We arrived around 9.20am, local time in Jo'burg collected our luggage and made our way to the domestic departures terminal for our Kulula airways flight to George. Africa! Wooo! Sorry, but it was exciting, to me anyhows to be in Africa.
Neil was approached by a very friendly and official looking chappie who was wearing a tour guide badge (an oval badge with the SA flag, and a name) who asked if we were travelling as a group and made off. We like sheep followed him, although Neil was not convinced this chappie was khosher. When we got to the desk he asked for our passports, which we stupidly handed over, except Neil! Then he realised we were flying Kulula and so off it was again back to where we had started. Once booked in, the inevitable happened and he asked for a tip. He was told, ever so politely that his services had not been asked for, he effectively hijacked our group and no, he wasn't getting anything.
Quick as a flash he set off in pursuit of his next quarry!
Our flight to George left aroudn 1.15pm on Kulula airways. Now if you've never flown with these guys you've never enjoyed or laughed so much during the safety demonstration. The announcer should have been on the stage. I can't remember all the quips, but he told us we'd better listen to the landing on water display as we'd be flying over some swimming pools and dirty rivers. He finished with 'Don't be leaving anything behind, although if the man in row 13 wants to leave his girlfriend, that will be fine!"
That and the green plane livery and the green leather seating make for a fun journey. It certainly brightened up the third plane flight in 12 hours for us!
We were met at the airport by Henk Blanckenberg, our local guide who'd be riding with us, and by Sam who'd be driving the mini-bus/van and trailer with our luggage in it. The scenery from the airport was just amazing....a jagged mountain range running left and right. That complimented the stunning costal scenery we'd viewed from the plane.
A stunning drive o
ver the mountains and brought us down to Oudtshoorn, where someone had left the oven door open. Boy was it warm. After a brief stop it was on to Prince Albert and Onse Rus Guesthouse. In the Cape Dutch style our home for the evening was just beautiful. Peter, our third local guide was on hand to start prepping the bikes which turned out to be great quality with lovely gel saddles.Then it was off to the local restaurant and THE rugby match...South Africa against England. As it turned out everyone turned out just as relieved that the game ended as with the result. It was possibly the most boring game of rugby I've ever seen. But hey, a win is a win. The South Africans were a tad pleased!
We had asked Peter why when they were speaking Afrikaans they broke into English in parts; expecting a reply such as they didn't have a particular word or phrase in Afrikaans, or it was better described in English. His tongue in cheek reply? "Because we can!" followed by a hearty chuckle. That set the tone for the rest of the trip. Great fun.
Once the cars and baccies had finished blaring their horns up and down the main street (well, the only street really) I tried for some sleep. My local friendly mossie had other ideas. That bizzzing sound in one ear, was, with a swipe replaced by the same bizzzing sound at the other ear. Either it cleared off or unconsciousness took over, but I got some sleep and about half a dozen bites, before the 6am alarm went off.
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