Week 9 – Sci Bono

This week I have been in the Sci-Bono discovery centre in Johannesburg. The drive to Johannesburg ended with a bit of a detour, but the rest of the week has been fine.

Week 8 – Newcastle

This weekend saw the longest drive of my tour so far, but at least I was able to stop off in Grahamstown again. Once I reached Newcastle I was able to settle in to a bit of a routine before moving on.

Week 7 – Holiday with the family

My family came out to join me for the half-term holiday. It really was not long  enough, but at least my wife and two daughters got an idea of what it is like out here. I met them at Cape Town International after their eleven hour flight from Amsterdam to start our whistle-stop tour of the country.

Week 6 – Sutherland, Knysna and George

This week I took full advantage of the fact that I started the week on the doorstep of one of the two largest optical telescopes in the world with a visit to the telescope and an evening of stargazing. The remainder of the week I spent very near the coast at Knysna and George before heading for Cape Town and the Science Centre there.

Week 5 – Cradock, Victoria West, and Sutherland.

This was a pretty hectic week, even though I was only doing shows from Wednesday to Friday. A correctional services conference meant that I spent the first night in a rather special lodging, and then the fun started: shows in the morning and driving all afternoon, until I reached the farm in Sutherland, which also happens to host the South African Astronomical Observatory.

Week 4 – Kimberley and Bloemfontein

This week I spent a few more days in Kimberley then I moved to Bloemfontein. After Bloemfontein I had to head back to Grahamstown.

Week 3 – Kimberley

Monday this week I embarked on a nine hour drive to the main city of the Northern Cape. The next three days I was busy at schools but had a day off on Friday. It allowed me to take a look at the biggest man-made hole in the world. On Saturday I was taken “white water” rafting in the Mokala National Park.

— break —

I set off from Grahamstown at about 10.30 and drove for the rest of the day! I made a couple of rest stops, paused for some photos and refuelled, but the rest of the time was simply travelling. I find it much easier to drive here than in the UK because the roads tend to be empty, at least for this stretch other vehicles were few and far between.

Kimberley was hot. At least it was not humid, which meant that the temperatures, which were rarely below 35C, were more bearable than the lower temperatures in humid East London. The schools I visited in my first few days there were Kimberley Girls’ High and St Patrick’s CBC.

At St. Patrick’s CBC I did most of the shows and learner workshops that I am travelling with. I did, however, have the luxury of doing this in a laboratory. The advantage of a lab is that I do not have to worry so much about the mess. I also have running water at the front bench so it is not necessary to carry buckets of water around. It also makes the washing up easier afterwards.

On Friday I took the chance to visit the Big Hole – the biggest man made hole in the world. It is the end result of the diamond mining and after amalgamation of the two competing firms to form De Beers. The museum is well worth a visit and part of the site has been preserved as the original Kimberley.

The Big Hole, Kimberley: The biggest man made hole in the world.

On the Saturday of that week I was taken to Mokala National Park, just outside Kimberley. This is one of the newer National Parks in South Africa and I was able to use my Wild Card for the first time. The plan was to get there early and raft down the river before the sun got too hot. Well, we were there early but circumstances conspired against us. Eventually we and one of the boats reached the river so we went for a swim while waiting for the second boat. Although the rapids were not very rapid the trip down the river was exciting and a lot of fun.

The Riet River in Mokala National Park

Week 2 – Shake down

I spent the first week of my tour (last week) in the East London area. This was a very good plan as it allowed some of the bugs to be ironed out before the first long leg of the Tour. At the weekend I returned to Grahamstown and was able to reflect on the first three days of shows.

Week 1 – preparations

It certainly doesn’t seem a week since I landed in South Africa for the start of my three month tour of the country. I am very glad that I didn’t set off on my travels any earlier. It has taken this long just to get little details sorted out. It has also mean that I have had the opportunity to take part in some typical South African pastimes.

The first installment

The time is getting closer for the Kitchen Chemistry tour to get under way. The first box of equipment has been sent off and the next ones are being packed and prepared. The tour will be taking in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Grahamstown and Kimberly. The tour will be going to schools and science centres in addition to the Scifest Science Festival.

I am looking forward to it, even though it is an extremely daunting prospect! I’ve updated the tour map and calendar, so check back for more information. I’ll be tweeting with #KCT2013 and making video diaries too. Come back often!