Crane Berry

 As the colours of fall brighten the tree line, thought turn, with gratitude to rich harvest.  With Thanksgiving around the corner, we decided to visit Johnston's Cranberry Marsh to learn a little more about that little red treasure.

 Originally named the Crane-berry after the crane-like features of its late spring flower, the cranberry grows in acid, sandy soil enjoying warm summer days.  This low lying vine never needs replanting. It can continue to produce for years.  These cranberries are in a field planted in the 1950's.
Cranberries are ripe when they are white in colour. The red colouration occurs as the berries are exposed to colder weather. The higher the berry grows on the vine, the more exposed it is to the weather.  Higher berries turn red sooner than the berries growing closer to the ground.

 Because the cranberry has air pockets, it has been discovered that it will float. Gone are the days of hand-picking (like a blueberry). Instead fields are flooded when the berry is ready for harvest and the floating berries are collected.

 Berries are sorted by colour and state of the berry.  White berries are rarely sold because most people prefer the red ones. Bruised berries are used for juice or wine. Unblemished red berries are sold fresh or frozen.

What is a trip to the cranberry marsh without a stop to sample Muskoka Lakes Wineries finest? Offering White Cranberry, Georgian Bay Rose, Red Maple, Cranberry, Cranberry-Blueberry, and Cranberry Spritzer, it is hard to choose.

Falling, Falling, Falling

The bright morning sun created the perfect back drop for this morning's adventure.

At the urging of our daring duo, Katrina and Ali, 'the girls' took to the friendly skies - literally. 

 After an on-land training session, donning the gear and perhaps a couple anxiously placed prayers, we flew skyward on two separate tiny planes to an altitude of 13000 ft, where we and our tandem instructors, leaped from the plane and glided to earth.

Libby (blue) and Brenda 

Of course, chance would place the two adventurers in the same plane, leaving mom and Elizabeth, who were less brave, together in this challenge.

Libby in flight

Ali coming in for a landing

Kat in flight

Kat gives the ride two thumbs up.

 After the 5 minute descent, each of us was thrilled by the adventure. So thrilled in fact that some of us are considering a solo flight!

Proud Sky Divers

All Said and Done

Leading the over 1000 participants in this Tour for Kids, Peter's group of about 14 riders werer the first to arrive at the University of Waterloo grounds. This ride, over hills. farm country, dirt roads and partially on highways raised funds for a very worthy cause including Camp Quality in Monetville. 

Congratulations to all involved on a job very well done!

Along the Way

One of the rest stops was Grove's Garden Greenhouse. Farmer Ken and his family graciously allowed the tour to set up a refreshment station and explore the property.

Gardens of abundance in fruits, vegetables and flowers artfully formed a peaceful and meditative rest stop. Ken eagerly showed off his chicken coup, pig barn and miniature horses. When asked about eggs he emerged from the coup with a basket of eggs.

We were happy to  take home a dozen of farm fresh eggs for a mere $2.

Remembering Tamara

Tough. Seriously tough. That is how I would describe the resolve of the young father who told the story of the brief but love-filled life of his daughter Tamara Rose.

Born ten years ago with Down's Syndrome, Tamara grew up to become a fun loving active little girl who was best described as 'love itself'. She loved everyone and everything that she did. Her life ended just four months ago after a two and a half year battle with leukemia. If you would like to learn more about Tamara, her dad suggests that you visit the Facebook page created in her memory.

Fighting tears and obviously holding in emotion her father rose to the challenge of inspiring riders with your tribute to Tamara.

Thank you Warren for sharing. Tamara is an inspiration for all.

Riding Again

Once again Peter embraced the challenge and rode in the Tour for Kids. 

This bike ride takes riders around the Waterloo area to raise money in support of camps for children with cancer and beyond.

A beautiful sunny morning greeted riders with a promise of good times to come.

The Cape

The boundaries of Cape Town extend around the South African cape.  Then many tiny suburbs of Cape Town offer limitless natural attractions.

Most communities are build around the ocean in bays that offer respite from the rough Atlantic Ocean. White sand beaches stretch for miles in some bays.

Our tour of the cape started with the 40 minute wavy ocean voyage to Seal Island, which was teeming with fur seals, who entertained us with their antics.  The ocean provided it own entertaining thoroughly soaking those brave soles who dared to stay outside for the boat ride.

The Cape of Good Hope was originally name the Cape of Storms, but this name was changed in an effort to entice early settlers. With huge ocean waves, dwarfed vegetation and constant blowing winds, it is clear the the Cape of Storms was the more appropriate name.

Cape Hope is the South Western most point of South Africa. We climbed to the lighthouse to appreciate the breath taking views of the cape and surrounding oceans.

Then it was off to Boulder Beach and the African penguins. Although this was our final wildlife excursion, it was, for me, the most anticipated. Mother penguins with eggs, families with babies, swimming penguins, sleeping penguins and of course, those who waddled their ways into our hearts, filled the beaches here.

Then, it was off to the Cape Town for a final meal with our travelling companions before venturing to the airport to say good bye to this beautiful country.

Tasting the Fruits of South African Soil

Cape Town and the Western Province are blessed with good soil, warm weather and generous rains to grow some excellent grapes, which then become the wine that this region has gained popularity for. Today we visited Lanzerac for a wine tasting.

After learning how to taste wine we samples a light and fruity Chardonnay  a bright Rose,and more hardy Merlot, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon.

I guess some people in our group may have less experience with alcohol, as by the end of our wine-tasting they were singing french Canadian folk songs and even O Canada!

Remembering the Past

Cape Town and the surrounding area were settled by both the Dutch and the English at different times in its history.

Stellenbousch,just outside of Cape Town hosts a unique Village Museum that allows people to walk through four different homes, each owned in a different part of the 18th century. Schreuderhuis is believed to be the oldest house in South Africa. A walk through this tiny building with wax soaked linen 'windows' instead of glass, offers a glimpse of early Cape Town life.

 This little house provides a sharp contract to the ornately decorated and very large homes found later in the century.

Celebrating a Patron Saint

Earlier this week was the feast day of St. Vincent. We learned today that St. Vincent is the patron saint of Winemakers.

A celebration for winemakers was held in a local church on St. Vincent's feast day. The notice for parishioners read,
"Most winemakers/distillers bring a bottle or two to the church to put into the Offertory Basket at the entrance. These donations will go up to the altar with the Offertory Procession. The bottles are shared with the clergy after Mass."

This sounds like a practice we should institute in our Church too!

Official Census and Reality

Although the official census for Cape Town is about 3.7 million, the true count is more like five million.

Every year, people from other African Nations venture to Cape Town lured by the promise of riches. Driving into Cape Town we saw miles of Shanty Towns.  The government allows these temporary dwellings and provides water and electricity. Because the homes are tiny and there is little cost associated with ownership, some families are able to afford luxuries like large televisions and satellite TV. These homes, situated very tightly, are made of wood or corrugated steel.  Frequently, a tiny spark has been know to start a major fire in the area.

For this reason, the government is replacing shanty towns with new single family or multiple family dwellings. They did not, however, ask citizens for input in this decision. As families are moved into new homes, their shanty town home is demolished to make room for new development.  Although this sounds ideal, many families are unable to afford the taxes or costs of water and electricity and are, as a result, left in a worse place financially.

Cape Town

 Nestled under the Table Mountain and enclosed by Signal Hill and the Lions' Head Mountain, Cape Town was build around Table Bay.  From humble beginnings as a supply station for the Dutch East Trading Company, Cape Town has grown into a metropolitan community with a mix of Miami and Europe influences.

We rode the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for a panoramic view of the city. Riding 1067 meters in a rotating car gave everyone aboard a chance to take in the views while ascending the mountain. At times shrouded in misty clouds and at other time perfectly clear for miles the time spent on Table Mountain afforded us many memorable views. This vantage point allowed us to see just how large Cape Town is.

Later we drove to the top of Signal Hill to get a good look at Robbens Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. If you look closely you can see the island near the top of the photo. Our trip to the island prison was cancelled due to boat problems, so this was the closest we were able to get to this historic site.

Ostrich Safari

The Ostrich Safari is a show farm.  Our guide Danie lead us through the grounds which included a hatchery, a nursery for 3 month old Ostriches, a visit to various types of Ostriches and finally a chance to sit on an Ostrich.

One Ostrich egg can feed as many as 24 people. However, because their cholesterol is so high, they are rarely eaten by anyone but brave tourists. The shell on these eggs is so strong, a single egg can hold up the average person.

To begin the hatching process a mother ostrich would use her breastbone to crack open the egg. On the farm workers use a hammer to create a starting point for the hatchling. The hatching process can take 12 hours on average.

It  is hard to imagine that such a little thing can become a full grown adult in 14 months!

Peter sitting on an Ostrich

Cango Park

We started a day with a visit to Cango Park. This is an 'interactive' zoo exhibit.  After three wild game safaris this zoo atmosphere was a bit of a disappointment.

Home to exotic birds, crocs, pigmy hippos, lemurs and many wild cats, happily the interaction is limited to smaller or more tame animals.

I was thrilled to enter the baby tiger exhibit. I had a chance to pet the three month old tigers, photograph them and be photographed with them.

His fur was very think and soft. He and his brother were very playful, enjoying play-fighting with each other. It was clear that they were very accustomed to people.

Nice-Nah

Spelled Knysna, but pronounced "nice - nah", this tiny little town is surrounds the Knysna Lagoon, a body a water that is actually an estuary.

The place where the estuary and the ocean meet is called the Knysna Head. A walk through the "Featherbed National Park" brings you to some magnificent vantage points from which to view the crashing of ocean waves against the rocky shoreline.

 But it is the climb 220 meters down rock stairs that will bring you through sea caves carved by the pounding water, right to the water's edge. Hear you can taste, smell, see and hear the powerful ocean.

The View

Our hotel for the evening featured an infinity pool.  Our rooms formed a semi circle around the pool. It was a great opportunity to take some amazing photos of fellow travelers relaxing and getting to know one another.

Tsitsikamma National Park

The Garden Route in South Africa begins near Tsitsikamma National park. This khoi word means 'place of sparkling water'. The very rough ocean front creates huge waves against ancient rock that is now visible due to the movement of the earth's crust.

However, just meters away in a small cove, we were able to put our feet in the Indian Ocean.

Then it was off to the suspension bridges that span the Stormsriver Mouth. Three bridges at a height of 7 meters from the river offer amazing views of the ocean and the Stormsriver mouth.

And Lemurs Too

The most curious furry friends were the lemurs. They followed us or hung from trees above us to watch our every move.

Just as in the Madagascar movies the lemur displays humorous human-like characteristics.

Black and White Lemur

Ringtail Lemur

Monkey Land

The home to lost, abandoned and aged monkeys, Monkeyland is a walk through 'zoo', bringing us into close contact with various primates.

Baby Grey Monkey

Squirrel Monkey

Although we were not to interact with this little entertainers, as I was taking a picture of Peter, a little monkey reached down towards his pack sack trying to snag a prize.

Christians versus the Lions

Part of Kwantu Game Reserve hosts big cats from around the globe. Some are there being nursed back to health. Others have been born in captivity and are been raised at Kwantu.

Such is the case for six lions currently living together in an enclosure. These lions will be sent to zoos or game reserves around the world, because the park cannot sustain too many free roaming lions.

Our afternoon game drive ended at the big cat enclosure. Outside the enclosure is a large sign saying "Don't Run". Apparently running will encourage the big cats to attack. These cats are behind an electric fence, so I felt no fear.

I stood close to the enclosure, camera in hand happily taking images of our furry friends. It would seem that a couple of lions did not like this.  First they crouch low and growled fiercely. Then they leaped to their feet with a loud roar. Some of our group tried to run in fright. But like I said, I felt no fear; after all Christians have a history with lions. I stood my ground and got some great photos.

Termites

Look closely and you will see the tiny African termites that can build big hill. 

These mound of brown dirt dot the countryside. Each termite hill takes years to build and is continually being reshaped by its inhabitants. The birth of soldier termites or worker termites depends on the needs of the group at a particular time. 

The enemies of the termite include the Ardvark and the Ardwolf, both of which can create this large hole in a termite hill while digging for food. While we never saw an ardvark were did see an ardwolf at night. 

In Search Of

Over dirt roads, not-so-dirt-roads and no roads at all we set out early this morning in three groups searching for African Wildlife at Kwantu Private Reserve.

We found lions

And elephants 

And Giraffes

 

We went out that night for a night drive (sorry too dark for photos). But we saw many nocturnal creatures and even spotted a hippo running! It is surprising how fast such a large animal can run.