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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Wednesday 6 June - Depart OKC at 5:51 PM, Arrive Chicago 8:00 PM. Depart for Frankfurt, Germany at 9:45 PM
Thursday 7 June - Arrive Frankfurt, Germany 1:15 PM (Attend live racing at Rennbahn)
Hop into German taxi and say, "Zur Pferd Schiene!" which my online translator says means "To the horse track!"
Yes, I'm a dork, and thanks to Jenna found there is a track in Frankfurt am Main with live racing the day I'm there. So I plan on attending that checking out the river walk area which is said to be beautiful. Flight for Johannesburg departs at 10:40 PM.
Friday 8 June - Arrive Johannesburg at 8:55 AM, catch in-country flight and arrive at Durban at 11:30 AM local time. Picked up at airport by Gold Circle racing official. Depending on how dead I am from jet lag slash adjusting to local time, head straight to track. (Hey, South Africa has caffeine right?)
Saturday 9 June 2007 - attend GR1 Gold Challenge at Clairwood
--> Gold Circle racecourse, pounce on racing executives slash media people
Evening of 9 June ("Day 1") is meeting with tour leader, jet off next day from Durban
Day 2-3 Drakensberg Mountains
Depart for a two night stay in the spectacular Drakensberg mountain range, originally referred to as the ?Dragon Mountains? by the early settlers. Soak up the sun and relax at the swimming pool or enjoy one of the optional activities.
Day 4-5 Wild Coast
Pass through Mooi River area, home to several of South Africa's finest stud farms. Carry on with the journey, towards the Eastern Cape.
**Still trying to figure out exactly which stud farm the tour visits. Possibly Summerhill? Which I will be going to later, so not sure. Will edit this note when I know.
Day 6 Addo Elephant National Park
Addo, the valley of elephants and roses, lies in the Lower Sundays River Valley, stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Zuurberg Mountains.
Day 7-8 Plettenberg Bay
Visit the Tsitsikamma National Park. Next day, relax on the beach (weather permitting), or enjoy the day doing some shopping. For the more adventurous, optional activities include abseiling, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and bungee jumping.
**I have been told this is where the Polo farms are. More pouncing.
Day 9 Karoo
Travel over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo. In Oudtshoorn visit the Cango Caves and take an optional tour of an ostrich farm where the more adventurous can ride one of these huge birds.
**Yes, I fully plan on riding an ostrich. Aqueduct-style.
Day 10 Stellenbosch
Today visit Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and enjoy a day of wine tasting.
Day 11 Cape Town
Drive to Cape Town, the "mother city", and climb Table Mountain or take the cable car. Spend the afternoon catching up on last-minute curio shopping or just lazing on the beach absorbing the Cape's sunshine.
"Day 12" (20 June) is the last day of this tour where I am basically on my own and will have been in SAf for two weeks. While in Cape Town I have been invited to stay at the guest garden-flat of the editor of the ZA Sporting Post (the only South African racing-breeding newspaper). It's in Hout Bay . From there I will be visiting some stud farms in Wellington and Robertson. As well as "a private trainers yard as well as the racecourse though at this time of year it sits like a white elephant in rain swept surroundings."
**I will pounce Tiger Hunt, I just have to map out where particular ponies stand.
After a week-ish (I hope to by this point to have melded into her familia and could tag along transporation-wise) everyone heads back to Durban for the July meeting (7 July - GR1 VODACOM JULY CUP!!!) at Greyville. I'm feeling a Pocket Power - Eyeofthetiger - Malteme trifecta. Supposing they run and not knowing the PP's of others. On Sunday 8 July she will arrange for an invite to the Summerhill stallion day "a day you will not forget!"
Apparently also in the Mooi River Valley (where I'm going on previously mentioned tour) is Scott Bros (they stand last years Gr1 Breeders Cup Mile winner Miesque?s Approval and a full brother to Machiavellian ? Mogok). There is also the training tracks of Summerveld and Ashburton.
Then depending on budget and if I haven't been there yet, a day or two in Johannesburg, mainly because its also where I plan on catching my international flight since its the cheapest airport to go into/out of. PLUS - if you ever ever Wiki'ed Ellis Park, that's my other reason for spending time in Jo'burg.
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