The beautiful vistas everywhere!

Marie

Pepe

Hi everyone! Another beautiful day on the farm. The sun is shining and the clouds drift lazily across the top. We had a little bit of rain last night. Pepe calls it fairy dust. Just a sprinkling. he and I have been biking everywhere, dirt trails and high into the mountains. Suddenly there are trees everywhere, cold breezes and haze on the top and then, puff! We are in the valley again and it is warmer.

Marie and I went for a ride to the Coach House, which makes candy and houses a restaurant as well as a lovely hotel with the most outstanding view of the mountains. I have changed my mindset fully about what my expectations were of the topography of S. Africa. I can't believe how green and mountanous it is near Tzaneen.

There are beautiful gardens that we visited and of course the spectacular view. There was a tree that had been struck by lightning and was dead. Folk lure says that it was struck the night the owner, Ms. Ess died.

It is peaceful and serene here, and I want to send out a big "Hello" to all my friends at the library.

More tomorrow. Life is simple here and quite wonderful.

Love,
Kerry

Dirt bikes and eucalyptus

Upon awakening, I walked outside to see the flowers and birds. There were roses and lillies of every color and hue. They have 900 avocado trees, macademia nuts, lemons and bananas. It is an amazing array of plants. Marie plants flowers nearly every day and has a worker help. The yard is soooo colorful but the dogs don't care, they go where they want! I mean at 140 lbs. who will argue?

As the morning progressed, Pepe decided to do a little bit of dirt bike riding, so of course, I, always the adventureous one, went along for the ride! The mountain views were fantastic. There were plantations for bananas, macademia nuts, including a processing plant, lemon trees and mango as well as avocado as far as the eye can see. It is so lush and green. Many of the same plants that we have in Fl. are here. Bouganvilla, jacaranda and acacia dot the landscape turning it all sorts of hues.

We then turned out bike to the dirt road that leads past gated communities and to the Tzaneen dam. You can walk across it, but not ride your bike. It was a fabulous site as well.

Finally Pepe took me on a great dirt trail that is washed out in the rainy season. Here thousands of eucalyptus trees are grown on the mountainsides. Some are as tall as 40 feet. Amazingly straight trunks are formed when the farmers cut the lower branches off.

With Pepe at the helm, it was a wild ride! Tomorrow, who knows?

I have arrived and South Africa is wonderful!

Hi everyone! After nearly 24 hours on a plane, I am finally at my destination!

I arrived in Jo'burg airport around 8 on Tues. morning and had to go outside the airport to re-enter onto a domestic flight and security. Weird. The air outside was fresh and clean. I flew to Polokwane, which was about 45 minutes and it was a small airport with a strong police presence. My friend, Marie, picked me up in her car with the driver's seat on the "wrong side" and we were off through the country side.

The jacaranda trees are all in full purple regalia and spectacular as we drove toward the town of Tzaneen. The land was flat and arid, with settlements popping up along side the roads. We stopped at a local market, so I could get my veggie on! Their currency is the Rand and it is about 7 rands to a dollar.

We then drove out of the flat to the mountains where they live and as we came around the corner, everything was lush and green, like Florida, but for the red clay soil. They live on Lemantour Farms and their house is beautiful. They have high ceilings and the roof is thatched. There are gardens of flowers overflowing everywhere and their land has gentle sloping hills. Pepe is currently digging a pond, specifically for the 6, yes, count them, 6 Rhodesian Ridgebacks! They are huge.

It was decided that I would cook, so I made a pasta with garlic, onions, fresh herbs and garlic bread. Scrumptious! I was so tired at 9 o'clock, that I begged off and went to get the sleep I have missed for the past two days. My room has cathedral ceilings, thatched with beams in a conical shape. It is wonderful! I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Tomorrow I will visit the town of Tzaneen, so for now I will say goodnight!!

ONLY 5 DAYS TO GO!

I have visions of stately lions, their mates near by and sprightly cubs frolicking in the grass while I take photos at my leisure. Of course, I am sure that my fantasy will become a reality on Nov. 1st, when we actually get to Kruger NP. That is the power of positive thinking! In addition, the town of Tzaneen, where Marie and Pepe live with their 4 Rhodesian ridgebacks is going to be fun to explore as well as the surrounding areas. There are waterfalls, groves, ruins and wide open spaces to be investigated.

I will be stopping in NY over night on the 24th to see my cousins and aunt. I always like to see them whenever I can. Then it will be into the heart of So. Africa after a 15 hr. plane ride to J'burg, a second plane ride to Polokwane and then a car ride to my hosts' home in Tzaneen. My heart will be wide open, though my tush may be a bit sore from all that sitting! I know I will love it there. We will catch up soon!

XOXO
Kerry

Lions and elephants and Hippos, oh my!

I am psyched about going to So. Africa to visit my friends Pepe and Marie. I will be gone for 3 weeks into the wilds of the southernmost portion of Africa. As I always do, I will be blogging away, hopefully on a nightly basis.

We will be going to Kruger National Park and stay a couple of nights in a camp compound! Sounds so exciting, doesn't it? I hope to see the big 5: Lions, Leopards, Hippos, Elephants and Hippos. What is so cool about it is that I will see them in their natural habitat. I don't know how it could get much better than this!

There are so many things to be done in the short time I have left. Unfortunately, Malaria is a concern according to the Dept. of State and Center for Disease Control, so I have made an appt. with my doc and will be following up with some Malaria pills. I also need an adapter for my electronics that will fit in a So. Africa plug, and I have one, compliments of Brookstone, so I am good to go.

I have my international phone which works everywhere, including So. Africa. Not that I will call too much, but in case of an emergency, it will come in handy.

I will also be exploring the Limpopo province, town of Tzaneen, where my friends live. I have my hiking boots, lots of capris and shirts as well as a jacket for those cool nights. It is going to be a blast. I hope you will follow me as I take to the wilds!

Love,
Kerry