Fortunately all went well and we have refined the way to do a few things.  Such as our packing list of food... the first time around we took a year supply of tons of stuff, like toothpaste, deodorant, tea and coffee.  We are now a little wiser; all these things are readily available in stores with names similar to those we are familiar with at home!

The biggest change to the Mog is the fitting of an air handbrake as Alan felt the existing handbrake wasn't as strong as he would like.

So now we are truly back on our way to Cairo; but we have gone south before going north again.  Alan and I have taken the plunge (literally) and learnt to scuba dive - the realisation of many of years of wishing.  

The pool training was both daunting and fun.  The whole thing of going underwater and taking a deep breath is a huge leap of faith!!  But leap we did, and we are now looking forward to adding diving along the African coast in the warm waters of the Indian ocean to our list of adventures.

After the pool training with Martin of Prestige Dive Academy, we dived in a freshwater "lake" before venturing onto the sea.  We now have tons more stuff to find a packing space for in the Mog!

We quietly left Johannesburg as the sun began to cast purple hues across the early morning autumn sky on 25th April 2005.  At the end of a full day's drive was the Indian Ocean and Sodwana Bay.  The area is a well-known area for fishing and scuba diving, but is also a conservation area where turtles come onto the beach to lay their eggs in the summer months.

On the way we went over Jozini Pass, where the road hugs the southern end of Jozini Dam.  It also happens to go up, up, up, round a bend, up, up and up and up some more!  The view of the dam at the top is spectacular while the town of Jozini had me wondering if I had been transported back to Malawi.

He was also voted as the friendliest guy on the boat at our "graduation" (which involved bowing to "His Royal Fishiness" and the downing of some rather suspect "coral juice").

Above: Alan and Yvonne

In all honesty, I can tell you that we are having a really fabulous and relaxing time.  We met some great folks on the dive course, and are spending our days on the beach and evenings around the fire.

It's so good to be back on the road!!

Left:  And Alan said to the chicken... "what should I do with this can of coke"

Highlights:  
Best meal: Roast chicken cooked "standing" on a can of coke which is stuck up its rear, encased in foil and cooked over a fire for 1 and half hours.  Yummy!
Best moment: Every moment of being on the move again!
Worst moment: When Alan's wallet was stolen in Nelspruit, South Africa.

Interesting people we've met:  
Although not "new", we have to mention our friends Alan and Helen whom we stayed with while back in Benoni.  Thanks guys, you are just too wonderful!!

A new person we have met is Martin and Yvonne of Prestige Dive Academy.  Thanks to them us "older" folk now have a whole new field of adventure to explore.