South African Vacation 2009 (Eventually)

It's high time that I start posting pictures from our vacation to South Africa in May / June...I know they are 3 months later so, sorry.

We flew on Emirates Airline directly to Cape Town where, after a HUGE mess up with the rental car, we finally went to Aunty Ann and Uncle Tony's Plumstead House. We spent the night there before going through to Scarbough the next day.

The drive to Scarbourgh was to say the least, Depressing. It brought back all the beauty of Cape Town that I had long forgotten, and an insane urge to pack up my life and move back down to Cape Town...then I lay down and the feeling passed...

After a good nights rest, we were ready to actually begin the vacation. What better way to introduce the children to the South African wildlife than a quick trip over the mountain to Boulders Beach and the Cape Town Penguin Breeding Program...

From Boulders it is just a Hop, Skip and a Jump over to Simon's Town Harbor...the home of

'Just Nuisance',

the Great Dane that was formally enlisted in the Royal Navy...see the following website for a full story...

http://www.simonstown.com/tourism/nuisance/nuisance.htm

The next day was a trip to Scratch patch which will follow on the next posting...

Well, after almost 8 years of doing Search & Rescue, they finally sent us on the HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) Course. As the name says, if we end up in the water, then escaping from the helicopter can be a little tricky. It was also an oppertunity to take my underwater camera for a proper test drive. Although the pictures are not too clear, I guess a small sacrifice is made for the ability to go underwater.

As in real life, there is alwas the possibilty that once in the water the helicopter will capsize. This changes everything when you are upside down...then, just to spice things up a little, they turn all the lights out...