Day 6 - A Day of Good-Byes and Hellos

Well….. It finally had to happen. So many powerful experiences in our lives are often succeeded by an emotional lull, a vacuum, or a sense of loss or regret, as we ponder whether we took full advantage of the moment that has just passed. Writers from Isaiah to Henry David Thoreau speak of whether we have “drank the full marrow” of the events that have loomed so powerfully in our minds for a space in time which has now passed . Departure and saying goodbye to our new friends at Nuiewe Sion is like that.

People rise before the sunrise to pack their belongings, and to be ready for our next adventure as we head into Cape Town this morning. A soft rain is heard on the roof of our vaulted ceiling guest room , and the early morning light greets us with a shimmering layer of moisture across the courtyard making the brick pavers and grass and plantings all reflect the last light of the prior evening. It is the first real precipitation of our trip, and the clouds do not disappoint. They encircle us, then drop their contents, but then tease us with patches of blue sky with the morning sun bursting through, before encircling again.

Katrina and Miki prepare one last breakfast for our group, as we slowly gather, luggage set outside ready to go, and talk softly around the table. Wilhelm stops in to also see us off, as he and Nicola are preparing to head to Italy for two weeks. The goodbyes are sweet and heartfelt. As our new guides arrive on the scene, Alexis gathers us in the kitchen to thank these two dear ladies who have made our time at “New Zion” extra special. Holding hands around the center island, we sing Kari Jobe’s “The Blessing”, and then offer a prayer for them and this special place.

With goodbyes made, and our luggage stored in a separate van, we begin the second leg of this already incredible trip . And our two tour guides, Ferne (yes, that’s her name….named by her mum after the large tree ferns originally from Australia) and Darin, both early/mid 30’s Afrikaans who typify the healthy outdoor lifestyle which one finds common among many folks in the western US ( think snow-boarding , fly fishing guides who mountain bike on their weekends across the mountain west). Full of energy and also surprisingly knowledgeable about the many layers of nature, including animal life and botany, the intros and light discussion consume the entire 90 minute drive into the central city, as sun and squalls of rain alternate across our path .

As our luggage goes directly to the hotel in a smaller van, we make a plan for the day, which includes flexibility, as the rain has dampened(literally) our early itinerary to take the cable car up Table Mountain. We pivot to the Waterfront, and tour an amazing museum, made out of a restored and repurposed tall concrete grain silo building sitting right on the pier. Inside is a luxury hotel on one side, and a 5 floor art museum above, with displays by prominent artists from all over Africa. The exhibits are thought provoking and somewhat haunting, as there are many references to the difficult history of this amazing but historically very complicated continent.

From there, we stop for shopping in the waterfront market and enjoy the many outdoor art pieces and historic structures. We will be back here Saturday before we head to the tour of Robbins Island, the notorious prison where Nelson Mandela lived for over two decades before his freedom in the 1980’s.

We travel along the coast a bit and grab lunch at a very cool restaurant one floor above a palm lined street fronting the beach. It is reminiscent of the beautiful parks fronting the Pacific in Venice and Santa Monica, California, just about 9500 miles away. A great lunch as the sun finally exposes itself in its full splendor, its bright rays dancing across the roiling surf stirred up by the cool off shore wind coming in from Antarctica.

As the weather clears , we call another audible and return to the cable car ride up Table Mountain. While the sky is clearing as we arrive, the clouds again encircle it on and off, bringing a chilling effect to the afternoon adventure. The ride up and down is uneventful, and the view up top is truly spectacular. 20 miles in all directions, and a memorable view of the city unmatched anywhere else. It is a “must-do” on anyone’s itinerary.

Heading down the mountain, Darin and Ferne pass out water and soda, and Darin surprises me with a Gin and Tonic, after I joked with him about asking “is there anything you want? This promises to be a fun three days!

The 12 Apostles is everything we hoped it would be. Very elegant, and five star complete customer service. As we enjoy a first dinner here, the Highs and Lows around the table remind us of how blessed we have been these last few days, of God’s gracious work at the just completed YL Camp, and how we will look forward to these last few days in Cape Town . Thank you Drew for putting all this together!

Respectfully,

Babu