Clover 10km fun-run

Pete once again decided that it’s time to get back on the fitness bandwagon so competed in the PE Clover (milk brand) 10km fun run on Saturday morning. Whilst the 7am race start time seems somewhat early, parenthood and early rises for work has made 7am a sleep in.

It was quite a large event with around 600 entrants- probably a testament to the token entrance fee of only R15 (<$2.5)! Pete set off in a chilly 10c, before sun-rise at what he felt was a comfortable pace. It was only upon seeing a 40 year old woman wearing a netball skirt in front of him at the 2km mark that Pete thought it was time to get serious!

He finished in an admirable sub-48min, not bad given his present fitness levels.

Jen and Harrison made it to the finish line in time to see the winner. Not surprisingly the top 100 finishers were all skinny black athletes- some wearing shoes, some not wearing shoes (10km ROAD race)!

Harrison rugged up (& doing his Stuie look!)

Some athletes competing without shoes!

Blink & you'll miss Pete!

Pete with his #1 supporter

Harrison James Chandler - born 9 June 2009

Harrison James Chandler arrived at 14:30, Tuesday, 9th June 2009. Weighing in at 3.86kg and 55cm long, he was delivered via c-section surgery. Both Mum and boy are in great health. Dad is besotted with them both even after changing the 1st nappie!! Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! Tipping the scales at 3.86kg (8,5lbs)

Luxury 'camping' at Toorfontein

The Little Karoo is a broad valley stretching east to west hemmed in by the Swartberg mountain range to the north and the Outeniqua mountains to the south. Whilst the environment appears very vast and arid, the windswept plains are broken by mountains with deep ravines and breathtaking passes. Jen put on her 'travel agent' hat and found stunning accommodation at Toorfontein tented camp which would offer a completely different African experience for Jackie & Stu. To break the drive we stayed at The Fernery on Friday night- the only hotel at the base of the Tsitsikamma Mountains which has views of the rugged coastline, deep gorges and surrounding forests. Our lodge was nestled against a small waterfall of the gorge which made for pleasant background noise as we braaied on our patio. On Saturday we meandered along the Garden Route, breaking for coffee at a French cafe in Plettenberg Bay and a picnic lunch in Knysna. We continued over the spectactular Outeniqua Pass from George...

Camping at Monks Cowl, hiking the 'Berg

Due to this weekend being a long weekend in SA (and also to celebrate our birthdays), Pete & I along with British expats Gareth & Sophie decided a weekend getaway trip was required and the Central Drakensberg Ranges was chosen as the destination. We camped at Monks Cowl which is nestled in the picturesque Champagne Valley at the base of the Central Drakensberg Ranges in Kwazulu-Natal. In training for the Mt Kilimanjaro hike that we all hope to hike whilst we are based in Africa, we ventured off on Sunday for a long and hilly hike. We first headed to Blindman's Corner, an 11km return route from the camp. This route takes you steeply up a berg to The Sphinx and then along a flat and meandering grassy plateau to the base of the summits. However, upon arriving there we felt like a further challenge so subsequently climbed 1/3 of the way up Sterkhorn Mt. And up we climbed... at times the hill we were climbing had a gradient of >55 degrees! We rested for lunch perched precari...

Chandler's Overseas

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