Catch up...... sorry

Hi All,

Apologies. It's been a whole country since I last wrote, and being slack with the diary I can barely remember what I've been up to.

The Namibian desert was a huge huge highlight. It's been rainy season across Africa so it's looked much more green and lush than I'd expected, so it didn't feel as desolate or as stark. This changed in Namibia. I have some amazing photos of red rock mountains, sand dunes, setting sun and petrified forests.  Spectacular - it feels a bit like looking across a huge ocean when you look at the sand dunes and dessert - something enormous, beautiful and terrifying about them both.

We slept out in the desert for two nights running (I was in need of a shower, but not a patch on Glastonbury). The moon was full, and at night you didn't need a head torch to see. On the first night we camped by the main road running through the desert and no vehicle passed the entire night. The second night we camped by some stunning rocky mountains - I (being an intrepid explorer) decided to spend the night away from the rest of the camp and slept outside on my own. So off I set, and had a funnily surreal moment when I was brushing my teeth in my sleeping bag in the middle of the desert, miles from anything. I thought it must be the most romantic thing to sleep out on your own under the full moon. But...having decided to sleep with my glasses on in case anything attacked me, and zipped the sleeping bag up round my face to stop insects or snakes getting in I woke up at 1.30 am terrified. I packed up my sleeping bag as quickly as I could and ran back to my tent, zipped myself in and continued having nightmares about sleeping outside on my own. In the morning I was told that hyenas have been known to eat the faces off of people who sleep outside with their arms zipped into their sleeping bag so they can't depend themselves, not to mention the snakes etc. Horrid Horrid. But I assure you I still have a face. Phew.

I'm now in S.Africa. Had a wonderful time in Cape Town along the very lively, Long Street. At night it reminded me of Moulin Rouge with a bustling, slightly seedy and bohemian night life scene set above the street on stunning old dilapidated balconies.

I went over the Robben Island (fascinating and terrifying) and all the other attractions. The markets and vibe in Cape Town is fantastic, and contrasts heavily with the affluent bays dotted along the coast.

I spend a funny few nights in Oudtshoorn where the main industry is the Ostrich. Everywhere are shops selling  Ostrich feather dusters, eggs, meat, etc.... I visited one of the farms - but passed on riding one. They really are the most disgusting creatures I've ever seen (up close).

Whilst there I cycled 54k from the top of their highest mountain point down. It was spectacular with rolling mist and dramatic mountains - I needed a support vehicle for some of it because the winds were so strong and were blowing me over onto the other side of the road, and near the cliff edge. When the vehicle left they gave me a puncture repair kit - I had to laugh, I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it if I did get a puncture up in the mountains.

I'm currently in Plettenburg Bay, again stunning mountain, coastal views and walks. I went for a scramble today. Tonight I'm off to Jeffrey's Bay where I'm meeting lots of people I've been travelling with on and off and we're going surfing tomorrow. I hear the waves are expected to be enormous - so fingers crossed.

Hope all is well with you all,

Love x