Beautiful Weather and Playful Waves in Plettenberg Bay

Two days in Plett have passed, and you are quickly reminded why this town is such a popular holiday destination with the South African population. We've had nothing but clear skies and constant sunshine, met with a gentle swell producing perfect waves for everyone to take their surfing up a step. Whilst having a spot of fresh sushi after a morning surf yesterday I even saw a Mother and child Southern Right Whale cruise past about 1/2 a mile out at sea, life really dosen't get much better!

We've spent a lot of the time in the water, and John Henry has taken the bull by the horns and is giving lessons with so much enthusiasm and energy that it's hard to imagine anyone doing a better job. The water's a lot warmer up here, and wetsuits are starting to become optional with board shorts and bikini's becoming the flavour of the day.

The date for the sky dive has been booked, and it seems as though we'll be having a full compliment taking to the skies. The bungee jump is met with greater anticipation, and this will be done one afternoon but no dates have been set, as it's good to keep this as flexible as possible.

So all is well from Africa's most Southern country, and it seems as though the smiles are here to stay.

Over and Out, L

Projects underway as we take a Birds Eye View of Cape Town

Increbible view, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

Day 5 on the Adventure, and we're maintaing the spead and high energy levels that we started off with.

Sunday...

An early morning session down at Africa's famed learn to surf spot of Muizenberg, this is the third lesson of the trip, and with the group all starting at a similar standard it's great to see them develop from session to session. None of the group had much if any surfing experience, so these early sessions are vitally important. We need to make sure that every session takes on something new, but that we don't go too fast and let people get left behind. We covered the basics of turning today, which everyone took to like a cheetah on a lame Springbok.

The wind swung the wrong direction for the afternoon which meant that we couldn't head in for our second session, but we instead went to watch some of the countries top young surfers battle it out in 'The Volcom Qualifying Series' contest at local beach 'Long Beach'. With the sun shining, a hot dog stand close at hand, and some high performance surfing this was not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon!!

Monday...

Early start today as it was the first of the many Community Projects that we get involved with, and being situated in the middle of Cape Town this meant a drive right through local rush hour. This project is called The Salesians, and it is an institute set up by Don Bosco in the late 19th Century. Among other things it is a haven, and educational facility for the homeless street children of Cape Town. The owner was telling me some horrendous stories about what these young children have been through and experienced. Our aim here is to not only broaden their minds and give them the opportunity to communicate with people from overseas, but also to realise that there are people out there who care what they are up to, a lot of these children are highly involved in street crime, but after spending the morning with them you quickly realise that they are just young children as we all once were, but they have had to fend for themselves in desperate measures. There smiles are very touching, and it is always a warming and eye opening experience getting involved with them.

After a quick bite to eat outside on a sunny Cape Town boulevard, and a tour around the shops and local African market we headed over to Table Mountain. We had planned to climb it, but a lack of footwear, and a tight schedule meant that we had to grace the Cable car, something which everyone seemed happy about! Table Mountain has to offer one of the finest views in the world, not only can you see all over the stetching suburbs of the city, but you also have one of the finest sea views and are able to see 2 oceans, the Indian and Atlantic, on either side of the Peninsula.

We rushed back, as we had an appointment with the 'Cape Town Juventus', a small local football team. This is one of the most heart warming projects we get involved with, a local man Thomas, runs this team, and they meet at 6 every night to play football on a small patch of land covered in stones, rubbish, too much glass, and it is so uneven that you can't see how they don't beak their ankles in every session! They only have 1 ball, no whistle, and are all in the same kit as when we were last here, in January. But despite this lack of facilities they absolutely love the game! They are all smiles, and laughter, throughout the session. Last night we had a quick 5 a-side tournament, with the 4 TTRide boys on each team.

We're back there tonight and will be bring a handful of footballs, a whistle for Thomas, and will be arriving an hour early with various gardening tools to remove all the rubbish, and try and even out the ground as much as possible.

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Today we've got a surf session in the morning, and then we're off to Klein Constantia one of Cape Towns finest vineyards, before heading back to the football field for another training session.

For all the photo's have a look at our flikr account, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttridesurf/, or our Facebook group "Ticket to Ride - Gap Year Surfing Adventures"

Trip off to a Flying Start...

Lesson, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

Where to begin? It's day 3 of the trip, and we've managed to squeeze so much in that it feels like a weeks gone by!

Friday...

With all the group arriving safely we decided that the best way to clear any drogginess that a flight may have given was to get straight into the sea for our opening surf session.

This was a huge success, the conditions were perfect, and the setting ideal. The first lesson's always important because it's one that you'll never forget, and we certainly never will. Energy levels were at an all time high as the group charged through the waves, all eager to start the trip off with a memorable session.

After returning before we let the tiredness sink in it was time for the Welcoming Braai. A traditional South Africa feast, that really puts to shame the British Summer bar-b-q's! Afer such a busy day you're very happy to eat to your heart content knowing that you earnt all the food, and that you'll be buring it off in the surf the next day.

Saturday...

An early start as the sun was shining, and the waves looking absolutely perfect. We all headed down to the beach for the second session of the trip, which saw everyone make a huge development. Every person has now got to their feet and enjoyed a lengthy ride; so as you can imagine the eager excitement for surfing is being shared by all.

In the afternoon it was chill time, and with the sun shining a good chance to remove the Winter glow! We spent the afternoon relaxing in the sun at one of the local surf spots, soaking up some rays, and enjoying the locals performing on the huge Atlantic rollers.

This day of sunshine was followed by a couple of sundowners at the local bar, before we headed home for some food, and then off out again to enjoy a party that was being held underneath the local lighthouse.

A very busy start to the trip, so may it continue. We've got 2 more surf sessions today, a day in Cape Town centre tomorrow, and in amongst the waves we've got a tour of local vineyard Klein Constantia, and not to mention a variety of Community Projects which will kick off tomorrow.

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For a look at the photo's taken so far see our Flikr account at www.flickr.com/photos/ttridesurf/

First few arrive for the November AFR

Local beach, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

It's the day before the start of the African Road Trip, and with over half the group having arrived this morning it might aswell be the first day.

I picked up the group bright and early from Cape Town Airport, and they were all greeted with typically beautiful Cape Town weather; all seeming rather tired from the long journey they all had a bit of rest time, and then we went out to grab a bit to eat in Kommetjie.

This was followed by a tour of the Cape peninsula from Dene Botha, who has sponged up all the knowledge from his pioneering Father Paul. Taking the tour along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world quickly cleared all the cobwebs. This is where it all begins, the start of a lifetime in surfing starts here, and it's SO EXCITING!!!

We had a quick tour, and then went down to the local beach watching all the local kids shred the waves of Long Beach after a day at school. We all watched on in eager anticipation, and its easy to see that as soon as they felt the soft Cape Town sand in between their toes they wanted to be nowhere else than in the water, learning the sport that they have travelled so far to master!

We haven't got our first surf lesson until tomorrow, so I've left them all to take 5 in front of a surf DVD, and build their ever increasing surf knowledge. Before we head out for some pizza's later, then we've got the remainder of the group coming out tomorrow, when we'll head out to the water for the first of many lifechaning surf sessions.

For a full gallery of the photo's please see our Flickr account (click on the image above.)

TTRide takes off

It's all go here today as our 4 week trip takes off to sunny South Africa. The riders are in for quite a welcome with one of the swells of the year predicted to roll in and spark up the various big wave spots around Cape Town. With a bit of luck they'll get to witness Cape Town's finest charging Dungeons and then nip away to the many sheltered spots for an afternoon of surfing - not a bad start.

I'm off to talk at St Edward's tomorrow and then i'm loading up the boards and heading off for a week's holiday. The plan is to cruise around some of the lesser surfed areas of the UK. There's a big old swell coming to so i'll be throwing in the big boards - get them ready for the cyclone swells in Durban next April! Will's coming along for the weekend and then he's back down to HQ to keep things ticking over - he may need an extra pair of hands given how the last few weeks have gone.

So it's back to doing what we love most, running trips. Can't wait to get this one on the road, it reminds you of what TTRide is all about and where all the work goes. Keep your eyes out for Linley's latest blogs. I just spoke to him on Skype, he cut me off rather quickly due to the fading light and the building swell, one last wave before it gets dark. Priorities......

Shot Bru's.

Feet firmly on South African soil

Stage 1 of the journey successfully completed (my ugly mug above in Jo'berg airport waiting for the connection.) I nearly missed my flight out here though, it was a close call. After spending far too long in the departure lounge at Gatwick I was fairly oblivious of the time, ipod in, relaxing in the food hall, thumbing various magazines etc. only to look up at the screen and see my flight flashing in big red letters “FINAL CALL” I left for a nervous sprint to the gate, which needless to say was absolutely miles away. When I arrived out of breath and with a sweaty back the gate as empty as all the other passengers had boarded, it hadn’t left though so it just meant I was one of the last on the plane, much to the irritation of the other flyers.

Nationwide is like an airline out of the 80’s, and apart from the man who was shouting in his sleep I don't have any complaints. Good food, and a couple of trips with the drinks trolley, the TV was a big one but I'd never seen Oceans 13 so it wasn't a problem.

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I've ARRIVED!!!!!! 20 hour of travelling (my connecting flight was stupidly delayed), and I've finally made it to Kommetjie in Cape Town. First port of call was obviously the beach. Yes there's swell, and yes I had to go in before doing anything else. Nothing like a surf to clean away the cobwebs after a long flight!

Things are looking great for when the group arrive, the sun's shining, there's good waves, and on the day they arrive it's been forecast as "The swell of the year", so I'm thinking we'll head around the coast, take in some scenery, acclimitise to the S.A lifestyle, and watch the local Hellmen charge into some giant Atlantic Rollers at Dungeons, not a bad arrival!!!

Busy couple of days before everyone arrives, and off for supper now. Early night for me!

Over and Out, L

Dark by 5 so where's my Ticket to....

Pic: TTRide Cape Town Instructor Dene Botha in the shade during a memorable TTRide Durban Dawny.

Dark by 5 is a depressing thought...... true if you have no plans until May.

Winter here means that all the planning, marketing and Rider selection trip logistics is nearly finished for our 07/08 TTRide Adventures and the best bit of Ticket to Ride upon again

Linley landed in Cape Town today, and the surf is there to greet him, his team of Riders fly out on Thursday and the closest I get to the action is meeting Riders at the Airport.

We were featured in City Magazine this week which will give our Career Break Trips a further boost. The September Zero to Hero trip is aimed at those taking a Career Break, and as alway we take extra special care in our selection process to make sure that all our Riders are well suited to our Adventures. Anyway enough about that....

it's dark already, Linley is in South Africa running the TTRide Road Trip, Tim is taking a week off next week, this leaves me with the prospect that EVERY TTRide HQ job is now my job!!! or to be more positive ANY TTRide HQ job is now my job!!!

Pub Lunch anyone????

W

Off to the airport in 1 hour...

The time has finally arrived. The past few weeks have been spent in excited anticipation preparing all the necessary details so that this 1 Month African Road trip goes as smoothly as possible, but it always comes round sooner than you think!

Checking the surf report, and looking at the weather forecast it looks like we'll be in for a great start to the trip. The swells on the way, as is the sunshine, and with a bit of luck the wind will be perfect to create those imaculate lines that have gained a reputation as the best learn to surf spot in Africa down in Muizenberg Corner.

I'm travelling out there on Nationwide Airways, which none of us have tried. Starting to worry as to whether they will be showing the latest feature length films, and whether or not I'll have the choice about which film I want to watch, and at what time, will the food be good, free booze, what about a bag of nuts when I board? All these questions are starting to become a main priority in my thought pattern. Tim and Will could not be less interested.

I'll be getting a load of photos up over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for constant updates.

My next post will be from the Southern Hemisphere (how good does that sound!!), that is unless I get board in the departure lounge, or maybe on the plane without my first choice of films.

Over and out... L