Archives for October 2020

Oh wow, we start to head back home.  I can’t believe that our trip is coming to an end.  We have had an amazing and incredible time and have accomplished so much.  Infanta is the last one for this trip.

But today has just started.  I still need to go off to Slangkop to photograph that one, and then onto the road up the mountainside to photograph is looking at to see.  The past few time, the sun has been setting and the colour is washed out.  This morning the sun will be behind us and we should get some amazing colours.

And WOW….  Check out these colours.  There is no manipulation in any of the colours.  They are straight out of the camera.  This lighthouse is so stark on the dark blue sky and the multicolours of the ocean.   STUNNING.  I need to stop and leave, but just one more…Not many more angles I can use, but I need just one more….  Mom is calling saying we need to go, I say….  Just one more.  Ok.  That’s it.

We now head back to Cape Infanta.  This time I am going to make sure that I am one the other side of the Malgas pont so that I don’t have to use it ….  As I am not sure if it is working or not.  We will check again tomorrow when we leave for home.

We arrived at Milkwood.  Oh my word….  This is the most rustic, self-supported, off the grid place I have ever been to.  It is stunning.  I could really spend more time here.

We stayed in the Bush camp.  This was the first time on this trip that we heard night music.  Crickets, frogs, birds, “hippos” (I will explain), and so much else.  I managed to take a few sunset images.  Love this place.

We cooked dinner and crashed.  Been a long day and long travelling distance.  I must enjoy my last day as we how are heading home.  Work is done – Lighthouses finished for this year, new places found and photographed, new people met, and we have done so much.  I have to say that this has been a very productive trip.  Wonder what the final mileages are going to be.

Sleep tight world.  Tomorrow we go home

Today we woke up to a kind of cloudy day, but no rain, so that was great.  We headed off to V & A Waterfront to buy our tickets for Robben Island.  My stomach is already turning from my past 2 days on the ocean.

We arrived and paid.  I meet with the tour guide and after lengthy discussion with Transnet and a few other people, arrangements were made for mom and I to go to the Lighthouse on Robben Island.

We all boarded, we did safety instructions and we were on our way.  I was quite excited.  I had to stand during trip as stomach was not impressed, but I did get through the trip with no embarrassment. We arrived and I made contact with the Lighthouse Keeper – Pieter.  Little did I know that we were going to be given my own personal tour around the island.  The sad thing is that I did not manage to get into the prison cells as I missed the changeover tour.  I think I will just have to go again.

Saw the lighthouse and had long discussions about it.  Sadly I did not photograph all the sides as there is more to this lighthouse that I have missed.  Proves the need to go back.

There is so much history here and I would love to have heard more about this place.  I now have to go back.

The church where people go for their Valentines Wedding

The School

A big giggle about a trawler running aground onto the island and 2 tugs being sent to help it off the rocks, only for 1 tug to run aground and the other to stand back and watch the carnage….  Crazy.

The trip home was something like what Mom and I experienced going to Cape point.  The difference was that we did not get wet, there was very little pounding of the bodies and the sea sick feeling.  This time we just saw the waves come over the sides of the boat, my stomach was in my head, but I kept everything down and in control.  Mom dozed off with the motion.  An amazing day.

After this we headed off to Kalk bay to watch some seal and to take a few photos of the little boats and the harbour.  The sea was really tumultuous and all over the place, crashing right over the break wall.

A very busy day and we headed back to Kommetjie for a calm and restful evening.

Good night and see you tomorrow

Last night we decided that we were going to tackle Cape Point and photograph both light houses.  We managed a gain a beautiful view of these light houses from the sea now I am going to do it from land.  I have seen the steps and staircase to the new one, so I am going to give it a try.

We crawled out of bed early so that we can get to the point as they open up so that this way it will give us or me as much available time to get to the bottom light house. We arrived bright and early only to find that they only open at 8.  Not bad at all, as we got there around 7:30.

Arrived at the Funicular hoping to get up to the top light house bright and early only to find out that they open at 9:00.  On our way to the Funicular, we hit a speed bump quite badly as it was not marked.  We both blamed each other and had a good giggle.  While we were waiting for the Funicular to open, I opened the back of the bakkie to get our stuff out, only to see that the one crate list had broken and everything had collapsed.  I picked up the crate to unpack it, only to find that a plastic bottle of oil we had, had shattered.  Lucky for me I had put it into a plastic bag, so the oil was contained.  Oil spill sorted out.

WE headed up to the top lighthouse in the Funicular.  Mom is really battling with her knee, but she managed to walk up to the top light house.

We headed onto the Lighthouse Keepers Trail so that I can get to the new lighthouse.  Quite excited about this one.  I left mom behind as she was battling a bit with her knee and I knew that this was going to be hectic.

I wandered down the trail only to come face to face with my very first Puff Adder.  It was huge, about the size of my wrist.  Stunning little snake.  I pulled myself together and decided to take the stroll a little more gentle.  My walk came to an abrupt halt when I found a large galvanized gate preventing me from getting to the light house.  Sad about this, I turned around, but still managed to get some stunning shots.

Old and new lighthouse has now been photographed from the sea as well as the land.  How totally awesome.

I return to mom and we left.  I had to do the most south western point in Africa.  We sat here for quite a while watching birds, seals and I tried again to [photograph my Oystercatchers.  They still did not want to play with us.

We left and we headed off to Greenpoint lighthouse and Mouille Base.  My last lighthouse for the day was Milnerton.  Wow 5 lighthouses in one day with one extra – Slangkoppunt, but that was from a distance but not photographed as there was no where to stop.  So it does not count but will try again tomorrow.

When I started today, I saw a particular name on the map and I just had to go and take photos….  Scarborough.  I can only think of a song…  Are you going to Scarborough Fare…..

Arrived back at Kommetjie for the night to some horrible weather or wind and rain.  I put up the yellow tarpaulin and Suzi-Belle had her yellow blanket for the night of wind and rain.

What a brilliant day, so much seen and done, so many lighthouses ticked off  and great fun has been had.  Sleep tight windy evening.  See you in the morning.

Photos to follow soon – Promise

We crawled out of bed really late this morning.  Mom cooked a nice breakfast and we headed for Table Mountain.  We bought our tickets and caught the cable car and we were there.

The cloud base was playing lots of games, as the visibility came and went all the time.  Sometimes all crystal clear and other times thick mist

While we were up there it seems that the mist knew its limits and only came up to a certain point.  The clear space did not move into the misty space and the mist space did not move into the clear space. 

The Red Wing Starling are beginning to become a problem bird as they are quite aggressive and demanding.  If they hear you open a  packet they are there within second.  If you are not careful they will steal your food right out of your hand, the packets and plates.  But they are still very cute.

We left Table Mountain and headed to Bo-Kaap.  This is a place that I have wanted to go for a very long time, and now I am there. The colours of the houses are amazing.  One cannot believe the colour schemes until you have physically seen the colours …..  Yellow next door to Khaki green, pink to bright neon green, to purple, blues, reds and every colour in betwwen,

Then you find the cobble stone roads. The history of the Bo-Kaap is really very sad, but the colours make up for the tragedy of the history.  I could spend so much more time here.

We took a quick drive around to find Scarborough.  WE will go there tomorrow morning.  I need to see if the song does this place any justice.

The wind is rather cold tonight so we crawled into the van early.  I caught up 2 days of diary.  Tomorrow I will edit photos and post.

Sleep well and see you tomorrow.

 

Photos to follow in next few days.

We woke up early again as we had to be back at Millers Slipway.  I was quite excited about to day and the possibility of rephotographing Roman Island and Cape Point.

We climbed into the shower and headed off.  Lots of anxiety regarding today especially with the having to redo Roman Rock.

We arrived at Millers and the sea was churning.  I was starting to freak out as I suffer with hectic motion sickness and the waves and wind were truly hectic.  I decided that I was going to be OK and I will get through this.  We were introduced to everyone who is going to be involved with today and I asked if I could be up front as I really don’t want to be sick.

WE headed out and I had to put my camera away as we were going to get wet.  I changed sides of the boat to reduce the splash.  I overheard a conversation between Mike and Stef on the lines that if they could be 76 and still able to do what my mom does, they would be extremely happy.

We got to Cape Point and I managed to get a few photos in before I landed with my head in the water and man down in the bottom of the boat.

I set up my camera to auto mode, gave mom a few instructions and handed it over to her and told her to have fun as I was totally girl down.

The other part to the trip was a group of Suppers (Stand Up Paddle Skiers) were wanting to get photos paddling around the Cape Point.  I think that they were crazy as this water was freezing cold and that there is huge white chomping jaws in these waters.  Sadly I was unable to watch the fun everyone was having, but I did hear all their chatter, giggles and laughter.

But anyhow were cruised down and around the coast.  I asked Stef if he could drop me off at Millers slip way and then they can carry onto Roman Rock as I was really feeling way past green and my vomiting was getting worse.  They dropped me off and they all headed down to Roman.  I was extremely sad, but I had no choice.  I just hope mom copes.

They were out for another 2 hours or so.  When they came back, I was right as rain and ready to go back out there.  When we all back together the bombshell was dropped in that 2 waves had hit them and mom was caught in both.  My camera also got hit.  I was devastated, but tried not to let mom know how I was feeling.

We rushed off to a camera company n Cape Town who sent me off to the technician.  He took a good look and could find nothing.  He sold me a few packets of Silicon pellets for my camera bag to try to dry out any possible lurking moisture.

We headed home as I was absolute exhausted and relieved.  I’m not sure what the photos look like, anxious but positive that everyone who had my camera did contribute to taking photos for me.

We had dinner and we crawled into bed and we were out cold in a very short time period.

Tomorrow we will head up Table Mountain.

Photos to follow in next few days

Mom woke me up with by pulling off my duvet.  I was far from impressed but I knew that we needed to get going.  We packed up the van, packed lunch and we headed out to Miller’s Point slip way.

As we left the caravan park in thick mist and darkness, I miscalculated the distance between the braai fire place and my car and we scraped the corner of the bricks and my passenger door.  It broke my heart.  There is nothing that I can do at this point but to just carry on.  My poor Suzi-Belle has had her first scrape and I am devastated.  But I cant cry about this now as we are running out of time.  We headed off to Millers to meet up with Steff.

Thankfully we arrived before Stef and the boat did.  We sorted out our goodies and we headed down to the boat.  We were both feeling a little anxious but also excited.

We hit to open sea around 8ish and with Roman Island insight, our excitement increased.  I grabbed my camera and started taking photos.  The sea was amazing.  So calm and so flat.  I have never been on the ocean like this.  It is to me very strange to have such a calm sea.  But anyhow, we carried on.  We saw jelly fish, kelp for Africa, fish, seals, birds and so much more.  The visibility down to the sea bed must have been any thing from a few meters to anything up to and beyond 10 meters.  I have never seen anything like this.

We left Roman rock and headed back.  Played with some seals and penguins, I tried to photograph some Oystercatchers, and gulls and terns, but no-body wanted to play with us.  We landed up with kelp in our props and Stef had to clean up.

We arrived back at the slip way, we said our good byes and we headed off to breakfast.  I remembered seeing a Waffle place, and I really felt like a waffle.  But instead of waffles we landed up having an awesome breakfast at another restaurant as the waffle place was closed.  Not a problem great breakfast.  Going back there again tomorrow

We headed to Boulders and spent quite a long time there.  After Boulders I had to take a photo of Able Seaman Just Nuisance.  This dog has really made an impression on me.  We headed up to take a photo of his grave and we grabbed some lunch.

Came back down into Simon’s Town and we went to Scratch patch.  After Scratch Patch, we headed to a shop to buy some chicken for dinner and we headed home to the caravan park.

All through the day I have been stressing about my photos.  I had a gut feeling that there was an incorrect setting in my camera.  When we arrived as Just Nuisance’s grave I realised that my ISO was incorrect. Let hope that they are OK.

Tonight as I was going through my photos and found that things were quite bad.  I cannot use any of my photos as the ISO some how moved to 5000 and all the photos are quite furry.  I’m devastated.

Chatted to Stef and he has agreed that we can make another trip around Roman Island to take some more photos.  This man is truly amazing.  Such a great team.

What started off as a shocking day, improved, got even better, then crashed and burned has now improved once again.  Thanks to God for taking control and us having a little faith that all will be OK.

We turned in for the night.  Tomorrow we head back to Stef with another boat trip to Cape Point to photograph the old and new light house at cape point but from the sea.

Another exciting day planned, I just hope that there is no other epics.  I’m so tired of this stress.  Tomorrow I hope to post more photos for you.  I would love to post some of today’s, but I am to embarrassed to show the messes.

Hold thumbs, tomorrow works well.

Sleep well to everyone.  Pray hard that tomorrow works out as good as today but without epics.

Yesterday on our way into Fishhoek, we tried to find our friends Church.  we saw a sign that we needed to book for a service because of the virus.  We decided that we will just rock up and hope that we will be allowed.

But we overslept so late, that this did not happen.  With the over sleeping, we crawled out of bed really late and  things were just a mess after that.  We finally got onto the road around 10:30 – 11:00 ish.  The day is finished.

We fiddled and faffed and finally made some arrangements and headed off to the V & A Waterfront to try to book a trip to Robben Island so that I could photograph the lighthouse.   W3 drove around trying to find the right spot and finally we asked.  We found ourselves at the back side entrance and we made our way upstairs to the booking office.  We got there around 13:00 ish only to find out that, that was the last trip for the day.  They are only running trips Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Lucky for us, we still have one Friday left to do this trip.  Lets hope that weather holds long enough for us to get out there to get my photo.

Some good news did come through when Stef confirmed that we will be heading out to Roman Rock tomorrow morning.  This is great news.  Now the nerves are really kicking in.  Tuesday we will head out with some other people to go and take some photos of Cape Point looking up at the light houses.  This is a very exciting trip.  But we need to get through tomorrow first.

Our next stop we decided for was Table Mountain.  We drove slowly up there only to find out that the last trip up was 15:00.  We had just missed that one by 5 minutes.  Today was quite a failure.  Lets hope tomorrow improves.

We took a slow drive back to the caravan park.  I decided to try to find the BOS wreck.  This particular area does not look like  a great place for us to take a walk in.  I will take another look in the next few days.

We head home and landed up on the Chapman Peak Road.  Only to find that there was a toll gate.  Got in camp and grabbed a cup of coffee and settled in for the night.

We heard a few owls tonight.  Mom is getting ready for the trip to Roman Rock.  Hold thumbs that this all works out for us.