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| Team selection workshop - Plettenberg Bay |
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Selecting final team- 30 May - 10 June 2008
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Friday 30 May 2008 - Arrival day Finally, after months of waiting, the time was here! The Mitsubishi Africa Adventure Cape to Cape Expedition selection workshop had arrived and in just a few days time we would know who had made the final team.
Participants arrived throughout the day, some by car, some by bus, some by plane and one not at all! But by 9pm and after a very long day, we were all together for the first time, eating sushi at Boma, Plettenberg Bay.
Filled with excitement and anticipation we wondered, what would the next few days bring... |
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Arriving at George Airport |
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Saturday 31 May 2008 - Day 1
Our first morning and an early start at The NH Hotel, Plettenberg Bay.
Although we had all met last night, this was the first chance to really get to know each other and there was apprehension as everyone gathered in the classroom for the first session.
Fortunately, we all relaxed pretty quickly as everyone introduced themselves and talked about why they were here. Timetables and instructions for the week were given out, as well as the maps of Africa from our sponsor MapStudio, all contained within the fabulous, exclusive and eye catching orange Mitsubishi Africa Adventure Cape to Cape Expedition bag!
After lunch at The Lookout, we were visited by Suriya Naidoo, Marketing Manager from Mitsubishi, who flew in from Johannesburg to introduce the role that they are playing in the expedition. It was good to hear how excited they are about what we are doing and how pleased they are to be involved.
Suriya then joined us for a Mozambican feast at LM Restaurant in Plettenberg Bay, where we were treated to some amazing food (who would have thought that chicken livers taste great?!) and fantastic service, complete with singing and dancing from the LM Team.
Not be outdone, we also joined in the dancing. Special mentions go to Enya and Pauline in the couples category, and Tanya W for an outstanding lambada! |
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Suriya Naidoo from Mitsubishi and the team
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Cheers! Dinner at LM |
Signing the wall at LM |
Singing at LM |
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Sunday 01 June 2008 - Day 2 After some more time in the classroom in the morning, we headed back to The Lookout for lunch.
As the sun had come out, we sat outside and had wonderful views over the sea and estuary.
In the afternoon, we visited Buffalo Hills Safaris where we were met with trays of mampoer (peach snapps). This went down a treat and warmed us up before we mounted the game drives!
The games drives were excellent and we came within metre of three rhinos, a family unit of father, mother and son. Ingrid nearly fell off the back of the game vehicle trying to back away from them after her experience with rhinos in the Kruger! It was wonderful being in the presence of the animals as the sun set over the savannahs.
As it got colder we headed back to the lodge and the mampoer distilliery where we sampled chilli mampoer, a vat of strawberries distilled in mampoer which were strong enough to warm the cockrels of any a cold heart, and blueberry mampoer among others. We were waved off after many a sample and a couple of bottles neatly tucked under the arms for later.
In the evening, we headed into the centre of Plett, where we rounded off the weekend with a delicious dinner at Miguel's Restaurant. Then it was back to The NH Hotel to pack our bags for tomorrow's journey to Tsitsikamma.
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Monday 02 June 2008 - Day 3
A beautiful day and a busy one! Our first stop was Monkeyland, the top eco-tourism destination on the Garden Route.
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New addition to Monkeyland
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Everyone at Birds of Eden
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Monkeyland say that they aim to make happy endings to sad stories. Primates who have been kept as pets, or caged in laboratories are not only rehabilitated physically and emotionally, they are free to roam about an amazing high canopy forest.
Because they live freely in the sanctuary, we had to search to see the monkeys. Our group were lucky, seeing many primates in an amazing setting. We encountered Atlas, a beautiful (and supposedly very shy) blond Gibbon Ape who decided to check us out more closely! There was also a sighting of a little new addition to Monkeyland, a baby Brown Capuchin monkey.
We then visited Birds of Eden, which is the world's largest free flight bird sanctuary. Set up by Tony
Blignaut, the CEO of Monkeyland, the sanctuary aims to give as free and natural a life as possible to captive bred birds, or birds who can not be returned to the wild.
At both Monkeyland and Birds of Eden, it was very moving to see how free and content the birds and animals have become, and how committed the staff are to their welfare.
After providing a lovely lunch, Lara Mostert, the Marketing Manager of Monkeyland also gave us fantastic presents! Each one had a label on with a description of the sort of person who it would be suitable for. We saved them to open around the campfire at the end of the week...
But enough relaxing... this expedition calls for guts! And so on to Face Adrenelin at Bloukrans Bridge- the world's highest bungy jump- and a lot of jokes about who was going to need a change of boilersuit!
Emotions ran high as those who were preparing to jump steeled themselves. Afterwards though we couldn't stop laughing, and not just because Mitchells Brewery had provided a keg of beer! An amazing bonding experience for the group, both those who jumped and those who didn't. |
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5..4..3..2..1..BUNGY! |
At Bloukrans Bridge |
Tiefie- supermodel |
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Everyone's safe! |
PHD in Bungy |
Bad luck for the vegetarians! |
Tired? Not a chance! Tonight was the first night at Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure Park and what better way to celebrate than with a braai (and maybe a few more beers?!) As the photos show, after a few glasses, and thanks to DJ Monica, the team displayed their world class moves with the guys from Tsitsikamma Falls.
Rachel can now report that she has video evidence of the team dancing to 'I Will Survive' and she is open to bribes to prevent this being displayed on the world wide web!
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The dancing begins... |
Only one beer?!?! |
Tanya- Dancing Queen |
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Tuesday 03 June 2008 - Day 4 After a lot of joking about who snores (you know who you are!) we had a morning in the classroom for a 'speed dating' style getting to know everyone session.
After lunch it was back into another set of harnesses for more launching ourselves off high things as we went off on Tsitsikamma Falls' famous zipline tour across rivers, waterfalls and ravines. Amazing views and amazing fun, especially when we didn't apply the brakes quickly enough and splatted into the crash mat!
We also enjoyed a taste of celebrity- as well as Maggie filming and Enya taking photographs, we were joined by journalist and photographer Werner Botha.
Back to the ranch in the evening to nurse our sore muscles (ziplining really works the abs!), practice our pool and prop up the bar!
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No crash landing this time!
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Even more flattering harnesses! |
Artistic poses |
Hands up who wants to sleep in the tent! |
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Wednesday 04 June 2008 - Day 5
Rain forced us inside today and after another morning in the classroom we tried out the climbing wall! This was a lot harder than it looked and the guys were very lucky to escape without major injury, the amount of times some of us fell off the wall! Tanya was the star of the event though, climbing up the hardest route with no difficulty at all! So if anyone gets stuck up Mt Kilimanjaro we know who will be making up the rescue party!
In the afternoon we were also joined by Timothy Twidle from The Herald who interviewed Enya, Rachel, Monica and Sibo and took photos. Check out the media section to see the articles that he wrote for The Herald and La Femme!
Another HUGE dinner (well done cooking teams!) and more wine! Well... it did help everyone to really get to know each other...! |
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Climbing wall- surprisingly difficult! |
Tanya- going up the hard way!
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Julie- returned to solid ground!
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Thursday 05 June 2008 - Day 6
Shh! After bouncing out of bed for the last few mornings, all that red wine took its toll and some people were quite quiet at breakfast today!
For the first time, we could really feel the tension. Who would be in? Who would be out? Who would be with who? 8 months... 40 000km.... 28 countries.... This was going to be a huge undertaking.
But what better way to let off steam then messing about in the garden? The sun was back out and after a quick brain storming session we had loads of ideas of fun, team building things to do!
In the afternoon, the team split into two groups with half doing quadbiking and half getting back into the harnesses and going abseiling- we are old hands at adventure sports now!
For the first night, tonight we were early to bed because at midnight we had to get up for a nightwalk. With no torches, we had to rely on each other, holding hands to stay together and calling out to warn about obstacles. Fortunately, the organisers' evil plans to walk through a river were scuppered by health and safety concerns and we all got back safe and dry!
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New olympic sport announced
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Competition heats up! |
Looks of concentration! |
The victors celebrate! |
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Abseling |
Pauline |
Andrea |
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Friday 06 June 2008 - Day 7
Another beautiful sunny morning perfect to test our survival skills with a construction contest. Team 1 made a fabulous home, complete with garden and bathroom facilities, while Team 2 created Go Go Pauline's Spaza Shop, where the lucky visitor can be serenaded while they buy their beer and toilet rolls. Both constructions were things of great beauty, although victory was awarded to Team 1 as Team 2 broke the rules by using non-natural items!
Lunch time saw the first person to leave the workshop, as Michelle decided that this was not the right time in her life for the expedition. It was sad to see her go, but a brave decision. Fortunately, she stayed for the evening, so we could see her off in style!
In the afternoon we split into two groups again, doing the activity that we didn't do yesterday, either quadbiking or abseiling, with the quadbiking team getting really into it and getting completely covered in mud! For our final night at the guys at Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure Park put on a drumming workshop around the campfire. Not only was this great fun, it was also another chance to show off our moves (see photographic evidence!). |
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Constuction contest! |
A house fit for a princess (Princess played by Tanya) |
Go Go Pauline's Spaza Shop |
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With the Tsitikamma Falls Adventure Park Team |
Quadbiking |
The glamorous Cape to Cape Girls! |
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Quadbiking- good for the complexion |
Drumming (and dancing?!) workshop |
Last night campfire |
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Saturday 07 June 2008 - Day 8
A very early start today as we said goodbye to Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure Park at TIME am and set off for Stanmar Motors in George, where we would be getting our first introduction to the cars!
After a brief introduction from the team, we started to get to grips with the vehicles, getting under the bonnets!
Then, the fun really began as we got behind the wheels of the 4x4s and took them for a spin on the 4x4 track.
After lunch, it was off to the beach to practise our offroad driving on some huge sand dunes, followed by more fun on the quads.
Not only did we learn a lot, this was an amazing day- all the guys at Stanmar Motors really put themselves out to make sure that we had a fantastic time!
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Arrival at Stanmar Motors |
Getting under the bonnet |
And under the car...! |
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Changing the wheel! |
Splosh! |
Interviewed by MNET |
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Everyone on the beach |
Loving the cars! |
Having fun on the beach |
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A very popular man! |
Cars on the dunes |
More quads! |
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Sunday 08 June 2008 - Day 9 An early morning start today for whale watching with Ocean Safaris. After a short trip out to sea, we saw 7 whales, including 2 who were mating! Sorry to interrupt, guys!
After yesterday, we were all pretty exhausted by the afternoon, so after having lunch at Mugg & Bean, we had the afternoon off, meeting up again in the evening at Miguels Restaurant, for another excellent dinner. |
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Ready to go |
Whale watching |
A whale! |
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Returning to shore |
Lunch at Mugg & Bean |
At Miguels |
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Monday 09 June 2008 - Day 10
Decision time... This morning was the time for everyone to fill out their questionnaires and decide who they wanted to come on the expedition and who they would like to travel with.
After a pretty tense morning, it was back to Mugg & Bean and Market Square to have lunch and spend a bit of time publicising the expedition. Our uniforms certainly made sure that we were noticed!
In the afternoon, after some time in the classroom, Enya, Andrea and Rachel left with the questionnaires for a tough afternoon putting together the final teams, while everyone else paid a visit to Knysna Elephant Park.
We all met up again in the evening for our final dinner all together at fu.shi fusion cuisine, where we enjoyed a spectacularly good curry followed by some of the most delicious desserts ever.
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Filling in the questionnaires |
Giving it some thought |
Marketing at Market Square |
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At Mugg & Bean |
Knysna Elephant Park |
fu.shi fushion cuisine |
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Tuesday 10 June - Day 11 The time that we had all been waiting for had finally arrived. After 10 days of highs and lows it was time to announce the teams. Everyone gathered nervously in the table. With Michelle and Cindy having decided not to undertake the expedition there were 15 remaining candidates.
The first part of the final team announcement was that 12 people, four teams of three, had been selected. This meant that three people were not going to be taking part.
The first team announced were Jahna, Marion and Bridgette, followed by Sibongile, Monica and Tanya. The third team of Alicia, Julie and Monique meant that there were only 3 places for the 6 remaining participants, so as the final team of Tiefie, Petra and Ingrid were announced, it meant that Sharifa, Pauline and Jenneke were not going to be part of the expedition.
Emotional congratulations and commiserations followed as Sharifa, Pauline and Jenneke left and the announcement of the final teams sunk in.
The workshop ended with a dinner, hosted by Bitou Tourism at The Whalesong Restaurant. A great end to a fantastic few days where hopefully, the bonds have been formed that will take us 40 000 km from the tip of Africa, where two great oceans meet, to the top of Europe, where the sun shines at midnight...
Our amazing journey has begun... |
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Waiting... |
The announcement |
Marion is in! |
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Hearing the results |
Congratulations and commiserations |
Celebrations |
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Team 1 - Enya and Andrea |
Team 2 - Bridgette, Marion and Jahna |
Team 3 - Sibongile, Tanya and Monica |
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Team 4 - Monique, Julie and Alicia |
Team 5 - Ingrid, Tanya and Petra |
The final team! |
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