Handbrake off, 1st gear engaged, lets go go go

Is it really 4 months since we were living life on the road? I guess that
explains why my feet have been itching badly for a while! Time for something
completely different? Well not really, just a bit more of Africa. Why this
continent has to be so damn huge I don't know, but it keeps us out of
trouble, most of the time anyway.
Where are we going this time? Just to get the travelling juices going again
we will be spending 2 or so months seeing some of the sights that South
Africa has to offer before heading north into Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and
perhaps Malawi. Now as to whether we go from west to east or east to west
after South Africa depends on our plans for travels at the end of 2009 going
into 2010. Our choices are go north up the west coast of Africa, ship to
South America and aim for Alaska, or just pootle around South Africa again
for a while. We are hoping that before our 2 or so months in South Africa
are up we will have made a decision, some hope!
So after our long lay up, huge thanks again to Bob for putting us up (or
putting up with us!), we spent our last few days packing Mufasa. I seem to
remember thinking towards the end of our last trip that there was some
things we didn't really need and could free up some truck space. Nice
thought, Mufasa seems to be fuller than ever! We left 'sunny' Johannesburg
on Sunday after buying some last minute essentials and headed south to our
initial stop the Golden Gate NP in the Free State and the Glen Reenen Rest
Camp (S28 30.429 E28 37.162). South Africa offers some advantages for this
sort of travelling. Good roads, good facilities, and shops everywhere. Shall
we start with the roads. Toll roads great, they may cost a few pennies but
they are well maintained. Leave them behind and suddenly you are back in
Mozambique again!! Anyway the Golden Gate NP seems like a good place to get
sorted and find our feet. We might even use our feet a bit and get the
walking boots out.
Our main problem at the moment, apart from getting up in the morning, is the
weather at this time of year. Nice and sunny in the morning and then wet and
windy come late afternoon. The first night up in the tent last night was a
bit rock and roll at times but at least the sun was there to greet us come
morning. So after a bit of a slow start we decided to hit one of the many
walking trails that lead from the camp. Just an easy one to break in the
boots. The hills around here are stunning! Sadly our circular walk came to
an abrupt halt 3/4 of the way around at a very high fast flowing stream due
to all the rain. So it was back the way we came. Back at camp after a nice
cup of fresh coffee and a Chelsea bun, yep the plentiful shops, it was time
to get our heads stuck in our guide books to make a plan for where we go
from here. And the plan is, well have another look at them tomorrow!
Well that is it. Not much to report. One day down, plenty left to go. Oh and
surprise, its raining!