Friday 10/5/07 -Sunny and cool 58-70After enjoying some yoga on the pool deck and breakfast we headed off to pick up the ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve. The reserve is on a cliff at The Head, where the lagoon opens to the sea. The drama of the Indian Ocean meeting the rocks and cliff then funneling into the lagoon is awe-inspiring. The ferry ride is gentle, and our tour guide Martin was quite entertaining, while informing us of what to expect for our morning.
Upon arrival we all boarded our wagons and were driven up to the top, as the seascape twisted around we saw tortoises crossing our path, and spectacular vegetation and views. From the top we began our descent with our walking sticks in hand. I took up the back, as I wanted to enjoy reading all of the postmarks about the vegetation. At the bluff point of The Head I sat and enjoyed the spectacular view, while listening to the sea meet the rocks. I love watching the waves crest over the large boulders and then pour down like a waterfall until the next wave hits. I could have stayed there for the morning, but onward we went.
It was like walking through a medicinal garden, as most of the plants were indiginous and had medicinal properties. The aroma was magnificent. So I did a lot of meandering, smelling, reading and picture taking.
We enjoyed a beautiful bountiful buffet for lunch, with the specialty of the area, Knysna Oysters. They were good, but with a much heavier sea taste then the Cotuit Oysters. The freshness was evident. Then it was back to town, a bit of shopping and off to horseback ride.
Our ride through the forest was another treat of nature. Being springtime the bushes are in bloom, and the aray of color is spectacular. Mother Nature is a magnificent gardener! The ride was a lovely assortment of trails through fields, forest and brush; over streams, etc. As we crossed one stream and headed up the hill my horse picked up her pace and then bucked, but I sat into the saddle and all was well.
We came to an opened and asked if we could have a bit of canter, and off we went. Something must have been wrong with Twinkel, as we entered into the canter she started bucking again. The third buck, as I saw myself head down by her right flank, I knew it was time to abort the ride and tumbled off hard onto my right side, taking most of the blow with my right buttock/sacrum area. My first thought was to roll so I was out of the way of the next horse, and thankfully Shannon has riden for her whole life, so she avoided me and called out that I was down.
Apparently Twinkel bucked all the way of the hill past the trail guide. After lying on the ground for awhile catching my breath and breathing out the blow I got up and walked around. I walked up the hill and then got back on Twinkel for the rest of the ride. I have a lovely goose egg on my lower back, and feel a bit stiff today. I'll be walking slowly, icing and doing lots of Reiki today. But I am thankful for the strength and well-being in my body. I see it healing before it is time to ride the Elephant
A couple of things I keep forgetting to mention that tickle me here - the water does swirl down the tub in the opposite direction; and the sun rises in the east, sets in the west and tratry bungee northern route. That has me turned around a bit, but I am getting used to it.
Today we are touring a township and then off to Tsitikamma which is a little hamlet where we will do a monkeyland tour and stay two nights. On the way we will be stopping at the tallest bungee jump in the world. Unfortunately, I can't do it now that my back is hurt. :)
