Multi-day Birthday Celebration

Since Deb and Karen where headed to Franschhoek on my birthday (Feb. 20th), they decided to do a multi-day celebration leading up to my birthday.

The celebrations began on February 16th as we headed up the coast. We stopped for lunch at one of our favourite places, Fynboshoek Cheese Farm, which is near Storms River Mouth. As Deb mentioned in her Facebook post, they wondered how we would have ever found this place.

The lunch was so fresh and so good – we finished it all!

We did a few stops both before and after lunch before we reached our Addo accommodations – Gerald’s Gift House. Gerald’s was basic, but clean, quaint and only 20 minutes from Addo National Park. Their restaurant was very nice as was the food.

Karen loves elephants so that was our focus when we arrived at Addo National Park, but we did see other animals as well. We had arranged for a “hop on” guide which worked out really well. Deb drove, Ace, our guide, sat in the front and Larry, Karen and I sat in the back. We could not have found so many elephants without Ace. Hard to pick our favourite shots so I included way too many.

When we arrived back from Addo, Deb and Karen had arranged with Ruan to have the dining table set for another birthday celebration (balloons, flowers, sparklers, a sash, birthday napkins etc.). We had pizza, wine, cake and many laughs.

Next night Larry arranged for a birthday dinner at Joplin’s – delicious steak, champagne and liqueur.

On Deb and Karen’s last day, they treated me to a morning kayak and hike to a waterfall. Sunny skies, calm waters and perfect temperature for a hike. In the afternoon, we went for a beach walk and Deb and Karen did some bodyboarding – waves were high so I decided to be the picture taker

That night dinner at The Girls, then back for euchre and Amarula – South African liqueur – delicious.

Deb and Karen drove to Franschhoek on Feb. 20th to spend a few nights before they fly home on Feb. 22nd. It was a rainy, windy day so Larry and I picked up our car, visited the George Mall and had a quiet dinner at Salinas on the water.

The time with Deb and Karen has flown by. We did so much and laughed so hard. So many wonderful memories.