Hi All

Well I have been on a huge trek since my last blog. Arrived in Cape Town on Friday and had a look around, it is a gorgeous city, wish I could have spent longer there. Dropped Francis and Rob off at the airport which was sad and then went back to the hostel. I met my next tour there and then went out with G, Hayley and Tooks. The least said about that night the better I think but I did have a great time except the somewhat 45 minute dodgy taxi ride home that ended with me telling the driver to take me back to the club and almost jumping on G when I found him.

Anyway I started my next tour feeling a little under the weather but excited. We went on a township tour which was walking through the streets of a small community on the edge of the city. It was vgery sad to see the conditions that some people live in, 16 families in a three bedroom house!! and these were the ones that have houses, most live in tn shacks. The children were gorgeous though and they would run up to you and ask you to take their photo then crack up when they saw themselves on your camera. We had lunch there and I tried pup which is a stiff mixture mde from maize, it looks alot like mashed potato and tastes very bland but I quite like it.

We spent a cople of days travelling and as I wasn't feeling great it took me a while to settle into the routine but now I have, there are 23 of us and we are travelling in a truck, it is kind of cool and we all have our own lockers inside the truck to store our gear so we don't have to cart it all out every night which makes life a lot easier. It has been very hot and we have spent a lot of time travelling outback dust roads. We have seen a few animals but have mainly spent time in the Namibian desert so far.

We climbed a four hundred metre sand dune to watch the sun come up but I have to admit I only went half way, it was very hard work. Then we went on a three hour walk through the desert with a very energetic guide, who showed us animals and features of the desert. It was very hot and I can only imagine how the people from cooler countries were coping. So far we have stayed in nice camp sites with pools and bars but some of the pool water looks dubious so I have opted for the cold shower instead.

Yesterday we arrived in Swakopmund and went quad biking through the dunes, I think I am officially the granny of the group as I was a little nervous but after I warmed up to it I had a blast. Today we have a free day and many of the group have gone sand boarding and sky diving. I have decided just to see the town, if I am nervous on a quad I can't see myself jumping out of a plane.

Tomorrow we set out for Windhoeck, the capital of Namibia. We will say goodbye to two of our friends which is a little sad as I like both of them. We will be camping in the bush for a couple of days so no showers or toilets, glad I packed those wet ones.

Anyway hope you are all well and happy. Sorry no photos again as I left my thumb drivfe at the hostel, I will try in Windhoeck.

Love Sharon