Stellenbosch

Chris making a good chip shot
Ernie Els Winery, Stellenbosch, ZA
February 13, 2025

Happy Valentine's Day 

Yesterday was devoted to visiting three world class wineries in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. The area was a short one-hour drive from our lodging and we hired an experienced driver and vehicle to get us efficiently and safely to and from the region. 

It was another beautiful day and the ride to Stellenbosch was enjoyable. We were able to see multiple sides of South Africa including an extremely large shanty town and their version of Hollywood. The wineries we visited were at the foot of a large mountain and all three confessed that the hot weather means that they grow and bottle mostly red wines. Collectively, the three wineries only sported five white wines, with the remainder being very exciting reds. 

The first winery visited was Ernie Els. We were able to try our hand at a chip shot and visit a magnificent trophy room in addition to enjoying 9 wines. 

Vehicle for the Vineyard Safari
Waterford Estates, Stellenbosch, ZA
February 14, 2025

The next winery was Waterford Estates where they offer a vineyard safari ride. We did not take the safari, but chose to enjoy another setting of 9 wines. Included in our tasting were three vertical tastings where we compared current releases to either 2014 or 2015 wines.

Tokara Wine Estate
Stellenbosch, ZA
February 13, 2025

We enjoyed lunch at Tokara Wine Estate and sat in an amazing glass enclosed porch overlooking the vineyards. The winery facility sits at the base of a hill and has stunning views of the valley and adjacent vineyards. We did not do a tasting, but enjoyed a nicely plated lunch.

I, of course, enjoyed a nice glass of wine at lunch. 

Our final vineyard was a short drive away from our lunch stop. 

We arrived at Oldenburg Vineyards to enjoy another excellent tasting. Even though it was late in the day, we were able to discern the layers, flavors, and aromatics of the wines. 

We had an exciting day returning to our lodging about 6:30 PM. 

-- Bob Doan, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town - The Waterfront

 

Chris and the Elephant
Cape Town, South Africa
February 12, 2025

We spent the afternoon exploring the Cape Town waterfront. Chris had her first encounter with the local animals. No, not the elephant she is pictured with, but harbor seals that were playing in the water. We enjoyed watching the seals for a while before continuing our stroll along the diverse and touristy waterfront area. 

Harbor Seal
Cape Town, South Africa
February 12, 2025

We began the day late, as we were coping with the seven hour time change. Our lodging is close to the waterfront and Uber drivers provided excellent service at very reasonable rates both going and returning from the area. 

Ferris Wheel on the Waterfront
Cape Town, South Africa
February 12, 2025

We ate lunch at Belthazar Restaurant & Wine Bar; advertised as the world's largest by the glass wine bar and restaurant--right along the harbor. They have a magnificent facility and we enjoyed excellent service, a great meal and, of course, wine.

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant a short walk from our lodging. Villa 47 provided excellent service. Even though they advertised reservations were required, we were able to get a table on a Wednesday evening without waiting. The restaurant also provided excellent service, tasty food, and a diverse wine menu. 

Even with the late start, we had a full day of activity finally returning about 9 PM to rest and prepare for today's wine exploration adventure. Tomorrow we depart our lodging and join up with the tour group to begin the scheduled portion of our trip. 

-- Bob Doan, Cape Town, South Africa

First Morning in South Africa

View from the Rooftop
Cape Town, South Africa
February 12, 2025

The view from our VRBO is stunning. I am out on the rooftop veranda enjoying transition from night to day as the sun rises behind Cape Town. The sky is clear with a bit of haze as the city comes to life on this Wednesday morning, which is my first in South Africa. 

The day dawns a cool but comfortable 63 degrees and I can see part of the port through the buildings off to the left. We are near the waterfront. The rugged mountains to the east provide the perfect silhouette for the day's dawn. We have nothing planned for today. It is a recovery day from our travel. I slept last night, but was awake a lot as my body fought sleep and reminded me that where I was is not where I am. Chris and I were both awake about 4 AM and we looked out the window at the slumbering city. We have one of the best views ever out the hotel window. OK, technically it is not a hotel, but we are staying here on a trip so it loosely fits the category.

When we landed yesterday, Chris and I were on the wrong side of the jet to be able to sightsee the city and so I settled for enjoying the taxi ride to our lodging. 

Table Mountain, to the south, is illuminated during the early evening hours. I noted, however, that it was not illuminated when we were standing at the window about 4 AM. It is quite a sight at night and a great landmark. Being summer here, we have over 13 hours of sunlight to enjoy. A distinct change from the winter illumination of the northern hemisphere. Cape Town is a little closer to the equator than Baltimore, but not as close as Tequesta.

Adventure is ahead and it is time to get the day started. 

-- Bob Doan, Cape Town, South Africa

Arriving in South Africa

Our Trusty Air Ship an A350
Cape Town, South Africa
February, 11, 2025

 Chris and I made the trip. I all went smoothly, thankfully. The flight to Atlanta and then the flight to Cape Town happened almost completely as scheduled. 

The 14h 50m flight was smooth and, as reported to me by Chris, I slept most of the way. She, however, did not. As a result, it is 10:30 PM here which, due to the 7 hour time difference, makes it 3:30 PM back in Florida and the U.S. East Coast. I am awake--but Chris is heading to bed. 

Africa out the Cabin Window
Over the Atlantic Ocean
February 11, 2025

The first sighting of the African Coast was exciting. And then later as we neared landing the sight of Cape Town amazed us. It is a big sprawling city. Much bigger than I imagined.

And then the city came into view along with Table Mountain and the scene was a bit surreal as it was sunset even though my body was screaming sunrise. We took off about 9:30 PM and landed at 7:09 PM. We effectively lost a day. 

Table Mountain at Sunset
Cape Town, South Africa (ZA)
February 11, 2025

Table Mountain is the most significant land feature in the area. I snapped a quick image from, the speeding taxi transporting us from the airport to the VRBO in which we are staying.

We made it safely to the VRBO and met up with our traveling partners who arrived a few hours earlier. Now--it is bed time and we are looking forward to the adventure as it begins. 

-- Bob Doan, Cape Town, ZA

Monday Musings - February 10, 2025

 

1. Welcome to the second Monday of February. It is also the Monday after the Super Bowl--which wasn't all that super. There are 46 remaining Mondays in the year 2025!

2. Yawn, such was the Super Bowl. Apparently the Chiefs stayed in their hotel for the game. The final score of 40-22 Eagles over the Chiefs, was much closer than the game actually was. For a while, I thought we were preparing for the first shutout in Super Bowl history. I guess I won't be seeing the Chiefs players in so many commercials now. As for the halftime show, I am not the demographic to which the show was designed to please. 

Limestone Creek Trail
Jupiter, FL
February 8, 2025

3. While shopping for our Super Bowl party, I ran across the strangest sale. It was buy 2 and get 3 free on 12 packs of Pepsi products! Wow! When it was all done I was able to by Pepsi for pre-pandemic pricing. It worked out to $4.12 per 12-pack. WooHoo! I still can't believe it--but it happened! However, I got gouged for the potato chips.

4. I enjoyed a 19-mile plus bike ride on Saturday. I rode a circuit that I infrequently use. I like it because I have added in a short trail that takes me through a forested area and provides a nice change of pace from riding on the streets. It is a short, but pretty ride and in some ways reminds me of the ride I took with Patrick and Jeremy last summer as we completed the GAP. 

4. Save your pennies! Production of the, in my opinion, most useless coin in the world, is about to stop. 

5. Today in History. On February 10, 1996, after three hours, world chess champion Garry Kasparov loses the first game of a six-game match against Deep Blue, an IBM computer capable of evaluating 200 million moves per second. Man was ultimately victorious over machine, however, as Kasparov bested Deep Blue in the match with three wins and two ties and took home the $400,000 prize. An estimated 6 million people worldwide followed the action online.

Kasparov had previously defeated Deep Thought, the prototype for Deep Blue developed by IBM researchers in 1989, but he and other chess grandmasters had, on occasion, lost to computers in games that lasted an hour or less. The February 1996 contest was significant in that it represented the first time a human and a computer had duked it out in a regulation, six-game match, in which each player had two hours to make 40 moves, two hours to finish the next 20 moves and then another 60 minutes to wrap up the game.

Trump set to announce 25% tariff on steel and aluminum - CNN

Trump instructs Treasury to halt penny production - CNN

Exclusive: U.S. funding freeze threatens investigations of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine - Reuters

The stark divide that South Africa's land act seeks to bridge - Reuters

Australia says its steel, aluminium exports create American jobs - Reuters

trump-proposed-land-grabs-mean-us-now-seen-as-a-risk-munich-security-report - The Guardian

trump-electric-vehicle-charging-station-program - The Guardian

Farmers on the hook for millions after Trump freezes USDA funds - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Trucks N Tunes - February 2025

Trucks N' Tunes
Constitution Park Tequesta, FL
February 7, 2025

 Chris and I enjoyed a fantastic Friday evening in Tequesta at the Trucks N' Tunes event. 

Looking Down the Food Truck Row
Constitution Park, Tequesta, FL
February 7, 2025

The service from the food trucks was slow and the music was a bit loud, but the music was, at the same time, enjoyable making it THE place to be on a Friday night in Tequesta.

The weather, as expected, was perfect. It was another glorious February evening in South Florida. Where else would I rather be? No where. 

Tequesta, like many South Florida communities, provides many activities to enjoy during the late-winter months. There are art shows, farmer's markets, and small gatherings like Trucks N' Tunes. It makes living here particularly enjoyable. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Challenger for Punxsutawney Phil

 Like most Americans, I was not happy last week when Punxsutawney Phil made his, accurate only about 35 percent of the time, weather prediction for six more weeks of winter. 

Ugh. Who wants that?

Here in South Florida that prediction should mean highs in the 50s-60s accompanied by a cold depressing rain. 

A friend sent me an alternate weather prognosticator to replace my reliance on Phil. 

I love it!

The Palm Tree!

On every February 2nd, I can now go to my Tequesta Palm and receive a personal weather prognostication. It has to be at least as accurate as Phil with the added benefit that I do not need to read the mystical woodchuck language to decipher the forecast. 

Of course I have to keep secret the location of the weather forecasting palm tree--I would not want people to gather en masse heavily attired to await the prediction while consuming excessive quantities of coffee and hot chocolate. The weather palm prefers that people enjoy a cold drink in their hand while attired in beachwear enjoying the bright, hot sun on a sandy beach.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Enjoying the Evening

Pelican Monitoring the Marina
Tequesta, FL
February 6, 2025

 Chris and I enjoyed another fantastic South Florida evening. The temperature seemed cool as we relaxed by the Intracoastal to enjoy some adult beverages and munchies, yet the thermometer showed 73 degrees. 

I actually felt cool, but we were sitting in the shade.

I can feel Florida summer beginning to express itself in the bright sunshine of the afternoon 80s, but the evenings and mornings are still pleasantly cool. I am looking forward to a bike ride today. Yesterday, we took Finnegan for a grooming and so I did not get a chance to ride.

I am amazed at how quickly the days are passing. We fly Monday evening to begin an adventure. The trip has been planned for months and our departure is now three short days hence. 

The planning and packing for the 2-plus week trip is nearly complete. We will be heading south of the Equator to enjoy some summer. I will attempt to continue daily blogging, but the excruciatingly long overnight flights both going and returning may interrupt that schedule a bit. 

Tonight we are heading off to Trucks N Tunes, a Tequesta Village sponsored event that happens during the winter months. 

So much to enjoy and so little time. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Keeping Focus

 There are so many distractions, especially in the news. It can be hard in this era of chaos and confusion to keep an eye on the important stuff. 

Usurping peoples rights constitutes important stuff. 

Leading America into a Middle East quagmire in order to gain personal wealth is important. 

The transgender Executive Order is an example of people rallying to usurp individual rights. It has become a holy war because thousands of young boys are lining up to have gender affirming surgery so they can play girls sports, right? 

This is one of those "common sense" things that is just plain wrong. Someone needed to get the facts.

In truth, according to the NCAA president, ". . . there are ‘less than 10’ transgender athletes in college sports."

". . . Gillian Branstetter, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who told Newsweek that Save Women’s Sports, a leading voice in the bid to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, identified only five transgender athletes competing on girls’ teams in school sports for grades K through 12." (The Pink News)

I do not know how this became both an important campaign issue and now an Executive Order, but it certainly is distracting and has successfully obfuscated important issues.

For instance--

How many American citizens have been illegally detained or deported during ICE operations? We should be concerned about that. 

Who came up with the idea that America should rebuild Gaze, relocate almost 2 million people and let the Trump crime family develop the area into another Atlantic City?

And what about the multitudes of Federal Workers being dismissed without due process. Who is protecting their rights? 

And Congress remains silent.  

But, now our leaders can clap themselves on the back and pretend they actually did something to make life better in American. Except, did they? 

Whose rights will be taken away next?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

On the Waterfront

Pelican Duo
Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
February 4, 2024

 With daytime highs in the low 80s, South Florida is perhaps the best place to be living in the whole nation. Chris and I joined friends at our favorite watering hole last night for Happy Hour. It adjoins a marina where there always seems to be a lot of activity. 

Last evening in addition to people, pelicans were monitoring the comings and goings at the marina. They were magnificently perched atop some of the pilings and with the color of the reflected sunset adorning the sky, I could not help myself but to snap an image. 

By way of an update:

My truck has returned from the repair shop with two more tires, a four wheel alignment, stainless steel muffler and pipes, and new back brakes. Hopefully, it is ready for another 100,000 miles! We took out the resonators that were on the tailpipes and the truck has a bit more throaty sound--which I like. 

And in the news:

Is anyone else concerned that the fox is in the henhouse with Elon having access to the entire U.S. payment system? 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL