Keith and I met almost exactly 50 years ago on a beach on a
lake north of Toronto. Since then we
have travelled the world. The friends we
have made over the years have left us with a lifetime of stories and warm memories.
As I read the contributions from all the amazing people I
laugh out loud. It takes me back to the
days when we thought we could do anything and we did.
From our early days together in Toronto I remember living on the 16th floor of a new
high rise apartment in downtown Toronto.
It was here we met Ross and Tish who were to intrigue us with their
stories of South Africa and it’s beauty.
I also remember watching with horror as Keith leaped nimbly from our
neighbours balcony onto ours so he could climb in the window and find his car
keys! We drove to New Orleans, Alaska and Newfoundland in a
little MGB with a two man tent in the boot.
We often came back from these holidays hungry because we had to put gas
in the car rather than food in our stomachs with our remaining cash. There were
also lots of parties involving pianos and beer.
I share the story of how two Canadians ended up in South
Africa because only Keith and I know this part of our saga.
Our decision to sell up and buy a one way ticket to Johannesburg
was spontaneous and driven by a need to celebrate New Year’s Eve with Ross and
Tish. After flying to Portugal we
motored in style around Spain with Bernard and Rhoda in their Camarro. Then off through Algeria, Tunesia, Egypt – up
the Nile and across the Sahara to Khartoum. Unbelievably Keith and I discovered
that North Africans had a passion for bridge and we played and won money in
Tunesia (in French), Cairo and Khartoum.
How useful were those extra few dollars.
Keith had an outgoing nature and was able to strike up a
conversation with anyone. This ensured
that we met the most unbelievable characters and ended up in surreal
situations. Two minutes of chatting on a
train and we would find ourselves invited to family weddings and offers of
accomodation.
Even in those days it was an adventure We were rescued more than once by a helpful Sudanese man who kept a fatherly eye on our progress. An Egyptyian Israeli war was on at the time. In addition, we were arrested and held as German spies after Keith took a picture of the Aswan Dam! We travelled by plane, train bus, bicycle, boat and donkey not to mention foot. It was so different to our nice safe Canadian upbringing that we had no realistic survival skills except our innocence. Fortunately, most people we met were kind and generous. Even the camel drivers travelling third class with us across the Sahara shared their food without hesitation(big surprise - there were no restaurants!). Ethiopia was another eye opener as it was the final days of Haile Sellasie. We were stopped and searched at gun point by freedom fighters as we travelled by bus from Addis Ababa to Asmara. East Africa was a joy - Kenya and Ugangda beautiful and covered with game. The further south we got the more we realised that South Africa was not a desirable destination. The last of our funds were used up to get to Salisbury to collect our visas. No other country had direct access. It was with a sense of relief that we staggered off the plane at Jan Smuts airport on December 31 1968. We had arrived with $10 left in our travel fund and went straight to our first New Years Eve party on South African soil. (an evening recounted by Doc Caldwell).
Since then South Africa has become our home. We lived through the shame of apartheid and
the glory of Mandela’s release and the birth of democracy. We had
a front row seat on one of the great stories of the 20th
century. Our chilldren have grown up
here and now have children of their own – all proudly South African.
A big thank you fom Keith and myself to everyone who has
shared their friendship and suport over the years. You made our lives rich beyond description.
Ruth Mattison
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