Busy schedule

Up in the morning and off to school. We were up a little earlier than couzin G. Coffee and a short chat as to our options for the day. Check the load shedding schedule, check the weather report (look out the window too) and make a plan. When couzin G woke we let him have a cup of tea and then got ready for a walk to the wreck. Couzin G had not yet seen the wreck and was up for a walk. I was hoping to catch the helicopter hoisting parts of the wreck into the air and air lifting them to the designated place for it to be removed.

The sun was up in full force and it was not yet midday, it was not yet at maximum strength. We had a pretty good walk to the wreck and sat on a rock checking out the scene. We had heard the sound of rotors while walking, but no helicopter in sight. At the wreck site there were two boats seemingly waiting for something so we waited. Nuts and water to top up the reserves. After about 20 minutes I called it. Time for the return journey and we set off back toward Jackpot. 

At approximately the half way point the helicopter flew overhead out to the wreck. Walk back or cut our losses? I decided to walk back a bit to a higher dune where we could probably see the wreck and the comings and goings. I had the binoculars with me to zoom in if necessary. Yip, the helicopter hovered over the wreck for about 10 minutes and lowered 2 personnel with the winch and then a bag of tricks. He then flew back to base and we set off back toward Jackpot.

Helicopter flew over our heads a few times there and back and we were soon on the home straight, the CFS beach. Couzin G suggested that we have a swim along the way and he did not have to suggest it twice. I had my board shorts on and Ingrid changed on the beach inside of her towel like a real South African nooi (girl/woman). 

The sea water was divine, pretty damn cold I would say and lovely and clean and definately refreshing. Our limbs were tingling slighty when we left the water. I decided to chance it and walk the rest of the way home (about 15-20 minutes) without a shirt on to get some bennies and vitamin D. Later I would know if that was prudent.

We passed a lot of people on our walk back as it is Easter weekend and there are lots of people who came to the dorp (town) for the weekend. As we hit the beach section before the swim, there was someone on a mountain bike coming toward us a little close to the shoreline. Something struck me about her cycling shirt as she had the south african flag on the 1 arm. I thought, that is a nice t-shirt. Lady climbed off her bike and took out her phone and took a picture of the oyster catcher on the rocks. Helicopter flew overhead and that moment was gone. Something stuck in my brain, but I thought nothing of it. We passed many people along the way and had a little chat to some and just the customary Howzit (How are you?) with most. 2 fishermen on mountain bikes (electric) with fat takkies (Fat tyres) were going to spend some quality time away from their nagging wives (no, I joke). They were fully kitted out with good looking equipment. Some people buy Porsches.

As we got home I had a quick shower to wash the salt off my body and got to making brekkie whilst Ingrid and couzin G got themselves ready for the rest of the day. Bacon and eggs on toast. I had the last of the fish from last night as a side dish. Cold, but still lovely to eat. While I was cooking I got an app from an old girl friend of mine from university. She had seen on facebook that we were in CFS and sent me a picture of the helicopter hovering over the wreck with the text, "Are you guys on the beach?" Damn girl, we were there just about 30 minutes ago, perhaps if we had waited a little longer we would have co-incidentally met at the rock near the wreck. She was on her bike and would finish her ride and then come over to say hi.

A little while later she apped another picture of her with a small dog in her arms. She had found this thing running in the middle of the road lost as hell. She had picked it up and walked back with her bike to a local coffee shop and would try to locate the owners. About half and hour later she asked if I could come pick up the doggy as she could not ride with the dog in her arms. Ingrid was having a lie down and couzin G was enjoying another cup of tea, so I instructed Dusty to take me to fetch doggy. We arrived and this little Yorkie with elastics in her hair was in Nicki's arms. We left my telephone nr with the lady at the coffee shop and Nicki rode toward Jackpot after I had given her general directions. I decided to drive down the the parking lot at the beach and went up to a few people sitting there to let them know that the lost dog had been found and info was at the coffee shop on the corner. I thought of the time that I "lost" Toby when he bolted and the best info came from asking people if they had seen Toby. I figured that the owner would have to go to the beach at some point to look for yorkie.

Shame that little doggy sat on the back seat of the car and walked from 1 side of the car to the other, she was restless. At Jackpot we closed all of the doors so that the litte mite could not escape and waited. I would guess it took an hour before my phone rang. My initial thought was, unknown number, do not answer, but quickly brain overrode that thought and I picked up. It was a little vague, I am calling on behalf of someone, do you have  a lost dog? Mmm odd, I thought. We will bring the dog to the coffee shop. I asked what is the dogs name, Mia. I was wondering how cosher this was but thought that the owner or at least the dog would react and depending on their reaction I could guage if it was the right match.

About a minute later I got a second call from some other man, Do I have the lost dog? What is the dogs name? Mia. This was probably the owner and I told him of the arrangement and to look for dusty with her "hairbands on" (the soft top roofracks look like hair bands). We pulled up to the coffee shop and I could immediately tell who I needed to see. It was a rather large boertjie (most probably afrikaans) man who recognised Dusty by my description. Shame this giant of a bloke melted when he saw Mia. Boertjie was accompanied by another taller man who probably was a friend. They had both been searching high and low for little Mia and probably the 1 got the coffee shop info and apped the other.

All good. Mia had slipped throught the gate somehow when they were having breakfast. They were tourists (from out of town) and were leaving that morning. I can so relate to their feeling of dispair and anguish as we had "lost" Fleur last November on the top of table mountain in the mist on our last morning before we flew back to The Netherlands. Alls well that ends well thankfully. Boertjie had to shed a little tear or two. this bear of a man and his little Mia.

Back at Jackpot we sat with Nicki and couzin G on the deck and got to talking about things and it turns out that couzin G knows a lot of people that Nicki's brother knows. A smallish world. It would be unlike Nicki to refuse a beer and as the weather was so good we added a beer to the table. Conversation flowed and just before 2pm NIcki left on her bicycle for home. They have a place down the road along the river just after the next Village.

Couzin G left just around 3pm as he had already made arrangements for the evening back in PE. We on the other hand also had last minute plans. Margie Y had dropped in to invite us for a braai at their place. Mussel cracker (a fish) was going to be the main meal. Son Brian had shot it last thursday and it was in freezer.  I had an afternooner as I felt that the sun had eaten me a little after having walked without my shirt on that last stretch toward Jackpot this morning. 

Funny story. The lady with the south african flag on her cycling shirt who had stopped on the beach to take a photo of the oyster catcher had been Nicki.

Ingrid and I left for Andrews mothers house for the braai. I guess that there were eventaully about 20-25 people there including kids. We did enjoy our evening and got to chat to to different people throughout the evening. The mussel cracker was a pretty big boy and would take a while to cook. He went on whole and wrapped in tin foil. Ingrid chatted to alady who had moved from Holland when she was 15 and I talked to brother William a farmer and he had some intersting things to say about how the farming industry like most is about improving efficiency per hectare and fertilization and tractor technology etc. Very interesting, but like every business, the bottom line is do you make a profit or a loss and what is your cashflow situation.

I do not think that either Ingrid or I felt the least bit uncomfortable in the company of these strangers. I felt like an old friend of the family when we left. I asked Ingrid how her experience had been as I had left her alone with other people for most of the night. No, no problems, she felt completely at home. We had a good time and the fish was delicious, even Ingrid tried some and she enjoyed it.

During the evening the wind had picked up as expected and it began to rain a bit here and there. Not too serious as the fish was already off the braai and we were all inside. Dusty had to use her bright light (high beam headlight) to help me navigate through the streets of CFS. It is dark in Africa at night and with the clouds and rain, very dark. Caution was advised.

Dare I say, another wonderful day in Africa! ZZZZzzzz.