Noddy and the Beast return Home
Wow how can it be... a year gone but thanks to the blogs and pictures never forgotten, a wonderful adventure! We have moved back into our home and have been hectically busy getting things in order. Some people comment that they think it will be quite an adjustment for us after a nomadic year through Africa.... somehow I think it will be easy. The excitement of seeing some of our friends and being back in our church made the first weekend a great feast for the soul! I ran out of steam when it came to the final blog so here it is very after the event and in-between a mixed bag.
Throughout our trip we have felt safe and welcomed; a fresh experience and a renewed faith in the goodness of humankind. We come home saying ‘go, taste and see for yourself’ drink in some rich experiences. Africa may seem scary to some, the unknown, but that is the beauty of it.... you will find your feet as you go just don’t plan too rigidly or travel too fast, let it unfold! At times it is a roller coaster ride of emotions but so worth it all. When things go wrong it is all part of the adventure in the end and makes for great stories!
You have probably heard it said that ‘Africa is not for sissies,’ this is true especially with a caravan in tow across rough terrain. George started dreaming and researching about this trip years before we went. En route he was meticulous with updating route plans according to our needs and local knowledge and with checking the budget which he had accurately projected. My husband (and Steve – our fellow traveller) amazed me many times with his skilfulness in fixing things and procuring the materials needed in remote places to get the job done. I am very proud of him!
I come home grateful that water comes out of my tap and it’s clean. I’m blessed that I don’t have to fetch fire wood to make my meals. I am glad I don’t have to till fields up steep slopes or lug my goods to market to put food on the table. We have driven past so many children barely clothed and labouring away when they should have been in school or playing........we take so much for granted!
As we drove along the Garden Route and into the Overberg we were reminded of just how much is on our own doorstep, stunning beauty and a whole world of adventure we look forward to coming back to some day. We stayed in Knysna visited the Birds of Eden and the Monkeys and wanted to do a lot more but things were complicated with timing and people.... far more important after a year of being on the road! Cheryl stayed over in Wilderness and we continued travelling to Cape Agulhas, another beautiful windy place. We were spoilt in Gansbaai and Hermanus staying over with very hospitable friends on our journey homeward, thank you Boet, Hannie, Sue and Bruce! In Gansbaai we did the shark cage diving and even though it was low season 6 different Great Whites visited the boat some for a few rounds. They were so fast and looked so big.... ‘5m’....no..... that is what they said we would say! The largest shark was 3.5m, still very big from that cage for sure!
My excitement rose with the last stretch into Cape Town, we were hosted by John and Annick till our house came open on the 31st – thanks guys what a great time we had! Our first night was spent in our traditional Friday pizza spot with some dear friends and Saturday night we were treated to a good gathering of more friends for a welcome home braai. Of course there was also the Sunday feast of welcoming at church.....a truly wonderful weekend!
So it is the close of our story, thanks for joining us, if you did enjoy the blogs and never said anything this is your last chance.....say goodbye! To those who left comments – thank you very much, you perhaps don’t know how much it meant; we felt supported by you and so appreciated and enjoyed your contact over the 32500kms we have travelled with Noddy and the Beast! We have slept in Noddy (the caravan) 280 nights in about 115 campsites and have stayed in about 128 different places over 357 days!
Thanks be to God that we have gotten home safe and sound, thanks be to God for such a rich adventure and thanks be to God that we have come home with a deepened faith and a real knowing of God’s presence, provision and love for us – a treasure to be sure!
x Sha