Winter in Port Alfred

While most of you in the north are enjoying 90 or 100 degree temperatures, we are in the middle of winter here on the southern tip of Africa. Actually though, winter here is really fairly mild.......... probably much like summer on the Oregon Coast....... Highs in the mid 60's and lows in the mid 50's. Being right on the ocean, however with the high humidity, we do get chilled easily. No one here has central heat, so everyone has small electric flood heaters, or portable propane gas heaters. A friend recently made each of us a neck wrap that you heat in the microwave. They go well first thing in the morning, but we especially love to put them in our bed a few minutes before bedtime.

We usually get a good rain storm each week. In fact, we had a record rain (6 inches in 24 hours) here two weeks ago that resulted in extensive flooding in the Port Alfred area. One side effect of the heavier rains is the development of pot holes in the roads around town. The paved roads here are in fairly poor shape. The rains tend to loosen the asphalt and pot holes develop quickly. It's been like driving through mine fields this past week. There have been many reports of flat tires and bent tire rims. The rains, however, do bless this part of the country with great beauty. Everything is so lush and green, and it seems that every day for the past couple of weeks we have seen a rainbow. Rainbows over the ocean are especially beautiful. We tell ourselves every day just how blessed we are to be here in this beautiful part of Africa.