South Africa ...

At the pwca Autumn meeting in Geneva it was decided that I would come to South Africa as the observer for the Winelands Pre World Cup starting at the weekend.
So after some rapid logistical manoevering here I am in the southern hemisphere summertime, listening to cicadas outside and evicting the extremely tenacious cockroaches who seem to have taken a liking to burrowing in my trainers!
The flight over was a nice experience thanks to Rich Westgate :) a high-tech comfy flat bed to sleep on & as much 'room service' as I wanted. Suddenly travelling doesn't seem so bad when you can watch movies 'in bed' while guzzling champagne.

Leaving London on a jetplane

An early morning arrival into Cape Town meant I had time for some paragliding 'site-seeing'. Signal Hill & Lions head were completely lost in fog by the time we reached the launch site and with the strong wind forecast to increase we ran bravely away to check out a beach-front paramotor site before being forced to admit defeat and go for coffee instead. Table Mountain was crystal clear as we drove into the city but within a short time was lost in a swirling mass of lenticulars that became cumi's that became lenti's again.The weather changes fast here!

Table Mountain wearing a fluffy hat!

While the local tandem guys sorted out the politics of paying-passengers I went for a walk on the beach and dipped my toes in the ocean before being shuttled up to Porterville where I am staying in beautiful accommodation overlooking a grassy garden with free-range Tortoises wandering around like they own the place. A bed made of tree trunks and a film-set bath, views of the mountains behind and the flying playground in front. Its all looking pretty fine from where I am and for sure will just get better! :)

I 'LIKE' this bath!