Cape Point

Beth, Jo, and I went to Cape Point, also known as the Cape of Good Hope.  It's not technically the Southern most point of Africa, but it acts that way.  To sail around the tip of the continent one has to round Cape Point; the complex currents, winds, jagged reefs, and the confluence of two oceans make for treacherous navigation.   The weather was misty and the forecast called for rain.  But we went anyway, and we are so glad we did. 

Note: some of these photos are not of or by us. 

 

 

 

Reminiscent of a photo we have on Cloud's Rest

Oops, wrong sister.

 I know this is not my little brother, but the similarities are striking. 

 My Dad has always had an interest in slingshots.  Well, Dad, this woman is on patrol at the tram center and restaurant.  Her job is to keep the baboons from grabbing food from tourists.  You can see her below, getting ready to fire at a baboon on the gift shop roof.

We hiked a few miles, and at one point there are stairs to go way down to a spectacular beach.  I thought we had a photo, but I can't find one.  It was so pristine and felt almost untouched.  We were talking about how there aren't very many places on the planet where one can breathe that is clean.  Cape Town is the biggest city within a zillion miles, and it is not a city of industry.  Facing South, there's nothing but ocean until Antarctica.   Facing both East and West are giant oceans.  It reminded me of when I was in high school, up on a mountain top on an island in Alaska, thinking the same thing:  I probably won't get many chances to breathe air this clean, and I think I was right. 

On the way home we stopped in a small town called Kalk Bay for lunch.  It was one of the best meals I've ever had.  My cod that was line caught that morning.  Beth and Jo enjoyed mussels (actual photo below).  It wasn't just the food.  It was small little restaurant on the water, the staff, the people walking by, the company and the conversation.  Yumm yumm yumm.