Travel Update

Hi there,

Just thought we'd give you a quick update as to how far we've got! We are currently in Durban getting some stuff fixed on the car and watching some surfing. Hoping to move on tonight further north. It's been a good first leg - we have all learnt a lot about landrovers, off road driving, cooking for 7 and living in community! After a few days of preparation in Cape Town we finally set off last Wednesday. We spent 2 nights in the western cape on a farm near Riverdale where we stayed in a little stone cottage with no electricity. Really enjoyed cooking on a big fire and just living 'simply' in beautiful surroundings. Amazing bird calls and insects - had some rather close encounters with (very) big spiders! Had a chance to do some off roading with the landrover on the farm which was ace - definitely where the car feels most at home!

After Riverdale we headed east along the coast and the garden route. Very lush and beautiful. Found a gorgeous beach at the Wilderness national park where we had the place to ourselves and a great time to chill out. Stayed a night at the Tree House lodge near Knysna which was very peaceful - cabins in the woods with deer wandering around. Plus a jacuzzi bath - which Emmanuel enjoyed a lot! ;-)

Next day we drove through Plett and Storms river and had our first puncture! Infact a full blow out on the front tyre when we were going about 80kmh, but praise God the car did not veer at all and a guy stopped to help us change it so it didn't take too long. That night God brought us to a nature reserve by the beach just past Jeffrey's bay - a perfect place that was free. We deliberately didn't make any plan on where to stay and felt we should just pray about it and trust God ...and he totally came through for us. So learning about that has been good.

Similarly the next day, after driving past Port Elizabeth and stopping for lunch in Grahamstown (where Soph's Mum grew up) we ended up near Port Alfred. After carrying on a bit further we turned off to the little villiage of Klein Monde and went down to the beach. There were a few guys there and Rich felt we should get out and ask them about some where to stay. The only guest house was closed but one of the guys gave us his mum's number and said she rented out holiday cottages and may be able to help us out. After ringing her twice she didn't pick up and we were a bit stuck as we had no where else! Then we prayed about it as a group, tried again, and within 20 mins we were settling into a 3 bedroom house with a jacuzzi outside!!

Yesterday was the longest day of driving as we went all the way to durban. Amazing to see how the landscape changes so quickly. Went through some areas inland which were high up, very hot and dry and not a white person in sight. Felt more like Kenya or Uganda! Lots of small bustling towns full of school kids and people catching minibus taxis back to their villages heavily laden with a week's shopping. Also lots of people and livestock on the roads and crazy drivers which made the experience a bit nervewracking at times! Felt totally different to the wealthy, lush garden route. South Africa is certainly a country full of contrasts and almost a country full of different worlds that don't necessarily ever meet.

Glad to finally get to Durban and be united with Amy! Just some laundry and car stuff to sort out and we'll hit the road again. No idea where we will stay tonight, but that's kinda fun!

Soph Xxx

Ps. We're staying safe :-)