South African Hooligans

This year we got to spend our Christmas and New Year holidays in South Africa with our good friends the Hodgskins (Clinton, Bronwen, Bella and Emily). This is our second visit to see them this year! This visit however we were also privileged to see other friends Martin and Kate Clark and Braeden and Sam Clark. It was like a big reunion. We first flew down to George (on the southern coast about two hours or so outside Capetown) and stayed with Bronwen's parents in Knysna along the garden route. It was such a gorgeous area of the country. We really enjoyed it. The picture above is the view from Bronwen's parents' back porch. This is what we woke up to for a week - complete silence except for an occasional baboon...


Later on in the week, the nearby horse farm brought up seventeen horses to graze on their land. It was definitely a highlight for all the kids.



Sammy feeding the horses with Grandpa Jeff


New Year's Eve




We had several opportunities to relax at the beach. Sammy was always covered the second her feet touched the sand. She ate sand covered crisps and biscuits the whole time and didn't complain.

New Year's eve we had a BBQ (the first time I have ever done that this time of year) with some neighbors.


Abby and Bella after a day at the beach


New Year's Day



On New Year's day we went on a hike with Sam and Braeden Clark (along with the Hodgskins). We hiked the most beautiful route right along the coast. On the way back we even saw a school of dolphins jumping out in the ocean. It couldn't have been more perfect!









It started out as an easy leisurely walk...


but it soon turned into quite a difficult hike especially with two infants and two toddles on board.



We hiked for an hour and a half or two hours and ended up at a cave. This is a photo with Braeden and Sam Clark and their family when we all reached the cave.



This is the sign we saw AFTER we finished the hike...




The following day, we met up with Martin and Kate Clark who stayed with us for a few days. Above is (from left to right): Bella, Emily, Hailey, Abby, Sammy, and Payton - six girls!


We went on a boat the next day with them. (Martin is in the foreground, Kate is in the jean shorts)



Here are the three friends all born in London



typical Africa





After a week at Bronwen's parents' house Charles and Clinton took off on a "guys only" or a"manly" roadtrip (really they had to drive all of Hodgskins stuff back to Jo'burg). Bronwen, I and the girls all flew back a few days later. As compensation for leaving us with the kids for several days, Clinton and Charles surprised us with a visit to a spa (pictured above). I got several hours of a body scrub and steam capsule treatment as well as a head massage, and full body massage. It was heaven!

Emily and Samantha

When we got back to Ermelo where Hodgskins live (two hours outside Johannesburg) we went on another trip up north to the Mpumalanga region. We stayed at a resort in Sabie.

a picture taken from the car while driving around the mpumalanga area

shanty town

Pilgrim's Rest - a recreated mining town

monkeys in Pilgrim's Rest

God's Window in Blyde's River Canyon Nature Reserve

Charles and Clinton with all the girls at God's window

We went on a hike in Blyde River Canyon and while hiking we went through a rain forest. It was amazing upon entering the forest how the temperature dropped by at least 20 degrees. It felt so good.

This is about the time when our camera batteries died. We continued on and explored a cave but it was too dark for pictures anyway. We had a great three weeks. Charles and Clinton are already talking about what we will do next time...