and take the main road east, the direction of Mozambique.

We must cover approximately 600 km. First to the border at Nyamapanda, then direction Tete. Before Tete, we turn left to Cahora Bassa. It is a massive detour, but the only way to get back to the Zambezi.

On our way to Nyamapanda Chris’s Hilux develops problems. There is an issue with his steering. Francois and Streicher get to work and fix the problem. Something just got stuck. But it delays our journey by an hour.

We arrive at the border. It is quiet, which does not imply that it is a quick crossing. COVID causes many delays. But Chris has everything arranged beforehand. Then we have a problem – Streicher takes a photo of the Zimbabwe flag. The plainclothes security police see him. Now they want to arrest him.

We got used to the fact that Zimbabwe changed. There is no more stopping at roadblocks with the specific aim to get a bribe. But old habits die hard. Streicher only took a picture of a flag. But cameras and border crossing do not go well together. No photos are allowed.

Streicher shows them that he deleted the photo. But they are not interested in any explanation. They claim that he must accompany them to Harare where he would be formally charged. This is a clear request for a bribe. $ 30 later, and endless arguments only going in circles, and we could leave.

On the Mozambique side, things do not go much better. They claim that the border is still closed. It is not the truth, but the officials refuse to stamp our passports. Only a valid “work permit”, or $ 30 in each passport, would have them stamped our passports. COVID 19 just opened the opportunity for many more possible bribes.

The border crossing took us two and a half hours. Most important is that we are now in Mozambique. We take the road to Changara. From there north to Tete. Then we turn west to Chitima. It is after dark when we arrive at Chris’s house on the shores of Lake Cahora Bassa. We cannot wait for the sun to rise and see what the view is like from the house overlooking the lake.

Dag 65, 31 Augustus

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Cahora Bassa

Wat ‘n ongelooflike gesig toe ons wakker word. Ons is op ‘n skiereiland, omring deur water van die reuse Cahora Bassa-dam.

Vroegoggend begin die visarende roep. Naby Chris se huis is daar twee broeipare. Hulle is ook territoriaal en beskerm hulle gebied. Die ander geluid wat die oggend stilte versteur is die van die kapentabote wat terugkeer na die nag se vangs. Dit klink soos Lister enjins op die meer. Die vissies word net in die nag gevang. Nou moet hulle terugkeer om hulle vangs te kom aflaai.

Die meer is tans nie baie skoon nie. Die water is nie helder nie. Daar is verskeie redes hiervoor, maar een van die vernaamste is dat daar in Zimbabwe tans baie goud gemyn word in die riviere. Dit is dan besoedelde, nie helder, water wat afvloei na die Zambezi, en so in die Cahora Bassa dam instroom. Dit veroorsaak dat die visvangs in die dam nie baie suksesvol is nie.

Na Francois vir ons sy spesialiteit, ‘n Meksikaanse ontbyt, gemaak het, kan ons gaan begin ondersoek instel na hoe die kapentabedryf werk.

Ons stap af na die hawe waar die bote reeds vasgemeer het . Daar is meer as twintig van hulle. Dis basies twee rompe met ‘n platvorm en ‘n diesel enjin wat dit aandryf. Agter aan die boot is ‘n groot ronde net waarmee die vissies in die nag gevang word.

Hierdie is ‘n eenvoudige maar praktiese bedryf. Die vissies word gevang, gesout, terug aan wal op reuse seile uitgesprei om in die son te droog vir twee dae, word dan in 30 kg sakke gepak en verkoop. Dis vir menslike gebruik.

Die gedroogte vissies word op die mark van die hand gesit teen tussen $ 5 en $ 7 per kilo. Dit word voorberei deur die gedroogde vissies in olie te braai saam met uie en tamatie, en bedien saam met pap. Een kilo is meer as genoeg vir ‘n stewige maaltyd vir ‘n gesin van ses. Dit is baie ryk aan proteïne.

Die aand sit ons saam met Chris en Lettie en drink ‘n 2M terwyl die son sak ook die meer. Dis weer eens ‘n pragtige uitsig. Daarna maak Maria, die huishulp, vir ons pizzas in die pizza oond. Vriend Schalk Burger het lank in Italië rugby gespeel en een dag vir Chris kom kuier hier op Bermar en toe vir Maria geleer pizzas maak. Dis uitstekend. Ek moedig haar aan om ‘n Cahora Bassa pizza te doen – een met kapenta. Dis amper soos ‘n plaaslike Sciciliana. Nie sleg nie.

Dit was ‘n goeie dag op die oewer van die tweede grootste dam in die Zambezi, Cahora Bassa.

oOo

What an incredible sight that greets us at sunrise – we are on a peninsula, surrounded by the waters of the Cahora Bassa dam.

Early the Fish Eagles start calli. Close to Chris’s house, there are two breeding pairs. They are territorial and protects their areas. Another sound that disturbs the early morning silence is that of the diesel engines of the kapenta rigs that return after being out all night, catching fish. It sounds like 20 Lister engines on the lake. Fishing is only done at night. Now they return to the harbour with their catch.

The water of the lake is currently not very clear. There are several reasons for this, primarily because a lot of gold is being panned in the tributaries of the Zambezi in Zimbabwe. It is polluted water that flows into Cahora Bassa, and this means that fishing is not very successful at the moment.

Francois prepares his speciality – a Mexican breakfast. Then we go down to the harbour to see how the industry operates.

The rigs have already docked at the harbour. There are more than 20. It is a basic rig of two pontoons and a platform, propelled by a diesel engine. Behind the rig, there is a massive round net that can be lowered into the water to catch the fish.

It is simple but practical. The fish is caught, salted, and back on land spread on canvas to be dried in the sun. Then it gets packed into 30 kg bags. This is for human consumption.

The dried kapenta is sold on the market for between 5 and 7 dollars a kilo. It is then prepared by frying it in oil with onion and tomatoes. One kilo is more than enough for a healthy meal for a family of six. It is very high in protein.

At sunset, we enjoy a 2M with Chris and Lettie. It is a beautiful sight. Then Maria, one of the helpers 6at Bermar, prepares pizza in the pizza oven. Schalk Burger is a mutual friend of Chris and mine. He played rugby in Italy for many years. One day at Bermar he taught Maria to make proper, Italian pizza. It is excellent. I encourage her to do a Cahora Bassa pizza – one with kapenta. It is like a local Siciliana. Not too bad.

It was an excellent day on the banks of the second largest dam, fed by the Zambezi, Cahora Bassa.

Dag 66, 1 September

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Cahora Bassa

Dis Lentedag. Ons verstaan by die huis is dit maar koud. Maar by Cahora Bassa is dit lente.

Ons bly steeds by Chris en Lettie. Ons gebruik Chris se huis as basis om veral meer te leer van die kapenta bedryf.

Die kapentabote is terug in die hawe na die vorige nag se vangs. Ons sien hoe die vissies afgelaai word en op die matte gesprei word om in die son te droog. Ons sien ook hoe die instandhouding op die bote gedoen word. Opvallend is dat hierdie ‘n baie basiese, eenvoudige bedryf is.

Die bote het twee staal rompe. Elke dag word ‘n boot op ‘n trollie met ‘n wenas uit die water gesleep vir instandhouding. Daar word met ‘n hamer teen die romp getik om te hoor of daar moontlik water gepenetreer het. Sou daar water in een van die selle wees, word dit met ‘n hoeksnywer oopgesny, die water uitgetap, en terwyl dit nog nat is, weer toegesweis.

So word die instandhouding gedoen.

Ons is terug huis toe. Norbert leer vir Chris se sjef, Tonderai, hoe om braaipap te maak. Vir ontbyt word dit bedien saam met dun boerewors, eiers en vars tamaties.

Die middag is dit tyd om prakties te sien hoe die vissies gevang word. By die hawe is daar eers ‘n vergadering met al die skippers en hulle assistente. Die wenner van die vorige nag se vangs word ook bekend gemaak. Hy kry ‘n bonus.

Ek, Streicher en Stefan is op Pescadores 5, een van die skuite, die hawe uit. Daar is ‘n twintigtal ander. Dit voel soos iets uit ‘n Mad Max fliek. Yster, rook, Lister enjins... ‘n flottielje van vaartuie wat uitvaar op die meer.

Na ‘n uur en ‘n half bereik ons die beplande bestemming. Dit word donker. Die anker word gesak. Daarna ook die net. Bo die net is twee 400 W ligte wat op die water skyn. Dan word daar gewag. Die kaptein doen intussen ‘n klompie push-ups en ander oefeninge. Hy het die krag nodig, maar daar moet ook iets gedoen word om die tyd om te kry.

Na ‘n uur word die boonste ligte afgeskakel. ‘n 125 W lig word laat sak na onder terwyl die net opgetrek word. Die vissies, wat agter die lig aangekom het, volg die kleiner lig na onder, en word so in die net betrap. Sodra die net bo is, word die vissies in kratte uitgekeer en gesout. Dan word die net weer laat sak. Die proses word elke uur herhaal.

Ons vangs was nie wat wonders nie. Die meer is tans baie troebel. Kapenta sukkel ook om die lig te sien. Maar die manne werk hard en probeer iets in die net kry.

Net na 10 kom haal Chris en sy vriend Morne ons met ‘n rubber duck. Dit was interessant, maar ook blootstelling aan ‘n oorverdowende lawaai. Hoe die vissers dit hou, weet mens nie. Ons is bly om weer aan wal te wees. Tuis het Francois hoender gebraai en Tonderai het gebakte aartappels gemaak. Saam met slaai, ‘n heerlike aandete.

oOo

It is Spring Day. We understand it is cold back home, but at Cahora Bassa it is spring.

We stay with Chris and Lettie. We use Chris’s house as a base to see what is being done in the kapenta industry.

The kapenta rigs were back in port after the previous night’s catch. The fish is offloaded and spread on the racks for drying in the sun. We also see basic maintenance to the rigs. It is obvious that this is a very basic, simple industry.

The rigs have two pontoons. Every day, one rig is winched from the water on a trolly for maintenance. With a hammer, it is determined where water have penetrated one or more of the cells. Such a cell is then cut open with an angle grinder, the water is let out, and then the whole is closed again with a welder.

This is how maintenance is done.

Back home Norbert teaches the chef, Tonderai, how to prepare “braai pap”. This is served with thin boerewors, scrambled eggs, and fresh tomatoes.

In the afternoon it is time to practically experience the catching of kapenta. At the port, it starts with a briefing for captains and deckhands. The winner of the previous night’s catch receives a bonus.

Streicher, Stefan and I go out with Pescadores 5. There are more than 20 others. It feels like a scene from a Mad Max movie. Iron, smoke, Lister engine’s... a flotilla of vessels on the lake.

After an hour and a half, we reach our destination. It is dark by now. The anchor is dropped. So too, the net. Above the surface, two 400 W bulbs are switched on. Then the waiting starts. The captain does a few push-ups and pull-ups. He needs the strength for his job, and to pass the time.

After an hour the top lights are switched off. A 125 W globe is now lowered into the water as the net is brought to the surface. The fish follow the light. This is how it is trapped. Once above the surface, the kapenta is poured into a crate and salted. Then the net is lowered back into the lake and the top lights are switched on. The process is repeated every hour.

The catch is nothing to write home about. The water of Cahora Bassa, currently, is very murky. The kapenta struggle to see the light. But the guys keep on trying to catch something.

After 10 Chris and his friend Morne come and pick us up with a speed boat. We had an interesting night but were exposed to a deafening sound. How these guys manage it, is7 beyond me. We were happy to be onshore again. Francois prepared chicken on the fire, and Tonderai baked potatoes. This was served with a fresh salad. Excellent.

Dag 67, 2 September

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Cahora Bassa

Vandag spandeer ons bietjie tyd aan instandhouding. Daar is water op die vloer van een van die Bush Lapas. Ons vrees die ergste – ‘n vlekvrye staal tenk wat lek. As die tenk eers gekraak het, is daar geen ander manier om hom reg te maak, as om die tenks uit te haal en te sweis nie.

Francois neem die Cruiser na Chris se werkswinkel. Hulle stel ondersoek in. Sien dis nie moontlik om die tenk uit te haal nie. Maar toe sien hulle – dis net een van die pypies wat by ‘n lasplek lek. In ‘n japtrap word dit reggemaak. Wat ‘n verligting.

Later gaan ons saam met Chris, Morne en Dudley, nog een van die manne wat werk in die kapentabedryf, op twee bote na ‘n eiland. Dis waar Chris se voorman met vis boer in die meer. Hy beoog ook ‘n varkboerdery op die eiland.

Op die eiland, pragtig met grasperk en braaiplek, maak Norbert roosterkoek en braai Morne vir ons wors wat Nina in Harare gekoop het, asook styks wat hy saamgebring het. Die manne probeer ook visvang. Die is minder geslaagd. Die water van die Cahora Bassa is so troebel, die vis kan nie die aas sien nie. As die vis nie die aas kan sien nie, kan jy ook nie die vis vang nie.

Ons is terug huis toe. Dis ons laaste aand by Chris en Lettie. Ek sit ‘n varkboud in die Cobb, en Tonderai maak pampoenkoekies, romerige spinasie, rys met ‘n bruin sous en slaai. Lettie maak vir ons appeltert. Dis ‘n feesmaal om ons besoek aan Bermar af te sluit. Die pragtige huis met sy uitstekende uitsig gaan in die toekoms, wanneer die visvang beter is, nog baie gaste lok.

oOo

Today we do a little maintenance. One of the Bush Lapa’s has a wet floor. We fear the worst – a stainless steel tank that leaks. Once you have a crack in such a tank, the only way to fix it is to take the tank out and have it welded.

Francois takes the Cruiser to Chris’s workshop. They investigate. It is not possible to just simply take out the tank. But upon proper investigation, they determine that it is only a joint in one of the pipes that leaks. It is fixed in a jiffy. What a relief.

Later we go with Chris, Morne and Dudley, another guy involved in the kapenta industry, with two speedboats to an island. Chris’s foreman farms with fish in the lake on the island. He also plans a piggery.

The island is beautiful. There is a fireplace for a braai as well as a lawn. Norbert prepares griddle bread and Morne braais Boerewors that Nina bought in Harare, as well as some steaks. They guys also go fishing, but this is less successful. The water of the Cahora Bassa is murky, and the fish cannot see the bait. If they can’t see the bait, one cannot catch them.

We go back home. It is our last night with Chris and Lettie. I put a leg of pork in the Cobb, and Tonderai makes pumpkin fritters, creamy spinach, rice, and a brown gravy as well as salad. Lettie is responsible for an excellent apple crumble. It is a festive affair and a fitting end to our visit to Bermar. This beautiful house with its excellent view of the lake will see many anglers, once the fishing improves.

Dag 68, 3 September

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Cahora Bassa

Ons vertrek net na sewe. Ons moet ‘n opskepbak wat ons op Morne se boot vergeet het gaan oplaai, en toe ons by sy huis aankom, gee hy vir ons ontbyt. Gasvryheid!.

Ons ry na die Songo. Voor ons by die dorpie aankom, eers af ry na die wal van die Cahora Bassa. Dis verstommend om te sien hoe klein die wal van die enorme dam is. Die dam is ook baie vol. Die water is duidelik baie troebel. Skoon water sal van die weste af moet inkom.

Ons kom aan in Songo. Die dorp, gebou in 1969 vir die werkers wat die Cahora Bassa dam gebou het, is sekerlik die skoonste dorp in Mosambiek. Dis ‘n pragtige plekkie. Indrukwekkend is die mosaikmuur. Ons trek geld by die ATM en koop vars broodrolletjies by die supermark. Na middagete ry ons verder.

Ons ry in die rigting van Tete. By Cataxa draai ons af van die groot pad. Die roete is op plekke ‘n pad, op plekke nie. Van die bruggies wat weggespoel het, is nooit reggemaak nie. Ons beland in landelike Tete Provinsie.

Langs die pad hoor ons kinders sing en die klank van tromme. Ons sien die Nau-man, ‘n persoon op stelte, kleredrag van vreemde lappe en ‘n masker, wat die kinders vermaak. Hy het ook ‘n viertal helpers wat help stof opskop. Dis baie vermaaklik.

Ons kyk vir ‘n halfuur, en beweeg aan. Ons volgende bestemming, die Boroma Missie.

Die Jesuïete het die kompleks in die 1880’s gebou. Dis kompleet met ‘n katedraal. Daar was ook ‘n skool waar houtwerk geleer is. Dis is ‘n indrukwekkende reeks geboue wat uitkyk oor die Zambezi. Maar dis vandag bouvallig. Meer as 30 jaar gelede is die plek ontruim. Die Mosambiekse burgeroorlog het sy tol geëis. Die kerk word vandag nog gedeeltelik gebruik, maar die res van Boroma is besig om te vergaan. Dit is baie hartseer.

Ons bly by Boroma tot die son sak. Toe ry ons deur na Tete waar Thinus Kruger vir ons gereël het om by Wynand Theron te gaan kamp. Hy het ‘n pragtige plek, net suid van die stad. Dit was ‘n lang dag, maar ‘n besonderse dag.

oOo

We leave just after seven. We forgot a casserole on Morne’s boat. We stop at his house to pick it up, and he invites us in for breakfast. Hospitality!

We drive to Songo. Before we arrive at the town, we first visit the dam wall of Cahora Bassa, the fourth largest dam on the African continent. It is amazing to see how small the wall is for such a big dam. Currently, the dam is nearly full. The water is murky. Clean water needs to enter the inlet.

We arrive in Songo, the town where the construction workers lived. It was built in 1969 and is probably the cleanest town in Mozambique. We draw money at the ATM and buy bread rolls at the supermarket. After lunch, we depart.

We drive direction Tete. At Cataxa we turn off the main road. The new route has disintegrated from time to time. The bridges that were washed away over time was never fixed. This is rural Tete Province.

As we drive through the area, we hear children sing and the sound of drums. We see the Nau-man, a person on stilts, dressed up in rags and a mask, entertaining the kids. He also has four helpers that kick up the dust. It is very entertaining.

We watch the spectacle for half an hour. Our next destination, the Boroma Mission.

The Jesuits built the complex in the 1880s. It is complete with a cathedral and a school where carpentry was taught. It is an impressive complex, overlooking the Zambezi. But today, it is a ruin. More than 30 years ago the place was abandoned. The Mozambiquan civil war claimed another victim. Today the church is partially in service, but the rest of Boroma is falling to the wayside. It is very sad.

We stay at Boroma until sunset. Then we leave for Tete where Thinus Kruger arranged for us to stay at Wynand Theron’s place. It is a beautiful campsite, on the banks of the Zambezi, south of the city. It was a long day, but a fulfilling one.

Dag 69, 4 September

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Tete

‘n Baie rustige dag om te ontspan op Tete. Wynand Theron se plek is ideaal. Dis veilig, niemand steur jou nie, daar is ‘n warm water stort, spoel toilet, swembad en ‘n reuse grasperk.

Nina pak die dag haar voertuig heeltemal uit, maak alles skoon, doen ‘n voorraad opname en pak alles weer terug. Wanneer ons by Tete vertrek, doen ons nie weer by ‘n groot dorp aan tot die einde van die reis nie. Sy doen haarfyn beplanning van haar spyskaart.

Die res van ons hou onsself besig met ditjies en datjies. Streicher het altyd sy foto albums om aan te werk, Francois doen bietjie instandhouding, Norbert sorg dat alles weer eens behoorlik skoon gemaak word, Stefan kyk na sy video materiaal op die harde skywe en ek gaan deur al my eposse. Dit hoop maar op as mens so lank weg is van die huis.

Die aand braai Francois hoendervlerkies en mielies en Nina maak zucchini fritters. Al is dit ‘n sogenaamde “af” dag, eet die spannetjies steeds baie lekker.

oOo

It is a very relaxing day at Tete. Wynand Theron’s spot is an ideal place to camp. It is safe, there is nobody that bothers you, there is a hot water shower and flush toilet, a swimming pool and a massive lawn.

Nina unpacks her vehicle, cleans everything, does stock-taking, and repacks the Cruiser. When we leave Tete, there won’t be another big town to restock with supplies until the end of our trip. She does exact menu planning for the three weeks ahead.

The rest of us keep ourselves busy with this and that. Streicher edits his photo albums, Francois does general maintenance, Norbert sees to it that everything is clean, Stefan checks his video material and make sure it is backed up on the hard drives and I pay attention to the emails that keep on stacking up. This is what happens when you are away from home for months.

In the evening Francois braais buffalo wings and mealies, and Nina makes zucchini fritters. Even though it is a so-called off day, we still eat very well.

Dag 70, 5 September

Voetspore Zambezi

Julie, Augustus, September 2021

Dagboek Week 10

Tete

‘n Sondag soos ‘n Sondag op reis moet wees. Almal het bietjie ingelê. Later die oggend is ek saam met Nina en Stefan dorp toe. Die inkopies vir die laaste drie weke is gedoen in die pragtige Spar. Daar is ook drie Shoprites op Tete.

Terug by die kamp het Streicher hard gewerk aan sy foto’s. Hy kry tydens vanjaar se reis baie komplimente vir sy nuwe verantwoordelikheid.

Ons het ook Wynand-hulle se swembad terdeë geniet.

Toe dit donker word kom Wynand, Beula, Wynand se ma Ronel en hulle pragtige 4 maande oue dogtertjie Ariela, oor vir aandete. Dit is wonderlik om hulle te leer ken. Hulle is uitstekende gashere wat ons ‘n veilige en gerieflike kampplek vir ‘n paar dae gebied het.

oOo

It is Sunday, like all Sundays during a trip should be. Everyone has a bit of a lie-in. Later in the morning, Nina, Stefan, and I went to town to do the shopping for the last three weeks. There is an excellent Spar. The town also boasts three Shoprites.

Back at Camp, Streicher worked hard on editing the photos. During this year’s journey, he gets a lot of compliments regarding his newfound responsibility.

We all enjoy the swimming pool thoroughly.

After dark Wynand, his wife Beula, his mom Ronel and beautiful four-month-old girl Ariela came over for dinner. It is very good to get to know them. They were excellent hosts that offered a safe and comfortable campsite for a few days.