Seattle to Portland

The Seatle to Portland Cycle Tour (known as the STP) is one of the most popular cycle events in the US. I managed to finish the 2014 event in very hot conditions, battling severe doubts that I could make it at some times. Annelie was at the finish line and I promised myself not to do this again.

Flight museum

It was a privilege to share my passion for flight with Arden at the museum of flight in Seattle. From MIC's, the Phantom, the SR-71 Blackbird to the wonders of space flight; we marveled at how humans conquered the air (and beyond). There is so many lessons here for life (from perseverance, innovation and the thrill of taking risks to meticulous dedication and science).

Mariners

Going to a Mariner's ball game while in Seattle is sort of important. We enjoyed our outing tremendously as we explained the game to the grand-children. Unfortunately, the Mariners lost the game, but we departed the stadium with good memories.

Salt Creek Bay

We drove through beautiful forest roads towards Neah Bay (the most north-west point of the US). The morning was misty and cool. We stopped at Salt Creek Bay and walked down to the sea-shore. The calm sea washed over mussel-encrusted rocks and one could hear a boat through the mist nearby. It was really special to share the moment with people close to me.

Leaving for Seattle

At the boarding gate with Annelie, Ernst, Catherine and the kids ready for our long journey to Seattle. It is great to see the two children so filled with excitement.

Storm on the way

Watched the start of the storm roll in at Sea Point this morning before the Entrepreneurs Traction Breakfast. I had an opportunity to have a brisk walk along the promenade and could see the pent-up energy expressed in the waves.

Solartech

The truck got branded today. Kevin and me are now officially in the Solar-energy business, bringing green solutions to the West Coast (from Milnerton northwards). Consider saving electricity (and the planet): install a solar hot water system from Solartech.

Afval in the pot

Annelie is cooking a local delicacy tonight: afval. Not everyone likes a sheep-head, paws and other sheep "throw-aways", but as the aromas of a freshly cooked dish start filling the house, I know that I am not one of them.

Arden is five

It felt like yesterday when we attended Arden's first birthday party. Yet, now he is five and the party has taken on a different dimension. The kids have more energy, more direction and they are so much more competitive. They now run even more, shout a lot and eat enormous portions of cake all at once. I stood on the side and savor the miracle, fully aware of how blessed I am to observe how this precious little boy is growing up.

Nina at Landtskap

We tasted some of the dishes suggested for Izak and Julia's wedding at the venue. The day was a beautiful winter's day. My granddaughter, Nina, was dressed in a lovely polka-dot, purple dress that matched some of the flowers outside.

Endeavor Selection Panel

Endeavor is a global movement that helps entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. I enjoyed the opportunity to be on the selection panel for candidates to join the program. I was inspired by the businesses that are being created in South Africa and the skills of the people that are driving them. We need more entrepreneurs and we need to do everything in our power to help them grow as this is the only way to create more jobs and prosperity for all.

Establishing a company

I have heard that there is a lot of work to get a company established and operational. Now that I am experiencing it personally, I realize how onerous this really is. Rather easy to get the company registered, but to be able to pay taxes, employ staff and buy assets (to name a few) requires a lot of extra work. Interesting for me to learn, but not what you would want to stimulate entrepreneurship?

Choir of frogs

What I love about cycling is to experience the environment, very different than sitting in a car. I joined the club-ride to Betty's bay and back this morning, braving the icy-cold morning. I enjoyed the fresh smells and the sea below, but when we passed Pringle Bay, it was the sound of the frogs from the nearby swamp that made my morning. One could hear many-many different species of these shy amphibians.

Winter gym

It is amazing how core muscles can just disappear after ten years of sitting... in meetings, on planes, in front of PC's . With the help of Johann Els (a local bio-kineticus - don't know how to spell it), I am trying to fix this, through hard exercises at the gym; and it hurts. They keep on telling me that pain is my friend.

Vadersdag 2014

My first fathers-day without a father started off kind-of strange: it felt like I wanted to phone some-one but could not. Luckily Annelie created a memorable day and when Ernst and the grand-kids arrived, I realized how blessed I am to be a dad myself.

Pinotage or Shiraz

As a wine-tasting group we tested our blind-tasting skills on Winter Red wines... and came short on the second flight (big time), confusing Shiraz for Pinotage. It must be said (in our defense) that the treatment of the wine with heavily toasted wood could be seen to be very atypical Shiraz. Notwithstanding, the evening turned out to be most enjoyable with good friends, food and ample supply of red wines.

Burrata

With great restaurants like Pot Luck Club and The Test Kitchen at the biscuit mill, one would think that there is not place for another. I was therefor, pleasantly surprised with the food and wine at Burrata when I had lunch with Wim van der Beek there. The Gnocchi with broccoli was excellent and went down extremely well with a glass of Edgbaston Chardonnay. I will have to bring Annelie to share the pleasure.

Hawston streets

We drove through Hawston for our dinner appointment in Hermanus. Lots of people were in the streets: kids playing ball games, mums walking from the taxi-rank with groceries for the weekend, men smoking a last cigarette; talking about the weekend's sport. As the last rays of the sun reflected off the windows, one could sense a tranquility as the town started preparing for another cold night.

Mike Freedman

I had lunch with Mike Freedman at the Foodbarn, the Farm Village in Noordhoek. Mike is such giant in the brand industry in South Africa and played an important role in the early days of Fundamo. Great to share ideas and concepts.

Fynbos MTB

I was amazed to see the diversity of fynbos flowers when I cycled onto the lower hills of the Babilonstoren mountain. I have heard that the flora in the Western Cape is the most diverse in the world, but it was cool to experience it first hand.