So the expedition begins – Day 1

My Surf Skis finally arrived on Thursday late afternoon after a 3 week wait which delayed our departure by 6 days. I headed off early on Friday morning to fetch my “seconder” – Paul Brouwer en route in Darling. Paul will be looking after me till the middle of November when I hope to in or around Cape Town.

The drive up to the Orange River was an 800km mixed bag of conditions. Rain storm in darling- hail storm near Springbok and then hot dry conditions at the end. Arriving in Alexander Bay is a little depressing. The town is slowly fading away but the people here are warm and welcoming.

Our first order was to find our guest house, Af en Toe. It’s an old 9 bedroom communal house which we have all to ourselves. Our second task was to get down to the harbour and check out the sea conditions. Access to the harbour is restricted as it is in the mine area. After a few calls we hopped into a mine security vehicle and were driven down to the harbour. All the diamond dredging boats were safely hiding away in the harbour with the sea pounding 5m swells into the coast. Every now and then a wave would close out across the entrance! Certainly not what we wanted to see.

What to do!

I decided that we will have another look on Saturday morning and try and give it a go. Back to the guest house for a plate of spagbog ala Paul and a good night rest. We had arranged a security vehicle to escort us and the Land Rover to the harbour at 8am. No need for an early start with only a 12km paddle ahead. Thankfully the wind had not started blowing but the swell was still thumping. Keen to get the paddling on the go I decided to give it a bash.

Wow what an experience!!!

I am not shy to admit I was “crapping” myself as I paddled out of the harbour. I don’t remember paddling in swells this big before. I counted 10 seconds to go up and down the other side. I made a beeline for the deep sea to stay away from the rogue swells that had their tops cresting and breaking. Getting hit by one of these would have been disastrous. From my GPS track I worked my way 2km off shore before heading North. At the top of each swell the wind would suddenly gust strongly offshore. This is caused by the air the wave displaces as it moves forward. Freaky!!

I paddled 7km to the Namibian border before turning around and heading south. The way back I could follow my GPS track which was comforting. By this time the vis had improved and I was feeling excited. Approaching the harbour I followed the leading lights in. Paul was on the VHF radio giving his advice and with this I made a safe and much relieved return to Alexander Bay harbour.

Lucky Draw Prizes

Farr Out Guest House & Stay at Paternoster have sponsored 1 Nights accomm  odation for 2 on B&B basis at Farr Out Guesthouse in Paternoster including exclusive use of Wood fired Hot Tub, total value for 2: R 1120, voucher will be valid till end October 2012.

Tamodi Lodge & Stableswere created by Lynne and Owen Johnston out of their passion for horses and the magnificent valleys of the Crags. This love has transcended into a truly luxurious bed and brea kfast in Plettenberg Bay, perfect for a quiet and tranquil ho liday focusing on the outdoors. Up for grabs is a 2 Nights stay for 2 people.

On offer from KeySafeSA is a set of a small magnetic KeySafe and a FLUID LOCK.  The KeySafe holds a single key and can be attached to a drainpipe or other hidden place. Ideal for homeowners who don’t want to leave a key under a pot plant. Retails at R45.  The FLUID LOCK is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast who wants a safer more secure alternative to leaving their vehicle key hidden on the wheel of their car, under a rock, or elsewhere. It also removes the risk of damaging or losing car keys in the water or on the trail.  The FLUID LOCK has a large chamber to fit most vehicle keys, including 4×4 vehicle keys with transponders. Retails at R450.

Create your own travel/holiday Photo Book with RapidStudio & Bragbooks.  

We have  2 xR500 printing vouchers along with the RapidStudio Photo Book software to give away. Place your Eternal Memories into a professionally bound Photo Book, printed on the highest-quality paper. We’ll print and bind your hard cover or soft cover photo books with as much love as with what you designed it.

Want no more pesky mosquitos bothering you?  With Vital Protection this is indeed possible.  Vital protection is a highly effective, market leading anti-insect protection technology that can safeguard the user and fabric from biting insects like mosquitos, midges, sand flies, fleas and bed bugs.  We have X2 Vital Protection Am2 -100ml Valued @ R119.95 each, X2 Vital Protection Am2 -220ml Valued @ R219.95 each, and X1 Vital Protection Am2 -1L Valued @ R495.00.

Courtesy of The Paddling Centre and Dawid Mocke a Ocean ABC paddling course.  The OceanABC Paddling course takes you from: “This is a surf-ski…” to “This is how you catch a wave…” to “This is how to shoot a flare…” After completing the course you will have heard everything there is to hear about offshore paddling as well as given it a solid crack.  The course is 5 sessions and is valued at R500.

More prizes from Xplor Portable Power and Seagull Industries to be announced.

To enter the Lucky Draws click here