For six months now we have been entertained daily by the majestic Southern Right Whales all along our coast line, but time has come to say ‘goodbye, until next year’. As most of you know, Hermanus is nicknamed, the ‘whale capital of the world’ and as a resident of Hermanus I was lucky enough to view these remarkable animals everyday from my office window. But I decided it was time for a closer look and made myself and friends a booking with the recently established whale watching company, The Whale Watchers.
It was a lovely warm Saturday afternoon and we all got together at the booking office in the Hermanus New Harbour. The building is a bright orange with lovely ladies painted on the wall, which is great because you can’t miss them. As we arrived we were welcomed by Linda and Madeline who help us with payments and then we followed the crew members down to the dock were we were gently helped onto the boat. Rob and Emile (the skippers) went through the safety procedures with us as we were leaving the harbour. The views from the boat were amazing and as we cruised, looking for some whales, a crew member came past everyone offering to assist them with a group photo, which in my opinion was very thoughtful. The boat has two levels, the upper level mostly for view purposes. I preferred the lower level as I’m still getting use to my sea legs and there is less seating on the upper level. The lower level is large and easy to move around with some ‘U’ shape seating and tables. Because most of the passengers move to the upper level with the sighting of our first whale, my friends and I were able to move comfortably around the lower level to get the best views. The first half of our trip, we saw a couple whales… but from a distance. The Skipper set off to another location in search of more whales. As we were cruising some bottle nose dolphins joined us on our search, it was amazing! We saw them up-close swimming and jumping through the waves created by the boat. Only a few minutes later we were greeted by a mother and her calve, they swam right up to the boat and circled it over and over. One of the crew members informed me that they can identify the whales though their unique patterns and callosities and they recognised these two whales from some previous encounters this season. They witnessed the birth of this specific calve, and it’s a very rare and unique occasion. We watch the mom and her calve for a few more minutes before heading back to the harbour. As we were cruising back everyone was offered a fizzy drink and packet of crisps and we all were reminiscing over what we have witness and experienced. At the harbour we were help of the boat and we walk back up to the booking office to thank all the crew members for an amazing trip. I’m sure everyone on the cruise enjoyed it as much as we did and will make sure to do it again next season! Once again thank you to whole Whale Watchers Team. © Overberg Living The Whale Watchers operate from June – December Lunch time: 08h00 – 11h00 - 14h00 ALL TRIPS ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT TO BOOK CONTACT 0829318064 / 0283124957 [email protected] More info.... Cape Trails, a SMME with the key objective to build and maintain mountain bike (MTB) trails, received an early Christmas gift when Steven Goodill, a keen mountain biker from Tokai, donated his old mountain bike to the SMME.
Earlier this year the route builders from Cape Trails took passion to new limits while working on the Contego Wines2Whales (W2W) MTB trails. Consisting of four members, Brendon Booyens (Pikkie), Jason Adams, Denzel Scheepers and Aswell Swartz, these Grabouw based route builders started cycling to and from work each day of the week covering a distance of 32km per day. Under the guidance of Johan Kriegler (founder of the W2W route), Cape Trails is responsible for the building and maintenance of the W2W routes. Goodill first came into contact with Cape Trails at the beginning of November when he took part in the Contego W2W MTB Race powered by Maserati. It was here that he won a magnificent KTM Phinx 2.29 mountain bike valued at R25 995, compliments of KTM, the official bicycle partner of Contego Wines2Whales. “I am over the moon with my prize,” says Goodill. “I have been looking at 29’ers so the timing is perfect. I am very happy to pass on the good fortune by donating my old mountain bike to the guys at Cape Trails, who really do an amazing job. Through their effort and dedication many riders now have the chance to ride in an awesome part of the world. People travel from all over the world to experience the beauty that we have on our doorstep. I was blown away by the level of organization at the Contego Wines2Whales, everything ran so smoothly. To cater at that high standard for 1200 riders was remarkable. A huge thank you to all the people involved. I will without a doubt be back next year, hopefully a little fitter and a lot faster”. Cape Trails received further gifts from W2W sponsors First Ascent and SUUNTO. First Ascent kitted each of the four guys out in dashing First Ascent cycling gear, while SUUNTO has given them each a SUUNTO heart rate monitor to use while working on or taking part in events. EVENT DATES FOR 2013 Starting in the Winelands of Somerset West, teams of two riders (male/female/mixed) will cross through (and over) 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas (including the Kogelberg Biosphere) before finishing within sight of the famous whales of Hermanus! Contego Wines2Whales MTB Adventure powered by Maserati: 01 – 03 November 2013 Contego Wines2Whales MTB Race powered by Maserati: 08 – 10 November 2013 Entries Open: Thursday, 14 February 2013 Follow us on Twitter: @w2wmtb Like our Facebook page: Contego Wines2Whales For more information on the Contego Wines2Whales MTB Adventure and Race powered by Maserati e-mail [email protected] or visitwww.wines2whales.co.za Official 2013 Up the Creek Line up: Creekers, we have finalized the line up for UTC 2013, it is going to be one big rocking river party! The bands and artists that will be performing are: Karen Zoid, ISO, YOAV, Jeremy Loops, BEAST, Dave Ferguson, Goodnight Wembley, Machineri, Tailor, Tombstone Pete, Piet Botha & Liz, Peachy Keen, Lucy Kruger, The Mysticcs, No One`s Arc, Black Cat Bones, Nomadic Orchestra, Grassy Spark, Dirty Bounce, December Streets, Woodstock Mafia, Trenton & the Radicals, Saint Fearless, Desmond & The Tutus, Taxi and Friends, Janie and the Beard, Shotgun Tori, Akkedis, Nik Rabinowitz, Peter Mitchell and DJ Dirtroad. Pull in on Thursday, 31st January for a chilled out preview gig at the Rolling Stone SA stage. You can choose the best spot for your tent and kick-start the weekend’s carousing so that the place is cooking by the time the rest of your friends arrive 4th Street is the official wine sponsor for Up the Creek 2013. Why 4th Street? Because they are all about living the sweet life! The sweet life is about being at places and being seen, about good times, good friends and good tunes. And what can be sweeter than a few lazy days chilling next to the beautiful Breede River, listening to world-class music, laughing out loudly to quality comedy acts and rocking out with your favourite peeps, while sipping on a chilled glass of sweet 4th Street wine. In typical Up the Creek tradition we will be running live music on 3 stages throughout the weekend: The 4th Street Main Stage, the MK river stage and the all-night-long Rolling Stone stage. But remember, only 1 stage at a time, so that you don’t get to miss out on your favourite acts. And if that isn’t enough, Red Bull will be bringing some really cool DJ’s (and of course lots of Red Bull) to play a river set on Saturday afternoon, directly after the Wedding. Who’s wedding you may ask? Now that would be telling. More about that another time. BOS ICED Tea, always keeping it natural, will be wooing you with their acoustic set and BOS cocktails down at the River during Friday and Saturday morning. So, now you know who’s playing and what the score is. All you need is your ticket and your toothbrush. Tickets at www.ticketbreak.co.za or on our FB page:
Thursday – Sunday: Presales: R600.00 – Gate: R650.00 Friday – Sunday: Presales: R550.00 – Gate: R600.00 Saturday – Sunday: Presales: R450.00 – Gate: R500.00 Kids 13 years and younger: free entry. Heartbreak Motel: If you want to rock out in a little more comfort, then the Heartbreak Motel is for you. There are various options of pre-pitched tents, hot showers, clean toilets, buffet breakfast and other luxuries. For more info and bookings go to: http://www.heartbreakmotel.co.za/ Competitions: We are running various exciting competitions for Up the Creek 2013. Check out our Competitions page on website for all the details: Up the Creek Competitions Good luck with your entries! Social Media: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UpTheCreek.MusicFestival Twitter: @Upthe_Creek. Website: www.upthecreek.co.za Line up: Up the Creek 2013 line up General queries: [email protected] and Media queries: [email protected] Up the Creek Music Festival is organized by Red Hot Events and Blue Moon. www.redhotevents.co.za. www.blue-moon.co.za Up the Creek 2013 would like to thank our sponsors: 4th Street, MK, Rolling Stone SA, Bos Iced Tea, Red Bull and Mitchell’s Brewery. “One Team, Seven Challenges”
Power couple Conrad and Liezel Stoltz will be in the hot seat on Saturday, 12 January 2013 when they attempt to defend their mixed team title at the Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge presented by Liberty Medical Scheme and REHIDRAT® SPORT. Starting in Gordon’s Bay and finishing in Kleinmond, this much loved multi-sport event is ideal for athletes of all sporting disciplines as participants can compete individually or as part of a team. According to Conrad it’s the camaraderie that makes team participation at the Totalsports Challenge so exciting. “That and competing with my “vroutjie” is also awesome. The Totalsports Challenge is a great event with beautiful scenery. We actually considered entering in the ‘individual’ category this year, but Liezel didn't feel ready for it just yet. We love training together and it fits in perfectly with my training program as I do those disciplines anyway. Our team strength is a combination of speed, mental toughness and we're both naturally competitive. If Liezel sees a spec on the horizon, the lioness in her comes out and she has to chase it! It’s very funny, but great for our team,” says four time XTERRA World Champion, Conrad Stoltz. For former SA netball captain Liezel Stoltz, taking part in the individual category of the 7-disciplined Totalsports Challenge is definitely a future goal. “Maybe in 2014 I can do all four disciplines of the Terra Firma Challenge and hopefully someday I’ll be able to take on the 7-discplined event. This year however, Conrad will be doing the road bike and mountain bike disciplines, while I’ll be doing the road run and beach run. In the beginning I use to struggle with the distances and would say ‘this is hard’ to which Conrad would reply ‘if it was easy, it would be called netball’. That in itself is what motivates me,” laughs Liezel. “Our team strength is that we have fun together and love what we do. It’s our lifestyle. So far the Totalsports Challenge is the only event where we can compete as a team as it fits in with Conrad’s racing schedule”. Adrenaline junkies can choose between the 7-discipline Totalsports Challenge or the less daunting 4-discipline Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge. EVENT INFORMATION: DATE: Saturday, 12 January 2013 Venue Start - Gordon’s Bay (Beach Front) End - Kleinmond (Beach Front) EVENT: Totalsports Challenge - 12km surfski, 1.5km swim, 50km road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 13km K1 canoe, 25km mountain bike and finally a 9km beach run FORMAT: Enter individually or in two, three or seven member teams EVENT: Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge - 50km road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 25km mountain bike and 9km beach run. FORMAT: Enter individually or in two or four member teams NEW ~ What better way to prepare for the action of the Totalsports Challenge than by taking part in a 5km Fun Run the day before! DATE: Friday, 11 January 2013 VENUE: Kleinmond Lagoon TIME: 18:00 ENTRY FEE: R35 Enter online at www.totalsports.co.za For more information on the Totalsports Challenge presented by Liberty Medical Scheme and REHIDRAT® SPORT visit www.totalsports.co.zaor contact (021) 511 – 7130. Join Lomond for a fun, sizzling braai experience and wine tasting at R155 pp on 15/12/12
Available: Wine sales, Horse riding at a special rate of R150pp for 1 hour with African Horse Company and hiking trails. Booking essential. |
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