Life as usual.
Cows roam on the beach soaking up the sun.
Roads become manageable then rains wash away the manageability.
Houses fall down, get rebuilt - eventually.
Tick.
Tock.
Life moves fantastically slowly here, much like our running pace.
As we chug up the first hill from the most glorious of places along the Wild Coast the fresh sea breeze blows up off the dramatic towering cliffs cascading into the ocean. Minding your step on the loose footing and dodging puddles of mud we make slow but steady progress up the steep hills and rocky stretches.
Invigorated by the simplicity of everything around us, quiet takes control, apart from the occasional gawk at the next viewpoint. Kids playing soccer, dancing or just quietly watching as you run by, form the only visible urgency.
TIA. This is Africa...
Shoes off and across the lagoon and onto the beach for a short stint, weaving through the cows sunning themselves on the beach (without a coherent reason to do so, except to watch the waves - perhaps commented to themselves on the killer right-break in a series of low hushed moo's)
Rewind <<
Back past the cows, up the hill, past the kids playing, through the mud, past friends arriving for a wedding in the very bay the next day (small world...), past the broken huts, wandering goats and heavy scent of dagga.
Back to our starting point and feeling the binge of the alcoholic beverages the night before slowly start to radiate outward.
Phew. Relaxed.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Fun Run - Kalulushi, Zambia
The roads are looking shaky even for a run. The copper belt is on fire again with commodity prices soaring. Infrastructure doesn't sing the same tune though as I get into my Zambian stride.
The streets are lined with people - saying "Hello" to each of them gets monotonous but the smile and wave back slightly addictive. The occasional privileged few on bikes whizz by as they flash a proud glance at their attained speed with a casual wave from the handlebars.
Cellphones blaring with all the popular genres of the Western world and LA gangster look-a-likes with phat flat hats (these kill me...) look on strangely as this sweaty "Muzungu" cruises by huffing and puffing...
Trees and overgrown dense bush on the side of the road hide the gems of the past, a tennis club, rugby club, bowls club - funnily enough heaving with players today - and as I reach the turn around point at Chibuluma Golf Course you begin to think what this pace must have been like.
TIA. This is Africa...
Dodging potholes, minding my ankles and breathing deeply on the uphill straight toward our guest lodge, the red dust and blue oil laced smoke kicked up by yet another Japanese car, as it overtakes, fills my lungs. A classic concoction that jogs (excuse the pun) other African memories.
My run ends with a high five from the guard at the gate, a welcome thrill as the shaky legs carry me through to the lodge settling down at dusk for a quiet GnT on the verandah.
The streets are lined with people - saying "Hello" to each of them gets monotonous but the smile and wave back slightly addictive. The occasional privileged few on bikes whizz by as they flash a proud glance at their attained speed with a casual wave from the handlebars.
Cellphones blaring with all the popular genres of the Western world and LA gangster look-a-likes with phat flat hats (these kill me...) look on strangely as this sweaty "Muzungu" cruises by huffing and puffing...
Trees and overgrown dense bush on the side of the road hide the gems of the past, a tennis club, rugby club, bowls club - funnily enough heaving with players today - and as I reach the turn around point at Chibuluma Golf Course you begin to think what this pace must have been like.
TIA. This is Africa...
Dodging potholes, minding my ankles and breathing deeply on the uphill straight toward our guest lodge, the red dust and blue oil laced smoke kicked up by yet another Japanese car, as it overtakes, fills my lungs. A classic concoction that jogs (excuse the pun) other African memories.
My run ends with a high five from the guard at the gate, a welcome thrill as the shaky legs carry me through to the lodge settling down at dusk for a quiet GnT on the verandah.
Fun Run - Namibia, Swakopmund
It's actually rather chilly...
With the background noise of heavy trucks breaking the silence of the cool breeze blowing off the Atlantic and with the city lights painting the contrast against the dunes surrounding the small town at sunset - I'm off...
Knee feeling better than expected and so are my lungs - filled with fresh sea smelling air - the kind of air you'd think salty sailors would miss and sneak a secret smile on smelling it after a long while. With sand blowing across the newly tarred surface and the golden sun setting over the ocean to the West thoughts of writing Africa off begin to fade.
TIA - This is Africa...
Lights fading fast and I pick up my pace - the buildings are brand new but mostly empty a modern day Kolmanskop.
Release the hounds!
Pace picked up again as two ankle snappers chase me for 500m - deep breaths ensue but mostly just irritating as their tenacity eventually subsides as their small legs fatigue.
Last stretch on a dark sand beach with waves rolling in and trying to dodge is tricky as my feet start to sink as the surge of the cold water rises and falls. With Swakopmund's lights blinking in the distance and memories and similarities of Dubai flooding in I arrive, now out of breath.
Oysters and a Windhoek are calling - bit of a reward for a long days travel.
Gutenacht...
With the background noise of heavy trucks breaking the silence of the cool breeze blowing off the Atlantic and with the city lights painting the contrast against the dunes surrounding the small town at sunset - I'm off...
Knee feeling better than expected and so are my lungs - filled with fresh sea smelling air - the kind of air you'd think salty sailors would miss and sneak a secret smile on smelling it after a long while. With sand blowing across the newly tarred surface and the golden sun setting over the ocean to the West thoughts of writing Africa off begin to fade.
TIA - This is Africa...
Lights fading fast and I pick up my pace - the buildings are brand new but mostly empty a modern day Kolmanskop.
Release the hounds!
Pace picked up again as two ankle snappers chase me for 500m - deep breaths ensue but mostly just irritating as their tenacity eventually subsides as their small legs fatigue.
Last stretch on a dark sand beach with waves rolling in and trying to dodge is tricky as my feet start to sink as the surge of the cold water rises and falls. With Swakopmund's lights blinking in the distance and memories and similarities of Dubai flooding in I arrive, now out of breath.
Oysters and a Windhoek are calling - bit of a reward for a long days travel.
Gutenacht...
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