Dolphins Video

The dolphins in Plettenberg Bay were incredible, especially since many had their brand-new babies right at their sides. They were teaching them to circle the fish and hunt.  I managed to figure out my phone's video camera on the very last sighting of the dolphins.  I missed the babies, but I captured the dolphins that came closest to our boat.  Here is the video:

Sea Kayaking in Plettenberg Bay

Oh, my!  Christine and I took an early morning sea kayaking tour in Plettenberg Bay.  Cxx and her husband, Hugo, own their own kayak... and now I know why.  It is so much fun!  The key is learning to read the waves and water.  Christine did this so well that we didn't spill... and the guide was impressed.  Go, Christine!  I told Brady that if we lived by the ocean, we would have to take this up as a hobby.  Delightful!

Ready to Continue and Finish the Blog

Whew!  I arrived home on October 11th after a total of 24 hours in the air.  Yowzah!

Security was a hoot in J-Burg!  They hardly looked at me or my stuff going through initial security, but that was not to be the final round.  Right before we boarded the plane, approximately 10 airport staff members appeared to our gate and told us that since we were flying to the US, we needed to go through extra security.  They brought in tables and sorted us into two lines - men and women.  At this point, we were all getting nervous for no one was answering our questions (trust me - I tried asking, but to no avail).  I pointed out to my fellow flyers that this was the security that we did not receive when first entering the airport.  And... since they did not possess the equipment the US does, they were going to do it themselves.  Sure enough... we were each patted down, our shoes were shaken and clapped together, and our carry-on bags gone through.  My, my... that was an experience for all of us!

Upon arriving home, I caught a virus... along with the rest of my family... and we spent the next week recovering, healing up, and for me - restoring my body to North American time (it took 9 days for my body to remember what continent it lived on and to sleep through the night).  Sleeping is such a joy!

Last week was spent getting caught up on duties set aside during the trip, but now I am ready to finish the blog.  Thanks for hanging in there and patiently waiting.  Keep checking back until you know you've come to the end of the trip.  Enjoy!

Trip Data

Sitting here at the airport in J-burg waiting for flight.  Will have to finish posting once I am home since my phone battery is low. 

Here is some fun data of my journey for those of you who love that kind of thing (a-hem, Ems.).   :-)

43.5 hours in the air
12.5 hours on the ocean
3,062.5 miles in the car (not including trip from Secunda to J-burg or time to and from Denver)
82.5 hours riding in the car
More animals than I can count or remember.  :)

Ocean Sunset at Plett

Animal Day 3

All of these places were in one day - Teniqua (cats), Birds of Eden, Monkey Land and the Elephant Sanctuary.

The bird who hitched a ride on our shoulders climbed down my arm and chewed on my sports watch.  He sang to us, and we sang back.  When I passes him on to men, he shrieked at one and bit the next.  A ladies bird, I guess...

Animal Day 2

Elephant Sanctuary - walked Marula, the elephant matriarch of the place.  We discovered an elephant's personality comes through their trunk.  She told me how to hold her trunk amd nudged me to speed up and walk boldly.  :)