Category: this is south africa

That Bicycle Kick

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The whole world simply can’t get over this amazing injury time equaliser scored by Baroka FC goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke late (late) last night. I mean it – it’s been posted on news sites across the entire planet.

Look, not many keepers go up for last minute corners. And if they do, even fewer actually manage to touch the ball, let alone score. And if they do, then it’s going to be a toe poke tap in after a scramble or a lucky header in a massively-congested six-yard box.

No-one scores a bicycle kick from almost 18 yards out. But Oscarine Masuluke did.

Road Trip pics

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As Gwede “Uncle Gweezy” Mantashe confirms that there are no plans for the ANC to recall President Jacob Zuma and the Rand responds with a now customary gravity-inspired trip downwards, I’m still enjoying the memory of a great trip back from Agulhas yesterday.

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Not the quickest journey back. In fact, at 8½ hours, definitely the longest. But definitely one of the most interesting too. Dirt roads, ostriches, tortoises, places that Google Maps hasn’t even heard of, two lighthouses (one of which we got all to ourselves) and some uitstekende scenery.

There are photos, obviously – I’ve put them in with all the weekend stuff here. But all in all, it was just great spending some time with my Dad and having the chance to see a few places that we didn’t even know we’d be passing.

Did I mention that we had a whole lighthouse to ourselves as well?

Long way home

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“It’s not about the final destination it’s all about the journey” – that’s what all those motivational quotes always say.

What nonsense.

It’s all about the destination when we come down to Agulhas. All we want is to get here, light the braai, open some beers and have a chilled evening. The escape from the harsh urban reality of the week can then begin.  And the same with the return trip. Leave as late as you can, swear lots at Somerset West, get home and mentally prepare for the week ahead.

Tomorrow is different though. Tomorrow we are going to drive back very slowly and it will be all about the journey and hardly anything about the destination. Which will be Cape Town.

Thanks to the luxury of my 4-day weekend, I am able to meander back along the coast, and I fully intend to go on as many dirt roads as I possibly can and stop to take as many photographs as I wish. If it takes me 8 hours to get home, well so be it, because tomorrow it really doesn’t matter.

Tomorrow is all about the journey and has nothing to do with the destination. We’ll hug the south coast as much as possible, driving through L’Agulhas, Struisbaai and then hanging a sho’t left towards places with wild names like Baardskeedersbos and Wolvengat. From there: Pearly Beach, Danger Point, Franskraal, Gansbaai, Stanford and Hermanus. And then back through Kleinmond and Rooi Els to Gordon’s Bay.

It could take 4 hours, it could take 8. But either way, the SD card is primed and the camera batteries are ready to go.

But that’s tomorrow. Today is all about rockpooling, fish’n’chips, beers in the afternoon sun and some decent steak on the braai this evening.

Saturday excuses

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Often, when we’re heading down to Agulhas, I prepare posts in advance so that if I forget to blog, I’m covered. Sadly, I forgot to do that this time around (thanks to my four day weekend), so I have had to remember to post this.

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I’ve had a chilled day with an excellent lunch at the Black Oystercatcher before heading back to Struisbaai and watching the local fishing fleet coming in. And that above is last night’s sunset. Hashtag no filter.

Tomorrow promises more relaxation and a walk along the beach before a long meander home on Monday.