Our drive down the Wild Coast of South Africa was pretty miserable weather wise although we did see a number of rugged coastlines. Trouble is rugged coastlines tend to be rather unattractive when the wind is about 80mph and blowing stair rods into your face.

The radio announced that these were the worst weather conditions suffered in the Eastern Cape for about a hundred years, and our journey was interrupted on many occasions by washed away roads or roads had been closed by falling rocks.

Further there is probably nothing more depressing that camping on an exposed promontory with no shelter, and nowhere to go out of the rain except huddle in our small living space really not designed for long term camping.

We had to as the South Africans say “make a plan”, and I have to confess Janets idea to henceforth stay in Backpackers Lodges was inspirational. These are really guest houses where the worlds youth gather during their traditional “year off” so at least there is a bit of life and a thriving bar.

They can still cater for the van so we have the best of all worlds.

In fact as we proceeded through the rain to Storms River we stayed next door to the site of the worlds highest bungee jump (268 metres). All the kids came to stay as a base for their jump, and it was really interesting to see them the night before as a prisoner about to be executed, and the night after with so much adrenaline pumping that alcohol had no effect. A Dutch couple almost persuaded Janet to go for it but when she found out you had to be weighed and your weight written on your hand in indelible ink (so that the bungee rope could be adjusted accordingly) the refusal was polite but firm.

We viewed the DVD’s of these girls plunge into the Bloukrans chasm and quite frankly our respect for them grew immeasurably especially as one of them was petrified beyond belief, and simply cried uncontrollably as she was “hopped to the platform.”

In the short breaks between storms we have done a lot of beach and cliff top walking, and our whale count has reached almost the level of expert, including one that had beached at Buffalo Bay near Knysna, and since it was about 8 metres long no one had been able to refloat it. It just lay on the beach and provided food for billions of seagulls and funnily enough sea snails. It was really strange to see a 25foot monster being eaten by one centimetre mollusks.We hear the weather is going to substantially improve over the next few days with temperatures hitting 32-34 degrees. We’ll believe it when we see it!!!.

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