Vuyo and me in the Cederburg
My absailing attempt
Kalk Bay, east of Cape Town
Coffee shop in Kalk Bay where good coffee is said to be. It was good, nice stormy day outside.Saturday, August 18, 2007
The photos have finally come
Vuyo and me in the Cederburg My absailing attempt Kalk Bay, east of Cape Town Coffee shop in Kalk Bay where good coffee is said to be. It was good, nice stormy day outside.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
books, books and fluffy puppies
I think I will alternate posts between the fun times and the stressors. :)
Over two weeks ago, the last weekend in July, I went to Kalk Bay because a friend lost a bet and owed me coffee at the best place he knew. Went into town that evening and met a woman from the States who knew a professor at Wheaton and is a psychologist herself and then on to a birthday party at an Irish Pub.
Enrolled Vuyo in obedience classes the next weekend, sitting he has down quite well. And coming to me when his name is called, giving him treats when his name is said, helps with that.
Also waded through a book fair for charity and tried to constrain myself at the thought of books. Just bought 4. I think that was also the evening I played laser tag. I managed not to be last in points, but was the bottom of those on the positive side. Sunday was a walk up around Cecil Rhodes’ memorial. My friend brought his dog along and kept giving Scruffy encouragement as everyone bypassed her to meet Vuyo.
Over two weeks ago, the last weekend in July, I went to Kalk Bay because a friend lost a bet and owed me coffee at the best place he knew. Went into town that evening and met a woman from the States who knew a professor at Wheaton and is a psychologist herself and then on to a birthday party at an Irish Pub.
Enrolled Vuyo in obedience classes the next weekend, sitting he has down quite well. And coming to me when his name is called, giving him treats when his name is said, helps with that.
Also waded through a book fair for charity and tried to constrain myself at the thought of books. Just bought 4. I think that was also the evening I played laser tag. I managed not to be last in points, but was the bottom of those on the positive side. Sunday was a walk up around Cecil Rhodes’ memorial. My friend brought his dog along and kept giving Scruffy encouragement as everyone bypassed her to meet Vuyo.
Kicking the Car to the Curb in Swellendam
So I have a lot of catching up and making up to do for my lack of posting. Hope I haven’t lost any loyal followers with my delays. :) The computer issues as well as access to the internet have been abounding. Unfortunately the pictures aren't accessible just now, but I do have plenty to show. So first the words and later the pictures.
Since I last posted…my car woes have continued, culminating this past weekend. Last Thursday was a public holiday and so I took Friday off, along with the rest of Cape Town and managed to find a place to go that would let me bring Vuyo as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted to see how well my bug could go now that I had fixed a few problems (replaced the starter, solenoid, fan belt and battery). I got it up to 140 KPH (60 mph), just briefly, I didn’t stay there. The car overheated and I sat in the middle of nowhere for an hour waiting for the car to cool down. Drove on a bit further, but things sounded worse and then the oil light came on. So I parked it and the realized I was on the doorstep of a B&B. I managed to take the last room as another car was arriving and they towed my beetle down to the parking lot.
The owner’s son and his family were visiting and so they found a mechanic to come look at the car the next morning and the step granddaughter and her boyfriend took me with them to have pizza. Being in a rural area, everything is closed on the weekend and there are no beetle parts locally. The mechanic said he would have to open up the engine and couldn’t order parts until Monday. Left the car there. A friend picked me up late Saturday afternoon (I was two hours outside of Cape Town in Swellendam). We drove to Hermaneus, which is the resort town for Capetonians and stayed in my friend’s family holiday home – and one person compared it to Monterey, CA. Sunday was lovely, walking around, spotting whales (they come to Hermaneus to mate).
Yesterday I upgraded my automobile association membership to include long-distance towing, must wait 72 hours to utilize it and will call Saturday to have my car towed to Cape Town. But now spending this week seeking out transport has been a bit hectic.
On top of that just emotionally worn down trying to navigate some relationships.
Since I last posted…my car woes have continued, culminating this past weekend. Last Thursday was a public holiday and so I took Friday off, along with the rest of Cape Town and managed to find a place to go that would let me bring Vuyo as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted to see how well my bug could go now that I had fixed a few problems (replaced the starter, solenoid, fan belt and battery). I got it up to 140 KPH (60 mph), just briefly, I didn’t stay there. The car overheated and I sat in the middle of nowhere for an hour waiting for the car to cool down. Drove on a bit further, but things sounded worse and then the oil light came on. So I parked it and the realized I was on the doorstep of a B&B. I managed to take the last room as another car was arriving and they towed my beetle down to the parking lot.
The owner’s son and his family were visiting and so they found a mechanic to come look at the car the next morning and the step granddaughter and her boyfriend took me with them to have pizza. Being in a rural area, everything is closed on the weekend and there are no beetle parts locally. The mechanic said he would have to open up the engine and couldn’t order parts until Monday. Left the car there. A friend picked me up late Saturday afternoon (I was two hours outside of Cape Town in Swellendam). We drove to Hermaneus, which is the resort town for Capetonians and stayed in my friend’s family holiday home – and one person compared it to Monterey, CA. Sunday was lovely, walking around, spotting whales (they come to Hermaneus to mate).
Yesterday I upgraded my automobile association membership to include long-distance towing, must wait 72 hours to utilize it and will call Saturday to have my car towed to Cape Town. But now spending this week seeking out transport has been a bit hectic.
On top of that just emotionally worn down trying to navigate some relationships.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Week in Updates
Monday night my friend Doug came to help me work on my car. He thought it was the relay and so we looked at that and then conferred with my handy dandy book, "How to Keep Your VW Alive". Then we went looking for the starter. I jacked up the car and took the tire off and put a screwdriver across the connections on the solenoid, connecting the starter to the battery and my engine turned. That was exciting, although it was pouring rain throughout our work. So then the book says, that the problem must be that there is dirt and rust in the solenoid and bang on it with a hammer. The car started right up after that. :)
Then it died the next night. :( I was rushing home with a friend to meet other people to go to a soccer game between a local team and a British team. My car died right by the stadium, so people weren't happy and the police came and helped push start it. Eight of us walked to the stadium and were greeted by a line of police, we couldn't buy tickets at the gate. So we turned to the scalpers who had received free tickets from the provincial government, the problem was there was a lot of discussion since there were 8 people trying to get as many of us to have seats together. The police pushed forward and one came and took the tickets and grabbed hold of one of the people selling them. So we missed the game, because the ticket outlets were already closed. Some of us went to a a bar and listened to jazz instead.
Wednesday night, the screwdriver connection resulted in nothing, so I figured my starter needed to be replaced. Took it to a mechanic the next day and replaced the starter and solenoid, the fan belt, learned the battery cells were dry and just replaced the battery as well. I also got to talk with the mechanic about bug issues and watch him work. So I learned a lot of things.
The next day on my way to clinical supervision the car started clanking and then died. I called the mechanic and he was able to come out (unfortunately two hours later), so a friend dropped off a book and some coffee and I waited. The mechanic came, fiddled a bit, determined the car wasn't firing on all cylinders and we took it to the garage, but by the time we got there, it was running fine.
The big problem was that it has been raining this past week unlike I have seen this whole time. Seems like almost nonstop and there has even been lightening and thunder which is very rare for Cape Town. So bugs don't do so well with rain sometimes. But it is running better than it has run the whole time I have owned it and I am learning all sorts of things about cars now.
Then it died the next night. :( I was rushing home with a friend to meet other people to go to a soccer game between a local team and a British team. My car died right by the stadium, so people weren't happy and the police came and helped push start it. Eight of us walked to the stadium and were greeted by a line of police, we couldn't buy tickets at the gate. So we turned to the scalpers who had received free tickets from the provincial government, the problem was there was a lot of discussion since there were 8 people trying to get as many of us to have seats together. The police pushed forward and one came and took the tickets and grabbed hold of one of the people selling them. So we missed the game, because the ticket outlets were already closed. Some of us went to a a bar and listened to jazz instead.
Wednesday night, the screwdriver connection resulted in nothing, so I figured my starter needed to be replaced. Took it to a mechanic the next day and replaced the starter and solenoid, the fan belt, learned the battery cells were dry and just replaced the battery as well. I also got to talk with the mechanic about bug issues and watch him work. So I learned a lot of things.
The next day on my way to clinical supervision the car started clanking and then died. I called the mechanic and he was able to come out (unfortunately two hours later), so a friend dropped off a book and some coffee and I waited. The mechanic came, fiddled a bit, determined the car wasn't firing on all cylinders and we took it to the garage, but by the time we got there, it was running fine.
The big problem was that it has been raining this past week unlike I have seen this whole time. Seems like almost nonstop and there has even been lightening and thunder which is very rare for Cape Town. So bugs don't do so well with rain sometimes. But it is running better than it has run the whole time I have owned it and I am learning all sorts of things about cars now.
Watermelon Blue
The first picture is of Don absailing. Don is in Cape Town from the States on a Fulbright Scholarship. More donkeys, Taryn and Sarah resting and Spencer spending time with Vuyo.
The Desert Rocks
Pictures of the scenery, Philippa spending time with the leader of the pack and the "river" crossing.
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