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FREE WILD WORLD
AUTHENTIC CREATIVE CONTENT
ETHOS
In this context, ethos refers to the guiding beliefs, values, and spirit that shape the purpose and character of this journey. This is the deeper meaning of my journey, if you will.
In The Beginning There Was A River, And The River Was I
​The swallows outside my door are calling and I am restless. This world is full of roads, full of pathways, full of choices and filled with many, many possible destinations. Each decision leads to a different outcome. Our perceived reality is a web constantly being spun by an invisible spider.
Stagnant water breeds disease. Some are of the body; others are of the mind and spirit. Everything keeps moving to somewhere in the nowhere of the unspecified. Words are anchors. Feelings are wings. Some wings are broken and unfit for proper flight. In fact, they are in danger of catching fire and causing a crash and burn. The Sun only forgives those whose wings and hearts are pure. The gate is protected by swords of fire.
There are those feelings that make you soar. They unlock the heart with a key held by the hand attached to an empty mind. They untie the rope around the neck of an intruder in a desolate house where broken windows reflect starry nights.
The ego burns and smells of brimstone. Expectations causes disappointment. An empty cup is more valuable than one filled with stones. Gravity only exists when it is captured by the desire to define. A full cup quenches the first of one for a while. A flowing cup quenches the first of many for eternity.
I will follow the river’s edge. It will give my journey meaning and direction. It will grow the plants of my imagination. My imagination will colour the fields I move in. I will follow the river to the sea, and when I lose myself in the ocean, YOU will not be able to follow ME any longer, because I will no longer be a nomad and a traveller in time. Nor will I be a seeker of an elusive truth, or a beggar for the mercy of understanding my place in this universe. I will not chase freedom any longer, I will BE freedom. The I will dissolve and the river will lose its name along with its course and meaning, and the rain it brings will never stop falling.
I don't plan far ahead. I JUST GO and figure it out on the way. There are a few reasons for this: I get bored easily and don't like routine and constructs. The name is FREE WILD WORLD after all. The following words have become a pretentious cliché, but wtf, LIVE IN THE MOMENT is a theme here. I also think it makes for a much more exciting adventure, journey and VLOG. For this reason my route will be updated as much as circumstances allow. YOU can also comment with a suggestion, lead or idea.
Buffeljags River To Gordon's Bay
DAY 1 - 5 MAY 2025
ROUTE FOR DAY 1
Travel from my homebase in Buffeljags Rivier to a friend's place in Gordon's Bay
I packed and waited for most of the day. Keen and nervous. Ready for whatever will come my way. State of mind is a powerful thing. I live in an old office where the company that used to distribute newspapers were based before legacy media started crashing. There is some irony here - these days, people like me, are considered to be the new breed of journalist, (but without the regular company pay check).
I love my 'job'. I love vlogging and documenting life with videos, images and words. It's my thing. We leave at around sunset. I am catching a lift with the one bakkie left over from a fleet of trucks that went to fetch the newspapers in Cape Town for local distribution. It's cheap, I paid R 200 for the privilege. I feel comfortable in the back with all my luggage consisting of a large backpack, a daypack, and of course, my guitar. I feel like, and I am indeed, a real traveller and adventurer.
On the way we picked up a lady that was hitchhiking. She was doing manual labour somewhere, (making wood, winter is coming). She was headed home. We spoke about her life. She told me about her her two kids living with her and her current boyfriend. She works for them. She works hard and has a simple life. She has a great relationship with her man. They support each other and make ends meet. It's a hard life. These are the folks I like to hang with. Simple people. Real people.
I arrived in Gordons Bay after sunset. The newspaper van man dropped me in front of the Pick & Pay centre, a short distance from my friend's Lize's place with whom I will be staying for a while. First in Gordons Bay, and later we will move up to her place in the West Coast. Where from there? Who knows?
Gordon's Bay
DAY 2 - 6 MAY 2025
NO ROUTE
I'm staying with my friend Lize until I leave with her to the west coast.
I have a video job in Stellenbosch, and that's what is happening today. Lize is one of my oldest friends and she offered to accommodate me on her couch in her flat in Gordon's Bay. This is also a soft landing, so to speak, for my adventure that is. It would have been pretty shite to spend my first couple of nights in some weird, random place. At least now I can ease into the road lifestyle after months of having a stable homebase in Buffeljags River.
I am thankful for this job. Although I have the skillset and the gear, I don't get many jobs. Maybe I suck at marketing. Maybe I'm just too weird. It's all about perception in business I suppose, and I just don't give enough of a fuck to pretend or to play the game. I am who I am. Deal with it. The ultimate FREEDOM is to claim, and be your authentic self without living in fear of the consequences. We are living in a highly programmed society, and I fully accept that most people will not understand or accept this, but I am fine with that. I have made my peace. Let them judge. Let them enjoy their little game. I have moved past that.
I booked bed in Stumble In Backpackers for the job because it start's at seven and I need to sleep over. Lize offered to take me and tag along. Great! Every little saving helps. On the way we picked up Ruben Swart, another one of my oldest besties. He is a keen muso with a sensitive ear, and I was sure he would appreciate the topic of this job: The World Accordion Day. The whole magnificent spectacle happened at the prestigious Endler Hall in Stellenbosch. It wasn't exactly rock & roll. Their were choirs and things, and of course loads of accordions and a girl that played a mean violin. It was also long and I had to run between cameras like a mad man. But it DID end at some point, and we did stop at De Akker for a nightcap on the way home. Oh De Akker! The stories I could tell about my merry times in that place! But that would take up way too much space, and this is only the start of my GREAT AFRICAN ADVENTURE.
Stuck in Gordon's Bay
DAY 3 to DAY 11 - 7 MAY to 15 MAY 2025
PLANNED ROUTE
Gordon's Bay to Saldanha
You know what they say about plans? Well, the plan was to move from here to the West Coast with Lize on Sunday already. She is in the process of selling her house on that side and staying there to edit my video job was kind of part of the 'soft landing' plan. Well, that's all up in the air now. Lize is not trusting that her car will make it all the way in it's current state, so now we are stuck. She is busy making plans and looking for options while I spend my days on the couch editing, doing my best to disappear into the background. I am a guest and the flat is small. The last thing I want to do is irritate the hell out of my hosts.
A plan B seems to be developing. Petrus from Buffeljags River invited me to go sailing with him in Saldanha, and he will probably be passing by on Thursday. If we haven't managed to arrange transport by then, I might as well catch a lift with him. This next venture should also make for an excellent vlog.
I finished a full vlog about Gordon's Bay yesterday which I started shooting after I completed the filming of my video job in Stellenbosch. This means I have a shitload of editing to do, and currently I am playing the role of the man on the couch with his nose stuck in his laptop.
Shooting the Gordon's Bay vlog went well. Mostly sunny days with a bit of rain. I think it's going to be a good one. I got to hang out on the beach quite a bit. I also explored the nightlife and met up with old friend Cornel and newer friend Maritzie for drinks. Only Maritzie and I did the drinks to be accurate. Cornel stopped drinking because booze does not seem to agree with his personality type, if you know what I mean? Good for him. Alcohol is not for everyone.