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Leaving on a Jetplane

Giant tree thorns at Karoo Desert Botanical Garden

We dropped off our rental at King Shaka International Airport and I was reminded of when I rushed back from South Africa four years ago when Ryan was taken ill. This departure definitely was not stressful at all for me. But leaving KZN was a little gut-wrenching for Zoze as she flies back to New Zealand from Cape Town, whereas I go back there…

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Winding Down in KZN

Backpedaling!

We’ve been so busy in the Cape, I haven’t had time to update Granny Travels! So this is a condensed version of our activities before we left KZN.

Belinda and the owl

Breakfast with the Horses

Right down the road from Mick and Debbie’s house is a race horse training facility. It’s set up rather like some of the small airfields in the States with a small cafe overlooking the runway…

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Overnight in Zululand

Overnight in Zululand to visit Tapanga Distillery and go to the beach

Doing a bit of catchup here! Seeing as we are already in the Cape, I am backtracking to KZN and the overnight to Mtunzini.

Low tide at Tinsley Manor beach

Off to Zululand

Finally heading to the beach! Somehow, we just haven’t managed to get there during all this time.

The main purpose is for me to visit Tapanga Rum, a distillery out on a sugar farm up the North Coast, near Gingindlovu. The post I…

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Butterflies, Booze and Bakkies

We’ve been busy!

Springbok peer out from the bushes

It feels like I don’t have any time to sit down and update the blog so I will break it into two! Mick and Debbie are heading out to an anniversary party and Zoze and I are having a lazy day at home. It’s a public holiday here today, making this a long weekend so pretty much everything is closed.

I left off last time after visiting the breweryin…

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Urban Durban Vibe at Distillery 031

The Urban Durban vibe at Distillery 031

The old brick foundry building sits just above the railway tracks in a commercial and industrial part of Durban. Factory buildings line busy Umgeni Road and the ubiquitous taxis zip around, horns honking as people duck through the heavy traffic. Cars are parked wherever they can find a spot. Informal traders dot the pavement, selling anything from t-shirts…

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Then There Were Three

Mick as the braai master

One of the reasons I am here in South Africa is for a family reunion of sorts. With my brother Michael, or Mick as he is known, living here in Pietermaritzburg and where I have stayed on past visits, it is the logical place to gather. Sister Rosemary, or Zoze (yes we all have nicknames!) came in from New Zealand so now there are three. The unfortunate thing is Christopher…

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Driving with Confidence

The Nelson Mandela sculpture

Having my own wheels is so important and the small rental is working out wonderfully well.

I headed out to get the lay of the land, heading up to Howick with no plans in mind until I remembered that the Nelson Mandela Capture Siteis there. Last time I was in South Africa, Evie and I drove passed it, a simple monument on the side of the road, right next to the railway…

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Rediscovering South Africa

Rediscovering South Africa.

Avenue of giant plane trees at KZN Botanical Gardens

Wow, I’ve been here in South Africa for a week already! Time is flying by and I am making the best of it.

Monday was an important day – I got our wheels! It’s a Ford Fiesta, the perfect size for Zoze, me and any bags we may have on our trips. I was a bit nervous as it’s been a while since I drove on the “wrong” side of the road. But like riding…

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Getting in the Groove

Getting in the Groove in South Africa

Fresh produce at the market.

It’s taken a few days but I think I am well over jet lag, getting in the groove and starting to feel like I’m living a more or less normal life again.

It is such a pleasure to not have to see or hear any American politics. Every once in a while, there will be a question but generally it’s enough to just roll my eyes! And move on to something more interesting and not…

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Landed!

After a grueling trip, not just because it was so long, but because both legs were so full, I am ensconced in the guest casita at Mick’s in Ashburton, South Africa. As people get bigger and bigger, seats get smaller and smaller, with limited legroom in economy seating. Of course, the solution is to fly first class, or at least business class, but unfortunately at the moment that isn’t an option.

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First Leg is the Hardest

Ready to hit the road.

I think the first leg is the hardest! On this trip, it is one of the shortest but it was all that led up to it, that made it hard!

Just three months ago, I made the definite decision to leavePort Ludlow and probably the U.S. as well. I swore I would NOT do another winter in Washington. I also felt that if I didn’t get out of the house, I would die, literally. And I know…

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Three Days and Counting

With just three days before leaving, I made a short trip to Whidbey Island to visit Cultus Bay Distillery.

A stormy, wild ride on the ferry to Whidbey Island

With just three days left here in the Pacific Northwest, and when scanning Jim and Mardelle’s downstairs apartment where I have been roosting since I left my house, I think I am going to meet my goal of walking out of this old life with one suitcase and a backpack.

It IS a BIG suitcase, but still, when I think of all the stuff I had, way more…

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Homeless!

Homeless! Finally out of the house and ready to hit the road.

It’s Done! I am Officially Homeless!

My view from Jim and Mardelle’s house, where I am roosting for a few days before hitting the road.

Yesterday, I handed over the all-important garage door opener remote, making the move out final. I am now officially homeless!

My tenant is so excited about being in the house; his mother was there too, a very nice lady who is looking forward to spending time…

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Almost Packed Up and Ready to Go

3 lawn chairs $5 … 3 ladies…priceless! Especially Mardelle and Susan who spent all day Saturday helping me with the garage sale. I couldn’t have done it without them.

It’s a long haul… clearing out the house completely; finding a home for my kitty boys; garage sale; tenant… It’s difficult to keep foucused on the prize – South Africa for Christmas and Belize in March – with so much upheaval…

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Discarding Memories

Discarding Memories: packing up and moving on

This was probably the worst storm I have experienced in this house. The rain was literally blowing sideways!

  What Goes and What Goes in a Box

I had no idea this would be so difficult and time consuming. I imagined myself breezing through the process and the next chapter of my life magically opening! But no…

As I go through my stuff and go keep-discard-discard-discard, and look at and feel each…

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Keep on Trucking

Packing up and moving on is proving more difficult than anticipated

This is Really Hard

Rainbows in my future

  When I tell people what I am doing, I hear over and over, “That is so exciting,” “You are so brave.” And yes, that is probably true, but it is also very, very scary!

I left home as a very young woman, still in my teens, into a world I didn’t have a clue about. Leaving from South Africa during the apartheid era, I had lived a life closeted behind…

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Mini Day Trip to Ballard

Mini Day Trip to Ballard to visit distilleries

It was a beautiful, brisk fall day and as I drove through Port Gamble, with its avenue of maple trees, I made a note to myself (which I had better write down today) to go back in a week when the trees will be “in full color.” As they are already turning, I know I only have a few days to capture it.

As usual the ferry ride over from Kingston to Edmonds was lovely; one of the things I will miss…

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