Hike Number 1

We have been in South Africa for a little over a week.  The week has been filled with running around conducting the business of setting up a new household, opening bank accounts, and most importantly setting up internet.  I contemplated writing about the joys of the bureaucracy here in Cape Town but thought better of it. Yesterday my wife and I took our first hike.  Luckily trails leading into Table Mountain National Park are a ten minute walk up the hill.  We walked up to the Cecil Rhodes Memorial just up the hill from the University of Cape Town.  We then continued our hike from there up a random trail.  The trail we took initially went up a nice incline following a spur.  We came to a t-intersection at what must have been an old military road leading up to an old military post I saw on the map.  We continued on the road heading north and ran into quite a few mountain bike riders.  I can’t wait till our stuff gets here.  On our right was the city of Cape Town and on our left was some of the most beautiful country I have seen in a while.  As we walked the view of the city changed from the southern suburbs, made up of a group of neighborhoods with names like Mowbray, Rondebosch, and Clairemont, and continued until the City Bowl and the docks were in view.  We could see the new stadium, signal hill and the peak of Lions Head.  We even got to see a few Zebras through the binoculars my father in law gave us before we went on our trip.  All in all it was a wonderful hike even a novice hiker could handle.  I was surprised I didn’t see more people on it. 

The Big Move

My last three days in the United States were hectic.  My wife and I had a very long list of things to do and we had a hard deadline.  During those last three days I slept a total of probably 8 to12 hours and we worked almost every hour which did not involve sleeping.  My wife even had an unplanned dental visit the day before we flew.  My wife was an amazing taskmaster.  She made a long list of things we would like to have done before we leave and she was intent on crossing everyone of those off her list  In the end we did not accomplish that goal but we came close.  We had new carpet installed, I finished a doorway (everything from fitting the doors, to fabricating and installing the threshold to sanding, staining and varnishing the doors), re-laying tiles on our kitchen sink, fixing two other doors, cleaning, packing last minute stuff, cutting cable, buying South African Rand, delivering our vehicles to the new owners, and a few pages of other things to include a valentine's dinner at Kingfisher, our favorite restaurant in Tucson. Those three days sucked so much that I was looking forward to the 28 hour travel time we had ahead of us.  In the end I think all the suck was worth it.  My wife, I, and our dogs all arrived safe.  We like our little house despite the many little flaws, and in spite of having to run around town for completing the simplest task are starting to really enjoy the city for its natural beauty and some of the friendly people we have met so far.   Below is a picture of the view in front of our house.

. 

My Mama Cried

Yesterday, when I told my mom that Sunday would be the day we take the dogs to the airport, she began to cry.  She told me that if Reeses, our dachshund, were to die in Africa that I should bring home her ashes.  Interestingly, she has shown no emotion about me leaving.  When I told her about this job, she didn't even blink.  All she has said is "allá tú es tu negocio"; roughly translated all she has said is, its your business.  I'm really going to miss being able to drop everything I'm doing to go help my mom or my sisters when they need it.  I feel like I'll be on the other side of the world and helpless.   

Everything Mostly Falling in Place

In about a week or so my wife and I will be flying to Cape Town and our little girls will be on their way sleeping in Houston Texas or Amsterdam.  It looks like everything is starting to fall into place.  The movers came in a few days ago and packed up our stuff and loaded it on a truck in less than four hours.  They did forget to pack a few things, like our wine rack, and packed things they shouldn't have, like my keys, but all in all they were very friendly and efficient people.  I guess I will not be turning in my keys to the U of A anytime soon.   

On a disappointing note, I will not be taking Helga.  She will not be going on road trips through South African wine country or taking me on adventures to the Serengeti Plain.  She will have to settle for staying in North America and be our vacation motorcycle if she is not sold in the next week.  We have been very busy and the next post just might be from Cape Town.

For a more complete story of our more recent life, you might want to visit my wife's posting at
http://withoutcomplexities.blogspot.com/2011/02/now-what.html