Windhoek

Piet was asked to go to Windhoek again to support the local team for the Namibia project he has been working on since 2013. He spend two weeks in the office working on many aspects, to get ready for an offshore drilling campaign that will start in December. They also took the opportunity to visit the Orange Babies, a charity that is sponsored by Shell, to deliver books that were collected in The Hague.

He spend two weekends, and took the opportunity to visit Dusternbrook Farm and Eagle Rock Lodge, to relax and spot some wildlife. These places are close to Windhoek, but feel like the middle of nowhere. He also spend time to catch up with long term colleague and friend Dennis, who leads the local team. Hopefully this was not his last trip!

A leopard in Durstenbrook

A close-up of leopard Rex

Hippo's in Durstenbrook's reservoir

The ducks are not impressed

A curious giraffe

With Dennis at Avis Dam

Delivering books at Orange Babies

Otjemuise, the area where Orange Babies is located

The Christuskirche, one of the main landmarks in Windhoek

Blesbok near Eagle Rock Lodge

 

Waterbuck at Arbeidsgenot Farm

Autumn in France

In October we went to our house in France again, for a week of work, followed by a week holiday. We had variable weather with some days of rain, but also sunshine. And when the sun is out the colours in the mountains are stunning! In between work we did several hikes with Pippin, and discovered some new trails in the valley, after 25 years of exploring the region. It was also hunting season, and and we had to make sure Pippin was wearing his yellow vest ('gilet jaune'), to avoid he was mistaken for a deer.

The second week Piet managed some bike rides, and we made our traditional pelgrimage to Gigondas, to meet our friends Frits and Paul, and to stock up on red wine. Also in that area (Dentelles de Montmirail) we did some hikes to make sure Pippin would sleep quietly in our hotel room. The second day we went to Chateauneuf du Pape to taste some of their expensive wines, and buy few bottles only.

The last few days were spend cleaning the house and the garden, and making it ready for the winter, as we don't know when we will return. All was not helped with almost a day without electricity in the village. After the drive home Piet had 2 days to prepare for his next trip: Namibia!

Hiking to Cabanne Les Chalanches

Lunch at the Cabanne

A warning sign in our valley

Cascade de la Pisse

Hiking below Pied Moutet

A beautiful day in Le Sappey

Autumn colours in St Christophe en Oisans

Walking near Vacqueyras

Lunch

Hunting in the Dentelles, with English translation

Chateauneuf du Pape

The last few days were grey and rainy