Cairo to Cape Town

Yes, friends, our long, arduous journey is nearing its conclusion. And with all good stories we need that final climatic moment to push us over the finish line. Or, in my case, drag me over the line. We started way back in Cairo, Egypt and will complete our mission in Cape Town, South Africa. More specifically, at the Cape of Good Hope. 

Have we learned anything along our way? Picked up any savory nuggets of wisdom? Have we grown as people, you and I? Delved into the deeper meaning of our existence while traversing the great length of Africa? Are we richer and fuller and more complex... like a fine wine or bold cup of coffee?

Are we happier?

Before we dig into those existential, monumental questions, let's first put a proper finish on this amazing, epic adventure we've been experiencing together.

We left off in Swakopmund, Namibia, our little German city on the ocean with sand dunes galore. From there we cross the Tropic of Capricorn...

Then travel into Sesriem and its 1,000 foot dunes. We make camp in the desert, then wake up before dawn to hike Dune 45 for an amazing, spectacular, awesome (insert your adjective here) sunrise. Wow, this Earth is amazing!

(It's a lot harder to climb than it looks!)

(Fortunately Joe and Emius have breakfast ready upon our descent)

We continue our journey making various stops along the way, some that remind me of the southwest and Route 66.

(Joe looking cool on an old beater)

(A quick bush fix and we're on our way!)

We drive on to Sossusvlei to see the Dead vlei pan, a strange little area of the desert where petrified trees live forever, suspended in a geological time freeze just below the dunes. 

A few of the guys (Joe, Robbie, and Stefano) even trek up to the top of Big Daddy Dune and then run to the bottom at top speed. So fun!

Next stop is Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. It even looks like the Grand Canyon! This place is breathtaking. A group of hikers is climbing down for a 5-day trek to Ai-Ais. 

We beat them to Ai-Ais in the truck and take the opportunity to swim in a giant pool fed by the hot springs from the lower canyon. Call me Ponce de Leon, because I may have just discovered the fountain of youth.

(Joy and Charley canoeing down the river)

It's time to say goodbye to Namibia. And, surprisingly, South Africa welcomes us with our fastest border stop yet. We've now entered our tenth country in Africa. Eleven if you include Egypt. We spend the night in a small winery. After two weeks in a tent, it's time for an upgrade! I'm in the Cabernet Sauvignon room. The bed is nice and the views are amazing. But let's see if we can do even better...

The following day we drive to Stellenbosch for a 2-night stay. I opt for a hotel near the edge of town called Twice Central Guesthouse. And I think I've been 'twice' rejuvenated! This place is amazing!! 

And while the rest of our group is off on a wine tour, I take the opportunity to learn a little more about this amazing town with a guided tour, learning about the history of Stellenbosch and the rich diversity of its residents. Here take a look at some of the sights:

(Check out this dude's threads!)

(Check out the Dutch East India Company seal.)

(Yeah there's even one of those here!)

(Art lovers dream here)

(So yummy!)

Our final stop is Cape Town, where we will take the opportunity to explore Table Mountain via cable car, then later that night have our final dinner as a group. It's time to say goodbye to all of our friends. We started off with 13, and while some hopped on and hopped off along the way, we are ending with the same number, 13. We've become quite the little family along the way. That quirky family, who sometimes bickers and fights, but has love for all. We are all such diverse and independent people, flung together on this crazy, epic tour. Some of us will be moving on to new adventures, while others, like myself, will be returning home if only to plan our next adventure, as we've all been bitten, rather viciously I might add, by the travel bug. And traveling certainly is our common unifying trait. But who knows, perhaps we will meet again, in some distant place and at some future time. 

But I still have one last stop: the Cape of Good Hope. I've been drawn to this spot for a good portion of my life. It has always lingered up there, rattling around in my noggin, this mysterious place of yore. Now I will set off to reach that mythical point, to put a sharp edge on this steely end of our final chapter. No, I haven't forgotten about those questions I posed at the beginning of this post. But as any good writer knows, leave your reader in suspense. Besides, I still need to fulfill my quest. Need to stay focused... 

So stick around for one final post, and perhaps we can unearth some of those answers.