Goodbye, Harties, Goodbye

Today is the last full day in Hartbeespoort - pronounced har-teh-BEERS-port, as we learned from the Canadian/South African Red Sox fan who we sold our QF tickets too... but more on that below.

As with the 2006 trip, we've taken it upon ourselves to "experience" this great country after the U.S. was eliminated.

Saturday night was an incredible low point for everyone, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, we shared some beers with nice guys - one in full British soldier regalia - and by the time Noah got us home at 4am, our spirits were reasonable. Sunday was spent recovering.

Monday it was time to see Africa. A two-plus hour drive back towards Rustenberg saw us arrive at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. I'm not sure what our expectations were going in, but after about 5 minutes Geoff, gazing out into the brush, nearly drove us into an elephant. The elephant was enormous. Completely disregarded the road he was on. Geoff: astonished. Nate: in Noah's arms. Noah: in Nate's arms. Andrew: still filming. Incredible.

From there we spotted some hippos from afar, some zebras, giraffes and warthogs from quite close. But then after a friendly South African boy told us that there was a pride lions devouring a dead elephant, we raced back to the other side of the park. The image is difficult to describe. The elephant was enormous, but it's middle was missing. Lions were lazily sitting on its front and back leaning over a gaping hole in the middle. Really, really cool. Until the wind shifted. The stench that took over was a mix of garbage and death (not that I know what death smells like, but I'm guessing and I'm sure I'm right.) Thus concluded our trip to the game park.

From there we drove Geoff and Nate to the airport via two failed entries into Sun City and a stop at Nandos for dinner. During this time, Geoff fell out of love with both our GPS and South African drivers, but we nonetheless arrived safely.

As I write, Geoff and Nate are probably about 3 hours from landing in New York. I'm spending one last (chilly) afternoon on our sun deck. Noah is inside reading a book. For the record it cannot be emphasized enough what a goddamned hero Noah has been on this trip. Not only planning everything - EVERYTHING - but also working all day while we jackasses certainly did not. Noah, I love you. I'll handle Brazil.

Noah leaves tomorrow. I also leave tomorrow via an 18 hour stop in Cape Town just because. After a lot of hassling I managed to book a flight through Dakar that gets me home in 12 hours faster and 2 days earlier. Thank god.

This morning we sold our QF tickets, which was an amazingly bizarre experience. After accidentally showing up at a place where the ticket buyer was, he met us at Cinnabun. He then awkwardly stood with us while Noah waited for a terrible drink and told us how he had an epileptic episode after the Ghana game and blacked out in his bathroom, dislocating his jaw, cracking a few teeth and needing stitches. Then he took us up to his wife's high-end perfume shop where she made awkward/racist comments and gave us champagne. Great work everyone.

That's all from here. Probably the last post from Harties. Good luck and god bless.

Harties Cribs

From the Sun Deck

Wednesday: Victory.
Thursday: Recovery.
Friday: Relaxation.

We managed to get up early and get down to the Apartheid Museum in Soweto. (A quick stop at KFC for breakfast was made. Try the "a.m. Riser". Delicious.)

The Apartheid Museum was a pretty powerful experience, although the timeline of the country's history was difficult to follow. That being said, it was definitely the "Never Again" moment of 2010 - paralleling several moments from 2006.

Problem: Apparently they also have issues with car theft from the museum. Solution: When you drive out of the gate, they have you turn your car off and then back on. If you can turn it back on, you have the keys. Therefore you are not a their. Therefore you can go.

Currently, I'm sitting on our sun deck, enjoying the afternoon warmth and sitting in some strangely uncomfortable chairs. Around me are three men I love. They are warriors. And Ghana is coming up next.

Saturday: Back to battle.