tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31351053921161634112024-03-21T01:26:04.454-07:00David in AfricaDavid Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-24393542643244336292010-03-18T16:35:00.000-07:002010-11-30T14:05:28.152-08:00David in Africa - First Chapter<div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note: </span> Since I put the last posting up, I've re-arranged the blog to be in chronological order rather than the last blog first. To do this I had to screwed up the post dates.<br />
You can <b>view the video</b> of riding in Wilderness at:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><b style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuQKEFvJErw"><span style="font-style: italic;">Come Ride with Us.</span></a></b><br />
View <b>my website</b> at <b style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.david-christensen.com/">www.david-christensen.com</a></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">January 8th:</span> I arrived in George, South Africa on January 1st.</span></div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE9Fq55RNQhay64kefJ7Pv4vYn039-og67p1MF5iN5YAv3QRQ12EyOtDvYbzh2dKuqcV5hN0gM9g7DA7ffjEVFqQyY-jJS9HoxFRdrLy_ggpJY3vtuKXcavQmU4x80lUHfARub7JIon0/s1600-h/Outeniqua.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402278444217897122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE9Fq55RNQhay64kefJ7Pv4vYn039-og67p1MF5iN5YAv3QRQ12EyOtDvYbzh2dKuqcV5hN0gM9g7DA7ffjEVFqQyY-jJS9HoxFRdrLy_ggpJY3vtuKXcavQmU4x80lUHfARub7JIon0/s400/Outeniqua.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 189px; width: 545px;" /></a><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">The farm is at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains<br />
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</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;">Edda (one of) my boss picked me up at the airport and off we went to the Wilderness Adventure Horse Farm. I could tell from the moment I met Edda that I made a great choice. Now, it's over a week since I got here but already it seems like I've been here for a long time. And it's turning out to be everything I had hoped for.<br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The horse farm is about 30 minutes from George, a relatively small town near the coast. The farm is inland about 7 miles and close to the entrance to the park...and that's were we do most of our riding. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">My hosts/bosses, Edda and Brus are wonderful very caring people and have four great kids who of course ride with great skill. They have accepted me as one of the family.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxrsLcIW_P5HRjF7ftcATFgMsu58nD8drSfJe8WOUAIq5Sa4sAKxlY_406oz87-6XXhp5okTewjHqWcJDtMFQM3iKeFvUXoj52GKtbhDlr47HE27hGoMJfNxrEuXHKTqirJLplZYfnSk/s1600-h/main+house+ls.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424755955957929842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxrsLcIW_P5HRjF7ftcATFgMsu58nD8drSfJe8WOUAIq5Sa4sAKxlY_406oz87-6XXhp5okTewjHqWcJDtMFQM3iKeFvUXoj52GKtbhDlr47HE27hGoMJfNxrEuXHKTqirJLplZYfnSk/s400/main+house+ls.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 263px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">The main house has a large porch, and most of our relaxed time is spent there. </span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCnJ3Rytf1xY4mLXMZLDa-D9e4bWJN0su9FgYpMRZZfHkIRdOZ6ly0BazBmCIjMdX2AOkUTdZkpR9UuRxZT3HZW2VVuJQkxgCOwQ6P7qyCpd-yT5g3D9M_p6ErngdCh4NBkR-a6_bcno/s1600-h/stable+ls.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424756602453219698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCnJ3Rytf1xY4mLXMZLDa-D9e4bWJN0su9FgYpMRZZfHkIRdOZ6ly0BazBmCIjMdX2AOkUTdZkpR9UuRxZT3HZW2VVuJQkxgCOwQ6P7qyCpd-yT5g3D9M_p6ErngdCh4NBkR-a6_bcno/s400/stable+ls.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">The stable is right next door and there's pasture land beyond that.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">There's a vegetable garden too.</span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
I live in the bunk house which is next to the stable. They called it the hotel when I got there but I started calling it the bunk house and I think that name will stick.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgCi2kUQbUHqSYwAIWv2oRUdd2jfVmA_awJMoTyC_-NATO0vE_5T6FnyehEF1a_Ca4vTgqoUBe6AF0fPk6CBsRqe_f48iwqLyZo9I-ND_Xi3t_0HKGl0kQqUSRkr57Q-GEAm_9ApJy-I/s1600-h/bunk+house+and+me.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424755947271568738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgCi2kUQbUHqSYwAIWv2oRUdd2jfVmA_awJMoTyC_-NATO0vE_5T6FnyehEF1a_Ca4vTgqoUBe6AF0fPk6CBsRqe_f48iwqLyZo9I-ND_Xi3t_0HKGl0kQqUSRkr57Q-GEAm_9ApJy-I/s400/bunk+house+and+me.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 327px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 463px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"> Tough life huh?</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: 100%;">I have a room with a couple of beds, a little kitchen and a bath with a shower. It's wonderful. It faces east so it's bathed with the morning sun and the horses wake me as they start coming in for their morning feeding. It stays pretty cool during the day because the building is brick and there are some large trees that screen it from the afternoon sun. And it does get hot.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The weather has varied since I arrived with a couple thunder showers. But mostly it's been clear and hot, getting up to about 90 during the day. But it always starts cooling down at around 4:00pm.</span> South Africa is in a serious drought. The ponds around the farm are dry and the rivers just barely running.<br />
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<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-QixToYtm9xbmeFs8ahFBKUeFE2yJg9GznmU4zRTDqu5wizAtBXtE4ditZDYbkAK1K_X4-X0tGCoDxHQpa2Qr0W2i0QEi9HAcftKvjU2j-AunI0S9_Mk_EMwY-1f2E-QN1rhivqWBm4/s1600-h/sasha+in+stable.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424763344453542994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-QixToYtm9xbmeFs8ahFBKUeFE2yJg9GznmU4zRTDqu5wizAtBXtE4ditZDYbkAK1K_X4-X0tGCoDxHQpa2Qr0W2i0QEi9HAcftKvjU2j-AunI0S9_Mk_EMwY-1f2E-QN1rhivqWBm4/s400/sasha+in+stable.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 222px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Brus and Edda's son Sasha gives treats (organic) to the horses as they come back from a ride.<br />
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</div></div><span style="font-size: 100%;">There are about 15 horses, 8 of which are OK for guests to ride. Others are in training or too young to be ridden yet.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1JpEYDQYhrrhaMO5h9iJ8x82Z6NxuCH8NISqno2LqYGbUip7mxjFw0Knakwpi9NxWh5zouwFli-b76y8YNcwjfRrNfKbZPB4WTJ3-wanqQWTm4Hg8oi1L4QPJCbiwSEnBNst7qmda4M/s1600-h/paulo+and+colt.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424756599677926306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1JpEYDQYhrrhaMO5h9iJ8x82Z6NxuCH8NISqno2LqYGbUip7mxjFw0Knakwpi9NxWh5zouwFli-b76y8YNcwjfRrNfKbZPB4WTJ3-wanqQWTm4Hg8oi1L4QPJCbiwSEnBNst7qmda4M/s400/paulo+and+colt.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 349px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 418px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Paulo and a yearling colt. Paulo helps with tacking up and feeding the horses and almost everything else.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">My "job" is just what Edda said it would be...I ride every day. The first day I rode with one of the family and learned the basic routes for "short rides." I also rode up the waterfall with is a longer ride. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2TW4nauxcKOlvLN-2VOHUFGSx6JJnbdzGKSYWOnGaaPV-hGjOiMkTWL2itgkYkzx0uSSfeayvak08fa7nW42RxATMRpce7-JNewseZ-ytr-tUzGkjGbCUg3bSYVujy3Zkbv7lGSRb3Q/s1600-h/swimming+hole.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424756608178467714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2TW4nauxcKOlvLN-2VOHUFGSx6JJnbdzGKSYWOnGaaPV-hGjOiMkTWL2itgkYkzx0uSSfeayvak08fa7nW42RxATMRpce7-JNewseZ-ytr-tUzGkjGbCUg3bSYVujy3Zkbv7lGSRb3Q/s400/swimming+hole.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The swimming hole at the falls is still full.</span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
Rides range from an hour to 4 hours or longer with some overnight rides too. On my second day I went out solo on the short ride with three guests and since have lead several short rides.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2o0pbTy-7xUAWKIbt_oo2VuWDjvkah_z-62tdTcTdxdlrdwUOUKeJtOhhPCtOedja2C8EEYI-RjRpe0GAzir76spPlVONRaHkX9jNZUVxc08KQJpPd2-Y8jft7DGxrMEZFbFaK6pHiI/s1600-h/on+the+road.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424756394726131298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2o0pbTy-7xUAWKIbt_oo2VuWDjvkah_z-62tdTcTdxdlrdwUOUKeJtOhhPCtOedja2C8EEYI-RjRpe0GAzir76spPlVONRaHkX9jNZUVxc08KQJpPd2-Y8jft7DGxrMEZFbFaK6pHiI/s400/on+the+road.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">On the road to the Park</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: 100%;">I've been riding different horses to get familiar with them. A few days ago, Brus suggested I ride Black Beauty, a pretty black (of course) geldine.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr1YeayxmmUptDQ1rARhY-5nhBuEtVD0YJg-INqMqYkV23aQJghrEKbwXTYGx9pxBnmqLsTR3Xm5sZZb7I_qAKX7scwZIsTto9PVLL_2KvTz4E81gMXYleUSEiG_yOTbrfvhU3yl-Gjo/s1600-h/me+and+beauty+posed.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424755958000945970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr1YeayxmmUptDQ1rARhY-5nhBuEtVD0YJg-INqMqYkV23aQJghrEKbwXTYGx9pxBnmqLsTR3Xm5sZZb7I_qAKX7scwZIsTto9PVLL_2KvTz4E81gMXYleUSEiG_yOTbrfvhU3yl-Gjo/s400/me+and+beauty+posed.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">My vanity shot.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">He's about four years old, about the right height for me...about 14 1/2 hands and has been ridden but not particularly trained. He has wonderful gates...a fast walk, smooth and slow trot...a comfortable canter. So when I came back from my first ride with him I said how much fun he was and Brus said "why don't you ride him while you're here and train him." </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt5XYCPAgGni-K4VRet9QEkr4W81tD8rlIi6_x9Z3kZxhKqr1-0AmGVUpP783p8grJDapJ1CgD2ZTjbR2Hm36_Ye6srtOiAeFaDEY5nKGF-J8CP5YKDTMysvxbjvvpieXJgshMOAp_Io/s1600-h/me+and+beauty+riding+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424756189381929106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt5XYCPAgGni-K4VRet9QEkr4W81tD8rlIi6_x9Z3kZxhKqr1-0AmGVUpP783p8grJDapJ1CgD2ZTjbR2Hm36_Ye6srtOiAeFaDEY5nKGF-J8CP5YKDTMysvxbjvvpieXJgshMOAp_Io/s400/me+and+beauty+riding+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 222px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">Beauty has a wonderful smooth slow trot.</span></div><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 100%;">So I have my own horse. And Brus even has a western saddle. It needs some repair but a friend of Brus and Edda is a leather craftsman and he took it home last night to fix up.<br />
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Brus, a friend and I went on a ride a couple of days ago. It was a training ride for Beauty and another horse Brus is working with. Up and down really steep hills and way back into the forest. We rode hard...like I haven't ridden since I had the Ranch. I found muscles I forgotten...and they got stiff. First time I've been stiff since I got here.<br />
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The farm is the home for the Russian Stunt Riders. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Brus is from Russia and an incredible trainer and stunt rider. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">He has a long list of film credits to his name and is a wonderful teacher too.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLdbWVjt82_Jvgb3KhvQ9z6Kwu4waSt0kYIuRlTkFiZJGtxvargUtkxyGYefoj2vGw-IwZ25Lul_CX6UuB8bcftbIPj1QkPiYj6TBEd4tNhvb7R9UlfjLeRzuRrzOaSowQGWLmbCM09k/s1600-h/Brus+mounting+horse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424762897107950002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLdbWVjt82_Jvgb3KhvQ9z6Kwu4waSt0kYIuRlTkFiZJGtxvargUtkxyGYefoj2vGw-IwZ25Lul_CX6UuB8bcftbIPj1QkPiYj6TBEd4tNhvb7R9UlfjLeRzuRrzOaSowQGWLmbCM09k/s400/Brus+mounting+horse.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 376px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brus successfully mounts a horse for the first time, after just 20 minutes training!</span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
Last Wednesday night was the first time I really had a chance to see the sky. It's so beautiful. I found the Southern Cross and the southern hemisphere Orion. I pulled my mattress pad out in front of the bunk house and went to sleep gazing at the sky.<br />
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So I feel very lucky. Again I've found myself in a wonderful adventure with great people in a beautiful place. And another two plus months to enjoy it.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"> </span>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-65907028105760212112010-03-17T02:53:00.000-07:002010-03-23T11:42:35.475-07:00Chapter 2 - Week 4<span style="font-family:arial;">January 24th: I'm in my fourth week. Lots of stuff happened since the last Blog.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Last week the family (which includes me now) went for a day at the beach to celebrate Edda's birthday. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLrf8HFEopY2vp69ULpgzyZFJxW4Cpl1sJ_bGMgB4ghyphenhyphenASPCVwhJfveFTyyhd1yxl-Da8LI8asPUWOBwGyAUI__29b4S8QVG4AQfpAHWbYARwY2RpKG_wtBVNHDtQNK-Rf9P1hS8HLi8/s1600-h/kids+in+surf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLrf8HFEopY2vp69ULpgzyZFJxW4Cpl1sJ_bGMgB4ghyphenhyphenASPCVwhJfveFTyyhd1yxl-Da8LI8asPUWOBwGyAUI__29b4S8QVG4AQfpAHWbYARwY2RpKG_wtBVNHDtQNK-Rf9P1hS8HLi8/s400/kids+in+surf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262788152861522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The beaches are beautiful here. We went to a beach near Knysna a toursit town east of George. It was my first time in the Indian Ocean.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2lEuAFF6ZRhQStYiFg0liIfzPx0Z0paG100OieKejQ7gKTo_Bz-YNqan1Lg0CLNtkHi3JgcM1XDuwJJ-Azw-varw2FjxsFCL8gXN5q4St9YMwZJ7LX2Hq3_O0xzUfsmiq01h6l9NV-U/s1600-h/Beach+water+shortage+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2lEuAFF6ZRhQStYiFg0liIfzPx0Z0paG100OieKejQ7gKTo_Bz-YNqan1Lg0CLNtkHi3JgcM1XDuwJJ-Azw-varw2FjxsFCL8gXN5q4St9YMwZJ7LX2Hq3_O0xzUfsmiq01h6l9NV-U/s400/Beach+water+shortage+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430261911192763266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">There are signs everywhere reminding of the drought. </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Water was very pleasant...around 24 celecus.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4stzmwiGI2dExtGONf1laa8Anw6sICLhHzCA4pnyV1pwTfwaJsEJDkHbYEmBAXvGc5u3uBD0I0cQkLqZo6qxoWVmc1-XSNqG_er4CpORvb2NXxultGFfet2AZFd3GN-cpp2GvzrqY2U/s1600-h/Phonix+rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4stzmwiGI2dExtGONf1laa8Anw6sICLhHzCA4pnyV1pwTfwaJsEJDkHbYEmBAXvGc5u3uBD0I0cQkLqZo6qxoWVmc1-XSNqG_er4CpORvb2NXxultGFfet2AZFd3GN-cpp2GvzrqY2U/s400/Phonix+rock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262799998303650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxvkUI92yJuhfHGr7gwdcvl0NPQJWqxNGp6AL1kWGGNcuXELEwqC5SHyuLug1nmsNg-CQ5XgW0EUHGyCsNKALJ9jDpqn_76aBZGU8oWZQxg3rjTyT5xQfeHcftlyCFXEXqT6IdNB53Is/s1600-h/surf+off+pools.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxvkUI92yJuhfHGr7gwdcvl0NPQJWqxNGp6AL1kWGGNcuXELEwqC5SHyuLug1nmsNg-CQ5XgW0EUHGyCsNKALJ9jDpqn_76aBZGU8oWZQxg3rjTyT5xQfeHcftlyCFXEXqT6IdNB53Is/s400/surf+off+pools.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430263109182667602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcEkEl6DYbPptEPoTvPTARC5vcpelO6ekkXsI0C18bQKpSBLZn4dTOvfhXtrZGG5JZX3avkZTAfmEoGzT4k6PW8wsXjo_o8V1YMlGvjpwkHrlQWQyLmPj-WgAcYzGds-ldc2itwtgnik/s1600-h/Shasha+in+pool+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcEkEl6DYbPptEPoTvPTARC5vcpelO6ekkXsI0C18bQKpSBLZn4dTOvfhXtrZGG5JZX3avkZTAfmEoGzT4k6PW8wsXjo_o8V1YMlGvjpwkHrlQWQyLmPj-WgAcYzGds-ldc2itwtgnik/s400/Shasha+in+pool+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430263101744415378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Sasha swims in a pool...with the pounding surf in the background.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-bOD0w95vfPptQx3O96O75ODfo38HdzXRXSo8fhFSMQUdqKiX9Kg_wvAjcs3NcBzMURz0F6ORlnLAQRdfHS2lvGC8lvlvCOwQPZzDFXtVcTxGnI3VlwwWD2SFKx6le-2exMNg-CbHRk/s1600-h/Ice+plant+and+Cactus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-bOD0w95vfPptQx3O96O75ODfo38HdzXRXSo8fhFSMQUdqKiX9Kg_wvAjcs3NcBzMURz0F6ORlnLAQRdfHS2lvGC8lvlvCOwQPZzDFXtVcTxGnI3VlwwWD2SFKx6le-2exMNg-CbHRk/s400/Ice+plant+and+Cactus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262317057376738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I often see plants just like around Ojai.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Edda and I also went to Knysna mainly to visit their friend Pieter and his drum shop. On Fridays he has a drum jam...and it was pretty great. Probably around 10 participants at any given time.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDXPAhH3eU23z5IquEhDMtf5c8ddCpP3ngk42vwsJRctljHiSrmDllY0EHXArVeQO6Dt5VxPIryt71MAgdakFb2eKvnsa82NWanGDyWDlTIvbnrFzeg7H5iNb6HIp68hEY9dEQTGZg6Q/s1600-h/Pieter+and+_+drumming.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDXPAhH3eU23z5IquEhDMtf5c8ddCpP3ngk42vwsJRctljHiSrmDllY0EHXArVeQO6Dt5VxPIryt71MAgdakFb2eKvnsa82NWanGDyWDlTIvbnrFzeg7H5iNb6HIp68hEY9dEQTGZg6Q/s400/Pieter+and+_+drumming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262802699047298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Pieter makes the drums himself. I told him about Alden and Cali's Hurdy Gurdies and he wants one. Pieter is also Brus' stunt riding partner and does fire dances. You can see a video I just edited with Pieters performance at Brus' "The Knight's Tale" show held the end of December.</span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxO-toOLBH4">Click Here</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> to view. </span><br /></div></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I took a fall about a week ago. I'm gradually getting "back in the saddle" and back on the riding roster. Here are some pix of me.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> I'm riding the newly restored Western Saddle!</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S1wxgS6BlYI/AAAAAAAAAXw/Xh9O0WZRw3M/s1600-h/me+western+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S1wxgS6BlYI/AAAAAAAAAXw/Xh9O0WZRw3M/s400/me+western+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430269681602762114" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuT8dgALQS6MOpdUb2jC_jmdfJoZIHmRXeWG553uNxC6HhS4ptWMU_i33cWetAf-MKzAwcBhoz-40-AWGAtuWIAJFkEDrItir-5bkpaGG28i5f2Iof_XiX7vtDvHjzeFeFnOTmW7JM5Y/s1600-h/me+bareback+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuT8dgALQS6MOpdUb2jC_jmdfJoZIHmRXeWG553uNxC6HhS4ptWMU_i33cWetAf-MKzAwcBhoz-40-AWGAtuWIAJFkEDrItir-5bkpaGG28i5f2Iof_XiX7vtDvHjzeFeFnOTmW7JM5Y/s400/me+bareback+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430270237813989842" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And here I'm not back in the saddle at all.</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Last weekend the family headed to the Cango Wilderness Ranch which is north of George on the other side of the mountains. The pass was impressive for sure and as soon as we crossed to the north side everything changed.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBgGVnGEML9krGZszzaI2MwJGmbJSfWBw95ge3Q9AEfI2EWNaWXSdREQ_xyW46IFcCL1-5VYFBKZ7w4NySn0Y0JII0eNpDU6uSSVsCzN_MoHBRlYF-tIrFw7kD71DDAdvd63Q4n2dDuM/s1600-h/george+from+pass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBgGVnGEML9krGZszzaI2MwJGmbJSfWBw95ge3Q9AEfI2EWNaWXSdREQ_xyW46IFcCL1-5VYFBKZ7w4NySn0Y0JII0eNpDU6uSSVsCzN_MoHBRlYF-tIrFw7kD71DDAdvd63Q4n2dDuM/s400/george+from+pass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262318836359842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Looking back towards George from the summit.</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">The valley to the north where Cango is is very much like the southern central valley in California. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThm76PPlJ7QZIG8S9SSNIcw35SOpbOCbW-5MOKe-6Jh9BnBSVmurwv2BDqwT39qwIRelRcNv5NOMjFJAT0sg_dGL6A1JbYyNXhV6Iif4bjXxCazRxV6JwSH7C5bHZ6sTs2KtogR0YgYU/s1600-h/desert+valley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThm76PPlJ7QZIG8S9SSNIcw35SOpbOCbW-5MOKe-6Jh9BnBSVmurwv2BDqwT39qwIRelRcNv5NOMjFJAT0sg_dGL6A1JbYyNXhV6Iif4bjXxCazRxV6JwSH7C5bHZ6sTs2KtogR0YgYU/s400/desert+valley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262310997888562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Hot, dry and very little growth. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Cango is just out of a town called Oudtshoorn. It's a fascinating town and I'd like to s</span><span style="font-family:arial;">pend more time there. It clearly has the influence of early settlers with the old buildings and houses.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsKrd9NA49YRRq2DpwPm0cYIGb8ZHi8pwlj-XxD084u1JcROPh9Avy5oL8KcN679rgEOH-IKJUdMTsboqdQMBLTf0ItfIEXfU0KswsNLJWjOZJtzjq-arSFwnDIUZiQaSQXelmxD9kQs/s1600-h/cango+gates.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsKrd9NA49YRRq2DpwPm0cYIGb8ZHi8pwlj-XxD084u1JcROPh9Avy5oL8KcN679rgEOH-IKJUdMTsboqdQMBLTf0ItfIEXfU0KswsNLJWjOZJtzjq-arSFwnDIUZiQaSQXelmxD9kQs/s400/cango+gates.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258588552634098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Cango Wildlife Ranch is a relatively small beautifully put together park. Their main gate is awesome!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4-pC4-37_gmfXpJz_3fjKAe_eKAUlBUOnJiXxObsZDqlyG6jjI6kChNbgWWWpaiO2mBdRd8fE9vhe8y1FgJbJI_KkGN3CkA9ygE24esOrP3AjGpf1HquOnoHW-osFwp3r1jEVx50VeM/s1600-h/court+yard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4-pC4-37_gmfXpJz_3fjKAe_eKAUlBUOnJiXxObsZDqlyG6jjI6kChNbgWWWpaiO2mBdRd8fE9vhe8y1FgJbJI_KkGN3CkA9ygE24esOrP3AjGpf1HquOnoHW-osFwp3r1jEVx50VeM/s400/court+yard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430262306746418674" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The grounds are delightfully laid out. </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">They have a diversity of animals, mostly are native to some part of South Africa. The displays are nicely designed and there seems to be a very high respect for the animals. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS6Adzp0ENOgqcwi2RhXv8buhAqQc1s8idK5vf6jZAbXS6OtLr49ytm9grq4eAy8squYYG_D9RTZu_uNIeVIFPfO7AAUMBJy-XXT7Jn_HoQA3DstbSs05XlqSwPmWsBuG3B5F4Ln6Iow/s1600-h/cango+sasha+megan+birds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS6Adzp0ENOgqcwi2RhXv8buhAqQc1s8idK5vf6jZAbXS6OtLr49ytm9grq4eAy8squYYG_D9RTZu_uNIeVIFPfO7AAUMBJy-XXT7Jn_HoQA3DstbSs05XlqSwPmWsBuG3B5F4Ln6Iow/s400/cango+sasha+megan+birds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258591755483858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Sasha and Megan become very popular among the beautiful birds...with the help of a little nectar the staff provided.</span><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4Gv9yzgrRgItMy5EXMUN78O_eDW8KW4ankpg7cMMXKd5UWFFXyhtmeX_7mWowyRcqd9_ChAojm2GE3YvSzcFlTPOxZ_mf1X7q89y8bYEwoH1J_b0fOEhCAjZv1WxsXiFeETn1-4j1Pg/s1600-h/cango+cape+buzzard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4Gv9yzgrRgItMy5EXMUN78O_eDW8KW4ankpg7cMMXKd5UWFFXyhtmeX_7mWowyRcqd9_ChAojm2GE3YvSzcFlTPOxZ_mf1X7q89y8bYEwoH1J_b0fOEhCAjZv1WxsXiFeETn1-4j1Pg/s400/cango+cape+buzzard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258584287532146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A Cape Buzzard</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUK3cATsa9W6Y71rkZ139-XTyiEEPjp7Bx_poDU6FQReshRkVkA13C5kAYfWllAAKDswYvtg0h-2HMwbCP2lXc9TRYTQ-jdBrrqURwLffbugauXwr3X18fgzUXe7-oW9aZ9gYHOFC0tQ/s1600-h/cango+big+bats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUK3cATsa9W6Y71rkZ139-XTyiEEPjp7Bx_poDU6FQReshRkVkA13C5kAYfWllAAKDswYvtg0h-2HMwbCP2lXc9TRYTQ-jdBrrqURwLffbugauXwr3X18fgzUXe7-oW9aZ9gYHOFC0tQ/s400/cango+big+bats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258583641322242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">These were the largest bats I've ever seen. Probably 2 feet in length (as they slept.)<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3oE0GL1EQ-SCGDReYiu9JGPyYWXeNG795nkxtx2extWBOPE0nA5hmfuUonvB1vc3sGMP07qqXnqSQa7ElAMUTti04hIUg7KNPdihE_ZMJHBVJqd1fdut5-CMVdXc2CeOeaUlvq4S_Lk/s1600-h/restaurant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3oE0GL1EQ-SCGDReYiu9JGPyYWXeNG795nkxtx2extWBOPE0nA5hmfuUonvB1vc3sGMP07qqXnqSQa7ElAMUTti04hIUg7KNPdihE_ZMJHBVJqd1fdut5-CMVdXc2CeOeaUlvq4S_Lk/s400/restaurant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430263100907791778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">There was a very nice outdoor restaurant where we had lunch. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">It's kept cool by a mist of water being sprayed from the ceiling. Look hard!</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And this afternoon Sasha, Megan and Arian practiced Polo/LaCross in the back pasture. </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cUrrfDY5NzX1w-LTlCGLYSDwnb1nqSDG0fRVdrLmT6YUrpAPb80X_u5V17JEXNLtYalw6Xj19CGY6eh29uPC0u1YfoOMx_hTMzDRFqiwCa3mFddSk6_O6CM2DnGTeKjyjQAcH07LMg8/s1600-h/Polo+Sasha+Megan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cUrrfDY5NzX1w-LTlCGLYSDwnb1nqSDG0fRVdrLmT6YUrpAPb80X_u5V17JEXNLtYalw6Xj19CGY6eh29uPC0u1YfoOMx_hTMzDRFqiwCa3mFddSk6_O6CM2DnGTeKjyjQAcH07LMg8/s400/Polo+Sasha+Megan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430263095960321634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> This is an active place.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Edda and Megan take off Tuesday for a two week trip. So Brus and I are batching it with the kids. I'm teaching Megan's lessons while she's gone, making them into South African cowboys.</span>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-56665707780883573612010-03-15T02:14:00.000-07:002010-03-23T11:42:35.480-07:00Chapter 3 - Week 10<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> 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mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >February 9th...over five weeks and there are still new adventures.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Still no rain, so the hot days seem even hotter as everything continues to dry up. Yesterday it wasn't that hot, but it was windy. I was working on video editing in the bunkhouse (which stays delightfully cool) and ended up closing the door because the wind was blowing in dust and stuff. Today the wind is gone but in exchange it's hot...95 plus (F.)</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1US10X5p5hsw-Wy25Nj2jPnTRrY77SERr1FJxPUl-AHA_qoWGcVYUpLyJCMDNEDgxLVR5r6ZJPcRyo8OMztgJd5JD-Qgfb0bqlcGLWk-XJaQY5YUufTDJgKe42wVWdgmG_2rp_NPFYf4/s1600-h/doctors+at+wf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1US10X5p5hsw-Wy25Nj2jPnTRrY77SERr1FJxPUl-AHA_qoWGcVYUpLyJCMDNEDgxLVR5r6ZJPcRyo8OMztgJd5JD-Qgfb0bqlcGLWk-XJaQY5YUufTDJgKe42wVWdgmG_2rp_NPFYf4/s400/doctors+at+wf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436189806477337666" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I continue to take folks into the forest...usually to the waterfall.</span><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_pcBHMYQi87wDnDpyusAWFZg1IWR7PhdSh5Yz1peSfkzp9Vp44yOJmXANEmU39Y9fwf8h6Ks9Ah512bSNPnNZOLzV691_qsXVIXMeydxNOS8T0Bk_mfoi_2kkTemSKXRGUaCRWYTshY/s1600-h/me+with+horses+at+falls.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_pcBHMYQi87wDnDpyusAWFZg1IWR7PhdSh5Yz1peSfkzp9Vp44yOJmXANEmU39Y9fwf8h6Ks9Ah512bSNPnNZOLzV691_qsXVIXMeydxNOS8T0Bk_mfoi_2kkTemSKXRGUaCRWYTshY/s400/me+with+horses+at+falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191053231339426" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">That's my favorite ride and fortunately the favorite of most of the guests. It's from 2 1/2 to 3+ hours round trip depending on the ability of the guests. And except for the first 1/2 mile, most of it's in the shade of the forest, so even when it's hot at the stable it cool(er) for most of the ride. And of course there swimming once we're there. I have a group coming for a ride up there today at 4:00pm.</span></span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tridy8TXhAVOFok3K5chrIbqS8GEGL27LWTmSW-AmwaFANSfko-IwRvLlZghaWaJT-WOOd0kwRDjcNh7_kaqJJ_bgGlF2KsWh7W62GUYW1nQRpOZixvLGtBQm_p9WWqEbiTgIFx_sTM/s1600-h/pieter+and+son+on+horse.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tridy8TXhAVOFok3K5chrIbqS8GEGL27LWTmSW-AmwaFANSfko-IwRvLlZghaWaJT-WOOd0kwRDjcNh7_kaqJJ_bgGlF2KsWh7W62GUYW1nQRpOZixvLGtBQm_p9WWqEbiTgIFx_sTM/s400/pieter+and+son+on+horse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191060297229682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Pieter and his son went on a ride...his son was so comfortable he went to sleep!</span></span><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcHMMeareUe99WrinsNn2TlCTgH-0VW1jINUtwKJ-TeJGa3r8SZTqTK2cU96xF7qN-A-ziaC5ryaZiw1Ix2TJXud3x1XcSDoAFQg2z8-LJNjzFNSONNd2oEsjzGhI5lE6hxiD2uNBSLo/s1600-h/me+with+denkin+and+T+shirt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcHMMeareUe99WrinsNn2TlCTgH-0VW1jINUtwKJ-TeJGa3r8SZTqTK2cU96xF7qN-A-ziaC5ryaZiw1Ix2TJXud3x1XcSDoAFQg2z8-LJNjzFNSONNd2oEsjzGhI5lE6hxiD2uNBSLo/s400/me+with+denkin+and+T+shirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436190488114097666" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I continue my love affair with Dinkum.<br />BTW notice my Cossack Riders T shirt. (Honorary Member)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > It was clear that while Beauty is potentially a great horse, he wasn't cut out to be a lead horse...at least not now and was making guiding difficult. So I've been riding Dinkum and we're really getting to know each other. I'm developing a level of communication with him very much like the last horse I had at the ranch. Just a change in body position will take him from a walk to a canter. And he's usually pretty good with neck raining. He also is very responsive to holding and petting.</span><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxAbXO9xs18VOp0WxOny09wXUEK1xO5X186fCVSzSogTEXisPzs0kBQVXUjinXUpePo_mKWunTWKqTLy4_Soqy6nckhBU59eWe9bIwdRCknebn4g5ofBj4WC8f9WgLECmPq5LyGr-JxA/s1600-h/through+the+ears+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxAbXO9xs18VOp0WxOny09wXUEK1xO5X186fCVSzSogTEXisPzs0kBQVXUjinXUpePo_mKWunTWKqTLy4_Soqy6nckhBU59eWe9bIwdRCknebn4g5ofBj4WC8f9WgLECmPq5LyGr-JxA/s400/through+the+ears+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191563404048434" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Looking through Dinkum dashboard.</span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U-1ZXwosl4iMJsnjP4039Ze9idJ3wBIM6hr1lQjBTpzbOIbktCo3KgLGr8cPcSb3U2uC6fNMlj2dcSYIflY916AaR7OqMwg2qH7aUZ5qGrgB5XIWkyJrxFDErXqw7iUdH2jVshk_ZeY/s1600-h/Garden+flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U-1ZXwosl4iMJsnjP4039Ze9idJ3wBIM6hr1lQjBTpzbOIbktCo3KgLGr8cPcSb3U2uC6fNMlj2dcSYIflY916AaR7OqMwg2qH7aUZ5qGrgB5XIWkyJrxFDErXqw7iUdH2jVshk_ZeY/s400/Garden+flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436190058083073602" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Down the road towards Hoekwil I've been seeing "Big Tree" on a sign for weeks. Today Edda and I went in for me to have a look. It's a 800 year old Outenigua yellowwood and is 107 ft tall. The park around it is beautiful and about 10 degrees (F) cooler than on the road. Since today it's really hot, it was a nice change.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGx8oWXcsK30QJbHJVi7_6HXDpP9nEYExd3ybuFIHPHXJvvce8ffq5fErrovoRH1R58rDyXy2m-qyjQTQlCwxSf0f1ZX5zj68TM72Ghl5OsHtd3MoD6ItUg4wrBydIG5LieEdUJwVmtc/s1600-h/Big+Tree+LS.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGx8oWXcsK30QJbHJVi7_6HXDpP9nEYExd3ybuFIHPHXJvvce8ffq5fErrovoRH1R58rDyXy2m-qyjQTQlCwxSf0f1ZX5zj68TM72Ghl5OsHtd3MoD6ItUg4wrBydIG5LieEdUJwVmtc/s400/Big+Tree+LS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436186448271088498" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHUp0Te8seBWP7j3lMaysTTth2M3MCCxAjR8vlpzu0Idd7O6OuAIkzUYmTGCtj3e3iwVp_Z3zFylZp8FIxiekqG0wVivqpAltjgOw-szN0yBLYpTkRmDLxFTiaKWQa7Rpdv7L-YxPK5I/s1600-h/Big+Tree+up+shot.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHUp0Te8seBWP7j3lMaysTTth2M3MCCxAjR8vlpzu0Idd7O6OuAIkzUYmTGCtj3e3iwVp_Z3zFylZp8FIxiekqG0wVivqpAltjgOw-szN0yBLYpTkRmDLxFTiaKWQa7Rpdv7L-YxPK5I/s400/Big+Tree+up+shot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436186457133480994" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Most of the major shopping for the house is done in George. But there are two stores that are closer.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloCu0DFdA8pY7nGrwCnbvFzseIDT4T47bLHnX5pwhnekMssAfWqwArE9kpTIZaET-QmjVLEvTtxi3RUwegXcEIOHekKLXTxFi1KhjCZT6_JwxfXtW1WlqLpQkHrc-IqKtqaA0_0wPUpY/s1600-h/Little+store+outside.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloCu0DFdA8pY7nGrwCnbvFzseIDT4T47bLHnX5pwhnekMssAfWqwArE9kpTIZaET-QmjVLEvTtxi3RUwegXcEIOHekKLXTxFi1KhjCZT6_JwxfXtW1WlqLpQkHrc-IqKtqaA0_0wPUpY/s400/Little+store+outside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436190481802588402" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There's a store just a couple miles down the road.</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbek3KxaXfGYnVyR_ZvFeGFqUxsHd6c3n3vHyte_-K7gBwvP6ZWaZTSRp7gUQxuuf1RcSjLNuAFeUpEo1a-uM5nyow3ECQnpBffxVlRjux_dGHqRJaqvjj-is2D0zxYBsqXOqj8NiwxwI/s1600-h/Little+store+counter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbek3KxaXfGYnVyR_ZvFeGFqUxsHd6c3n3vHyte_-K7gBwvP6ZWaZTSRp7gUQxuuf1RcSjLNuAFeUpEo1a-uM5nyow3ECQnpBffxVlRjux_dGHqRJaqvjj-is2D0zxYBsqXOqj8NiwxwI/s400/Little+store+counter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436190477493563218" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There is a very limited stock and few people live near it. </span><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The store in Hoekwil is also small but is just across from the school and near the church.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >It is a very well run little store with a nice inventory, including fresh fruits and vegetables.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAZHfzTfDDsh8WAZK0ePxEvOFpsZi7ALhUBIPFO3gua9-TT1sTkNWlM_RL9X8QWrTmMK9GhyphenhyphenS33l_wkTyObgARpL5XtNyMEeKGTS5AX0sAqUzM7YGcPQTDOsJZS6c2_JsDA4CuCnrZeI/s1600-h/Hoekwil+Store+outside.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAZHfzTfDDsh8WAZK0ePxEvOFpsZi7ALhUBIPFO3gua9-TT1sTkNWlM_RL9X8QWrTmMK9GhyphenhyphenS33l_wkTyObgARpL5XtNyMEeKGTS5AX0sAqUzM7YGcPQTDOsJZS6c2_JsDA4CuCnrZeI/s400/Hoekwil+Store+outside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436190474688210322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >It reminds me of the store in Nordland on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend.</span></span></div></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrLhLU62KPQ47c3hpkB9DafH8Y0kUGYZVR3ZD8vIScDzl5nBBcEIpKtJMMsVMrU5DX1w_NgSCtFR1_ACeQMq76j-ezKVj4JUZQZFqShV9e515-4p8-ECYbJUuoLs7Sf8mxnf2MiatFWg/s1600-h/Hoekwil+Store+inside+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrLhLU62KPQ47c3hpkB9DafH8Y0kUGYZVR3ZD8vIScDzl5nBBcEIpKtJMMsVMrU5DX1w_NgSCtFR1_ACeQMq76j-ezKVj4JUZQZFqShV9e515-4p8-ECYbJUuoLs7Sf8mxnf2MiatFWg/s400/Hoekwil+Store+inside+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436190468533732146" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >And like the store in Nordland, they make a great cup of coffee.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Brus and I took the kids to Friday night drum session.</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcKRXlmCdHo7g7MafZOEeojoJnJCu2CE_eb9qOryDH1fi4uMBliG9EuPVkRnnewpn5VYLzr3KsUNDtA_Txolgs5DxdMCHOdjvGitrrnpJVPqeIcbQTlPeFGdscFZcVsXNQscOgxZxsaQ/s1600-h/cs+driming.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcKRXlmCdHo7g7MafZOEeojoJnJCu2CE_eb9qOryDH1fi4uMBliG9EuPVkRnnewpn5VYLzr3KsUNDtA_Txolgs5DxdMCHOdjvGitrrnpJVPqeIcbQTlPeFGdscFZcVsXNQscOgxZxsaQ/s400/cs+driming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436189801324856194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-SVZDSJKo_bXx6oa1QYAUmxAPDMfUMzB_ovkRkCM1UUl8tgss65wzKBTpFgU3cdW486H_yAx8TiKe6ObqQgkEVMsiq8zfs8Zn3UIRniGPQWeDcumykAgcjVP6KLaIUeUEjV1ZIJoLCc/s1600-h/Pieter+druming+cs.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-SVZDSJKo_bXx6oa1QYAUmxAPDMfUMzB_ovkRkCM1UUl8tgss65wzKBTpFgU3cdW486H_yAx8TiKe6ObqQgkEVMsiq8zfs8Zn3UIRniGPQWeDcumykAgcjVP6KLaIUeUEjV1ZIJoLCc/s400/Pieter+druming+cs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191063051053938" border="0" /><br /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">That's Pieter as in Fire Dancing Pieter</span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ihahpIZDuBIDfGQb6w89kgTOUGka4PyFCeBvMXNQdLH2EWi5iIxKge7BYXq3kOvZ4lX042wuNZ5E_YH9PEkV0ak96z6zu6siP9IjI8xga4k82AguKC3-ssIlr7HitzJSuaZI-EhkD8s/s1600-h/zoya+and+arion+drumming.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ihahpIZDuBIDfGQb6w89kgTOUGka4PyFCeBvMXNQdLH2EWi5iIxKge7BYXq3kOvZ4lX042wuNZ5E_YH9PEkV0ak96z6zu6siP9IjI8xga4k82AguKC3-ssIlr7HitzJSuaZI-EhkD8s/s400/zoya+and+arion+drumming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191572990389746" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Zoya and Arian</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuLv5zvw5lz4UI_7SYv8B50sW0TEq3T_sxEFtDShDpuwACW8N5Rx4KHgJNsRrc3VfjYKXzFht24pBGsLJ4bgf7lWvQumCTEopNl_hY0V1n7-r-5rbHTVHFm4GI8nHUTfAnT5-tpkry68/s1600-h/Brus+Drumming.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuLv5zvw5lz4UI_7SYv8B50sW0TEq3T_sxEFtDShDpuwACW8N5Rx4KHgJNsRrc3VfjYKXzFht24pBGsLJ4bgf7lWvQumCTEopNl_hY0V1n7-r-5rbHTVHFm4GI8nHUTfAnT5-tpkry68/s400/Brus+Drumming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436186460782670786" border="0" /></a></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And Brus had a good time too.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And today I went to the Hoekwil School and talked to Zoya's class. Zoya is in the 7th grade.</span><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd7szFKBhigWJZoyaHnt9-MkpgiikiJYzBW_wqxOvBUvilSRSFxKyRA38srOKQe_YjPg18SXvTvGhEQvtMWbo3GL2VeDGBgx2DS0hQxPoRr3Um8jXPtsUzzyisUnF0STfGPM6HD2QcMo/s1600-h/Hoekwil+school+ext.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd7szFKBhigWJZoyaHnt9-MkpgiikiJYzBW_wqxOvBUvilSRSFxKyRA38srOKQe_YjPg18SXvTvGhEQvtMWbo3GL2VeDGBgx2DS0hQxPoRr3Um8jXPtsUzzyisUnF0STfGPM6HD2QcMo/s400/Hoekwil+school+ext.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436189808238300802" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Lots of the kids were barefoot. This isn't a financial or social issue...it's kids who like to go barefoot...like me.</span></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhocBItkLpVkMslUcvgTZ7ugD3TVCaE5Uqd3abHycre959rkN7oAr3XJvFIBKSsmNNwEY2rDZOYYxo5Dg1015DAHaf8ISK97ZmCwDca2n4HB3kUkvszhdQ1GbnJ8oyD3ct17UdDFKovo/s1600-h/Hoekwil+school+ext+announce.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhocBItkLpVkMslUcvgTZ7ugD3TVCaE5Uqd3abHycre959rkN7oAr3XJvFIBKSsmNNwEY2rDZOYYxo5Dg1015DAHaf8ISK97ZmCwDca2n4HB3kUkvszhdQ1GbnJ8oyD3ct17UdDFKovo/s400/Hoekwil+school+ext+announce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436189810618257026" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A student presents the morning Bible reading.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiheqt-_Thyphenhyphenje5JkStSXohGb51YplWW5K4vD6DQqCvHTcj3onbQuxn9vkfjw5GickcTQxJrQmuO_5PTRip1Eo4AI0LGozDyyQny4fvRJEr3E6ibtbcTA_wQboemlhEMNb98YmywjjWr5M/s1600-h/Question+answer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiheqt-_Thyphenhyphenje5JkStSXohGb51YplWW5K4vD6DQqCvHTcj3onbQuxn9vkfjw5GickcTQxJrQmuO_5PTRip1Eo4AI0LGozDyyQny4fvRJEr3E6ibtbcTA_wQboemlhEMNb98YmywjjWr5M/s400/Question+answer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436195222920702130" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">My class was really fun. The students were lively and curious.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I gave my camera to a student named Daniel and he shot a bunch of great ones</span>.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The class was wonderful. The school could be a set for a 1930's movie. But the quality of their education seems good. Using a North American map I showed them where I was from and a little about America. They were interested in Native American tribes so brought some information about the Hieda and Navajo tribes and was wearing a shirt with a Hieda design.</span></span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S3E2yV-0VhI/AAAAAAAAAZI/K3_Vyih2kY0/s1600-h/Class+me+with+guitar.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S3E2yV-0VhI/AAAAAAAAAZI/K3_Vyih2kY0/s400/Class+me+with+guitar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436186463734879762" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I sang the Inuit song and Ghost Riders. They loved it and joined in on the chorus.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYRfQxwjIzj47De-hM5mdUeSaTz3norJHHJWWxCCkLue7E7huB7aX3smUaL6xtBglamvO1C8iUsj90Ezdio9eq1EO-lhkAep7vNckSYsKktrbAl2VrwercCkcJg9pRoZxW6JuKbiGWqg/s1600-h/mussel+bay.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYRfQxwjIzj47De-hM5mdUeSaTz3norJHHJWWxCCkLue7E7huB7aX3smUaL6xtBglamvO1C8iUsj90Ezdio9eq1EO-lhkAep7vNckSYsKktrbAl2VrwercCkcJg9pRoZxW6JuKbiGWqg/s400/mussel+bay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191056742736706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The other day Brus and I drove down to Mussel Bay, a big resort town.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I've decided not to do a two week volunteer thing at the Knysna Elephant Preserve. I'll visit them but Edda said that I must do some exploration of other areas of South Africa and is helping me put together a trip. There's a bus "hop on hop off" that she said would work great for me.<br /><br />But that's three weeks away and in the mean time I continue to have a wonderful time with the horses, the family and their friends.<br /></span></div></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S3E7byZKGlI/AAAAAAAAAcI/SeIV1Uga-6I/s1600-h/me+western+all+star+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S3E7byZKGlI/AAAAAAAAAcI/SeIV1Uga-6I/s400/me+western+all+star+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436191573782698578" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I decided the boots were too hot and guess what...Converse hightops with short chaps!</span></span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-85545836263047636472010-03-14T22:36:00.000-07:002010-03-23T11:42:35.488-07:00A Night's Tale video<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9Z7QxQEQ0FtPFc5cRFcLx57tFb-Uu5euQVBeRGnShs_UjZWycecf1gClHGYjpcsAKPqB7h1pTKZDoiqGNSzFFcG_ZmM1qQItVIpMNK7ie-OEnXXwmJL8QqTVzDELJIJbyOnHBuclwJ8/s1600-h/Opening+title+Knight+Tale.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9Z7QxQEQ0FtPFc5cRFcLx57tFb-Uu5euQVBeRGnShs_UjZWycecf1gClHGYjpcsAKPqB7h1pTKZDoiqGNSzFFcG_ZmM1qQItVIpMNK7ie-OEnXXwmJL8QqTVzDELJIJbyOnHBuclwJ8/s400/Opening+title+Knight+Tale.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438357535035894274" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">February 14th: I've just uploaded "A Night's Tale" video to YouTube.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szaUAw2_HqQ"> </a></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szaUAw2_HqQ">Click here to view!</a><br /></div>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-39343223148457893612010-03-13T04:54:00.000-08:002010-03-23T11:42:35.490-07:00Chapter 4 - Three weeks left...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoHUDdrQtA8j49OML0YKiiyh75Dpvlitxx8RTLOutrkK2dAH6x_r0ohYKIqINiLxctzaJrWUdOpWgrsLQ67Mp1zh0Y2xtl7NWUwk8mJW0ltfa9nGhR4QeXxLX0GOzAFEgsF57pq5p9Q0/s1600-h/surf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 576px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoHUDdrQtA8j49OML0YKiiyh75Dpvlitxx8RTLOutrkK2dAH6x_r0ohYKIqINiLxctzaJrWUdOpWgrsLQ67Mp1zh0Y2xtl7NWUwk8mJW0ltfa9nGhR4QeXxLX0GOzAFEgsF57pq5p9Q0/s400/surf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441055765941260082" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSQUBMKRy3mEYNbwQwQJ7pfF9_VVT5QnIt2o4M-zP9fi3Zorlt7AvLbHAyQj-KuBjixDzOoIGwQSiNRk28BvtEmWUnwRXmjpfc7EI9Nld5IyB1L961Q4Fc1NfHCT7Y3Fddq8XT_R0j1c/s1600-h/me+riding+ostrich.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 505px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSQUBMKRy3mEYNbwQwQJ7pfF9_VVT5QnIt2o4M-zP9fi3Zorlt7AvLbHAyQj-KuBjixDzOoIGwQSiNRk28BvtEmWUnwRXmjpfc7EI9Nld5IyB1L961Q4Fc1NfHCT7Y3Fddq8XT_R0j1c/s400/me+riding+ostrich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441052642846908738" border="0" /></a><br />Look at this...more on this later.<br /></div><br />February 18th: I got a bit of home(sickness) today when I talked to the whole school in Hoekwil. (Last time I spoke to Zoya's class.) This time I had a computer projector so I could show a slide show with pictures from Yellowstone, Yosemite, San Francisco, Seattle and of course Port Townsend. I was also able to show the recently completed "A Knight's Tale" video. That was particularly cool since both Arian and Zoya were in the audience.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRsCKhh2DU5IfQ4cxkVDiV2CIaw4R12-qx8wlA0gFkC42xJxKJZyzVBVI3etRT_lpHVsM7ftWZIpkvU5KBTmn8ohxGEDGquaGr57igYORbQnMmKB70k_L8u2xVQhOGeXc9rj7_pVoMmg/s1600-h/Whole+school.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRsCKhh2DU5IfQ4cxkVDiV2CIaw4R12-qx8wlA0gFkC42xJxKJZyzVBVI3etRT_lpHVsM7ftWZIpkvU5KBTmn8ohxGEDGquaGr57igYORbQnMmKB70k_L8u2xVQhOGeXc9rj7_pVoMmg/s400/Whole+school.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441057390376768146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA3PICmrdbuLoZC9CesF2nz6Zhml95JI5hQ0n4qoUpp3z7wq3efyqqIi5iMGqavKgMT_osJ6zHGTPxHlP6OWMvlV9FFOxX_ZCQks6Zsh-py_MvE9_kfNXf3oM2hyS7rrL1OqdWn979rw/s1600-h/Me+with+guitar+2nd+time.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA3PICmrdbuLoZC9CesF2nz6Zhml95JI5hQ0n4qoUpp3z7wq3efyqqIi5iMGqavKgMT_osJ6zHGTPxHlP6OWMvlV9FFOxX_ZCQks6Zsh-py_MvE9_kfNXf3oM2hyS7rrL1OqdWn979rw/s400/Me+with+guitar+2nd+time.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441063035588172882" border="0" /></a><br />And of course I sang a few songs.<br /></div><br />I learned more about the school. It is in fact a kind of private school with only 9% of the expenses coming from the government. Students pay approximately R350.00(about $35.00)/month and the balance of the expenses, about 40%, come from donations. I've decided to sponsor one student for a year for about $300.00 hoping to get two friends help me make the donation. There are some schools that are free, including one not far from this school. But they have very large classes (80 students) and very limited money for educational supplies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoBuHOpXQsN5Mh-hHY5AjuJX3kNaRzVnvOm9OLDMec6KnMtQq0fLg_OJVc3x3MYosdGHetfqMJB7eo2un4i41wMWHFbKFqf6S9R45jDYgY0UoNnsXbLphVe8SLlgMHvo6X8gKNqvkPwc/s1600-h/back+side+mountains+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 564px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoBuHOpXQsN5Mh-hHY5AjuJX3kNaRzVnvOm9OLDMec6KnMtQq0fLg_OJVc3x3MYosdGHetfqMJB7eo2un4i41wMWHFbKFqf6S9R45jDYgY0UoNnsXbLphVe8SLlgMHvo6X8gKNqvkPwc/s400/back+side+mountains+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051202792646786" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Yesterday Amy an old friend of Edda's and a new friend of mine drove (she drove...I still don't want to drive on the wrong side of the road) to Oudtshoorn. The pix above is the north side of the mountains...the hot side, though yesterday it was cool.<br /><br />Amy suggested we go to an Ostrich farm<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rfLNJMz8-k_MmF49XPUmEAFdp1vZ97C3v9gRXaFbQgIYajdsmgMtCKu6W4wLEiy54nvow8MYPNean6g73LNuE_JqCI7bcJXh2J3sBzvekf2IAZHgWFTCW4BIxW1ETkwMkHkqhXrhRnk/s1600-h/cs+ostrich.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rfLNJMz8-k_MmF49XPUmEAFdp1vZ97C3v9gRXaFbQgIYajdsmgMtCKu6W4wLEiy54nvow8MYPNean6g73LNuE_JqCI7bcJXh2J3sBzvekf2IAZHgWFTCW4BIxW1ETkwMkHkqhXrhRnk/s400/cs+ostrich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051900596987698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ku7d0Mz5McygLpTNsSW4eeI2kiijZn7udLJiuKlxYs9vBEWw8mZ5AR8sWjYRTHRpCCoVOY3hXSIgM_0JGeVKPABq8y-oBtsCVKdXMI_8FPBS9JyGu7BO23gCoXVT5S_Sfsifmo6MMvg/s1600-h/ostrich+race.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ku7d0Mz5McygLpTNsSW4eeI2kiijZn7udLJiuKlxYs9vBEWw8mZ5AR8sWjYRTHRpCCoVOY3hXSIgM_0JGeVKPABq8y-oBtsCVKdXMI_8FPBS9JyGu7BO23gCoXVT5S_Sfsifmo6MMvg/s400/ostrich+race.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441053225676284546" border="0" /></a><br />An ostrich race! And yes...I too rode an ostrich!<br /><br /><br />I'd been to Oudshoorn early in my stay but didn't have a chance to explore the town.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S4KDaNxmg-I/AAAAAAAAAgI/_mfI-wqNxVE/s1600-h/Townhouse+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S4KDaNxmg-I/AAAAAAAAAgI/_mfI-wqNxVE/s400/Townhouse+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441055786214523874" border="0" /></a><br />There are a lot of houses from the late 1800's...just like Port Townsend.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84VQglZQIahKPMwbEvMfXcnXSji9qFcFvaQuT7-6KhEdKMREHGkhyQH26WIZjvFi3HJ1EBatK2rCTyI0b-tjHplWAamjaxNvtwdtwBuVUPK5qoVbVFeWjvGmPmJN0v1LMlzgfdfqomVk/s1600-h/Dinner+at+Paljas.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84VQglZQIahKPMwbEvMfXcnXSji9qFcFvaQuT7-6KhEdKMREHGkhyQH26WIZjvFi3HJ1EBatK2rCTyI0b-tjHplWAamjaxNvtwdtwBuVUPK5qoVbVFeWjvGmPmJN0v1LMlzgfdfqomVk/s400/Dinner+at+Paljas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441052614302801122" border="0" /></a><br />Amy and I enjoyed a delightful dinner in one of these old buildings, having ostrich of course!<br /></div><br />Turns out the Choo Choo does still run, though it now starts in George and runs to Mussel Bay for about a two hour trip. Amy and I went on this last week.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior6h0HIHPRgYokIYW3rQD1yQL50VijFS4h_deuOYP97x-9IYslmbiCH_3s0UFUCyMBxP6AtCi4M6vQHlRH5Htn7f4FjDjbV4L4NJAqXTkRnY0c6aekaTRrYLrAI2afkdbK4QvrC7v9QA/s1600-h/Choo+Choo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior6h0HIHPRgYokIYW3rQD1yQL50VijFS4h_deuOYP97x-9IYslmbiCH_3s0UFUCyMBxP6AtCi4M6vQHlRH5Htn7f4FjDjbV4L4NJAqXTkRnY0c6aekaTRrYLrAI2afkdbK4QvrC7v9QA/s400/Choo+Choo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051218638430290" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unfortunately the Choo Choo train wasn't pulling us...the fire hazard is too high for a steam engine. This is a pix of a pix that was in the Railroad museum in George.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNJ4_vNXXYkr8P8jX96iGxofr9Vn5_jCBygZIJN2mHnAsLNMevLvk1b6fCSQoadzsVEMv9YYwG_UHEUE9z_2epKzeTWG6ZaQ6cddTgO6St8QZQj45KxJMy2lVob-3kQ4Yif4rlFn1sWk/s1600-h/studabaker.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNJ4_vNXXYkr8P8jX96iGxofr9Vn5_jCBygZIJN2mHnAsLNMevLvk1b6fCSQoadzsVEMv9YYwG_UHEUE9z_2epKzeTWG6ZaQ6cddTgO6St8QZQj45KxJMy2lVob-3kQ4Yif4rlFn1sWk/s400/studabaker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441053236875972370" border="0" /></a><br />There were also a bunch of old cars in the museum. What year and kind of car is this? I can remember when they were new!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxwI0ruHuDVAciiAd9ZqXQgOPn1HATs7T4UFjTgcH28lxcW56lGAqEfzUovfTVaSBEEIg6QuSbiASrQb42I62ZjWngm9cQ6_vXIpatuQRlZvCLq_crfQQJrC-Kwlw9TUw-J86G1_1IKA/s1600-h/MGA.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxwI0ruHuDVAciiAd9ZqXQgOPn1HATs7T4UFjTgcH28lxcW56lGAqEfzUovfTVaSBEEIg6QuSbiASrQb42I62ZjWngm9cQ6_vXIpatuQRlZvCLq_crfQQJrC-Kwlw9TUw-J86G1_1IKA/s400/MGA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441053227815571698" border="0" /></a><br />I had one of these...an MGA. So did my friend Jock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp3KWJEYJEJJUCXUuAu5eGocR457nadiiCbhNqybkxmjdrg_msz3Zpbjy4Q_NOEBiidFJWqKaX1CCBJ3BHtoQb5uVieJDGzMCFofsp3D8SZyT6VVtMvoZ9HDevPSnHCknGa9t86-tV3w/s1600-h/Choo+Choo+me+in+car.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp3KWJEYJEJJUCXUuAu5eGocR457nadiiCbhNqybkxmjdrg_msz3Zpbjy4Q_NOEBiidFJWqKaX1CCBJ3BHtoQb5uVieJDGzMCFofsp3D8SZyT6VVtMvoZ9HDevPSnHCknGa9t86-tV3w/s400/Choo+Choo+me+in+car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051891438994418" border="0" /></a><br />'aboard!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43aUlOci_n6PzI00D4bMYKtAnPVFvn6ZM-ed0e70cWXF_6eZuVSGqROyfyNhZuxft5ggy-QYoQvXR03-5R6SQe_MuM-Z891ozy9l1KT6m9E_0BNFLiefnTk-Jlqd_pMrhyM75ozVYiCM/s1600-h/Choo+Choo+comes+to+bay.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43aUlOci_n6PzI00D4bMYKtAnPVFvn6ZM-ed0e70cWXF_6eZuVSGqROyfyNhZuxft5ggy-QYoQvXR03-5R6SQe_MuM-Z891ozy9l1KT6m9E_0BNFLiefnTk-Jlqd_pMrhyM75ozVYiCM/s400/Choo+Choo+comes+to+bay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051874584647330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lnXxIX2LlngfVlR_nC7YB9GerHNV6VEaHzm623nVWTAC5ayKYLA-am1g8-QIpG5sivaDYuR2dYQM9LjEgQhd0xxr0hwxsVcY7pXivQihjjtxMWY-ksW7ceXpheCeDDSLtRG1CUNCvKw/s1600-h/choo+choo+don%27t+look+down.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lnXxIX2LlngfVlR_nC7YB9GerHNV6VEaHzm623nVWTAC5ayKYLA-am1g8-QIpG5sivaDYuR2dYQM9LjEgQhd0xxr0hwxsVcY7pXivQihjjtxMWY-ksW7ceXpheCeDDSLtRG1CUNCvKw/s400/choo+choo+don%27t+look+down.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051886963807714" border="0" /></a><br />Looking down from one of the train bridges!<br /><br /></div>In the Maritime Museum in Mussel Bay there was a model of the ship Bartolomeu Dias the first ship to the Cape of Good Hope.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_zKGmxg0Nm2iDwaG-rBKCBmLPoGjm9IsQ_5QnoBMnz74REhV7sSK-yBcBc7uyn8p07ypwZ6oUSiBF90gwFsbo8FF8DIOSmaBps5grsIs_Ol7M_6B9tjogJpVoqaTT3WS5NNW5XdoLfo/s1600-h/Bartolomeu+Dias.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_zKGmxg0Nm2iDwaG-rBKCBmLPoGjm9IsQ_5QnoBMnz74REhV7sSK-yBcBc7uyn8p07ypwZ6oUSiBF90gwFsbo8FF8DIOSmaBps5grsIs_Ol7M_6B9tjogJpVoqaTT3WS5NNW5XdoLfo/s400/Bartolomeu+Dias.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051201867833362" border="0" /></a><br />(another pix of a pix)<br /></div>It was built in the '80 and actually sailed from Portugal to Mussel Bay. It was then put in the Maritime Museum. Here are a couple more pix of the boat.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjjeD7lNjrZ_X23uDonGWOu4jCpe5cf9ghngEWEpTXmz-IVPzPu0CmwngyjPV7ereGagt1gZq1iHxM0hyphenhyphenkxG3H0r7qQq9Hi5Gv5rW0x_KvGJQcXUUu8ghKTzpJAAoNhBqnUD8Po9Siq8/s1600-h/mainsl+halard.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjjeD7lNjrZ_X23uDonGWOu4jCpe5cf9ghngEWEpTXmz-IVPzPu0CmwngyjPV7ereGagt1gZq1iHxM0hyphenhyphenkxG3H0r7qQq9Hi5Gv5rW0x_KvGJQcXUUu8ghKTzpJAAoNhBqnUD8Po9Siq8/s400/mainsl+halard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441052630518015442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lKJ8k_E73g4yt3EQwcSHwxXiQntHiuU6qtPzfImijZw4WW4MaEQhHLl3iSZcZyxqLE5FaEpgBKkjgsD26GfcpGUOvT65iiJEuAyeU_ND51nPyM5XMnZD0mHqSw4O8l4B_pnKFRAZaFg/s1600-h/tiller.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lKJ8k_E73g4yt3EQwcSHwxXiQntHiuU6qtPzfImijZw4WW4MaEQhHLl3iSZcZyxqLE5FaEpgBKkjgsD26GfcpGUOvT65iiJEuAyeU_ND51nPyM5XMnZD0mHqSw4O8l4B_pnKFRAZaFg/s400/tiller.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441055779270685490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XcYlwgGBPFJvzXqqM1658KP3ZEIJ2T0f1FxegzVtPjK2-ZrzKU4MLRPT0kPLEa9mQeuYKJVllaQygwZkhoaVPlspSvyV4N6PM69CQ21yOVbD_-DBt3O1fZDoyryIkM6qosEf5zsJ-1s/s1600-h/beach+house.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 523px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XcYlwgGBPFJvzXqqM1658KP3ZEIJ2T0f1FxegzVtPjK2-ZrzKU4MLRPT0kPLEa9mQeuYKJVllaQygwZkhoaVPlspSvyV4N6PM69CQ21yOVbD_-DBt3O1fZDoyryIkM6qosEf5zsJ-1s/s400/beach+house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051210121743058" border="0" /></a><br />A very cool old beach house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ3RK4Q-UHRUv6Pwr5bkA8z6SF0bOIV3g3JOUexSiUpUQH6IJiWSen9RsbhV29QCdNCdOnQ4Qg2RYBFzEDwB8qMo3y6ebcOF0L6rgrQJxBJY4zFvjByO8pSuzCjzYBY1Mtoe3LvZ7bQs/s1600-h/view+from+restaurant.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 455px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ3RK4Q-UHRUv6Pwr5bkA8z6SF0bOIV3g3JOUexSiUpUQH6IJiWSen9RsbhV29QCdNCdOnQ4Qg2RYBFzEDwB8qMo3y6ebcOF0L6rgrQJxBJY4zFvjByO8pSuzCjzYBY1Mtoe3LvZ7bQs/s400/view+from+restaurant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441055789707739426" border="0" /></a><br />We had lunch at a restaurant with this great view.<br /></div><br />So the adventures continue...don't know if I'll do another blog before I get back to PT, but I'll do a "wrap" then for sure.<br /><br />Here are a few more pix.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpPEyk2PQQPjbAfKkMODKlCgdjSOHZIf3c8yxzicfzhR8yQtx37Udul4hqXbmf7NT2OG_LerRgKZyzLykGOhySEeN-NvoRKcoq_s1ubEb45YiNyFDH4YuMt466XbFuW-RrcQ9JmDqMTw/s1600-h/brus+on+rain.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 457px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpPEyk2PQQPjbAfKkMODKlCgdjSOHZIf3c8yxzicfzhR8yQtx37Udul4hqXbmf7NT2OG_LerRgKZyzLykGOhySEeN-NvoRKcoq_s1ubEb45YiNyFDH4YuMt466XbFuW-RrcQ9JmDqMTw/s400/brus+on+rain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051212734289474" border="0" /></a><br />Brus on his new horse Rein.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSY77-NHWYEQouk9YpIvun3dWD9BUBVQ8G8IJOxLDDD7MDRxN7T7IGu0M4OJdFgRA1w46dw-mu2xHQ2phach69IQr4RoU1niiqqYL-ws6Hw5fJsi4RwuE9w0S0ZVfETSjeMsk4kBE2CQ/s1600-h/seagul.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 564px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSY77-NHWYEQouk9YpIvun3dWD9BUBVQ8G8IJOxLDDD7MDRxN7T7IGu0M4OJdFgRA1w46dw-mu2xHQ2phach69IQr4RoU1niiqqYL-ws6Hw5fJsi4RwuE9w0S0ZVfETSjeMsk4kBE2CQ/s400/seagul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441053237797443762" border="0" /></a><br />Visited the beach again and made friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIJN6moj_D3GK287EMS4tWcjJQsNP4kofqSkzHilIsHJMgXdg2jWQrRddWDzopZG-IYwKqhQPwClwo9O83GZF3kZt2r6J9aJ-eaiDgqnY8_htnHllXv4rgqad2cEQBVvCpL0pgzGpROA/s1600-h/Recycle+toilet.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIJN6moj_D3GK287EMS4tWcjJQsNP4kofqSkzHilIsHJMgXdg2jWQrRddWDzopZG-IYwKqhQPwClwo9O83GZF3kZt2r6J9aJ-eaiDgqnY8_htnHllXv4rgqad2cEQBVvCpL0pgzGpROA/s400/Recycle+toilet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441053231898070130" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a combo toilet/sink. Of course the sink drainage goes right into the toilet tank. Clever!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-QHawRj0UFvERsREQuvDi3LEkVUn5aKwei0dXBO5WlU_Nyb1pNCnXzyCEzepxSNLvM5eaoonrDfyf-eLLTGWClc5_UAO-emx_r0ruh1EXLXjVWiw_-7HV98LY6-uOuFiXLayGMC_A3c/s1600-h/Lawn+mowing.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-QHawRj0UFvERsREQuvDi3LEkVUn5aKwei0dXBO5WlU_Nyb1pNCnXzyCEzepxSNLvM5eaoonrDfyf-eLLTGWClc5_UAO-emx_r0ruh1EXLXjVWiw_-7HV98LY6-uOuFiXLayGMC_A3c/s400/Lawn+mowing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441052617286839730" border="0" /></a><br />Dinkum mowing my lawn.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn5Duoqccf-Ht1ZsFXruTIPt71PnvXieWNymZxhW91AWq0ygZLRbwnR-vch5WlHEaS1ogujGpmI_cYpzs_FIlEAKJ8Daiw8F5yIhIw2qB5DPbdwH-8GA6uE31TEAS3F7XWtMzSJ-tkSk/s1600-h/wagon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn5Duoqccf-Ht1ZsFXruTIPt71PnvXieWNymZxhW91AWq0ygZLRbwnR-vch5WlHEaS1ogujGpmI_cYpzs_FIlEAKJ8Daiw8F5yIhIw2qB5DPbdwH-8GA6uE31TEAS3F7XWtMzSJ-tkSk/s400/wagon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441057394473677922" border="0" /></a><br />A friend has an old wagon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7s2bZMxsfefM5vvGo_FZqVblODysugn6cAhK8M_Wa3kEOmU2NJZLH2Eqmfs8lTHAkrB-KBd3Ba4OuukPVIia58DYOwfhosr1XXgax4Xs2Noq-V2cN5aK1bYZ5wme8VS4I55mtf9yBX4/s1600-h/dead+tree+morfed.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7s2bZMxsfefM5vvGo_FZqVblODysugn6cAhK8M_Wa3kEOmU2NJZLH2Eqmfs8lTHAkrB-KBd3Ba4OuukPVIia58DYOwfhosr1XXgax4Xs2Noq-V2cN5aK1bYZ5wme8VS4I55mtf9yBX4/s400/dead+tree+morfed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441051914075774194" border="0" /></a><br />Evening in the pasture.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-66794113356575128882010-03-11T04:55:00.000-08:002010-03-23T11:42:35.494-07:00Starflyer Video<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktToUl8LZU4puA7D-CdLku_42K6vzcMnv6ovKKmyFxU9WA6KppXw1MMq-4N1K6qGUU6tQwHMBNpmr9ap8aQvJCOYn1oMoW_IY4nxEp1q2KTOGvEFHWBc829mHVNrTfNcd63zHtm1-E4I/s1600-h/come+ride+with+us+title.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktToUl8LZU4puA7D-CdLku_42K6vzcMnv6ovKKmyFxU9WA6KppXw1MMq-4N1K6qGUU6tQwHMBNpmr9ap8aQvJCOYn1oMoW_IY4nxEp1q2KTOGvEFHWBc829mHVNrTfNcd63zHtm1-E4I/s400/come+ride+with+us+title.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451631121095523746" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />March 4th: I've just finished a video about the horse riding experience here at Wilderness Adventures.<br /><br />For the music I used a song I wrote years ago called <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Starflyer.</span> It was originally written about my motorcycle and a trip we took, but with a few lyric changes it works beautifully for Wilderness Adventures.<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuQKEFvJErw">So Click here to see <span style="font-style: italic;">Come Ride with Us.</span></a><br /><br />And here's a pix of my swimming spot...about a quarter of a mile down the road. It's hot today and I just got back from a nice cool dip.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Tjnn7bPZAjT2aryfkvD8TvNhmr3FGwcF_opE4yN-92xeqZTtbsrfUTZSJkD5qd1nNJ9fxXe84jvD46SV0KdM63c4Hcy12TpYHOqYMRJ7EstBwSp1wPySxGFxg97McLjKo2hOo-cwogg/s1600-h/Swimming+hole.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Tjnn7bPZAjT2aryfkvD8TvNhmr3FGwcF_opE4yN-92xeqZTtbsrfUTZSJkD5qd1nNJ9fxXe84jvD46SV0KdM63c4Hcy12TpYHOqYMRJ7EstBwSp1wPySxGFxg97McLjKo2hOo-cwogg/s400/Swimming+hole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444786927260666866" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />Here are a couple pix I took last week. Amy and I took Arian and Zoya to dinner in Wilderness. We had a great meal for sure.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4huHV16WTF-OJwRlzDQlcXLK3weVHBd3gHvfDfY_PlUTlnS8wuL2M-oVlbzES0AMGjg_ts6QlgLN6Qf-Xj2FzVMuFRMxxHIhL3VBGmvcBusf3ZxXx1bj4LXnrC606eYpawIiIkJLwEzk/s1600-h/Dinner+in+Wilderness.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4huHV16WTF-OJwRlzDQlcXLK3weVHBd3gHvfDfY_PlUTlnS8wuL2M-oVlbzES0AMGjg_ts6QlgLN6Qf-Xj2FzVMuFRMxxHIhL3VBGmvcBusf3ZxXx1bj4LXnrC606eYpawIiIkJLwEzk/s400/Dinner+in+Wilderness.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444783684140569730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And after the meal someone said (I think it was Zoya) let's go to the beach. What a wonderful idea! So off we went...it was less than a quarter of a mile...to the wonderful beach there...one of the longest in South Africa I'm told. It was so much fun!!!!<br /><br />Arian and Zoya insisted I take their pix...so here it is. You'll just have to believe me it was on the beach.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaplabD5qHwJDIE3ap_UECclkCw5k8JKASu0NnhL4ArjgyKiZZW5PXp1YxoZYKTwaMG9nfzlajkO0oxYh3thb_LguEE3rXKkpW4XiBtq1scKBHlu1MnkERjfDasRPdi-30r03LGvU6_QY/s1600-h/Beach+shot+wih+kids.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaplabD5qHwJDIE3ap_UECclkCw5k8JKASu0NnhL4ArjgyKiZZW5PXp1YxoZYKTwaMG9nfzlajkO0oxYh3thb_LguEE3rXKkpW4XiBtq1scKBHlu1MnkERjfDasRPdi-30r03LGvU6_QY/s400/Beach+shot+wih+kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444783701913263730" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135105392116163411.post-34399015973513041622010-03-10T12:38:00.000-08:002010-03-23T11:40:10.151-07:00The End of the Adventure<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">March 17th: The last week started with <span style="font-style: italic;">Pony Camp</span> which Edda's daughter Megan ran. She has these every couple of months and the camp runs for the weekend. There were 20 kids ranging from about 8 to 16. Megan is a great teacher and it was fun helping her with the Camp. We took trail rides, painted horses and even went swimming....in a mud hole!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S6KGdpfXh9I/AAAAAAAAAjY/GkMPGi81P78/s1600-h/Darryl+%26+me+heading+for+water.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S6KGdpfXh9I/AAAAAAAAAjY/GkMPGi81P78/s400/Darryl+%26+me+heading+for+water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450066342983469010" border="0" /></a><br />Darryl and I were "elected" to go in first.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjrZUy8xE54WOojwaDu56K76xQW-yC31zMqC5amcHdQaqcQBN6f08JcM0_wjkct1P-6py2PJFf88sEDPxkpSPNR2TLan6izim94kaKe-63kLqh8bIp-mimB1sXLIsaTil3mYo9E1m_H8/s1600-h/Me+and+Dinkum+in+water.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjrZUy8xE54WOojwaDu56K76xQW-yC31zMqC5amcHdQaqcQBN6f08JcM0_wjkct1P-6py2PJFf88sEDPxkpSPNR2TLan6izim94kaKe-63kLqh8bIp-mimB1sXLIsaTil3mYo9E1m_H8/s400/Me+and+Dinkum+in+water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061385024130178" border="0" /></a><br />I think Dinkum was confused. He knew about swimming, but in the muddy water? He kept pawing the water trying to figure it out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCMMtbKMXxtdJRIBDEQbuXMbjUpksHf7_XlbrtvCZvkiMZrIZa8gm6WOg7xU51H7ax94QiUyDYVep7C3eMmCIBXgwHeAfVDgND1ggQmf97Xx5uqB8KyeOlF8S9CdTkfF3bcJOZSif_pc/s1600-h/Daryle+and+Harry+swiming.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCMMtbKMXxtdJRIBDEQbuXMbjUpksHf7_XlbrtvCZvkiMZrIZa8gm6WOg7xU51H7ax94QiUyDYVep7C3eMmCIBXgwHeAfVDgND1ggQmf97Xx5uqB8KyeOlF8S9CdTkfF3bcJOZSif_pc/s400/Daryle+and+Harry+swiming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061129153777426" border="0" /></a><br />Darryl's exit was quite spectacular!<br /><br />After we took turns taking horses in the pond the kids decided they'd swim in it too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt2RSCpE5LLh1ys4iFSM7YP8Z7TAFcYt0wLq-vYTdnz-f0RTPHtVXtDWTlAS7FVlTgCNwMOV7LUg59oLS09f4e_NQqY2zY1URC0JTN9wKK1oaOrXTTnrhyZmsZJwSUfuiJbPykW0ok1U/s1600-h/start+of+kids+swiming.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt2RSCpE5LLh1ys4iFSM7YP8Z7TAFcYt0wLq-vYTdnz-f0RTPHtVXtDWTlAS7FVlTgCNwMOV7LUg59oLS09f4e_NQqY2zY1URC0JTN9wKK1oaOrXTTnrhyZmsZJwSUfuiJbPykW0ok1U/s400/start+of+kids+swiming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061393120246034" border="0" /></a><br />At first they were quite tentative...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYEdoidQDBv_sRaDv8IX1tu5uG8jdjTgg2f6VnmdwS3oN_dC8xqtCR2t7YLJKalOr99RqA89Gc9b6CqMubeDykbCCSQx2kw1TZRh2QZ62itWQBZix3hTN2fP6Dho2iu3vaHAz9VP8y6s/s1600-h/Mud+bath.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYEdoidQDBv_sRaDv8IX1tu5uG8jdjTgg2f6VnmdwS3oN_dC8xqtCR2t7YLJKalOr99RqA89Gc9b6CqMubeDykbCCSQx2kw1TZRh2QZ62itWQBZix3hTN2fP6Dho2iu3vaHAz9VP8y6s/s400/Mud+bath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061391237454034" border="0" /></a><br />But then they got "into it" and it turned out to be a mud fight as well as a mud bath!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0RkZlxZIVZeiBM-AjMSg7M4A18TcYUOS8rQe7PRP3dmA9dd5Ul56pDc_9FALd7hfd-WLZvd2icv0NekDLQF32hXv8m63EkFHG3o3v8hLOdw0tHIuBxHdqMN9HWMMVrWMZF2f_5rslPo/s1600-h/cleanup+as+swimming+hole.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0RkZlxZIVZeiBM-AjMSg7M4A18TcYUOS8rQe7PRP3dmA9dd5Ul56pDc_9FALd7hfd-WLZvd2icv0NekDLQF32hXv8m63EkFHG3o3v8hLOdw0tHIuBxHdqMN9HWMMVrWMZF2f_5rslPo/s400/cleanup+as+swimming+hole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061121156735074" border="0" /></a><br />After that the only thing to do was to go to the swimming hole!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">During the week I did a canoe trip up a river that outflows near the town of Wilderness.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlylolo0aggPpgAZ-jtgS9QYRHxG6HKtuWF3YjEPBxXRv6SGRyMXF7V9ArHHV3vWup4G35aqvYvbP-4WaJdUlAGuw1Ap8IG2A2ZmKl8d7cPY_1VYWfcj_6ZOyycR5h7KDA0XSv6hz65Y/s1600-h/canoe.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlylolo0aggPpgAZ-jtgS9QYRHxG6HKtuWF3YjEPBxXRv6SGRyMXF7V9ArHHV3vWup4G35aqvYvbP-4WaJdUlAGuw1Ap8IG2A2ZmKl8d7cPY_1VYWfcj_6ZOyycR5h7KDA0XSv6hz65Y/s400/canoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450069282115501298" border="0" /></a><br />It was a very hot day...probably getting pretty close to 100 degrees F. So of course when I got really hot I'd pull the canoe up on the bank and go swimming.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last Saturday we had a request for a ride up to the falls. The caller, Christoff asked for it to be just his girl friend and him...he wanted to propose to her there. So I when we got there I made myself scarce while Tarryn and Christoff went off for their picnic . They re-emerged about an hour later and I took this picture.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuUsDh96L_5sqee8A-k6Vn_V9f3YUsQQqh0K2ySyIyWR6dSQPnBRT1YgpsiwfiYryfya0OCSq0qDqJ6-_T1H1Q1QCC6-WPsCRMquxy2wFCdt4ygqrNv2ddGnFbypC5Os28qcykISplnY/s1600-h/tarryn+and+Christoff.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuUsDh96L_5sqee8A-k6Vn_V9f3YUsQQqh0K2ySyIyWR6dSQPnBRT1YgpsiwfiYryfya0OCSq0qDqJ6-_T1H1Q1QCC6-WPsCRMquxy2wFCdt4ygqrNv2ddGnFbypC5Os28qcykISplnY/s400/tarryn+and+Christoff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061397592941346" border="0" /></a><br />Nice huh?<br /><br />Last Sunday...my last day there I took a couple of outrides including a couple from Switzerland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S6KJI0H50-I/AAAAAAAAAjo/o68-Qznskdc/s1600-h/Dinkum+and+me+last+day.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8QUo0ta4rs/S6KJI0H50-I/AAAAAAAAAjo/o68-Qznskdc/s400/Dinkum+and+me+last+day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450069283595473890" border="0" /></a><br />Dale, a photographer friend took this pix of me cantering Dinkum. I knew it was our last ride...Dinkum didn't though.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEvfIkux7xK2r5Mmvv_3Y6-FXXlQG35tsoGP6w50RuWwEudVOyBrRSLxnMk2Mdgfp-PK7QcuHg2uA0hMsxRIxeM_rhW2JL9oaoUn74LSyoSYkHfFy_enVd5pkG9_makUtBzzPC09YRr0/s1600-h/last+night+in+pasture.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEvfIkux7xK2r5Mmvv_3Y6-FXXlQG35tsoGP6w50RuWwEudVOyBrRSLxnMk2Mdgfp-PK7QcuHg2uA0hMsxRIxeM_rhW2JL9oaoUn74LSyoSYkHfFy_enVd5pkG9_makUtBzzPC09YRr0/s400/last+night+in+pasture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450072613281522258" border="0" /></a><br />Bye boys...<br />Good bye to many new friends...<br />Good bye to my wonderful South African family...Good bye to the horses...Good bye to Dinkum.<br /><br />I got home Tuesday 40 hours after I got on the plane in George, South Africa.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGznmG_RJxqjoE7j0c_-yOGWlrezoW9wKqzq_j63hLbfJb-dPJYzC49HmFlZhF1V7xSqNHP6bRjpfnq1GNUuXWKfzDN_UjE6tagnDcSIkLUk6qR02xCpSa3kdHBnvgkE5jm8uNRxplVQ/s1600-h/Home.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGznmG_RJxqjoE7j0c_-yOGWlrezoW9wKqzq_j63hLbfJb-dPJYzC49HmFlZhF1V7xSqNHP6bRjpfnq1GNUuXWKfzDN_UjE6tagnDcSIkLUk6qR02xCpSa3kdHBnvgkE5jm8uNRxplVQ/s400/Home.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061151655478434" border="0" /></a><br />And in the yard, the coming of Spring was announced by our cherry tree.<br /><br />What a way to spend the Winter.<br />Now what?<br /></div>David Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354181531157454334noreply@blogger.com4