Had a great morning at the beach with the boys while the girls stayed at home. Stalked some big fish in the rock pools while the tide was going out and ended up catching a couple with Luke and Mike scaring them into the waiting nets.
Came home for a delicious chicken roast that Nads had made and then were so full that we had to have a really lazy afternoon and spend it on the couch and the bed.
Dani on duty: Woke up with not hearing all the noise that the boys made. The boys went to fish except for John. After I finished some work, we walked down to the beach. John and I jumped off the big rock. He surprised me with his bravery, he wasn’t scared to jump off the first time, like me! I went to catch fish, but was not successful so I went to catch crabs. When I had one in my nets and I was about to take it to the bucket, I slipped on a rock and cut my foot on the barnacles. Unfortunately the crab got away and I was left crying on the rock. Thank goodness Mom heard me and came as quickly as she could, and sort of carried me to the towels. Mom phoned Dad and he had to come pick us up in the car, because I couldn’t walk.
At the Cottage Mom took care of me and the boys went to buy chelsea buns. Mom served me lunch in bed and I read my book. Later I played Uno with the boys and Luke got the highest score. Mom taught us how to play General Knowledge, and won more than us.
At bath time my cuts were very sore, as I tried to put them in the water, it stung worse than a bee sting. Then we put cream on my cuts. Then the boys and I played Uno. Luke and I joined up as a team for the last round, but Mikey and Dad won. That night Luke slept in my bed and I finished reading Mr Meddle.
Nads doing blog duty: It’s the start of the 2nd school term back home, and it may be the guilt factor working, but Dani and Luke got on with catching up school work so well this morning. It also may help that there were no distractions of a beach, lagoon etc. Whatever the reason, we all had smiles on our faces all morning.
We then did the necessary trip to Port Shepstone, with a list of things to get and do. Two and half hours later we were back at the Cottage for lunch. Being here at The Cottage is so great as it’s giving us a chance to also do “nothing”.
We rode the bikes to the beach in the late afternoon, giving the kids a chance to jump off the rock into the tidal pool, and catch a few fish and crabs in the rock pools before heading back.
Luke reporting: Woke up early had a little play around. Went to church came out went to get some sweets and fishing stuff paid for it. Went home had egg rolls for breakfast, anther play around and went to the dolphin house to get the surf boards to go surfing at Uvongo beach. Got there at 1:00 went to surf in the sea. Got a little bit wobbly when I stood then it became easier and easier.
Then drove to WIMPY at Margate for lunch. I had french toast, then we went to Margate Amusement Park for super fun. First we went on BUMPER CARS, we kept bashing into each other. Then we went on the AEROPLANE. Then went COOL SUPER TUBING that was very fun. Walked back to the car and drove back to cottage and rode to the shops and got two floats for fishing.
Daniela on duty: I remember waking up with Mikey’s singing and it wasn’t pleasant at all. Later on, Luke decided to go fishing, thought I would join him, but you catch nothing without bait so I played in the mud. I made a mud lady this time and it looked like me. Mom told me to wash up because it was time to go to the cottage.
We got in the car and started to go after packing up. It was a three and a half hour drive and I was reading in the car and feeling a bit car sick, but I couldn’t get my eyes off the book. When we got to the cottage, there was a slight problem with the gate. While Dad was fixing it, the boys and I went to buy sweets at the shop.
I felt like a dream came true when I saw the makeup on the table. I guess its Gaia’s, but who cares, I love it (sorry Gaia if it was yours, I used a bit). Mom made delicious brunch, then we ate our yummy sweets. I bet mine was the best because it was a toffee whizzer. I played a game with the boys like Katie did with me, you give a list to the others that is like things you can find in a garden or anywhere, but you’ve got to make sure you’ve got chocolates and sweets, so you can trick them into magic :-). Bath and then bed.
Nads reporting: Things were still wet and muddy this morning, so we had breakfast on the table in the caravan. The day outside was clear and sunny. The campsite is set on the Umzimvubu River with 2 huge cliffs on either side of the camp, its setting is awesome. We packed a picnic and set off to the beach. We drove past 1st and 2nd Beaches and decided to try the other side of the river, the side Cremorne Estate is on to find a beach. 5kms down the road we found a beach that seemed to fit the order. Our avo sandwiches tasted even better on a deserted beach with a few odd long horned bulls on it.
Back to the campsite where the soggy soil had dried out enough to walk on it. The kids got their fishing rods to fish off the jetty, and soon turned their attention to the clay from the river banks to make mud-men and mud snakes. We literally had to scrub them to get them clean. Our campsite also has a little wooden gazebo that overlooks the river, we enjoyed a superb braai in our private gazebo, a great way to end a day on the Wild Coast.
Did some very quick dismantling of the tent this morning to avoid it getting wet in the rain. Left Morgan Bay and it started really coming down, but all the kit was dry, so just in time. On the way to Port Saint John we got a call and heard that Ashleigh, the lady who was kicked by the horse, passed away today – so sad. She was going to be released from Frere Hospital yesterday and then they discovered she had a ruptured liver, went in for an op and did not make it.
The drive along the Wild Coast was really scenic, even in the rain and the roads are pretty good. Stopped at Mthatha for Steers lunch and arrived at Cremorne Resort near Port Saint Johns this afternoon in very wet conditions. Had to put the Caravellovan into action which is keeping us 100% dry and working like a champ.
Luke reporting: We had an action packed day today. I rode my bike a few times around the camp and went on Tim’s bakkie to the horses. We took a long time until we got the horses out and then we went. My horse’s name was In Sync, Dani’s was Alexander the Great, Mike’s was Excalibur, John’s was Royal Revenge, Kelly’s was Chester, Tara’s was Gunston, Mom’s was Midnight and Dad’s was Buckle.
Rode all the way to the beach, had a little trot on the beach and we went so fast I couldn’t go up and down it was so bumpy. Rode some more back to the stables. Took us two hours to come back. Felt wobbly on our feet when we came back.
Jumped on my bike and went to the hotel for lunch again. I got calamari and chips and an iced coffee, which I ordered on the walkie talkie with Dad. After that came back to the camp and went to go see Tara, Kelly and Tim pumping sand prawns and fishing for spotted grunters. Ran back to the caravan, got our fishing rods and went fishing. I caught two spotties, Dani caught one, Mike caught one and John caught two. A little mistake we did, my last fish that I caught died. We think it will be eaten by a cob.
It was a beautiful sunset and we left when it was dark. We had hot cross buns for supper and it is our last night in Morgan Bay, my favourite campsite I have ever been to.
We were supposed to go horse riding today, but while we were at the stables, one of the ladies that works there was kicked in the chest by a horse. We called an ambulance which could only come from East London, so we loaded her into the owner’s car, barely conscious, and they met the ambulance on the N2 halfway to East London. Spoke to them later and it looks like she will be OK.
Instead we went canoeing on the river and the kids took the rods with them – good fun. Went to Morgan Bay Hotel for lunch which was right on the beach and the food was delicious. Daniela and the kids spent most of lunch shopping for sunglasses at the little market close by.
Took an afternoon drive to Double Mouth and walked up the lagoon to explore a bit. Tara and Kelly (who we met at the horse riding) came with us and later the kids watched walked over to their campsite and watched their Dad catch fish with a throwing net. Early supper now before John falls into bed.
Dani on duty: This morning we woke up and had avo toast and did some school work, then joined the boys fishing from the campsite into the lagoon. I caught the first fish, but everybody got a turn to catch one. Mikey’s was the biggest and we used bread for bait.
Went to Kei Mouth to do some shopping and get money for the horse ride that we are going to do tomorrow. We explored the river mouth and watched people fishing and getting their lines tangled. I finished the Famous Five book I was reading and thought is was so curious and exciting.
We got back to have a braai and one guy caught lots of fish and said we could put them back. Had a yummy braai and then marshmallows were the best part. Had a bath with John and went to bed.
