Boring update today because we were in the car most of the day. We packed up and left the beautiful Franschhoek at 10:30. We rarely return to places we’ve visited but I know we’ll be back in Franschhoek some day. I love it.

We begun our 5+ hour drive west along the garden route. It was, of course, stunningly beautiful. What shocked us most was how varied the landscape was. One minute it felt like driving through the Rockies, then it felt like we were in Ireland.

Millie watched her iPad and sang along most of the way. She is as tone deaf as her mother. Nick and I talked about how complicated (yet great) South Africa is, and the various ways we are reevaluating our lives already on this trip. Do we really need much stuff? Could we live in a smaller home? If we lived in a more expensive place and traded space and luxury for social services, would that be a good trade? Would it be too disruptive for Millie if we tried a year or two somewhere and then moved back to Austin? Light conversations.

We stopped for a late lunch in Mossel Bay. Millie stretched her legs briefly running along the shore.

Then we got back in the car and drove the remaining 1.5 hours to Knysna. The area we are staying feels like half retirement community, half vacation rentals. You could have blindfolded me and told me this was Hilton Head and I would’ve believed you. Then again I’ve never been to Hilton Head and I would be quite gullible after being blindfolded for the 15 hour journey to get here for your little trick.

We had to go through intense security clearance to access the island. Full passport scan, photos, fingerprints, and “hand scans”. But then once you are on the island, our hosts assured us we don’t even need to lock the door. I’m not sure I’d ever get used to this.

Our Airbnb hosts are a sweet older couple. This was the case at our last place too – retired couples who have some extra time and space on their property. They always have grandkids similar in age to Millie and play the comparison game. “Oh she is tall! My granddaughter is 6 and tiny” and “oh my grandkids are wild compared to her!” Somehow there is always a little bit of judgement of their own family in the observations.

They set up a full campfire for us to welcome us. We sat by it and Millie made some “inventions” (horrible food concoctions we were forced to taste) and wrote a love note to her father.

Romance is NOT dead.