Sun Is Shining

By Marley

Saturday morning broke with monkeys who raided the food of our camp site. It also made me realize how quickly the weekend has gone already. After my previous night of an ice cold shower I wanted to warm up and joined Frank, Chantelle and Christine for a morning swim in the ocean, what a way to wake up! The tide was perfect and swimming in the ocean always refreshes the soul. After our swim we had some breakfast, another cup of much needed caffeine before I was off to see in what state Mims was. The girl was still sleeping beauty.

On the way to the beach

Some of us decided to go sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in. I got thirsty and walked along the beach to the bar stage. I can tell you that my calves felt like a body builder arms and it was good to see the Southern Gypsy Queen catching some sun and surf. After sitting with Meneer aka Werner (NOA manager) with a beer watching Hiccup (who I got to meet the previous night in our party state) and had the bees irritating me. Finishing up the beer I stroll over to Mimi's tent and she was still sleeping, she sound a bit flu-ish but she asked me to wake her up in a few hours. I went back to our beach spot with the bottle of water that was ordered and sat another hour just soaking it all up and going through photos.

Beer, beach back ground and music

Meneer

Goophstar and his shirt

Piet Botha

In the afternoon Christine and I sat at the NOA camp site enjoying good company and watched Goophstar as he wrote lyrics to a sudden inspiration that he received. Sitting around the shade of the trees with the sea roaring and watching the guitar players just randomly play songs was such an experience. Most of the crew decided to catch another 40 winks before getting ready for another night; I made way to the long ass walk to our camp site to get dressed.

Mr. Cat & The Jackal

The night started very slow and I feel that most of us were all so dead tried of two/three days of partying that most bands struggled to get going. Mr. Cat and The Jackal I enjoyed, it took me a good 3 songs to get into the music. Very theatrical this 5 piece band music reminds me a lot of pirates meet The Grimm brother’s movie sound track – a combination I know but that is just how I see it. These guys use some crazy instruments for their songs like a saw, what the hell? Anyway after them was Captain Stu! YEA good seeing James and his band live again and ladies James cut off his beautiful hair. But it didn't influence his performance and the lads seemed a bit nervous at the beginning. Although I was sitting down in front of the stage with Anthony it didn't stop me from enjoying the music fully.

Mr. Cat & The Jackal

Mr. Cat & The Jackal

Captain Stu

James Klopper of Captain Stu

Then Nelsparta pride and joy, No One's Arc, made their way over to the stage. With instructions from Mims to take photos, Christine and I was now over excited. And man what a delivery! I will never ever get tired of the energy these 5 guys and 1 girl produce off stage. It's so hard taking their pictures if you don't know the music and even a dog was amongst us in the front. Some of the hits were played which included "Fire" and "UFO" and had the small handful crowd either jumping up and down or bobbing their heads.

Bongs

Dylan Bolton

Mimi Gabi Law & Lee Nicholls

Bongs & Dylan

Mimi in the groove

We set this place on fire

After their gig Mims and I got something to eat and let me go get a fill up on my "secret stash" of spiced gold in her tent. Mims, Goophstar, Bongs and I sat on the deck having a discussion when it was decided to go to bed. Oh no, at the stairs caught up with Captain Lee and up it went to have one last R’nR with him and the boys of Captain Stu. Eish from what I saw there I knew here comes trouble. I met up with Gert of Mr. Cat and The Jackal and Jessie Botha (Piet Botha daughter). Listening to aKING from the top stairs were the closet I came to enjoying (they will be at Blue Moon on Friday 1 July) them.

After my drink up I was accompanied by my personal "Body guard" back through the camp sites to our tent where a must needed sleep was now the order of the day I mean night. Tomorrow we have to get our gear packed up and ready to leave.

Sunday morning came down to quickly for me and after rolling around for an half hour I got to up to start packing up my clothes in the car which became our closet/storage facility/music den over the course of the weekend. My boss, Anthony, made me a cup of coffee for once and I must say it was a much needed one. After Christine awoken from her beauty sleep I went to freshen up and help pack up some our big stuff. Thank goodness Lee found his way to the tent and when he awoke we packed up our site. Pretty much the whole of Nelsparta left more or less the same time and the long road awaited back home.

After a minor set back at the boarder gate with some paper work and missing a turn off I got dropped off at home just after 7 pm. Dead tired I must admit it was one of those trips that will stay with you forever. From Swaziland landscapes to the smell of Mozambique ocean to still finding sand in your shoe two days later. It's just one of those things you just have to do. Not a lot of people can say they traveled in one day through 3 countries, 2 provinces and have the stamps to proof it.

For anyone who wants to go to STRAB next year but want an early taste then keep your eyes open for a STRAB party happening at Blue Moon in October this year. I can't tell you more than that but sjoe I'm definitely doing this again. I just want to thank my two companions, Christine and Lee once again for everything. To Conrad and his team for this whole set up, our Nelspartans who humble shared beer, coffee and on occasion food even. To all the bands and artists that played well done! The bar man who sometimes were a little to slow but always had a smile on their faces and making us totally sloshed, big up! And then to all the casual workers who helped keep the camp clean, washing dishes to a small fee and the ladies who kept the bathrooms clean and tidy. Not even in Kruger Park can you find the service that I experienced there.

STRAB 2012 see you then!

Peace