I just returned from the first Mississippi tour and want to thank the whole Bristol VBT team for making this new tour such a success. I know everyone works so hard to get a new vacation up and running. Out of the 19 guests we had 17 who were frequent travelers, as a matter of fact Tujon (one of our outstanding Trip Leaders) had 2 previous guests and I had 4. The weather was in the mid to high 80's and overcast everyday looking like it could rain any minute. But the Gods were shinning down on us and it rained every night at around 5:00pm, so officially no one wore a rain jacket while riding. All the innkeepers were the best, the guests loved them. The Natchez Trace was also fantastic. It was like riding on a large two lane bike path and you could just zone out and ride. Car drivers were so polite and no one had a bad experience. One of the many highlights of the tour was our trip to Alcorn University and lunch with the students. The thing that impressed guests the most were the students and it was so nice to see them sitting together, talking and sharing lunch. The students were so polite and interesting to talk to. We gave the guests an option to walk the last day. It is a 10 mile ride around Natchez visiting the Antebellum homes and we had 12 folks do it. We shuttled them to a home that was located a ways out to visit and then brought them back to town to walk around. Then when they were done for the day we picked them up and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to visit the town at their own pace.
I personally want to thank the leading team who I worked with in Mississippi. Tujon is a great leader and yes you can teach an old dog new tricks, I learned so much from him and also from our new leader, Akira. It was valuable to see things from her perspective as a new Trip Leader. We are so lucky to have both of them as Trip Leaders. As you can tell we think the Mississippi tour is a fantastic new tour that we know will be around for a long time.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
VBT guests pays a surprise visit to the company headquarters
We were pleasantly surprised to have a visit from two smiling VBT guests today at the Bristol Vermont headquarters.
Barbara O'Neal and Carol Durgin are sisters visiting Vermont from Massachusetts and Colorado respectively. When they saw that they were going through Bristol, they made a point to stop in to say hello. They have been on VBT bicycle tours in North Carolina and California, as well as Italy, Holland, France and Quebec, Canada. We have seen their smiles many times in the photos of Holland in the VBT catalogs of the past few years. At the time, their brother was part of the family travels, and the three of them can be easily identified by their bright green jackets in front of the windmills of Holland.
Carol and Barbara met Chris Skilling, VBT's Director of Worldwide Product and reminisced about their favorite bike tour leaders. When asked where they would travel next, Carol answered that they were very interested in the Heart of Europe; Bike and Barge, along the Moselle River. Barbara was also considering Slovenia, Austria & Italy to include the post trip in Venice for her upcoming wedding anniversary.
Gregg Marston, VBT's President, greeted the visitors and the conversation continued about the new bicycle tours being presented in the 2010 VBT catalog to be released in a few short weeks.
The excitement and energy that Carol and Barbara have are incredibly inspiring to the VBT team. Their visit brought home, once again, how amazing a vacation is when one can see the world from a bicycle and forge friendships with locals, in this case the excellent VBT leaders.
Barbara O'Neal and Carol Durgin are sisters visiting Vermont from Massachusetts and Colorado respectively. When they saw that they were going through Bristol, they made a point to stop in to say hello. They have been on VBT bicycle tours in North Carolina and California, as well as Italy, Holland, France and Quebec, Canada. We have seen their smiles many times in the photos of Holland in the VBT catalogs of the past few years. At the time, their brother was part of the family travels, and the three of them can be easily identified by their bright green jackets in front of the windmills of Holland.
Carol and Barbara met Chris Skilling, VBT's Director of Worldwide Product and reminisced about their favorite bike tour leaders. When asked where they would travel next, Carol answered that they were very interested in the Heart of Europe; Bike and Barge, along the Moselle River. Barbara was also considering Slovenia, Austria & Italy to include the post trip in Venice for her upcoming wedding anniversary.
Gregg Marston, VBT's President, greeted the visitors and the conversation continued about the new bicycle tours being presented in the 2010 VBT catalog to be released in a few short weeks.
The excitement and energy that Carol and Barbara have are incredibly inspiring to the VBT team. Their visit brought home, once again, how amazing a vacation is when one can see the world from a bicycle and forge friendships with locals, in this case the excellent VBT leaders.
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Loop to Scharding: The Czech Republic
This is a memorable ride for traveler Cate Brown, as she rode along the Danube River to Passau, Germany.
We bombed into Passau as the last rays of sunlight ducked behind Niedernburg Abbey-a train of five American bikers, tucked in behind our Czech guide Jan, from VBT Vacations. As the road leveled off, I wiped tears from the corner of each eye and watched them fall into the Ilz River, just east of Passau. For centuries this river carried salt miners out of the Alps and into civilization with their white gold, and as I crossed the bridge into city lights of Passau, I felt like I too was being born out of the wilderness on the waves of this ancient river. Our group of 14 cyclists had followed the tributary through Southern Bavaria all day, as we crossed the border from the Czech Republic. For forty years, the Iron Curtain preserved the wild, coniferous forest, and as we rode through I found myself breaking pace to admire beds of ferns and intermittent fields of poppies, blooming like lost hearts in the late June sun.
Passau itself was cloaked by a light fog. An old cruise ship stalled in the middle of the river, preparing to dock on the north end of the city as we scooted across the bridge into Passau. Halfway across the bridge we passed a group of raucous Germans, trousers round their ankles, mooning a poor cruise ship, Pilsner glasses in hand. I had heard tales of German nudists, but I didn’t expect them to be so spiteful! Turning our backs on the university students, we dropped our bikes in front of the Altstadt Hotel, and hopped up the stairs for a hot shower.
Dinner was served on the hotel terrace, overlooking the Danube. The head chef at the Altstadt had prepared a special four-course spread for VBT, complete with traditional Pilsner-battered pork, a light pumpkin schnitzel, white wine sabayon, and rich Bavarian plum-prune cake. Mike, a jovial school teacher from South Dakota, sat to my left and as the last tray of sabayon came out, he raised his beer, fresh from the Prince Bishop Brewery in Passau.
“To a great day of riding, and the afternoon of downhill to come tomorrow!” He cheered, passing his beer stein over his burly white beard, the foam curdling around his lips. I raised my glasses in hearty agreement, and settled back, tossing stories of fly fishing in Alaska, and rampaging South Dakotan buffalo across the feast, with my fellow riders.
Prosit and welcome to Germany!
The next morning, breakfast was served over the river, now framed by flower boxes overflowing with purple petunias. The mustardy tones of the Danube glistened in the early morning sun, and seemed to roast the riverbanks, warning of a hot mid-day ride. Although we weren’t in France, I found the most heavenly croissants in the buffet line, slathered them in nutella and settled down next to our leaders, Jan and Jan for a route review.
By 8:30, I had marked the tricky turns on my route map, Jan spritzed our water bottles with fresh lemon and the group was ready to depart.
Mary and I began riding together. As a long-time employee of ABC news, Mary has a keen eye for framing a shot, and between her keen eyes, and my wanderlust, we frequently got stuck a few kilometers behind the group on camera duty. Indeed, we first stopped at the confluence of the Danube and the Inn, on the south tip of Passau. There’s something poetic the Inn, as it rushes down from the Alps in a glacial fervor to join the timeless ballad of the Danube. Mary’s aquamarine bike jersey matched the glacial water streaming in from the Inn,
I pulled my bike over to the side of the path, dodging a pair of rollerbladers and pulled out a camera. I snapped a quick shot of Mary, her aquamarine bike jersey framed by the mustardy tones of the Danube and we sat for a moment, watching a flock of ducklings waddle into the water, just to the left of an intent fly fisherman. Passau has been a port city for ages. Workers from the salt mines of the Alps carried their white gold down the river, the armies of Frederick I passed through during the Crusades, the Bavarian Princess Sissi stopped on her way to the throne of Austria, Neil Armstrong even stayed in the Hotel Wildermann in the late 70s. Mary and I sat in awe, as we joined the history books; two VBT riders, off for a picnic in Schärding.
“Servus!”
“Wie funktioniert diese kosten?”
A buzz of broken German erupted, as we rounded the corner and pedaled smack into the local flea market. Long tables lined the bike path. Children scampered in between bins of Don Giovanni records, drill bits, porcelain tea kettles and veils of white lace. We leaned our bikes up against the park bench in front of the local ropes course and meandered through aisles of consigned material. Our bike group had decided to do “Secret Cyclist” at our final dinner, and the budget was set at two Euros, so my search was limited. I drew Mike, a conservative retiree of IBM, hailing from the LA area. He and I got along well, but we had enjoyed numerous debates over the reliability of global warming statistics. After perusing several tables of Austrian gnomes and handcrafted baskets, I picked up a small glass of Marillon Apricot Liquor, a regional specialty from the Wachau wine region. Perhaps this liquor would help smooth over our next conversation. I pocketed the delicate glass, and jumped back on my bike.
It was a beautiful day. Just gorgeous. The sun was bright, and the fog had cleared out, leaving Route 33, sparkling and dry before us. The ride was about 45k in total, but we had several adventures on the way. We stretched our legs in the baroque church Vornbach and passed the may pole in Neuburg. Jan and I found Stracciatelli gelato in the the town of Schärding, we picnicked along the Danube-looking back, the day blurs together like a string of pearls. Occasionally the bells from Niedernburg Abbey would bring me back to reality, but before long the rhythmic pedaling of Mary’s bike would lull me back into daydreams of pumpkin schnitzel and the cold Pilsner to come. Biking along the Danube was true bliss.
We bombed into Passau as the last rays of sunlight ducked behind Niedernburg Abbey-a train of five American bikers, tucked in behind our Czech guide Jan, from VBT Vacations. As the road leveled off, I wiped tears from the corner of each eye and watched them fall into the Ilz River, just east of Passau. For centuries this river carried salt miners out of the Alps and into civilization with their white gold, and as I crossed the bridge into city lights of Passau, I felt like I too was being born out of the wilderness on the waves of this ancient river. Our group of 14 cyclists had followed the tributary through Southern Bavaria all day, as we crossed the border from the Czech Republic. For forty years, the Iron Curtain preserved the wild, coniferous forest, and as we rode through I found myself breaking pace to admire beds of ferns and intermittent fields of poppies, blooming like lost hearts in the late June sun.
Passau itself was cloaked by a light fog. An old cruise ship stalled in the middle of the river, preparing to dock on the north end of the city as we scooted across the bridge into Passau. Halfway across the bridge we passed a group of raucous Germans, trousers round their ankles, mooning a poor cruise ship, Pilsner glasses in hand. I had heard tales of German nudists, but I didn’t expect them to be so spiteful! Turning our backs on the university students, we dropped our bikes in front of the Altstadt Hotel, and hopped up the stairs for a hot shower.
Dinner was served on the hotel terrace, overlooking the Danube. The head chef at the Altstadt had prepared a special four-course spread for VBT, complete with traditional Pilsner-battered pork, a light pumpkin schnitzel, white wine sabayon, and rich Bavarian plum-prune cake. Mike, a jovial school teacher from South Dakota, sat to my left and as the last tray of sabayon came out, he raised his beer, fresh from the Prince Bishop Brewery in Passau.
“To a great day of riding, and the afternoon of downhill to come tomorrow!” He cheered, passing his beer stein over his burly white beard, the foam curdling around his lips. I raised my glasses in hearty agreement, and settled back, tossing stories of fly fishing in Alaska, and rampaging South Dakotan buffalo across the feast, with my fellow riders.
Prosit and welcome to Germany!
The next morning, breakfast was served over the river, now framed by flower boxes overflowing with purple petunias. The mustardy tones of the Danube glistened in the early morning sun, and seemed to roast the riverbanks, warning of a hot mid-day ride. Although we weren’t in France, I found the most heavenly croissants in the buffet line, slathered them in nutella and settled down next to our leaders, Jan and Jan for a route review.
By 8:30, I had marked the tricky turns on my route map, Jan spritzed our water bottles with fresh lemon and the group was ready to depart.
Mary and I began riding together. As a long-time employee of ABC news, Mary has a keen eye for framing a shot, and between her keen eyes, and my wanderlust, we frequently got stuck a few kilometers behind the group on camera duty. Indeed, we first stopped at the confluence of the Danube and the Inn, on the south tip of Passau. There’s something poetic the Inn, as it rushes down from the Alps in a glacial fervor to join the timeless ballad of the Danube. Mary’s aquamarine bike jersey matched the glacial water streaming in from the Inn,
I pulled my bike over to the side of the path, dodging a pair of rollerbladers and pulled out a camera. I snapped a quick shot of Mary, her aquamarine bike jersey framed by the mustardy tones of the Danube and we sat for a moment, watching a flock of ducklings waddle into the water, just to the left of an intent fly fisherman. Passau has been a port city for ages. Workers from the salt mines of the Alps carried their white gold down the river, the armies of Frederick I passed through during the Crusades, the Bavarian Princess Sissi stopped on her way to the throne of Austria, Neil Armstrong even stayed in the Hotel Wildermann in the late 70s. Mary and I sat in awe, as we joined the history books; two VBT riders, off for a picnic in Schärding.
“Servus!”
“Wie funktioniert diese kosten?”
A buzz of broken German erupted, as we rounded the corner and pedaled smack into the local flea market. Long tables lined the bike path. Children scampered in between bins of Don Giovanni records, drill bits, porcelain tea kettles and veils of white lace. We leaned our bikes up against the park bench in front of the local ropes course and meandered through aisles of consigned material. Our bike group had decided to do “Secret Cyclist” at our final dinner, and the budget was set at two Euros, so my search was limited. I drew Mike, a conservative retiree of IBM, hailing from the LA area. He and I got along well, but we had enjoyed numerous debates over the reliability of global warming statistics. After perusing several tables of Austrian gnomes and handcrafted baskets, I picked up a small glass of Marillon Apricot Liquor, a regional specialty from the Wachau wine region. Perhaps this liquor would help smooth over our next conversation. I pocketed the delicate glass, and jumped back on my bike.
It was a beautiful day. Just gorgeous. The sun was bright, and the fog had cleared out, leaving Route 33, sparkling and dry before us. The ride was about 45k in total, but we had several adventures on the way. We stretched our legs in the baroque church Vornbach and passed the may pole in Neuburg. Jan and I found Stracciatelli gelato in the the town of Schärding, we picnicked along the Danube-looking back, the day blurs together like a string of pearls. Occasionally the bells from Niedernburg Abbey would bring me back to reality, but before long the rhythmic pedaling of Mary’s bike would lull me back into daydreams of pumpkin schnitzel and the cold Pilsner to come. Biking along the Danube was true bliss.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
We followed Kathy Connolly as she led our first Classic Vermont Tour of the Season
This is KC, a VBT tour leader in the Vermont region. This week, my co-leader, Gerry Slager and I are reporting as we lead our first Classic Vermont tour of the season. We are so excited that the season has finally started. Gerry is jumping up and down like a kid ready for summer vacation! I have sporadic access to emails and will be posting as & when I can.
Day 6 : On the last tour day, it's VBT tradition to take group photo with everyone wearing their T-shirts. We usually take it the photo after breakfast and before loading up the van with luggage and all the accumulated packages. This process involves hunting down some poor unsuspecting passer-by, asking innocently "Can you take our picture please?". Little do they know this requires taking a picture on each camera, which is not a quick process. So behalf of all VBT leaders, thanks to all those good citizens who help us out! Today we bicycled to Middlebury, and sadly, back to the real world.
We are stronger, more fit and we've learned to use all our gears on the hills. I hear from guests all the time about how difficult it is choosing their favorite day of the trip. Each day the riding, the routes, food and discoveries get better and better, so at the end they can't make up their minds. And today was not exception. We bicycled through the town of Weybridge which features a route following the windy and peaceful Lemon Fair River. We stopped at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm for a tour of the stables and pastures of this historic working horse farm. My favorite part is taking guests to the back stables where the new spring foals are living with their moms! What a tranquil and beautiful location. Then the group heads off towards town, lunch and our final goodbye's. Each group is special in their own ways and this 2009 kick-off group is no exception. We treasure our shared memories, the laughter and friendships developed along the way. Good-bye everyone. Be well and happy and come join us again soon!
Day 5 :Whew! Another beautiful day exploring the back-roads of Vergennes and Lake Champlain. After breakfast our group scattered in many directions taking advantage of all activities offered in this area. A couple of guests chose to to sleep in, have a late, luxurious breakfast and explore the hiking trails and swim facilities at Basin Harbor Club. Another group spent the morning cycling on quiet country farm roads. We rode past grand historic lakefront properties with sweeping lawns that dipped down to the water's edge. We re-grouped for snack next to a farm house with Morgan horses grazing in the fields. They quickly trotted over to say hello and we took turns feeding them apples .Our group continued to ride into Vergennes, which is the smallest and oldest city in Vermont. After lunch and shopping for Vermont Ain't Flat t-shirts, we all met back at the club to visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. This year is the 400th anniversary of Lake Champlain and the museum and surrounding towns developed a season full of programs, events and activities that highlight and celebrate the Quadricentennial. We immersed ourselves for hours learning about the historical, cultural, nautical and maritime events events that took place on the lake and around the region. In the evening we held an impromptu cocktail party and watched a VBT video from 25 years ago which included snaps of a much younger version of our guide Gerry. We all laughed at biking attire (short shorts and knee high basketball socks!). Afterwards we had a huge feast and shared our favorite experiences and memories of the trip.
We rode over the bridge and visited New York State for a few minutes, just to brag to the rest of the group! Another group cycled the shorter route along scenic country roads with superb views of Lake Champlain. We all met back at 12:30 PM for a delicious outdoor plated lunch under the huge tree overlooking the lake. Life was good!After lunch we headed off in different directions. One group went off kayaking on Dead Creek with the guides from True North. The kayakers got a close up view of Osprey and Herons fishing along the river, Carp spawning and a variety of duck blinds with decor ranging from tasteful to tacky. We were a group of mostly women paddlers, so duck blind decor was an oddly interesting discussion topic for us. Other members of our group went with Capt Andy on his boat “Escape”, for a historical/nautical excursion on Lake Champlain. Both groups came back with lots of stories and sunburn.We all then drove to Vergennes for dinner at the Park Squeeze and ice cream at a local creamy stand.Stay tuned for more posts tomorrow. Our guests say a big hello to all their friends and family that are following our adventure online.
Day 3 : Life viewed from a bicycle seat is an amazing sensory experience. The colors are richer, the smells more pungent and life slows down to a pace you can fully experience. Today it was all about discovery. We cycled North to Bristol, the Worldwide Headquarter of VBT Bicycling Vacations, and then onwards to Vergennes. Undaunted by the headwinds, sunshine and blue skies, we cycled along the foothills of the Green Mountains. Gerry likes to call them "rollers" and when guests asked how difficult the hills are, he showed them his t-shirt that says "Vermont ain't flat". Today, I drove the van, hauling a trailer which holds our luggage, supplies and equipment. Gerry was riding with the group, sweeping along to make sure that we kept track of all riders and helped with directions, mechanicals and facilitated discoveries. I caught up with the group at mile 8, just as they finished their first "roller". I stuck my head out the window and took a picture of the group celebrating their first ascent of the day. They were giddy with excitement and were all in a great mood! I drove off to meet them at our snack stop. As I said, today was all about discovery. So here's a list of what we experienced along the way.
- A black bear and her 3 cubs crossing the road about 30 feet ahead of me as I was driving the van. Wow-o-Wow!
- Mr. Stowe.
A local farmer who boards cows and buffalos. We did our snack stop near his barn and he came out to flirt with the women and teach us a little about dairy farming. He's quite the character, 85 years old and still working everyday.
- Edo Zaffuto, a VBT Tour Leader from Italy who was visiting the US, stopped by VBT headquarters to say "ciao". We met him at Bristol after he spied our van.
- VBT Headquarters : We traditionally take our Vermont tour guests to visit our HQ and luckily the entire VBT team was outside enjoying a BBQ and the first warmth of Vermont summer. Both the guests and the team was super excited to meet each other!
By the end of the day we've all made it to The Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes, VT which is home for the next three nights.
Day 2 : Today, under bright blue and sunny skies, we bicycled along the quiet woodland roads to Lake Dunmore. Along the way we passed beaver ponds, rushing streams and working farms. At Branbury Park we enjoyed a delicious and healthy picnic lunch and relaxed in the sunshine before heading back to Middlebury for the three S's: Snoozing, Sauna & Shopping. Tonight we're headed downtown for a group dinner at one of the local restaurants. We're well on our way to a fun filled week of adventure, discovery and enjoyment!
Day 1 : We met our group in the afternoon at the Swift House in Middlebury, Vermont. After doing bike fits and going for a chilly warm up ride we gathered for our welcome and orientation meeting. At the welcome meeting , everyone got to know each other and started to develop bonds that will grow and deepen as the week progresses. We have a really interesting and diverse group of guests with a range of tour, bicycling and life experiences. We have new riders and first time VBT'ers as well as someone who rode with us 20 years ago and is returning again. We also have a veteran couple who have done 10 VBT trips, including our special Presidential trip. Over a delicious dinner we swapped stories, joked and made plans for the week ahead.
Monday, April 27, 2009
From the desk of Gerry Slager -Exploring Southern hospitality & American history in Mississippi
Just got back from putting the finishing touches on our new Mississippi Natchez Trace Tour for this fall and I want all to know that southern hospitality is alive and well. Everyone I met was so excited that we are coming down to cycle in their state. This is a fantastic tour and it will suit everyone. The Natchez Trace is a biker’s dream with smooth roads, gentle rolling hills, and no commercial traffic. Every day we will stop at historic sites to learn about our American history. One night our guests will even go back in time and take a carriage ride right from their Antebellum Inn into town for dinner just like they did before the Civil War. If they choose, they can ride from inn to inn but as always we will also offer shuttles for those who want to bike fewer miles. I have been leading trips for VBT since 1979 and I’m very proud that we are offering this tour to our guests. After meeting with our inn keepers and other partners myself, and enjoying their Southern hospitality, I am certain that our guests will have a wonderful experience. With great rides, smooth roads, plenty of wonderful discoveries, southern cooking and a slow pace you only find in the south... This tour has something for everyone.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
VBT Bike Tour Leader Says New Zealand is an All Time Favorite Tour
Gerry Slager, VBT Technical Coordinator, has been leading our bicycle tours for 30 years, so he has taken travelers all over the world. Although his heart is in Vermont, Gerry puts the New Zealand: The South Island tour at the top of his list of all time favorite places, and here is why:As a trip leader since 1979 I can safely say other than the tour I'm on at the moment (Vermont), New Zealand is my all time favorite place to be. Think about this: have you ever heard anyone say anything bad about New Zealand? It's the total package for people who love the outdoors, and remember: it is summer down there while it's winter up here.
Right up to the last day of the tour you will still say oh m
y God, how beautiful this is! The tour takes you from the Canterbury Plains up over the Southern Alps, by train, into rain forests with glaciers all around you. Eventually you will be in the high country where Merino wool that New Zealand is famous for comes from.This tour is set up for beginners right up to hard core cyclist, so just about anyone can do it.
The locals call themselves Kiwi's—when you talk about the food always say Kiwi Fruit—and they love us even though they think we are a little crazy. You will see the passion the trip leaders have for their country and their willingness to share that with you. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for our New Zealand tour and travel to this spectacular country where everyone wants to go.
Here is what the country of New Zealand's official website has to say:
New Zealand's spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests. Comparable in size and/or shape to Great Britain or Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 4 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries.
It is a haven for those seeking peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers. A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it an ideal year-round holiday destination.
New Zealand links:
- VBT New Zealand bicycle tour: http://www.vbt.com/new-zealand-bicycle-tour.aspx
- New Zealand Tourism Board website: http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/new-zealand-key-facts-home.cfm
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
South Africa Bicycle Tour Leader Gives Guests an In-Depth Understanding of Her Country, with Lots of Adventure and Humor
A guest on the VBT South Africa: The Garden Route bicycle tour sent us a photograph of the tour leader, swarmed by girls wanting to have their picture taken. It was such a great photo that we put it on the VBT blog, with a little biography about the tour leader.The leader's name is Sally Petersen, and she grew up in South Africa on a farm called the Great Karoo. Great Karoo means dry arid place - the South African version of the outback. Her interests include cycling and mountain
biking, hiking, indigenous gardening, traveling to third world countries, and the natural environment--particularly the birds and plants in the Fynbos biome (part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the Fynbos biome has an extraordinarily rich flora, with at least 5600 of the 8000 plant species being endemic to the region). And her special interest is talking, which probably includes many interesting stories about the nature and culture of South Africa.Sally has a reputation as a "fantastic" tour leader, and she likes to think that anyone joining her trips leaves South Africa with an in-depth understanding of the political, social and cultural issues at stake in her country, not only the serious point of view but also the local quirky humor that leaves a smile.
Every culture has a collection of music, dance, legends and oral history known as folklore, and the Zulus of South Africa are no exception. Sally has shared an artful story from this tradition, about how the Zebra got its stripes:
One day a big fierce baboon declared that the land all around belonged to him andthey were not to use the water in the river. He alone would be allowed to drink. A proud young zebra stallion, called Dube, decided to stand up to the fearful baboon. In those days zebras were pure white. Dube challenged baboon to a fight. The fight was long and terrible. Dube fought with his sharp hooves and teeth, and Baboon used his long fangs. Eventually Baboon gained the upper hand, and Dube was thrown into the blazing logs of the kraal fire. The flames burned his body, searing his fine white coat. The pain gave Dube a surge of strength, and with a mighty kick he sent baboon flying onto the rocks of the koppie on the other side. Baboon landed with such force that a bald patch remains on his behind to this day. But Dube was marked too. The burn marks from the blazing logs left black stripes all over his snow-white coat, but at least he won, and from that day on the water was free to all animals, and zebras wear their stripes with pride.
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