Cape Town - Day 2

August 1, 2010

Hello family and friends, it is hard to believe, but we have been gone for well over 2 weeks. I t has gone by very fast, especially since we arrived in Cape Town. We started our morning with a wonderful breakfast and then left at a little after 9:00 in the morning. We awoke to a beautiful day and were going to get to ride the cable car up to Table Mountain. We had to cancel that part of our day yesterday because of the weather. If it is raining or too windy, the cable car does not run. This was something that we did not want to miss, so we were all delighted that the weather cooperated. What a spectacular view of the city of Cape Town...... from all sides we could view the city. There were "dassies" that look like fuzzy little bunnies, but are kin to the elephants. The dassies have been studied and have found that they have the same skeletal frame and feet like that of an elephant. Our hotel is at the base of Table Mountain and you can see what is called the 12 Apostles. Also, you can view Lion's Head that sits separate, but close to Table mountain.

After the mountain tour, we loaded our car and drove around to the west cape to the Cape of Good Hope. We went to Cape Point where we ate lunch at Harbor House. There is a misconception that Cape Point is the most southern tip, but the truth is the southern most tip is Cape Anguillos. After walking up 58 steps to the lighthouse, which was literally like roping a ladder up at a very slight angle. We walked back to our car and then left for Harbor House, where we had a delihtful lunch. Also, we were entertained by the African penguins on Boulder Beach. After our excursion, we went back to the hotel which was about an hour ride back into the city. We stayed in and ordered rom service so that we could download our pictures and work on the blog. Cape Town is such a wonderful place to visit. Good night, Until tomorrow..... L.B.

xoxoxoxoxo

L.B. goes to CT

July 30, 2010

After over a 5 hour drive from Kimberley to J'berg, we finally arrived at our airport for our flight to Cape Town...... we arrived at 5:30 for a 6:40 flight. Talking about close call??? By the time We arrived at the airport, I had bitten one nail off. It was one of the most horrific drives I have ever encountered in my life. The high rate of speed on a 2 lane road in high traffic, was truly more than I could take. I don't even drink that much, but I was looking for liquor by the time we got on our plane to Cape Town. We arrived at our hotel(Mount Nelson) late, went to our rooms, showered and got into bed. We were absolutely exhausted!!!!! We had to get up early to meet Mark (our Private Tour Guide) at 9:00 in the morning. We had a tour of Cape Town, then went to the Waterfront where there are many restaurants, and stores. We had lunch at the Quay4, drank some local beers, and watched the finals of the international rugby competition.......Australia vs. New Zealand. It was a wonderful day. Stores, Restaurants, and Hotels,........ Oh, my!!!! We went back to our room, had room service and called it an early night. Cape Town has 3.2 million people and reminded all of us of San Francisco. The people are very friendly and find us to be equally friendly.

Cape Town is a very diversified city with the same social issues that are our concerns, as well. It is very inexpensive and you can get a very nice bottle of wine with your meal for $10.00-$20.00. Tips are not really expected, but if you should tip.......10% maybe. The rand is 7.35 to our $1.00...... our money went very far. You can drink some of the best wine and have a steak with the sides for $13.00-$15.00. This is a very easy town to visit. English is the spoken language, as well as Afrikaans (a mix of german, dutch, flemish).

We have another early morning, so I will close for now!!!!!! Until then......

xoxoxoxoxo, L.B.

Good Bye Hartzview :(

July 29, 2010
Hello family and friends, this is really difficult to write. We are saying good bye to a place we called home for 12 days. While L.B. is ready for the city, I am feeling a bit melancholy about leaving Hartzview. Our bags are packed and Hill and Richard are out for their last morning hunt. Sarah is a local school, and as for me, I am blogging. We have so many to thank that took care of us and made sure we were always comfortable..... it really is hard to know where to start. We have driven and walked, tracked and stalked, we have missed some and shot many, but none of this would have been possible without the people I will mention.
First, we need to thank Braam and Jacques. Braam is the proud owner of this 40,000 acre farm, filled with all the animals that one would be in Africa. Jacques is our professional hunter. Together, Braam and Jacques are a first class team, making Hartzview a world class operation. We met Jacques in February when he came to the states. We were very excited to meet him, as we were interviewing him as a professional hunter for our safari hunt. This experience was more than we could have ever expected..... he over delivered. Jacques, kept telling us to "trust him", so we did! With a leap of faith and trusting all that Jacques had told us, we made our decision to go with Hartzview. Boy, are we glad we did.
Maurus, thank you for always making sure we were equipped with what we needed at camp and for every hunt. You are definitely the wheels that keep this place turning.
We want to thank Frank, John, Jonathan, Joseph, A.B., the trackers and drivers, without them we would have NEVER found all the animals.
Ria and Sally need a big thank you for the wonderful meals that were prepared for us day after day..... especially the homemade bread. I guess I also need to thank you for the extra lbs that were put on while we were here. When I am back in the states and working out, I will definitely be thinking of you.... thanks! Bread will never taste the same again!
A special thanks to the ladies that cleaned our rooms and washed our clothes..... because of you I realize all I needed to pack was a backpack ;), yeah right. We would put our dirty laundry in our labeled baskets in the morning and we would get back from our evening hunt and our clothes had been washed and ironed, if desired and put back in our rooms. L.B. does not have it this good at home, well maybe sometimes, if I get around to it that day! We were spoiled to say the least.
We take away from Hartview, the hunting experience, yes, but, more than that, the friendships and memories that were made in this short time. Forgotten, never, as we will always remember, the meals that were carefully prepared for us, the conversation around the dinner table, stories and jokes around the nightly campfires, the most magnificent sunsets, and the perfect weather. I can't forget about Bullet (jack russell terrier), the best hunting dog in the world, Dainty and Whiskey (italian wippets) when at the end of the day would come curl up and cuddle in our laps. It was in all these things that made our experience more than we could have ever expected or hoped. We flew almost 9,000 miles to another country that we knew no one, but leave Hartzview with a new family....so cheers to all of you..... our hearts will always remember Hartzhootge....Hartzview!
Until tomorrow......I will call my girls and Nanny and Pop on Saturday when we are in Cape Town...... can't wait. I need to hear their voices! Love and miss all of you!!!!
xoxoxoxox,L.B.
Newsbreak.......Good Gracious, how many more animals do they need???? Stacey, you have your zebr,you can thank Richard for that one..... talk about the last hour?! Richard got his confidence back by shooting a red hartbeest, and gemsbuck this morning. The animals are thinking.... get these people from Texas out of here!!!

Hartzview - Day10

July 28, 2010
Hello family and friends,
We have had a little change in plans.... we are leaving for Kimberley in the afternoon on Thursday, July 29. Sarah and I are going to visit the school in Schmeizer Reneke. This is a small town very close to Hartzview with a population of about 1000 people. Braam's children go to school in this town. We will have lunch and leave for Kimberley. It is in Kimberley that we will meet with the taxidermist. We will also do some sightseeing. We are going to spend the night in a guesthouse there and then leave for J'berg Friday morning. We will depart for Cape Town in the evening..... arrive around 8:00 in the evening. Look out Cape Town..... L.B. is coming to the city!!!! AHHHHHHH.... restaurants, shopping, and who knows what else, but I am ready and I hope Cape Town is ready for me!!!!! Until tomorrow.....
xoxoxoxox, L.B.
P.S. I only thought the hunting was over, after all, how many more animals could Hill possibly need to shoot?? He came home from the evening hunt with a very large trophy....a NYALA. Richard came back with a blesbuck, and what a blessing it was for him anyway, he had shot and lost 3 animals, so he was really down on himself. He commented, " I am just going to stick to cooking, that I know I am good at." Now he is feeling much better about his hunting skills. I told him that I would shoot for him, he did not think that was very funny!!!!

Hartzview - Day 9

July 27, 2010
Breaking News..........L.B. shot an 1800-2000 pound eland with 1 shot in the chest...... a 60-70 yard shot. I must say I got weak at the knees as I have NEVER, I repeat, NEVER have I shot anything in my life, with the exception of a Dr. Pepper can.... does that count???? I have shot the biggest animal in the group so far. Shall I call it beginner's luck?? The eland is being measured as it may be big enough to to go in the record book..... not bad L.B. There was the typical first time celebration.... blood on the face and a handshake with Jacque( our professional hunter). We all toasted with local beers..... yuck, after my sip, I passed it off to Hill who was so proud! I can't forget the papparazzi..... pictures, pictures, pictures and guess what???? L.B looked like hell. I had not washed my hair in 3 days, no make-up, no lipstick, and no perfume..... I was not ready for this moment...... it feels a little like one would read in PEOPLE MAGAZINE "Look L.B. with no make-up", and yes, my photo is going in a brochure for Hartzview. Oh well, what is a girl to do?
Lesson: Always overdress and be ready...... and wear lipstick and perfume..... even in the bush!
We did not get back to camp until almost 8:00 in the evening, had dinner, and went to bed...... what a day!!!!! One I will NEVER forget!!!!
There was nothing else shot that day, but mine was big enough for them all! Until tomorrow.......
xoxoxoxoxo, L.B.

Hartzview - Day 8

July 26, 2010
Hello family and friends, Well L.B. has not seen a mall, theater, restaurant, or have I been on a tennis court in about 2 weeks. I am no longer feeling one with nature..... I am ready and needing a change of scenery. I did not get up to go on the morning hunt either.... I was boycotting! I played possum when Hill and Rpo came to the door, I did not respond. I have seen all the animals I want to see(dead and or alive), I have read more than I have read in a year, played scrabble on my phone, and have even sat more than I have, well, in who knows how long! L.B. is needing some contrast.... in truth, I want the city life!!!! We leave Friday morning.... we will drive to Kimberley where we will have lunch, do some sightseeing and fly to Cape Town. I hope Cape Town is ready for me.
Hill, Sarah, and Richard went out for the morning hunt. They did not shoot anything. We all went out for the afternoon hunt and Richard shot a Springbuck. It was lost, but found later that evening. I continued to be encouraged to shoot something, but honestly, I think I am a conservationist. I can aim, but can't bring myself to pull the trigger.
Oh, I can't forget, last night was a full moon. As we sat at the table against a black sky, over a ridge came a beautiful full moon..... RED! I tried to take a picture, but no luck! You will just have to trust me on this one. Unless you have been to Africa, you have not seen a sunset like these.....take L.B.'s word on it!
There really is not much left to shoot and only 3 more days before we leave...but who is counting????;)
Not much to report, so L.B. will close until tomorrow......
xoxoxoxo, L.B.

Hartzview - Day 7

July 25, 2010
Well, the third time is a charm..... Hill finally got his waterbuck that had been tracked and stalked for days. He even took a shot at it twice before finally getting his trophy. I think we better get out of here before we wipe out the stock.... kidding, of course! The truck did not get in until almost 2 in the afternoon, well after lunch, but we all patiently waited until we sit as a group and have lunch together. We all go to our same spots around the table after going through a wonderful buffet line. Today we had our mexican fiesta that was prepared by Richard. After very full tummies, Braam wanted to take Hill, Sarah and myself in his helicopter. Sarah and I were a little skeptical, but went anyway. What a way to view a 40,000 acre farm. Hartzview reminds me so much of our ranches in south texas. When you drive around you can see brush that looks very much like texas sage brush, cactus, trees spotted in the brush that look like acacia trees. This farm has rolling hills, cliffs, ridges, and plains..... all in red dirt which reminds us of west texas. While getting a bird's eye view, we were able to see many species of animals..... all that we have already seen, but from the air.... very cool!!!!
We are all taking the afternoon off. It is very quiet here at the ranch....not the usual hustle and bustle.... a typical Sunday afternoon. Richard is out hunting and also still trying to find his eland. There is napping, reading, blogging, and even a little watching T.V. in the family room. We all come together for a fire this evening and our dinner. We talk about our day, tell jokes and let's just say L.B. has had her share of funnies..... I know that does not surprise anyone. I will not go into detail because one would have to be here to appreciate it.
We just got word that our friend and videographer must leave as he has a family emergency. We will miss him. He not only got some great video of all the hunts, but became a friend, as well. We wish you all the best Harold! Come to the U.S. and you always have a place to stay.
I will close for the evening and enjoy the rest of my afternoon. Wishing all of my friends and family a wonderful day together. Sicily, I will be thinking of you tonight as you go to sleep. We may be 9,000 miles away, but in my heart, you are close!!! A special hello to my girls and families, Nanny and Pop!!!! Love and Hugs!!!!Until tomorrow.....
xoxoxoxo, L.B.