SOUTH AFRICA - Richards Bay - Hout Bay, November/December 2011
 
 

The strech from Reunion toward South Africa became a great voyage, despite spooky waters in many ways. The piracy threat as far south as our course was about none, but weather allowed for a lot of exitement. We could not have been more lucky the weather - and arrived in Richards Bay one day before the wind again turned to a southerly gale. The voyage south along the South African east coast new weather challenges - and we mwt many nice South Africans. When we arrived in Hout Bay we were ready for Christmas celebration...
Eirik was in a hurry to give himself a fresh water shower when we arrived in Richards Bay... When we arrived in Richards Bay we discovered Reunion-lice in Marius` and Eirik`s hair! Not much more to say...
In Dimazulu Village we learned about the Zulu life in old days.
Fantastic days in Hluhlue/Imfolozi nature reserve.
If Eirik did not know the name of the animal in English before we visited the nature reserve, he for sure did after the visit. Right picture: Note the head sticking out of the window of the car in front...
Sometimes the animals came very close!
With grandparents visiting Eirik and Marius had great days - or was it the grandparents that had great days? Cosy time in aft starboard cabin.
Durban Aquarium gad lots to see.for young and not so young. We knew Chris only via email and via South African /Norwegian friends in Australia. In Durban we finally got the chance to invite him and his family on board.
The voyage south from Durban was a bit rough for our male visitor. Vigdis surprised everyone by working in the galley!!! A good guy - that loves the life on board. Fishing in the Agulhas Current.
Eirik replaced nhis three wheeler with on with two wheels - in East London. Painting and plaster play are two of Eiriks favourite hobbies.  
The entrance to Port St. Francis was a bit "fresh" even at high tide... We met our Danish friends in s/y Exabyte again in Port St. Francise. In Port St. Francis we were invited home to Johan and his family.
Cape of Good Hope is only a small cape just south of Cape Town...   Hout Bay is very well protected from the ocean swell - but it can be quite windy!!!
HBYCM - Hout Bay Yacht Club Marina is a very nice harbour north of Cape of Good Hope. Hout Bay is abusy fisheries port. Flying the kite a windy day in Hout Bay.

We hadn`t seen Sealions since Galapagos in 2007. Sjøløver hadde vi ikke sett siden Galapagos i 2007. There were many of them in Hout Bay, some of them even trained by local heroes.
The daugther in law is Norwegian. She invited us for a BRAII when she saw the Norwegian flalg as we entered Hout Bay. Winter in Norway is bathing season in Hout Bay! Our friend Mogens and his family spent the Christmas holydays in South africa - to see us in Empire and the wild animals in Africa.
Sailor and 1.Mate dressed for Christmas celebration. Christmas celebration in Hout Bay together with Danish Exabyte. Also New Years Eve was celebrated in Hout Bay - with "fireworks" of Exanyte`s stern.
Visiting the pinguin colony in Simons Bay.
Norwegian Rune taht we knew from Caribbean arrived in Cape town on board Deepsea Metro II - to say hello to us in Empire? Heidi`s and Eivind`s pasports had no more room for stamps. The Norwegian Royal Embassy in Pretoria and the Consulate in Cape Town delivered new pasports in no time. Pomona with Lisbeth and Vegar managed to catch up with us in again in Hout Bay - and we postponed our departure toward St. Helena with a few days.
Beautiful hiking terrain around Hout Bay.  
 
Ofcourse we had to climb to the top of Table Mountain when we were in Cape Town.
- Eirik was probably the youngest of the day to climb Table Mountain on his own feets!
We only took the Cable Car DOWN from Table Mountain.   1. Christmas Day was very windy in Hout Bay - we meassured 50 knots of wind at the most!
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