December 4, 1996
I met up with Rob Breen from Alaska, in Africa. He’s living in Johannesburg. Traveling takes a lot of time and it’s nice to chill out for a while. But, I am leaving for Maputo [Mozambique] tomorrow. Finally, Mozambique. Jo’Burg is actually quite nice when you know somebody.
Rob Breen, whom I met in Alaska. Visiting him in Johannesburg
I decided to buy a tent and found one for cheap. Now, I’m just trying to sort out the Malawi stuff [visa]. It’s been excellent here. All these guys are quite friendly. They all sort of show up…whenever…and often they all do a big feed. Very familial.
November 23, 1996
Gonna need a new journal soon. I’ve come to the Drakensburg Mountains. I’ve sorted some things out in my head and I’m going back to Durban tomorrow to DO something. Yesterday we went horseback riding through Spionkepe National Reserve. I saw the real Africa. Acacia trees standing like funny umbrellas and the animals I see in movies. I’m sitting here in a bungalow type hostel and am starting to feel the African vibe in me. I’m definitely going on safari, and I don’t think [river] guiding is going to be an option, which I’m actually fine with.
I’ll have been in South Africa a month – far too long I might add. Thanksgiving is coming up, perhaps I’ll try to call home. E.T. eat your heart out.
November, 20, 1996
Cape Town is left far behind and now I’m in Durban. I’ve traveled most of the Garden Route and my time in South Africa is almost done. It’s really sort of odd. I haven’t yet felt I’ve really “lived” Africa. South Africa has been somewhat of a disappointment to me. My route has taken me from Cape Town where it rained. I did try to get to the top of Table Mountain – got into the clouds and couldn’t make it. Went to Oudshoorn and rode an ostrich.
Oudshoorn - Ostrich Jockey
Knysna was beautiful – Natures Valley – like a tropical jungle next to the ocean. J-Bay. Ahh Jeffrey’s Bay – legendary surf spot. Most exciting place thus far. I actually got up on a surfboard there.
Now Durban. Actually, Durban is all right. I”m going to try to SCUBA and maybe deep sea fish. But I’ve been a complete idiot – leaving stuff all along the Garden Route. Hard lesson. I’m very excited to leave South Africa actually. But traveling hasn’t filled the void , which I’m feeling. Perhaps when I leave this part of the country and see the rest of what I cam to see. I’ve met billions of people and won’t remember any of them.
Little girls braiding my long hair.
November 5, 1996
So I’m on a train to Cape Town, South Africa. How did I end up here? Well, as it happens…After Moab I was back in Salt Lake for a shot time, although it seemed like forever. I spent about 2 weeks in L.A. right after that. (I met up with a couple guys that started a production company. They want me to come along. It seems like they’re going in a good direction, but they are and will always be a very very small shrimp in a vast ocean).
I flew to London and spent one night there. The next day I tried to see every major tourist attraction in London, and I did a pretty good job of it. About the only time I stopped was for lunch. What a great city. Pretty uneventful time while I was there.
Jumping on the plane from London I flew into Jo’burg. Barely caught the bus into town and I barely caught the train in time for Cape Town. It still hasn’t hit me I’m in Africa, but then again, I haven’t seen anything yet. The decision for Cape Town…well, cam down to the fact that I fugured I didn’t want to spend 1/3 of my time on the river. [Note to readers, my motivating factor was to be a river guide on the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.]