THE GARDEN ROUTE: SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES

We had to postpone our road trip along the Garden Route one day to get everything in order. Danny, Brett, and Will picked up the 10-seater van and it is as ridiculous as it sounds. Everyone started feeling sick today so I am really pushing for christening it the “Death Cab.” I told Ellen she can be Cutie. We also booked our first hostel in Mossel Bay and started planning our activities. So much more room now that our beds are bunked.

Our list includes:

1. Ostrich riding—fun fact: when you google “ostrich riding” the first suggestion that google comes up with to finish the phrase is “ostrich riding costumes.” I can only hope they organize these suggestions by popularity

2. The highest bungee jump in the world—it’s 720 feet high or arbitrary distance measured using the metric system that is equally safe sounding

3. Kloofing—an Afrikaans word that entails “scaling, scrambling, plunging, bumslides, and rappelling” down a waterfall course. Good.

4. Wine Tasting—there is a tour that involves wine tasting and horseback riding, which must put the wine tasting and operating heavy machinery tour to shame.

5. Zip lining—the guidebook described this activity as “sexy.” Sold.

6. Animal Stuff—there is a Monkeyland described in one brochure. Easily the happiest place in Africa.

We’re leaving second thing in the morning, after Ellen and I finish with our interviews for volunteering at Ubuntu, with the HIV positive children. Probably won’t have internet for a couple of days, but will be sure to write when we get back—hopefully with photos of us ostrich riding in costume.