Les Departures Commence

Zoonie
Thu 5 Nov 2020 10:30

Les Departures Commence

We have heard on the Facebook grapevine that from the 9th November not only flight and vehicle passengers but also cruising yachtsfolk will be allowed visas when they reach South Africa so we can move around as freely as security will allow. We plan to leave Monday, as you reach the point where whatever the weather forecasts for a few days’ time changes daily anyway so if there is a reasonable window for leaving one might as well go and deal with the rest when out there, as per usual. We have just over 1400 miles to go, so much shorter than the deep Indian Ocean crossing, but then I have no doubt there will be more challenges as we approach the African coast and the Agulhas Current for the last three hundred miles or so, there always are! Our friends Janneke and Weitze report from Anna Caroline, now in Richards Bay, that they were nearly rolled twice as they travelled the 2000 miles from the Sechelles down the Mozambique Channel to Richards Bay. Luckily we are crossing the channel on a 900 mile leg and not batting against head winds as they were.

I wanted you to meet ‘Mydog’ as I have temporarily named him. As Andre from Mirabella says, “he always looks as if his mother died yesterday” he is the benign king of the marina, and watches over the other two, the smaller orange long-haired one and the orange short-haired one who is destined for a new home in France as I mentioned. She is being cuddled by the Spanish lady (who has a bossy Jack Russell of her own, Mydog does not take issue as he knows it is just passing through) and who ‘rescued’ her and took her to the vet to have her battle-wound attended to.

The Chilean father and son left this morning, shortly after followed by Swiss Andre and Eva and their daughters Jael (whose birthday party we went to the other evening) and her little sister, Amina aboard Mirabella. Lastly our two Italian friends on Milanto and we hope to see them all again in Durban. I loved the way the dogs were an essential part of the farewell party, having made friends with lots of the dog-starved mariners and their children. You notice how Mydog is actually waving goodbye!

It is very hot here today, 28’ in our little saloon with all windows open, but we are not complaining.

We have just had a friendly email from Shireen of the Marina in Durban who will try and find us a mooring a few days after we get there and who knows maybe we will take a safari into Kruger National Park as well, I must I must overcome my fear of big pussy cats!

We did our last Wednesday market trip yesterday; just look at the vanilla products on sale! I still have some vanilla paste left from Tahiti would you believe, so I didn’t buy anything on that stall, instead lots of lovely fresh, local fruit and veg.

There are big spaces in the marina now and the Reunion live-aboards are mourning the passing of the winter visitors; some have been here for months including Mirabella who had to lock down on board for two months; Andre and Eva were more concerned for their girls’ lack of exercise than the girls were! There won’t be many more yachts arriving from across the Indian Ocean now as the Cyclone season is upon us.

We have just one more event planned before we leave; dinner out at one of the local Creole restaurants. Worry not, I’ll send a full report!

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