Bazaruto Archipelago

A few days of bright warm sun on perfect beaches, no one else around, warm crystal clear water to swim in - what a way to finish a celebratory month in Africa.

I am on the edge of Africa, the middle coast of Mozambique. I was last in Mozambique a few weeks after the end of the bitter and protracted war of liberation that brought Samora Machel to power in 1975. What a strange time it was as my young wife and I travelled through towns where hotels and restaurants had simply been abandoned by their owners who had decided to flee to Portugal. I clearly remember hitchhiking back from Swaziland and being picked up in the dark by Frelimo soldiers who delivered us safely to our pension in Maputo. It did not occur to us to be fearful. Youth is a strange protection. 

Vilanculos is a small fishing village 700 kilometres north of Beira. It is the access point for the exquisite Bazaruto Archipelago, a paradise of sand islands, aquamarine waters, warm ocean and idyllic balmy temperatures year round. More recently, some of the islands have become the home of uber-exclusive resorts that host the obscenely wealthy who are flown in by helicopter from the tiny local airport. 

I was able to ignore that as I walked the beaches, swam and snorkelled in the warm waters and relaxed for a few days before returning to my real life. The colours are seductive and magical. The people are gentle and welcoming. It would be very difficult not to relax here! 

The long journey home starts today.

Kruger Park

For six days I have been living amongst the wild life of Africa. Kruger Park is a very large conservation area along the eastern border of South Africa with Mozambique and the wildlife has been studied and managed for over a hundred years. It is entirely in the lowveld but vegetation varies greatly, especially from north to south. 

When I lived in Swaziland I used to bring my son here as often as possible as he loved the excitement of animal spotting. The accommodations are very simple but perfectly comfortable. They have not changed at all in the intervening years. I booked a stay in Satara Rest Camp, in the middle of the park, and Lower Sabie, on the banks of the Sabie River in the south of the park. 

Wild life abounds everywhere. Particularly if you are also interested in the colourful and varied bird life, there is always something to watch. Within a few hours, one can see the Big 5, as inveterate game chasers might say, but there is a lot more than that to see.

Last night, on a game drive, we came across a fresh kill of a large wild buffalo, hunted down by five young male lions. Before they establish their own territories, they cooperate in groups to bring down larger animals. The dead buffalo's head lay right out on the road and the lions were busy tearing into their prey. As the buffalo hide is thick there are only two entry points, the anus and the belly. The animals were in clear view as they feasted, growling as they gnawed, and we could smell the raw red meat, accentuated by digestive gases as the stomach was punctured with a loud long hiss.

For all our daily attempts to be civilized, refined and polite, it is at these moments that one comes face to face with the real story of survival. We do what we have to do to survive. We too are animals, with a strong survival urge, even as we busy our minds with all of the stuff of modern life. For many people on the planet, finding something to fill one's stomach is more important than the acquisition and hoarding of possessions and wealth. 

This has been an amazing revisit to an incredible location. Come to savour and enjoy if you can.

The Garden Route

I have just spent a week exploring this beautiful part of South Africa.  The stark cliffs, surging surf, sea mists, endless beaches, remote wilderness and cozy seaside communities, excellent food and a plethora of comfortable accommodations, make for a perfect holiday. Animals and birds abound. Local people of all colours are friendly and helpful.

  The Garden Route wends its away along roughly 200 kilometres of shoreline from Mossel Bay in Western Cape to Jeffrey's Bay in Eastern Cape. Every manner of activity is available, from hiking through serious game viewing to skydiving. One can indulge in relaxing pursuits or extreme adventure according to your energy and predilection. The climate is kind all year round and sunshine is never far away. Much of the area is under conservation and the Indian Ocean is very beautiful in all its moods.

Travel here if you can for an unforgettable holiday!

Triumph!

Yesterday, the impossible became possible. With help from my incredibly supportive team, I had a fabulous run in the world's most beautiful ultramarathon, the Two Oceans Ultra, from Cape Town south to the Indian Ocean, across the Cape peninsula and along the stunning Chapman's Peak road carved out of a cliff high above the Atlantic Ocean, then back high over Constantia Nek and through a fragrant forest back into Cape Town. The course is scenically stunning and good fortune provided us with an unusually cool day, with early rain, winds gusting to 55 kilometres an hour to cool us further, tremendous enthusiastic crowds to urge us on and an atmosphere of plentiful hope and courage. 

We had all spent months preparing for the rigours of a long distance race and on the day we had no trouble completing the challenge. My wildest dream had been to complete the 56 kilometres in just under 6 hours in order to win a bronze medal. As we came in together, we couldn't believe the clock with our gun time of 5:44:44. We know that if you apply yourself to the training, the event becomes possible. There is only one way to prepare, by doing the necessary work. Shortcuts for athletes inevitably lead to disaster. However, this particular feat is especially important, coming at a time of struggle and angst in my life. The race is balm to my soul.

And now we have time and inclination to celebrate. Tomorrow we head out along the world famous Garden Route, lush, forested, full of gorgeous beaches and friendly villages. Thence my sister and I head for Kruger Park and some serious game viewing, followed by a few magical days in the tropical paradise of Mozambique's east coast. 

If you wish to make a gift to my lifesaving team, please visit https://www.lghfoundation.com/projects/nigel-deacons-two-oceans-gratitude-support-oncology-at-lgh/

Because I am travelling, I have not been able keep up with the thank yous to those beautiful people who have contributed so generously to my fund raising but I will catch up as soon as I reach home. You have all warmed my heart and will warm the hearts of others.

Soon enough, I will return to the reality of cancer treatment. This has been medicine for the soul of a different but very effective sort. Peace and love from the Mother City.

Africa

What special joy to be back in Africa! Africa is the most beautiful of continents, for certain the original Garden of Eden! We are all from here and it is a perfect homecoming.

I was greeted by unseasonal and very heavy rain on St. Patrick's Day as I arrived bleary eyed from the long trip. The rain made everyone happy, quite the opposite from our Western world! There has been serious drought here and rain equates with life and new beginnings. It is essential to the cultivation of food crops. Out of season rain is an extraordinary gift.

My son is in the air today and should arrive tomorrow. He will be so excited to be back in the continent where he grew up. Marcus is also in the air and will arrive in Africa tomorrow for the first time ever! Peter is already in Kruger Park enjoying wildlife that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. He has not been in Africa before either. Thank you Africa for being the only continent, apart from unpopulated Antarctica, not to kill all its animals as settlement occurs. It was the first settled continent, making this achievement even more remarkable. There must be environmentalists all over the continent!

Saturday is Race Day! The excitement builds! My sister, who arrived from New Zealand yesterday,  and I head for beautiful Cape Town on Thursday. This will be a very challenging course, with two serious mountains in the second half of the course. How will it feel to summon up the energy to get up and over and down to the finish line after 56 kilometres? I must not think too much about it yet. I run the risk of burning up my energy in worrying about it! It will be a fabulous day!

My race number is 50337.

RACE DAY TRACKING: Follow the progress of friends and family on Race Day, and view your finish time and results, by downloading the RaceTec app from iTunes or Google Play.

If you wish to make a gift to my lifesaving team, please visit https://www.lghfoundation.com/projects/nigel-deacons-two-oceans-gratitude-support-oncology-at-lgh/

Giving thanks

 Yesterday I received infusion 3 of 4. The final infusion will wait until I return from Africa. So, provided I get a good call from my oncologist about my CT scan last Friday, the coast is clear! I can set out on a huge adventure next Tuesday!  Two Oceans, here I come!  My son will run with me. My New Zealand sister will cheer me along! Two very good friends will also run with me. I am busy making lots of new friends too!

 I am so grateful to the Lion's Gate Clinic for treating me when the BC Cancer Agency could not. At the clinic, I am always impressed by the compassion and care that patients enjoy. This is indeed a place of healing. To celebrate my good luck in being able to attempt an ultramarathon while in the midst of treatment, and to reward this outstanding clinic for their culture of solace and mercy, I am inviting my friends to make a donation to the Lion's Gate Foundation to be used by the oncology section to improve care of patients. You will all know friends or family who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis. It changes everything. Things are never the same. Lion's Gate is dedicated to making it better. Give if you can and want to. Just click below.  As always, I have no expectations. Peace and love, Nigel


  https://www.lghfoundation.com/projects/nigel-deacons-two-oceans-gratitude-support-oncology-at-lgh/

The team just heading out in darkness for the 35 mile run on the weekend!

Happy news!

Everything is going my way, maybe!

On February 12, Dr. Paton, ocular oncologist, removed the radiation cataract caused by radiation to my right eye in 2010. The operation was a huge success. The difference in my vision is stunning and delightful!

On February 15, I had my second infusion of ipilimumab. I am already at the half way mark on this new journey! I return to Victoria full of hope.

On February 13 my friends gathered to celebrate the upcoming adventure! The Two Oceans Ultramarathon is now only 40 days away! I can taste the start line! I have no thoughts yet about the finish line!