empsa

[empsa]

[empsa]

Soweto

Day 10 - Soweto Delays, drenchings, dancing and depressing moments on day 10. A long delay out of Port Elizabeth meant a tight turn around in Johannesburg for our Soweto tour. Which after missing Robben Island meant everyone was exceptionally keen for. Johannesburg didn’t welcome us Cape Town style with heavy rain and a cancellation of tomorrows game v Gauteng. Bongani was our tour guide for the day and being born and bred in Soweto he had all the local knowledge and then some. First stop was the traditional pic in front of the Welcome to Soweto sign. Soweto may sound like a South African name however it is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships. About 20km south of Johannesburg, Soweto started in the early 1900s as a cluster of little townships designed to segregate the black gold mine workers from the city, which was being more and more reserved for the minority white people. Right from the beginning Soweto had issues with poor housing, over crowding, lack of basic amenities and facilities and this continued through to today where slowly changes are being made. Nelson Mandela’s house was next on the stops. Although originating from Eastern Province he and Desmond Tutu both resided on the same street in Soweto at different times. Making it the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners. Our guide took us through the small 3 roomed house that had many of his letters form prison and artefacts of is life. Really just a snap shot of his life but a good one at that. Hector Pieterson Museum was next and where our group of Australian's, who have known nothing really of mass struggle, learnt about the iconic figure of Hector, a school boy whose death in the Soweto uprising of 1976 changed the face of history. School children from Soweto marched in protest of the white governments decision to enforce Afrikaans as the language of education in townships schools. 10,000 students marched and when police opened fired on them they killed 200 children on that day, Hector being the first to die. This day lead to many of the sanctions (economical, political, sporting) that Sth African endured for many years. The images were powerful, the words were unforgettable and haunting. The older members of our group can remember reports on this event and were attempting to comprehend the truth in the museum compared to the miss reporting at the time. The younger members of our group were just trying to comprehend the enormity of the struggle the students their age were engaged in. Both groups left with heavy hearts and more questions than answers. Thankfully our next stop was the Kliptown Youth Project - http://www.kliptownyouthprogram.org.za - where the centre provides activities and services to off set the disadvantages children face due to living in a township. Tutoring, school fees support, employment network, library, food and sports programs to name a few. However their most renowned program that has toured globally and entertained thousands is the Kilptown Performing Arts Group. Difficult to do justice in words the performance they put on for us but our group was so engrossed there where blocks of silence instead of applause at the end of each set. Approximately 25 students donned gumboots and performed 5 pieces of dance that each told a story with endless energy and animation. The gumboots were instruments with each member slapping them in time to create the beat. It was raining when we arrived. We left in a thunder and lightning storm. The down pour creating gushing streets of mud and a difficult trek back to our bus. Everyone was drenched, ruined shoes, muddy pants, no dry clothes and yet you couldn’t wipe the smiles from anyone’s face. Last stop was for dinner where each table had their own debrief on the day. Rae Rae and Tay Tay had an arm wrestle and the general consensus was we once again experienced something that in way will impact us for a long time.

[empsa]

The Bombers lack of rhythm in Cape Town.

[empsa]

Amakhala Game Drive

[empsa]

Day 9 - Amakhala Game Reserve

We were originally down to head to Addo Elephant National Park. However some schmoozing last night over a few reds at the Sidbury CC bar resulted in an invite and discount to go to a private game reserve called Amakhala. Lots of small farms in this area have been bought out over in recent years and joined together to create massive game reserves housing the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) with the added bonus of a malaria free environment. Grant Fowles and Tracey Weeks gave us a day we’ll never forget. The 8 seater open aired trucks took most of the touring group around the reserve spotting amazing wildlife and some very rare and elusive rocks, bushes and sticks also thought to be wildlife. The most unique and slightly concerning moment was when a 9 year old (teenage in human years) male elephant decided to protect his territory and display a bit of youthful insolence by starting his elephant version of chicken with us. After a making us reverse quickly once, do a U turn another time and then thinking we were in the clear by taking another road we came to the crossing he knew we would take and blocked us off. Touche young elephant touché. As has been a common theme for the tour food and drinks has played a significant role. Some more so than others. Expecting a quick take away beef wrap to get back out on the road and keep things cheap we sat down to a 5 star lunch in the main lodge which looked like something out of a movie. With a bitterly cold day on offer the supply of red win, whiskey and port was keenly taken up. A very content bus load of Bombers returned to a little soiree for Mary Mc’s birthday. Candles and sparkles on a falling apart breakfast muffin for the cake…we are all class at EMP. Special play of the day goes to Dave Emslie…again..for sorting a physio for Towna.

[empsa]

The players and the administrators!

[empsa]

Day 8 - EMP v Eastern Province

Hats off Dave Emslie (CEO of Easterns Cricket) for sorting us a game against a great bunch of girls from Easterns Province at a fantastic location at Sidbury CC in what really is the home of cricket in Sth Africa. It was another monster day with a 7am leave from Oudtshoorn. We wizzed by Tsitsikamma National Park, The Bloukrans Bungy which is the worlds highest commercial bungy bridge and the surfing hot spot of Jeffreys Bay. A quick turn around and it was on the road again. We stopped into St George’s Park to pick up Dave and have a few quick pics with the local press. A bit exciting for some as St George’s has a lot of history dating back to 1882.I won’t quote what Mark said about the experience but lets just say he was one very happy boy! Some slight concerns about kidnapping as the ground was a lot further than we had thought but boy was it worth the drive. Situated on the picturesque Bushmans River the Sidbury CC was the perfect venue for a game of cricket. The U19 team soon took a serious twist with Sth African Internationals Marizanne Kapp (a century at the recent World Cup in India) and allrounder Dane van Niekerk…game on Bombers. Smitty was debuting as captain of EMP, Mon was debuting for an overseas tour game and Taylah was opening for her first senior game against the handy pace of Kapp. The 109 innings was on the back of a great 78 run partnership between Beams 48 (49) and Crackers 39 (39). George is sleeping with one eye open…the good one…as he fired Beams on a LBW on 49. Strano rather happy as she is still the only Bomber to hit a 50 on tour in India and SA. The fielding innings provided the most laughs and entertainment though. While square legging and giving a player out stumped LG was told “I doubt it” by the batter when she said your bat was in the air. Pats Milner made her EMP debut all be it for a few overs fielding and in a top that was nightie like. A standing ovation and guard of honor for our latest convert. The less said about Mon Sabs fielding the better! A tight finish but another win with Tanners, Beams and Crack all taking 3 wickets each and Crackers player of the match. Then a braai feast, some swapping of team uniform and a lead on a possible game reserve option for tomorrow at a private lodge. Have a very good feeling that there will be some future development between Easterns and EMP in the future with the likes of Dave and Michelle du Preez at the helm. Sleep was instant for all.

[empsa]

Day 6 - EMP v SWD

What a day! Hennie from the Mossel Bay Cricket Club in particular made it a very special day on tour. But first, the Ostriches… Not too many people can say they��ve ridden an ostrich, however 6 brave Bombers got on board and hung on for dear life. Technique included sitting on the saddle mat over its rump, leg under their wings and rapt around the front, hands grasping the lateral part of the wing and slight lean back position. This all happened while the ostrich stands there calm and placid with a bag over its head and 2 guys either side of you ready for the bolt around the yard. Once the bag is removed all the above goes out the window and is replaced with thoughts of how these birds can gauge you to death with their feet, peck holes in your skin and throw you off into a pack of angry birds! Smitty, Molly, Tanners, Hayes, Bunks and Jonesy all took turns and survived the experience. Mary, Nat, LG and Sal got ostriches massages by holding a bucket of wheat in front of themselves with 4-5 ostriches banging their necks against their shoulders, with one ostrich looking suspiciously like Mon, trying to get to the food. Then it was off to the coastal city of Mossel Bay for our game against the South West District Provincial team. We’ve been treated to some amazing views this tour so far and the mountain ranges meeting the sea provided one of the best ground views we’d seen. Still developing as a province in women’s cricket they showed they could be a future force with a team of teenagers taking it to us with bat and ball. Tanners was captain for the day and the pressure was certainly on her …… from Molly as her record of being the only successful EMP captain on an overseas tour was under threat. So much so we had to move her down the order as there were fears she would block out her innings to keep her record in tact. Beams was the pick of the bowlers with 3-4, Boo and Bunks showed us that training is really overrated picking up bat and ball like their last game was yesterday, not 2 years ago in India. As for the off-field performance, Donna nailed the scorebook and sent a clear warning to all those other potential scorers on tour that she is here to stay. The function that evening had it all, tables decked out in touches of red, the Mayor of Mossel Bay opening the night, and awards for best chirp (sledge), biggest wally (blunder) and some around actually cricket performances. Beamsy won a great bat, Bunks some gloves and wine and Molly a bag for spitting her chewing gum at the umpire whilst appealing. There was a dance-off with some of the opposition players for the bag ,which Strano then won for the second time in one night. Jeans, runners, jumper and a couple of tops for under $100 with the motto why pay for laundry when you can just buy new clothes. All in all, a great day and night and a sense that the “change” element of the tour was well and truly on show.

[empsa]

Day 5 - The Garden Route and Cango Caves

A 5 hour drive along the Garden Route from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn flew by for most due to the stunning scenery and an impromptu Werribee Trivia competition…who knew at Werribee Hungry Jacks you can walk through the drive through! Thanks for enlightening us Strano! A quick relax at the Pearl of Oudtshoorn which, to be honest, would be more aptly named The Grain of Sand of Oudtshoorn - lots of potential but still a little off being great. Then into the hills we went to see some of nature’s best work. The Cango Caves consist of caves that are so large that they once played host to concerts before the public abused the experience through graffiti and vandalism. Sal gave us a stirring rendition of the North Melbourne Football club song to demonstrate the power of the acoustics and her dulcet tones. The stalagmites and stalactites were up to 800,000 years old and a small group got up close and personnel with the caves on the adventure tour. A trip 1.2km deep into the mountain taking in 6 exceptionally small tunnels was a test of mind power and hip size for some. At stages the space resembled a rocky, damp, humid, MRI machine that went for multiple body lengths both vertically and horizontally. When, however you see Hayes and Fay jumping into each space with no fear the phrase ‘teaspoon of cement’ did come to mind. The last challenge was called the Letterbox which was a 60cm space to crawl through on your tummy, which reduced down again before the final opening and decent involved sliding down head first. As happens so many times - the last hurdle brings the excitement. A strip tease, a bruised lung, a three-pronged scrape down the length of his back, and Dally was through! While the adventurer cavers thought they were doing it tough, some thought has to go to Lisa Gale who had car accident-type bruises from Berna clinging so tightly to her in the dark. Luckily though, Pats illuminated the room with her Ipad in her endless quest to try to capture the perfect photo which somewhat detracted from the guide’s purpose of giving people a sense of the darkness explored back in the 1700s. A relaxing night off before the first real game of tour.

[empsa]

Day 4 - Wine Day

So the day Reens has dreamed of for the last 6 months has arrived. A trip around some of Stellenbosch’s best vineyards actually was more educational than expected. The tours first fines session was conducted on the bus by Fines Master Molly Strano and able assistant Nat Schilov. Fines included - Mary for missing the instruction of "climbing" Table Mt and instead falling down it, Berna for swanning around Sth Africa and missing an important day in the life of one of her daughters and the list goes on. Rae Rae, Fay Fay, Hay Hay, JJ minus Tay Tay were in their element today surrounded by good wine. Franschooek Cellar was the first point of call and when we walked into the tasting room to be greeted by tables set with 6 wines for each placing and 6 different cheese to accompany them we knew it was going to be a good day...for those who like wine and cheese anyway. The Backsberg Estate and Our tour guide Danwin taught us the correct way to swirl, suck, slurp and swollow wine and brandy. Which of course was all lost once the lamb spit roast lunch was served accompanied by the wines.

[empsa]

Strano....strikes again..

[empsa]

Day 3

Game 1 EMP v Boland Province A trip to the southern most point of Africa, The Cape of Good Hope. Stunning scenery following the coast to where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. A nice relaxing day before taking in the girls from Boland. We couldn't get a ground in CT so they organised an indoor game instead.... Not telling us they are more than handy in this format. A long and painful story short, Molly was the only player to get in the positives and we lost by 90 odd runs. No surprise that the Boland girls are thinking of touring Australia now.

[empsa]

Day 2 - Gutted! The trip everyone was probably looking forward to most has been cancelled due to whatever fool running Robben Island Tourism pulling all ferries off the water the same week. Nelson Mandela spent a large part of his 27 years incarceration at Robben Island. From 1961 up until 1991 many of Sth Africa's most famous political and criminal prisoners we're sent to the island. So with this a non event it was a free day of exploring for the group with helicopters rides over the island, district 6 tours, open air bus tours and a fair bit of shopping done. Gold Restaurant was our first tour dinner and it confirmed we should stick to cricket. With a total lack of rhythm or beat we banged and bruised our hands through an African drum session. The food was a mixture of African meals including an ostrich pie, springbok sausages and fish curry. Then we were treated to a great insight into SA/Cape Town history by local Theo Erasmus, brother of Marianne Roux who prepped us for the tour in Melbourne. Theo gave a great account of the ins and outs of why and how Sth Africa is what it is today. A sneaky night cap or two back at the hotel's bar for a few... And why not the drinks are cheap as chips!

[empsa]

Day 1 - Table Mt

24 hours of travel had us landing in Cape Town to perfect climbing weather. A quick change into our tour playing tops for the official team photo on top of Table Mt. We just needed to get there in one piece. The majority of the group stood at the base wondering where on earth the trail was that got us to the top without having to re enact any Edmund Hillary moves. A wrong turn taken by the past players crew was a blessing in disguise as they trekked around the base and eventually got the cable car up. The rest of the team took on the Mt, the sun then the mist and the biggest challenge of all... Mon's complaining! Steep is an understatement, the views though were magnificent and the sense of satisfaction got us ready to take on anything SA has to throw at us.

[empsa]

Cape Town!

[empsa]

#EMP

[empsa]

Eyes on the ball Rhonda!

I hope the EMP top order is hitting some form.. Clearly, I'm not.

Note: white sight screen, with a white ball = inevitable falcon!