South Africa #8 Dundee and Durban

Heading to Dundee and the Blood River Battle Monument we hit more construction on the two lane highway. They closed off mile long stretches with only 1 lane open. After waiting up to 20 minutes, we would drive a few miles and hit another closure for a total of 8 - 10 times. From Kruger to Dundee via Swaziland it took 12 hours. Our B&B, History's Walk, had 2 pit bulls plus razor wire on a fence to keep raiders of the night from intruding. The proprietor wanted to "guide" us to the memorial the next day - wasn't gonna happen. They did recommend the Buffalo Steak House where the total for a T Bone, chicken strips, 3 cokes, and tip totaled 140 Rand or under $20.
The next day we beat the Corsa over 20 K of the worst gravel road in South Africa, the world, the universe to see a replica of 60 bronze Vortrekker wagons in a circle, the largest monument in South Africa. We played cowboys and Indians, Vortrekkers and Zulus, Don chases Lee as no one else showed up.
Our B&B last night, "The Fig Tree", run by 2 teachers also had the wall spikes, steel bar gates, and ferocious weenie guard dog. At present we are cooling our heels in the Balmoral Hotel after watching beginner to pro surfing across the street. Our favorite surfer, "The White Whale," was obviously taking his first lesson on the bright yellow (look out for this dude) Surf Zone board. As big as a garage roof this board could have floated an NBA team. George, "The White Whale," about 260 pounds, 60 years old, and an albino complexion started in the wimpy waves with his bronze instructor holding the board. The wave arrived, the instructor pushed, the "Whale" paddled, sprang to his knees, leaped to his crouched position, and dove head first into the shallows. Thirty times he tried. Thirty times he failed using an assortment of embarrassing dismounts including the two feet backward over the head flip. After much water slapping, head shaking, fist in the air pumping, and shoulder slumping, George, "The Pink Whale," emerged from the surf a humbled, broken, sun burned, dispirited man. We predict his next encounter with surf will include turf at the Sizzler. Read about Key family trips at Amazon books, Four Keys Overseas. We did see a surfer girl who had great form and surfed well also.

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