We have a more leisurely start today, enjoying another tasty breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast with fresh tomatoes and basil, washed down with home made lemonade and some glorious morning sunshine at the guest house. We pack up, hand in the keys and hit the road in the late morning. We're heading to Jeffrey's Bay today, where Craig and his sister went to junior school. On the way to Addo, we discovered that the car radio in our car needed a code to activate it, which we didn't have. We called the car hire place and they didn't have it either, so we let Erica and Steve set off towards Jeffrey's whilst we take a quick detour back to Port Elizabeth airport to swap cars. Trading in the white Ford Ikon we collect an ice blue Hyundai Accent, which has a working radio and is infinitely more comfortable than the Ikon. Craig takes me on a quick driving tour of his and Erica's old high schools - they're impressive buildings with striking architecture, expansive sports grounds and even a shooting range. After seeing the sights, we head back out of town to catch up with Erica and Steve in Jeffrey's, about an hour's drive round the coast.
We meet up at Steers and grab a quick burger for lunch, then we drive up through the streets where Craig and Erica used to live, and stop off to have a look at the various world class surf spots along the coastline. In the early evening we drop off our stuff with one of their friends, with whom we're staying for the night, and head out for a quick drink and then dinner to enjoy the local seafood. The calamari is delicious, my fish is rather overcooked which is a shame, but it's all washed down nicely with a tasty glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Later we head to a local bar, where I enjoy a couple of Savannas, play a quick game of pool and everyone has a chance to catch up. It's a real locals' bar, where the barman plays songs from his iPod (he's a Tool fan, much to my delight) and one group bring in some bedding for their dog to get comfy under one of the tables.
In the morning, we have another relaxed start with a home cooked breakfast, before we say our goodbyes to the family and head back to Jeffrey's to do a bit of shopping. We buy a few souvenirs from a local shop, including a child's T shirt I'm surprised and delighted that I manage to fit into! We drive up to the supertubes and wander down onto the sandy beach, stopping for a few selfies on the way. The waves aren't huge today, and I can't resist going for a quick paddle in the sea. It's pretty cold, not unlike a sunny summer's day on the British coast, but I'm glad I've at least dipped my feet in at such an iconic location. I retreat from the water's edge quickly though, as Craig points out the bluebottles washing up along the break of the waves on the shore. They're small and easy enough to avoid, but for my peace of mind I move further up the beach and continue looking for interesting shells and sea urchin tests whilst soaking in the atmosphere. I wash the sand off my feet and we head back to the car to continue our journey.
After a quick drive past another house in Aston Bay where Erica and Craig grew up, we head out to the Craggs in the mountains and book into Antlers guest house for the night. The grounds here are stunning, with a pond full of wildlife and a pen with zebra and antelope to greet guests as they drive up the path to the collection of buildings that make up the lodgings. We are in a studio chalet, with a comfy bed, kitchenette, sofas and sliding doors which look out over the lush green grass and peaceful surroundings. Off the beaten track, it's so serene here, and when darkness falls the view of the night sky is amazing, nothing but stars twinkling in the blackness. We have nothing to prepare in our more than adequate cooking facilities however, so we head to the bay for some dinner. Sadly there's a long wait for a table at Fat Fish, the restaurant at which we'd hope to dine, so we head next door to Spur. It's an assortment of meat and fish all round, and I try a beer called Flying Fish, which is flavoured with orange, and very drinkable. They also do a lemon and an apple flavour, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for them in future. We head back to the lodge for an early night and marvel once again at the beauty of the night sky. Our early night is postponed ever so slightly whilst we catch and remove a stray toad which hops across the floor by our bed. We really are living amongst the wildlife here, but I'm quite relieved that the only animal that's made it this close is a friendly toad! Toad relocated outside, we turn in for the night, ready for another day of adventures tomorrow.
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