BEING on the road is very cool. But only if you’re on a very cool road. If you’re on a suckfest of a road then a tour can be… Well, a suckfest. That’s why we chose the Garden Route.
You can’t really go wrong on the Garden Route. Our aim is to return in December, and so we’re going about trying to make friends in the different cities en route… Which are some of the most beautiful in the country.
First stop: Port Elizabeth, Something Good Roadhouse. The revamped venue is right on the beach and has a great surfer vibe inside. After solving the initial, minor problem of no in-house sound system… We plugged in and hit the jams. We won some people over.
That night we crashed the night with a timeless friend of mine, Dean – a preacher who teaches U2 and drinks good wine. We ate dinner and solved the world’s problems over a bottle of Bramford. We shared war stories and recounted the many good things God has taught each of us over the years.
The morning arrived far too soon, and in the busyness of everything I forgot it was my birthday. Thankfully our good friend Celeste (herself an incredible musician) came up to me and shouted “happy birthday!”… otherwise all might have been lost. We spent the morning at Connected Life church as part of the music team. Grant and Nicole Boreham lead the church plant and have started something very special along with Bryan and Celeste Smith and Jethro and Naomi Oostebrook.
We spent the afternoon with Bryan and Cel, watching a Sting concert DVD and dozing in and out of conversation and consciousness. Bliss.
Last night’s show was a special occasion in their back garden under stars, surrounded by fires and friends. It doesn’t get better than those type of occasions for making memories…
