Cintza to Coffee Bay

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Wed 25th
A big drive today heading to Cyntza. We stopped at Graham's town for lunch and stocked up on things for T's washbag that was left in Swellingham (we think).

Arrived at Cyntza to a really amazing backpacker place. We had our own apartment next to the beach. We were really suprised to meet up with Gary and Nicki from the wine tour (and T's trip round Africa), so we went and had a few beers with them.

We invited them to travel the next part of the trip with us as we were going the same ways as them and the Bazbus (the usual backpacker form of transport) left at funny times.

Thur 26th
In the morning we took advantage of the free canoes and headed up the river. Was quite disappointed that we didnt see as many of the jumping fish that Gary and Nicki had promised the night before. We wanted to go to a game reserve but the trip was cancelled as we were the only people staying that were interested in going 😞

After lunch T taught me to knit and we contributed to the knitting squares being made for the local children. We then headed to Coffee Bay with Nicki and Gary - a huge drive with many many pot holes on the last hour of the journey.

We arrived at coffee bay and was cooked a local dish by the backpacker staff. After dinner there was a free drum lesson. One of the guys on the course was a cross between Peter Stringfellow and Noddy Holder - he told a lot of stories.

Fri 27th
Woke and went surfing - the reason we came to coffee bay! Surfing was hard work and got bashed about a bit by the waves. Tamsin stood up once. Our instructor wasnt great - he told us all the things you would guess to do in surfing.

After surfing we were straight onto horse riding round Coffee Bay. It was a really great way to see the place. The horse riding instructions were about as good as the surf instruction we had. My horse 'Spirt' could've done with retiring, but still found some enery to trot and gallop. T's horse 'Patricia' looked a lot stronger but came with the warning that it occasionally liked to roll in the sand on the beach.

After lunch (yet another toastie sandwich!), we had another long drive to Ukamas to go diving the next morning. Ukamas is supposed to be one of the top 10 dive sites. Gary and Nicki came with us.

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Photos

T in Canoe
This was the position T stayed in for most of the trip (!)

Round houses
The Green Brown houses. The round houses are made of dried mud. They keep the cold side unpainted, so they can can repair cracks without repainting the whole house. The roof is sealed at the top with a car tyre.

T and Nicki drumming.
We had a free drum lesson after dinner at our Backpacker place in Coffee Bay.

T and Patricia the horse
note the lack of helmet. wreckless travellers!

The hole in the wall
it had a rectangle hole going all the way through it. One of the local boys walked us up the hill to the best position. He was a cool kid - very smiley.

Comments

[T's mum]

Names and things
Very amusing entry. Was your horse really called Spirt or was it Spirit - which ever makes for amusing retirement comment. Tamsin looks like she is pulling the reins much too tight on her galloping pose _Penny Baker would have a fit(our local horse expert) In Costa Rica they didn't have bits at all just ropes round their nose (I don't think my terminology is quite right!!) and they were really responsive and we didn't hurt their mouths. What is the story with the dog behind you Paul in your surf picture? Or is he just a passerby? Keep up the good work!

[Neil]

Horse! Horse!