2002-2005 (c) GetJealous.com, All rights reserved. http://www.getjealous.com/svmoose/rss.xml "Lovely it is, when the winds are stirring up the waves on the sea, to gaze out from the land on the great efforts of someone else." (Lucretius) <br/> <br/> Hi, we're Duncan & Irene. I come from New Brunswick, Canada and Irene is from Groningen in northern Holland. We met when we were living in Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles and got the boat bug there. For the last ten years we've been sailing "Moose", our 39' cutter around the world. Right now we're in Richards Bay, South Africa and having a great time. We bought a 4x4 and are visiting game reserves at every opportunity. <br/> Driving a car in South Africa is a bit of an extreme experience. Out on the national highways speed limits reach 120 kmph, which is not a problem in itself, the roads are generally up to it. The problems involve free-range cattle, wandering-socializing natives and the super-sonic Toyota buses. These are surmountable issues, although the reflexes of a F-16 pilot would be useful. Helpfully, the South African driver is at heart a courteous driver; he will partially pull over onto the ample shoulder if you approach from behind at speed, thus allowing you a fair chance to pass,. But since you will still need a bit more room it must come from the lane of the opposing traffic, and again this is no real problem since they will generally yield some space near the white line by moving over onto their shoulder. When the pass is successfully completed the driver of the overtaking car will flash his four-way lights in thanks. Congregations of natives and migrating cows keep a driver on his toes in rural stretches and the possibility of a four-abreast pass is always exciting. But my favorite is the triple pass executed on a single side of the road...while you are overtaking a dawdler, someone flies by on the outside, generally with the bass of the sound system whumping out house music! <br/> We're back on the boat now after a 7000 km tour of the country; it was fine but I've started gnashing my teeth in my sleep! <br/> <br/> On a much calmer level, we've taken many of our sailing experiences from the early years and spun them into a book; "Never a Dull Moment" is the title and it's out now! If you're keen on going cruising it will be very helpful. And if you're sailing now, I think it will have you laughing a lot! <br/> <a href="http://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=5372471"><img src="http://www.lulu.com/services/buy_now_buttons/images/book_blue2.gif" border="0" alt="Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu."></a> <br/> So, welcome and please check out the stories, movies and photos <br/> <br/> Send us a mail! svmoose@gmail.com <br/> <br/> Have a look at more pictures and movies at <A HREF="http://forums.cruisingworld.com/videos/viewProfile.php?user=svmoose">Cruisingworld</A> <!--- Begin Bravenet.com Sitering Panel Code ---> <center> <p style="border-style: ridge; background: #C0C0C0; width: 225px; color: #000080; font: bold 1em Arial; margin-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" > The Cruising Yacht SiteRing</p> <p style="border-style: ridge; background: #000080; width: 225px; font: normal .8em Arial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" > <a style="color: #FFF; text-decoration: none;" href="http://pub3.bravenet.com/sitering/nav.php?usernum=246190368&action=prev&siteid=86767" target="_parent">Previous</a> | <a style="color: #FFF; text-decoration: none;" href="http://pub3.bravenet.com/sitering/nav.php?usernum=246190368&action=list&siteid=86767" target="_parent">List</a> | <a style="color: #FFF; text-decoration: none;" href="http://pub3.bravenet.com/sitering/nav.php?usernum=246190368&action=random&siteid=86767" target="_parent">Random</a> | <a style="color: #FFF; text-decoration: none;" href="http://pub3.bravenet.com/sitering/nav.php?usernum=246190368&action=join&siteid=86767" target="_parent">Join</a> | <a style="color: #FFF; text-decoration: none;" href="http://pub3.bravenet.com/sitering/nav.php?usernum=246190368&action=next&siteid=86767" target="_parent">Next</a></p> <p style="text-decoration: none; color: #808080; width: 225px; font: normal .8em Arial; text-align:center; margin-top: 0;" > <a style="color: #808080" href="http://www.bravenet.com/" target="_parent">SiteRing by Bravenet.com</a></p></center> <!--- End Bravenet.com Sitering Panel Code ---> http://www.getjealous.com/svmoose http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=717586&go=svmoose Irene and I have just returned from a 7000 km road trip around South Africa; and I have no notion where to begin recounting the experience. We met many interesting and hospitable people and saw an equal number of landscapes and human vignettes, all of which could easily be framed and put in a gallery. But let me begin with a bit of background: Connie. Connie is our Toyota Condor 4x4 which has had ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=717586&go=svmoose Fri, 5 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=717534&go=svmoose ....Met Connie, de auto. Moose is achtergebleven in Richards Bay. We hebben de zittingen achter in de auto eruit gehaald en er een matras ingelegd; al het eten, reserve onderdelen, kleren etc. liggen netjes onder de matras: camperen op zijn best! Het was een goeie trip, zeker als je de omstandigheden op de wegen in Zuid Afrika bekijkt.. -er lopen overal koeien, geiten en weet ik veel wat voor ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=717534&go=svmoose Fri, 5 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=646863&go=svmoose Well, what can I say, the photos speak for themselves....We have bought a car and are traveling a bit here and there to see the countries. At the moment we are quite focussed on game as you can see, but I'm sure we will get used to them eventually :-)Moose is in Richards Bay, South Africa. We love it here! Tja, de foto's spreken voor zich! We hebben een auto gekocht en touren door de landen hier. ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=646863&go=svmoose Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=631706&go=svmoose Moose made landfall at Ilha de Mozambique, an ancient island city built just offshore with the clear intention of protection. The Portuguese took over the island in the early 1500"s and the colonial architecture is striking with an austere yet feminine feeling. It"s necessary to sail past the massive fortress to shelter behind the island. Once in the shoreline has a human scale and i... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=631706&go=svmoose Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=629788&go=svmoose Ik dacht dat Madagascar heel arm was, maar Mozambique is toch echt wel een stuk armer....We kwamen aan in Ilha de Mozambique. Vroeger, lang voordat de Europeanen er kwamen (en ook nog lange tijd erna), was het een drukte hier, want het was een belangrijke stad voor de handel met de Arabieren. Nu staat het op de UNESCO World Heritage Site om de historische gebouwen zoveel mogelijk nog te beware... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=629788&go=svmoose Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=626856&go=svmoose In the middle of the Mozambique Channel, half way between Madagascar and Africa, lies the very attractive island of Mayotte. It"s part of the four island Comoro group and more specifically it is the part of that group that resisted the urge to chose independence over a continuing relationship with France. Subsequently the three islands that went independent and chose to run their own houses f... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=626856&go=svmoose Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=626660&go=svmoose Mayotte, een stukje Europa in het midden van het Mozambique Kanaal. Het enige Europese is hier eigenlijk alleen maar het feit dat alles zo verschrikkelijk duur is: 4 Euros voor een kilo tomaten, 2 Euros voor een lapje ham, om maar een voorbeeld te noemen (volgens mij is Europa niet eens zo duur). Voor de rest is het hier heel Afrikaans: de locale bevolking zijn de Maore"s, oorpsronkelijk uit ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=626660&go=svmoose Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=608610&go=svmoose The run west from the Chagos Archipelago to Cap d"Ambre on the northern tip of Madagascar was a routine 1600 mile passage. Routine in that we didn"t encounter any or the shiploads of Somalian pirates that were attacking commercial shipping north of us in the Seychelles. It is interesting that the pirates have been operation so long that they have become somewhat of an institution; they h... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=608610&go=svmoose Sat, 1 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=606351&go=svmoose Ik moet wel even wennen om weer tussen de mensen te zijn. Niet dat de mensen in Madagascar niet aardig zijn, maar we hadden het in Chagos echt heel erg naar onze zin..... We konden de boot open laten, we hoefden niet bang te zijn dat iets gestolen zou worden, en hier moeten we toch weer even oppassen. In sommige baaien kunnen we Moose niet echt alleen laten, en de dinghy ook niet. En dat is wel ev... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=606351&go=svmoose Sat, 1 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=593834&go=svmoose There is nothing in Chagos, no shops, no internet, no locals, just a few ruins from the time when there were people living here. Chagos or BIOT, (British Indian Ocean Territory) consists of different groups of atolls and each atoll has several islands that surround a lagoon. Moose was in Salomon Atoll, on a mooring in front of Boddam Island. Outside the atolls the water is very deep (kilometers) a... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=593834&go=svmoose Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT