Dusty

New day new chances is the Dutch saying. This morning we were going to tackle the Oyster Bay Penninsula trail and we wanted to be out before the sun got too intense. Just coffee and a packed backpack with water, a bite to eat (banana) and our costumes. Into our rental car (Got to give her a name - Presently we can call her Dusty). 

Off to Oyster bay. Ingrid was navigator as per usual. We were having a good conversation about how we are finding this Mini Sabattical and does this give us options for the future etc and Oeps, we missed the turnoff. In typical African style I did a U-turn when it was not the most convenient thing to do. Dusty got her temporary name as we hit the dirt road and it turned out that the journey was longer than we had anticipated. Car climate control was on circulate so I think we did not get any dust into the car, but every time a car came from the other direction it was hit and hope that when the dust cleared we were still on the road. It was quite the driving experience as some road users thought that the middle of the road was the chosen path. We were quite happy to hit a tar road in Oyster bay.

Of course there was no 4g internet service, so we could not find the trail that we had hoped to walk, although Oyster Bay is a small "dorp" one could not really go wrong. We parked Dusty and on walking down the stairs that led to a path I had decided to go left as there was a couple sitting on a bench a little further off and I wanted to ask them if we were on the right track. So lovely to have them give us the honest and honestly expected reply of, "I would not go to the left as it is quite overgrown and wet and slippery, although if we wanted to chance it, there was a lovely beach about 3km that way where we could practically walk around nude as no body could get there except via the path/trail, and if we did that it as advisble to take something to eat and drink with us".  We chose the other option, to go to the right. 

On coming off the path and onto the beach we were amazed at the amount of washed up Jelly fish on the the beach. I kid you not, but I think that there must have been about 200. It looked like those photo's that one sees of beached whales. Quite sad actually! After taking a moment to examine and accept that this is how our Mother Nature can roll, we pressed on down the beach. Funnily enough the rest of the beach was clear of washed up Jelly fish. At about the 4km mark we decided to have a sit and just watch our Mother at work. Huge breakers pounded the beach and little snail like organisms littered the shoreline, all searching for some type of a meal. 

Somehow in the middle of nowhere I had cellular phone service. I looked up the walk that we were intending to do and we were co-incidentally spot on. Unbeknown to us we were about half way along the route that we had inteded to take before losing service. The sun that had been promised had not arrived and altough it was overcast, the temperature was perfect for our walk.  So we are sitting our our towel and a man with a fat tyre bike rides past from the direction that we were going. About 50m behind him were 2 sheep dogs with long tongues. They both ran up to us and the one sat down in between us and the other ran about another 50m and he/she/it/thing sat down too. 

Man on bike "fokked off" into the distance and we were left with these two dogs who weren't going anywhere any time soon. The 1 that sat with us went to his brother/mother/sister/daughter/something and then came back to sit with us. the other dog seemed to be a bit lost. Where was bossman?  Not like bike boy turned around to come and fetch them, he was gone.! So there we sit with a predicament. These two dogs have sort of claimed us and boss boy was nowhere to be seen. This makes me the moer in (Moer being a word for VERY ANGRY!). My best guess was that the dogs would find there way home, but the wasn't going anywhere, We decided to cut our walk short and go back the way we came in the hope that boss boy would realise that his dogs were not with him and come to fetch them.

They were absolutely lovely dogs and we were thinking, we would love to put them in Dusty and take them home with us and it seemed that they were okay with the idea. Bear in mind that it was about 4km back to civilisation and these dogs had taken to us. They even taught us to pick up stones and toss them for them and then they would run after them and scratch the sand and "dig" out the stones for us. Tireless they were. When we got back to the town there was no such thing as, "okay people, we are out of here. Thanks. It has been swell!" We were in love with these 2 doggies, but we had to somehow get them to where they needed to be. Fortunately for us the couple that we had originally spoken to about going left or right were on the beach (only us and them) and the took charge of the dogs as they were temporary residents at Oyster Bay and would sort it out. We were actually sad to see them be herded with the other couple as we went right and they went left. Bye bye Doggies!

Back along the dust road and Dusty had a better handle on it it seemed. How nice to turn onto the tarred road and seemingly smooth sailing. We had planned to buy breakfast and dinner on our way home, so it was off to Baker Barry for a Ciabatta bread. Piping hot it was! Bring on the butter!!!!

Back at Jackpot we tore into the warm loaf and it was delicious!!! We had found a cheese cutter (Dutch style - kaasschaaf) in the top drawer. I think we might have bought it or brought it with us on a previous trip. Not sure, but it works well. Ingrid was very tired after breakfast and she was going to have an afternooner. I decided to go upstairs to lay down and she was downstairs on the couch. When I awoke she was still on the couch reading her book. Although being tired, she could not sleep. 

Not that I think about it and I could be wrong. Perhaps she had been waiting for me to awake so that she could pitch her idea...Yesterday evening she had mentionted that they had Pilates and Yoga classes here at the lighthouse. Today she wanted to go into the village to see if she could find a yoga/pilates bottom piece of clothing. ??? you ask. Wait for it. Dusty took us to the village and we walked into the 1st store, the surf shop. Ingrid asked the lady who kindly offered, "How may I help you? "  - Do you have a legging? You could see the cogs in the ladies mind turning... "Ai my fok. Wat se sy nou?" - in English "Pardon?"

In Holland we call a "Tight" a legging. Lady's brain clicked into gear and said, certainly Mam, but we only have these, a 3/4 length model. Sorry, but no thanks I am looking to the full length tight. Wifey was quick on the uptake and used the correct local term. Shop lady suggested that we try a store around the corner. 

Here we lucked in and the shop assistant was very helpful and very good at her job. She did her best to sell Ingrid 2 pairs, but we only need 1 today. Tomorrow morning at 08h30 Ingrid will be in her full attire, present and correct for her 1st Pilates lesson here in CSF (Cape St Francis). Perhaps the start of her social expansion and getting to know some people.

After a slow coffee and a bit of a laze it was off the the beach with Dusty. Main beach for a swim. I have been hoping to get Ingrid onto the Boogie board (Body board in other countries). I took 1 of the boogie boards out of the boot and we walked to the sea. I had the board and Ingrid was wading about waist high. I caught about 3 or 4 waves and nonchalantly handed her the boogey board. She was quick to give it back to me and I passed it back to her. Give it a go babe. 

So here is the new Ingrid, her brain says no, I can't, but her brain says why the F... not?  Thankfully the other brain won and I stood with her giving advice which she took on board (haaahaa boogie board - on board). Let us not forget that Ingrid is (was) scared of the sea a few weeks ago, so this is a new challenge where brain has to overrule brain and say WTF, Give it a go! Not all waves were successful in that she did not catch them to the beach, but she quite soon was gaining in confidence and ability and at the end of the day had 3 rides all the way to the beach. Smile Smile Smile. So nice that Smile!

I think that deserves a beer I thought. We are taking the steps. I feel the correct steps. I am so pleased to see that Ingrid is adapting, changing, accepting, doing, loving being her best self!

Beer and a braai. My 2 kebabs (Sosaties) and a wonderful salad. Food for the soul. It has been a perfect day, the sun had come out after our walk and the wind has been gentle. I count today as a win!

So to the laptop I go and I once again think, we have not done much today, but actually we have filled the day. No expectations and no worries. Thank the stars! Whilst sitting here I see a whatsapp post , Two educated boys. Immediately begs the question, did my nephew pass his exams and is he now qualified? After a little wait we received the joyous news that our nephew has passed all his exams!!! Super result. I will have a 2nd whiskey.

Load shedding in 7 minutes, so not more electricity for a few hours, so we might just head off to bed after a cup of tea. Tomorrow is yet another day, and yet another blank page. Looking forward to it.

PS Where are we going to clean Dusty? Perhaps I need to wash her myself. A little TLC.