Along the Garden Route, South Africa

South Africa’s southern coast. A trail known as the Garden Route. My journey begins in Hermanus, where right whales swim close to shore watching humans watching them. Then further along to Mossel Bay, with its aboriginal cave beneath the lighthouse occupied for thousands of years. Then the museum complex with its replica of the Bartolomeu Dias used by the Portugese in 15th century exploration of Africa. Wilderness with the cool name. And a crazy squatter, known as the Cave Man, homesteading in an abandoned railroad shed and his sea shell and driftwood art. On to Stormsriver to zip through the tree tops of the Tsitsitkamma forest. A confrontation with a troup of baboons. Finally finishing up in Post Elizabeth - and I was never seen, nor head from again. The musical accompaniment is Fever by Sarah Vaughn, remixed by Adam Freeland.

Cape Town - The Mother City

First day there, Table Mountain was cowering beneath clouds. So I went walkabout. First down to the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, a combination tourista trap, shopping mall and working ship yard. Then into the city proper to Green Market Square and up to Bo Kaap. The next day, the mountain was clear, so I hiked up. On my return to Cape Town after exploring the Western and a bit f the Eastern Capes, I cruised over to Robben Island. Saw Nelson Mandel’s cell. Then on final stroll around the V & A Waerfront. The musical accompaniment is Cruising Through by Goldfish.

South Africa Safari - Kinetic Snapshots

Armed to the teeth with digital cameras, we rolled into the African bush - Schotia Reserve and Addo Elephant National Park. Few expected to emerge uneaten. And thus we were treated to a pride of lions, a pair of rhinos, herds of elephants, a parade of giraffes and assorted bovines. And the roar of a wild, wild wind. For some reason, they wouldn't let us climb down from rover to pet the hungry lions.

The Garden Route - Kinetic Snapshots

From Cape Town, I hopped the Baz Bus to ride along the Garden Route. First stop - Hermanus. Where right whale watching can be done seasick-free from shore. Whales seen, the next stop was Mossel Bay. Wind swept coast around from the town. Those rodent-like critters are Dassis, whose closest genetic relative is the elephant. Next stop - Wilderness (cool name). Grotty weather till the sun emerged just before I left. Enroute to Storms River Village, we crossed the Bloukrans Bridge with the world’s highest bungy jump (I’d done my once-in-a-lifetime jump in New Zealand). Off the ground and into the trees with a canopy tour in the Tsitsikamma Forest. Taking a walk in the forest, I ran into some baboons - pardon the big foot fuzzy images. I finished in Port Elizabeth with a safari which is another video entirely. Backtracking, I ventured into the Kleine Karoo to Oudtshoorn. Driven up to the Swartberg Pass, I was tossed out with a mountain bike to make my way back. Passed ostrich ranches. A tourist show, where they paid thousands of rand, and which I secretly filmed from the road so you can view it for free. Then regretfully paid to enter an ostrich farm with ostrich riding - yee-haw! Finally, before returning to Cape Town, I ventured as far as I dared on a shitty bike in the vinelands of Stellenbosch.

Cape Peninsula, South Africa - Kinetic Snapshots

South of Cape Town to Hout Bay. Hopped a boat to Seal Island for a look at...guess...seals! Then onwards to Boulder Beach to look at African penguins looking at us. A short bike ride on shitty bikes. Finally to the end at the Cape of Good Hope, the most south western tip of Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa - Kinetic Snapshots

Spring in the Mother City. On walkabout in the city, I stumbled upon Green Market Square. After climbing Table Mountain, sans cloud cover, I rode back down on the cable way. I was lucky, nabbing a hard to get ticket to Robben Island. We were shown the prison by a former political prisoner named Nande (apologies to the gentleman if I’ve mispelt his name). You’ll have to wait for the photo/video to see Nelson Mandela’s cell. The V & A Waterfront is gentrified and tourista-fied, though still a working port and ship yard.

Scandinavia 1979

Back in 1979, I travelled from Oslo to the west of Norway to work on a farm in a village called Grimo, tacked to the side of a steep fjord. There I picked apples, pearls, plums and strawberries in the chilly rain. The discomfort was offset by inhaling the wonderful scenery that never grew mundane. When that ended, I hopped a train to Stockholm, Sweden. I stayed in a hostel that was once a sailing ship, the af Chapman (cool). In Denmark, I took only one photo, which was a funny billboard advert. As it’s The End appropriate, I’ve included it. The razor sharp imagery was taken with a pocket instamatic camera.  And the musical accompaniment is Äppelknyckarjazz by Movits!.

Great Falls, Maryland

Great Falls, Maryland. The cataracts where the Potomac River crashes and splashes through rocks, boulders and chutes. The other side of the river is ingeniously named Great Falls, Virginia. Actually, I'm testing a new camera, editing application and video format under the guise of mouse-click tourism. Don't tell anyone, OK.

Ski Austria 1979

1979. Austria - land of the kangaroos. I arrived in the town of Kitzbuehel to learn the art of skiing, immediately after the world ski championships ended. Nevertheless, I still garnered a gold medal in Ass Über Tits Gefallen. After a day sliding down the slopes, there was apres-ski unwinding mit ein Bier. Incredibly shot with a pocket instamatic camera for state-of-the-art grain and lack of focus. The musical accompaniment is Ski Austria by The Veloroo Sinfonika Swing Band Hot-Cha-Cha Orchestra.