i consider myself very fortunate to be able to do a fair amount of travelling each year. from a weekend away at the coast or a 5 day hike in a canyon to an educational for work in northern Mozambique – i have a few opportunities a year.

over time i have noticed that each trip demands a different way of packing.

a weekend at the coast you can pack for in 10 minutes before you go to bed (i always pack the night before – i cannot pack on the day of departure… what if there is something missing or broken or or or… i wouldn’t be able to sleep). and if you forget something, chances are you can go to a shop not far from your tent or chalet and get it.

a 5 day hiking trip takes a little more planning – you want to minimise what you’re carrying, so it’s comfortable, but you have to make sure you have everything you need with you. ‘cos their ain’t gonna be any shops for you to go into along the way… so i find that packing for this will start about a week before i leave.

so for each trip i need to (sub-consciously) assess how far i will be from essential-purchase-opportunities.

as my dream holiday to timbuktu starts in 3 days – i will do my final trial-pack tonight. everything is already lying on my dining room table – the necessary clothes have been washed over the last few days to ensure i have all i need, little extras have been bought that i didn’t have, and now i need to go through the toiletries and medicines to make sure it’s all there and not expired and properly sealed! and put all my documents into a folder and into good order.

as i was going through it all last night, wondering about what i might have forgotten, i was thinking through my itinerary and considering the places i would be, and i thought, well, if i forget something, it’s not like i’m going to the end of earth…

It was an almost-perfect moment, the ocean opening up to my left, a curvy road ahead, sunny day, roof down on the Golf and excellent music playing on the CD player… after a weekend spent in a nature reserve catching up with very special friends, life has been really good today.

We walked, we talked, we swam, braaied and had strawberries. Red wine (Canadian nogal!), down time and laughter. We even got to watch tortoises mate before he started to charge us… very interesting indeed…

But driving home in this very positive space I thought about how cyclical life is – the good is followed by the bad and the bad is followed by the good. not that I’m expecting a horrible week, or something bad to happen soon, but in general.

I was in such a good frame of mind, that I couldn’t help thinking how much better it was than the time I’d considered ending it all (admittedly a brief, yet life-changing consideration) or the time I received that lovely letter from the taxman asking for R99’900… here I was, roof down, sun up, sounds on, smile on. Only thing missing was a gorgeous guy next to me… but that will no doubt change soon too 

i am happy to announce that i received 2 sms’s from Standard Bank yesterday informing me that i had used my credit card.

this is something i had to ask them twice to do, more than 12 months ago…

hmm, now that is not what i would exactly call “Motivated.” on their part…

at least it’s working now.

i had a rather bizarre experience at the supermarket this evening… something i still don’t quite understand, even though friends have some theories (which are diametrically opposed to my thoughts…).

i have no shame in admitting that i have some hair on my chest. and yes, i am well aware that in an open- necked shirt there is a tuft which shows. nothing wrong with that, right?

wrong! if you shop at Pick ‘n Pay Canal Walk…

imagine my surprise when i am told by the cashier, in between the beeps of items being scanned, “you’re hairy.” i glance at her, not quite believing, or understanding, what she said. she looks serious though.

maybe if i ignore her she’ll not say anything else.

“do you feel alright?” she asks, as she packs the last goodies into a bag.

no, i wasn’t in the happiest frame of mind (thanks to Vodacom…) so i say, “yeah i’m fine” without much conviction or enthusiasm – but enough to not start a discussion.

“…or do you feel like an animal?” she finishes.

inside, i was standing there with my mouth agape in total disbelief at her question.

outwardly i ignored it completely.

a part of me wanted to go and complain to the manager, but i wasn’t in the mood, and is it worth getting her into trouble for. but i am still stunned.

a friend told me tonight that, “you know she was flirting with you, right?” but i don’t buy that for a second… because if she was, she’s worse than me at flirting, and i’m pretty bad. but that is certainly not the way to address a stranger, let alone a customer…

bizarre…

i picked up a RICA what-you-need-to-know-and-bring form earlier this week, and while i had a few minutes spare today i took my cell numbers, ID, and proof of address to a Vodacom shop.

Hi, can you help me RICA my phone numbers?

Sure, have you got your SIM cards with you?

I do have my cellphone one with me, but not the one in my 3G device at home.

Well, i need the SIM cards.

But… here on this form it only states the cell number, nothing about the SIM Card…

Well, i need the SIM cards.

And im sure your system actually has my SIM Card numbers in it… can you check it there? (they can tell what phone you’re using without you telling them, so i am VERY sure that info is there)

Well, i need the SIM cards.

Well, it would help if you told us this beforehand, instead of making this inconvenience even more… even more… inconvenient!

Well, i need the SIM cards.

…

i think i have avoided root canal by the skin of my teeth (pun intended). had a permanent filling put into place today instead of the temporary one i had before… still feeling a little numb and uncomfortable, but hopefully that will settle in the next day or so.

i really don’t want to do root canal, even if people tell me it’s not so bad.

probably because i’m too stingy to part with R3′000, and i don’t really wanna lose my nerve…

… and i’ve just made one of those little countdown calendars that i used to make as a kid when i was looking forward to something.

you know, those ones where each day you cut off a square with a number in it that counts down to when you leave – and ech square is decorated?

so – tomorrow morning i will cut of the one that says “17″ – which means that i will have only 16 days left till i leave!

(and in my head i count 12 working days…)

turns out there are some people with sense in canada – and that the brndon huntley refugee status verdict has been put under review.

the report i read really tore holes in the material that was put forward to justify his refugee status – they saw right through his rubbish stories.

only problem now is if they want to revoke the status and send him back:

do we really want someone like that back here?

i finally got to hike the otter trail last week – and it was truly amazing. we got the spot booked about 7 months ago for the 6 of us, and while i had good intentions, i didn’t get as much training in for it as i would have liked.

so when we went to a talk about the hike a few days before we left, and the guy spoke about this being the most technical walk he’s ever done – more than kili and several others, i started to get nervous… and ended up spending over R2000 at their store – admittedly this includes a new sleeping bag and weather proof lightweight jacket (which together fill about R1600 of that).

but while doing it i realise it was fine – it wasn’t a walk in the park (yes yes, it was a walk in the forest, you know what i mean!), but i certainly didn’t need to have done plenty more exercise for it.

it starts at storms river mouth and goes along the coast through the tsitsikamma forest to natures’ valley.

i kept comparing it to the fish river canyon hike i did a year ago, because that is also a 5 day hike – and here are some similarities and differences:

Similarities:
they’re both 5 days

Differences:
Fish is flat – walk down into the canyon and then along the canyon and out at the other all is flat apart from the initial entry
Otter is up and down a lot, with some flattish undulating bits in between. ups can be very tough. very tough.

Fish is in the sun – there is little to no shade and the sun beats down; and this can only be done in winter
Otter is often in the shade of the forest along the sea coast

Fish is 89km in length – so 15-20km a day mostly
Otter is 42km – so the longest day is 14 and shortest around 5

Fish you sleep under the stars on a little foam mat you carry with you, wherever you stop. no facilities at all.
Otter you sleep in triple bunks in wooden huts with flowing water, toilets, shower and rubbish bins.

Fish it never rains (touch wood)
Otter – it will rain, at least once. it will. be prepared!

on balance, i’m glad i’ve done both. the fish is tougher, but also more rewarding and more out of your comfort zone. but after day 4 i wished we’d finished, and i was happy to do 5 on the otter.

some info and tips:
- bring rain gear – that coast is so green cos it rains often. it will rain. come prepared with a rain jacket (lightweight) and backpack cover and fast drying clothes if possible.

- you can stop often for a swim or a sightseeing spot – there is plenty of time. (except day 4 – see further on)

- bring a steak or sausage to braai on the first 2 nights – it will last and you will so love it. whiskey or similar is also apreciated

- pack light!!! i cannot emphasise this enough – it makes all the difference. you don’t need a new t-shirt for each day, and 1 pants for the day and another for the evening is fine. you will all smell a little after a while. it’s part of the fun. genuine!

- i didn’t want to take them, but boy am i glad i did: take a pair of those telescopic walking sticks. they are worth it. i had 2, but for a stretch i only had 1, and i noticed clearly how much weight they took off my back. often i carried them in one hand while i was on a flat bit – but for the uphills, wow, they help.

- bring enough snacks for eating on the way while walking

- while there should be wood at each hut each night, there wasn’t always some. be prepared to make food without a fire. a stove is a must.

- you can get water at each hut on the way, or in some faster moving rivers. on day 4 though, there is a long walk, with few water spots, so be sure to ration your water to last all 14 kms including the river crossing

- you’ll know that on day 4 you need to cross the bloukrans river – preferably at low tide. we had low tide at 06h45 or 19h30 – meaning we would have had to walk either 5 hours before or 3 hours after in the dark – which we didn’t want to. we took a chance and got to the river by about 13h30 (it’s 10km, so about 4-5 hours). we managed to work a way across with ropes and helping each other, and were on our way around 16h00 again.

- i would not want to walk either part in the dark – especially between the 4 and 7km mark before hand

- make sure you have enough survival bags for the river crossing – they tear easily on the rocks and you don’t want a wet bag! each person should have their own, and have cable ties to seal them with. remember to take a knife across outside the bag so that you can undo them

- do not put your walking sticks into the bags

the last day’s walking is quick – we were done in record time (it’s just shy of 7km). you walk the last kilometre on a beach – you will definitely want to stop and swim there – beautiful.

it’s tradition to have a meal at the restaurant on the far end of nature’s valley – the beer and burgers will live up to the fantasy you start talking about on day 2 or 3

it really is a marvellous walk – i found myself actually walking without thinking about anything – some meditate for a long time to reach that, and i was grateful for that. very beautiful, relaxing and inspiring.

well recommended

so, i got my post box renewal form this month.

the price has gone up quite a bit since last year, and they need me to pay R287,- by the end of January 2010.

BUT they have offered me an Early Bird Special if i pay by the end of December 2009.

R285,-