Table Mountain

Started the walk up Table Mountain yesterday morn, heading through Kirstenbosch Gardens. The plan being to walk up from there, on one side of the mountain, make my way across the top to the cable car station and head down from there.Apparently it was gonna take me four hours.
The first bit didn't go too bad apart from the obvious attack on my lungs and  I was pretty much sweating buckets within about 20 mins.Trust me to pick the day when it was 28 degrees. Anyways made it through all the tree cover to the top and came out at Breakfast Rock, took a right a started to find my way to McClears Beacon, the highest point on the mountain top.After about 10mins the clouds started coming in and the path became a bit difficult to follow.After making a few wrong turns and running out of path I got there and was completely in the clouds, the winds were blasting too. From the distance I heard the warning foghorn going off.shit.Forgot a jacket too.balls. No point hanging round though, had to get there.
 Started on the path there, only to find myself on another path which seemed to running a bit too close to the edge of the mountain.Wind was picking up too.Heard another foghorn.
 Eventually after about an hour of this i started to hear sounds, thank god I was getting the end. Coming out on the other side was a relief as it would've been a bit rubbish getting stuck up there. From the station you could see the clouds pouring over the top, looked absolutely mental, couldnt believe I'd just walked through it.The breaks in the clouds showed some amazing views, really wanted to stay up there for a while as the plan was to get the last cablecar down after sunset.Would've looked amazing from up there. Unfortunately though the winds picked up even more and they had to close the mountain, sending everydown asap.Shame but still an awesome day.
  Then went out and got battered again.Strong.

 

 

 

After arriving in Cape Town on wednesday afternoon I picked up the hire car and hook the freeway into town.Cranking The Boss on the stereo was a good soundtrack to the roadtrip that was about to commence.Immediately the sight of Table Mountain dominates the landscape as the city builds up around its base, really looking forward to climing up it later today.I dropped my bags off at the hostel and took a stroll down to the Victorian and Albert Waterfront, its a nice bay,very touristy but decent enough.After an overcast Jo'burg it was good to get some sun in.

Victorian and Albert waterfront w/Table Mountain in the background.

South African Boom Crew

From there just strolled around taking it in.I'd arranged to meet up with a guy called Michael with whom I have a mutual friend.So after some food I met the guys in Tequila Town and proceeded to get pretty trashed.Standard.

Getting up early the next morning I headed back down to the waterfront to get a boat across to Robben Island, famous for playing host to many political prisoners and hardened criminals over the years, it's most famous 'guest' being Nelson Mandela.

Newspaper cut-out dated 24/5/59

Definately a worthwhile visit, hearing the history behind the island (it was also a former leper colony between 1840-1932) and hearing stories from guards and previous prisoners alike.When prisoners were first sent to the island they were sent to work in the blue slate quarry, which they named 'The quarry of Blood,Sweat and Tears', to build the prison themselves.Later on, and as the prison buildings got built they got sent to the limestone quarry in order to build the roads on the island.No-one of course was exempt from this,Mandela included, and they worked here for 9hrs a day, and in the process picking up respiratory illnesses and damages to cataracts from the glare of the sun off the rock.

Another famous former prisoner was Robert Sobukwe, the leader of the PAC (Pan African Congress) who spent 6 years in isolation here before being moved to another institution further north in the country where he died, still a prisoner.

Prisoners were allowed 2 visits a year from family and while Robert Sobukwe was given a privilege that his 4 children could stay on the island they were kept away in a separate building,given similar facilities to that of their father.

The beds Robert Sobukwe's children slept in on the island

    The rest of the prison showed similar conditions with prisoners given the bare minimum in cramped quarters. 

Nelson Mandela's cell as it was when he arrived on the island in the winter of 1964.

   Its interesting to note that other future presidents of the country spent time in the prison, including current president Jacob Zuma who was there for 10 years.

  Currently, people live and work on the island with the purpose of showing and teaching further generations the stories and impacts of the island and its prison.

The view from Robben Island to Cape Town and Table Mountain.

    Its definately worth finding out more about the island and its South African part in South African and world history.

    So after having a pretty full on morning seeing and hearing all this I just walked into town to see another side of the city.I guess Long St and its surrounding area is the most 'happening' part with enough bars and boutiques to cater for all. So I just strolled through it heading for Kula Records and some coffee.Seriously well stocked store of second-hand vinyl!

Kula Records, Cape Town

       If I had more time i could go seriously deep in here, but would be probably spend all the money I'd be needing for the rest of my trip.

Street Art, Long St.

    With a few hours of sun left I took the car down the coast a bit to Clifton Beach, on the recommendation of Brendon of Beads Cafe, to get some good sea air and read.So please forgive the standard beach/sunset shots.

Clifton Beach.

 

     This day was soundtracked by Otis Redding, Justin Vernon, The Gaslight Anthem and Tom Waits, and was helped along with strong coffee and cheap wine.

Got to Johannesburg about midday today after a delayed 11hr flight. shit food,shittier wine and some balls movies, y'know, the standard.It's looking pretty overcast here, think it even rained for a bit.My sister lives (and works) in an area called Sandton.Its pretty much a commercial district with a few shopping malls ie not much going on.I did have one of the best steaks I've ever eaten tonight though and wouldve taken a picture of it (yeah,i'm one of those sad people) but we were dining with some of my sisters work collegues who might've thought I was a tool, didnt want to embarrass her. So as yet no picture taking, but am excited about flying down to Cape Town tomorrow. I've managed to score a car for the time I'm there so am gonna try and take in as much as I can, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island etc before moving on down the coast to see some other stuff...apparently you can go whale watching, could be next level.Next time i'll hopefully have some snaps.

Having the last proper cup of tea (i.e. one I made) before heading up to London and flying to SA.Here's a picture of some chillies.Just because.

            

....And not forgetting one of greatest bands ever, the Minutemen. The title of this rambling blog is taken from a track of theirs by the same name. The album it's from,Double Nickels On The Dime, is one of the greatest records ever made.Fact.

The Minutemen - We Jam Econo trailer

Right now, I can't get enough of this record. Gayngs - Relayted. Listening to it is like meeting someone for the first time and feeling like you've known them for ever.
Gayngs - Faded High

It's pretty good if you're a little high too.

So in an attempt to remember everything that happens I'm gonna finally get round to keeping a journal of sorts. It's quite self indulgent to be fair, but i don't really give a shit.I've been lucky enough to have some pretty amazing times in my life,met some awesome people and ended up in pretty random places, places I thought I'd never get to go.
I generally go on tour with bands either playing or teching.I've had a pretty good run of it so far and done some things that i never thought i'd do.








New Years Eve was as messy as ever.Definately not my favourite day/evening of the year but we saw it out in style.











So this year has started pretty good.The usual sluggish start after the indulgence that is Decemeber then I headed up to Letchworth,Herts to track some new tunes my friend Sam has been writing recently.



We were in there for 4 days getting 6 tracks down, from what i've heard so far it's come out pretty good.



It was the first time that I've got to play with Jay Malhotra,who came in and played some guitars on the tracks.He was a great guy and a great player so I'm really looking forward to the possibility of getting out and playing some shows with him at some point this year



The studio we were at is called The Unit. Its run by two very close friends of mine, Adam Menczykowski and Andy Theakstone, and its always a pleasure to spend some time with those guys. They put the place together off their own backs and have it up and running now as a business. They really know what they're doing and the results they get are next level.



This model sits in the studio and I found out it represents the two of them.Andy being the drummer (he also plays in the band we were tracking and another with me called Boom In The Diamond Industry, as well as other projects) and the Australian flag is for Mench (as he's known) ,who also plays in boom,who apparently was born there. I've known the guy for years now and I had no idea of this, always thought he was Polish.Guess he's a weird mix, which would explain things.
These guys have a couple of great film cameras, makes me jealous. I want one.Maybe i can treat myself when we get paid.



So apart from that its been pretty quiet.Getting ready to go on a trip to South Africa on Monday, gonna spend a few weeks wandering around,exploring, trying not to get mugged or in too much trouble.Standard.I still havent got anything ready for it and instead of doing so I'm sitting here writing this.Its not like i need much though,couple of tees,pants and shorts,some tunes and my camera.
Anyways,I talk alot of breeze.I must try not to.I hope i can just take some good pictures that can say something about what the f**k is going on.