Up early today for our trip to Addo Elephant Park, just past Port Elizabeth. We picked up Pieter Malan; student liaison officer, and his wife from their home in Alexandria before tanking on down the long sweeping roads to our destination.
When we got there and into the park itself, we keenly looked around for whatever we could find. Saw a couple of Caribou, Buffalo and endless Warthog. Curiously some birds enjoyed walking along with and following the Warthog. It was very dry today, and most animals were too far in looking for precious food. We were the lucky ones, I guess. After all we did actually manage to see some elephant.
After completing the various tracks, we had a fantastic lunch at the restaurant. Strange seeing Steaks listed in grams and not ounces. Whatever the weight, it was gorgeous. After stopping by the park shop for the obligatory gifts, we piled back into the wagon and were on our way back.

It was about a 2 hour drive each way, but not that boring. There is too much new and varied scenery rather than just boring, straight motorway.

The toothache has spread to both sides and sometimes even different teeth. Others have had toothache too. I wonder if it might be to do with the pressure changes whilst flying? If not then maybe something in the food/water? Anyway, I'll get it checked out when I can grab an appointment which doesn't conflict with flying or GS.

After dinner, we all substituted the bar in somewhat favour of studying. I can't say I did a lot, I learn from someone teaching a whole lot more than when trying to study on my own. I reckon that I could pass PoF, while A/C Tech & Gen needs more work, Nav is about in between. Chance to fail would be a fine thing, but have found out that the CAA person who is sorting our SPLs will return to her office on Tuesday.. So it'll probably be week five before I can even take a sodding test.

I thought about the PPL today. The numbers are really looking bleak now. If I were to have two flights per day for my next and last three five-day weeks, I'd only accumulate thirty hours - on top of the ten gained so far, I would still be short of the fifty hour minimum. Hopefully the people who pull the strings know how much I want this, or will and give me adequate path to walk towards the license. Even if not by my own fault and by mitigating circumstances, coming away without a license would be failure, regardless of the great things I'd take away too.