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DATE: 4 February 2006
CURRENT LOCATION: Cape Town, South Africa |
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The bike is toast. They just can't figure out what's
wrong with it and why it won't start. They've narrowed it down to this little electric component which costs a fortune and would cost almost double its price if they shipped it here - and they're still not sure if it would work after that... So i told them to pack it up and ready it to ship back to London. The dream is over. Nearly wept having to make that decision. Have had a good time waiting in Cape Town in the meantime - it's really lovely. Came back to do some surfing and Jiu Jitsu for the week, amongst other things that i missed the first time around. Yeah, jiu jitsu. An american fellow i travelled with here was friends with two guys running a studio here so i thought what the hell, i did high school wrestling! Every night we came back to the backpackers bruised and wrecked we told everyon we'd been out at ballroom dancing lessons - that foxtrot is murder! Shame the surf was terrible this week (like i'm a pro or anything) and not worth renting the boards. Done some hiking and cliff jumping (into water) and abseiled 65m through a waterfall. You can even meander through the streets here from cafe to cafe and enjoy the sunny patios - complete reversal of Jo'berg, which was wet and boring and isolating. So far, i've only been muged by fleas. Yeah, fleas!!?? Seems my bed or a couch or something at the last backpackers was full of them and i awoke 2 days ago riddled with bites. I thought maybe i picked up some skin infection from someone at the jiu jitsu. But saw a Doctor this morning and he was certain it wasn't an infection, but looked very much like flea bites and they'd all subside after a few days. Yuck. Glad i moved to a new place for tonight! Though, the last place wasn't an apparent flea-pit. So now i'm without wheels - WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO!!?? I was tempted to head further up the coast and spend the rest of my last 4 weeks surfing and climbing and holidaying, but that just wouldn't really do now would it. I thought about heading around southern africa by backpack and public transport, but i 'chickened out' and will be leaving with on a 3 week overland tour to Victoria Falls. I feel a little chumpy - what on earth does a seasoned traveller and newly grizzled overlander need to get led about by the nose on a tour for! Well, it will be cheaper and faster than if i did it on my own means, and it will get me properly into the 'bush' as well. Oh hell. I've got to keep a positive attidude. You can check out the tour here to get and idea of where i'm going: http://www.nomadtours.co.za/cape_to_vic_falls_camp.html I won't have many chances at email for the next 3 weeks, so you might not hear much from me - but i'll be in the warm and safe custody of Nomad Tours, almost TOO safe... love ya! Lachie |
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