Tag 20: Cape of Good Hope

July 17, 2019

The view from the window this morning shows that the great weather from yesterday has 'disappeared' for now.

Thick clouds hang in the sky, and the weather forecast predicts rain.

Good thing we are not expecting 'summer-like' weather in Cape Town, we knew that from the beginning.

After the sensational weather yesterday, we were hoping for more beautiful days.

But it seems that will not be the case anymore....

Anyway - we won't let a few clouds ruin our mood!

Since tomorrow is expected to be much worse than today, and the rain radar predicts rain north of Cape Town, we decide to drive to the Cape of Good Hope!

The drive to the Cape is quite windy.

We drive west on the M64 towards the Muizenberg Mountains, heading to Noordhoek / Fish Hoek, and stop at the lookout point Southern Suburbs.

In Simon's Town, we stop at the parking lot near Boulders to see if we can spot any penguins from up here, but it's hardly possible to see the penguins from here.

To get to Boulders Beach, you have to pay the obligatory entrance fee again - we won't do that today and continue our way around the Cape

The road winds along the coast, passing bays and beaches, such as Smitswinkel Bay

After passing the entrance to the national park, we drive along the coast to Buffels Bay Beach, where a huge tidal swimming pool awaits us along with a snowy white sandy beach.

Memories come back:

We visited this place in 2005 with our daughter, who was only 9 months old at the time. We actually had our feet in the icy water of the tidal pool - in February 2005, it was easily 25 degrees warmer than today...

A little further down the road, a few ostriches stand next to the road

On the way back to the 'main road', we pass a sign warning that 'baboons are dangerous and are attracted by food'

Grin...

We continue towards the Cape

Arriving at the parking lot of the Flying Dutchman funicular, which leads up to the lighthouse on top of the rock of the Cape, we park our car and treat ourselves to a light lunch with a view at the Two Oceans restaurant.

After lunch, we take the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the lighthouse. The husband complains that we could save the money and walk up the hill, but the kids and I really don't feel like climbing the hill on foot.

So: overruled - we take the cable car!

Actually, there is a narrow path that leads a bit below the Cape rock to a viewpoint, but the wind up here is so strong that you can hardly stand straight.

Therefore, it seems too dangerous to walk the narrow path. We decide to maybe take a trail along the beach, if the weather allows.

The kids climb the highest point at the lighthouse, while I wait down below, as even with a hood on, my ears are already hurting from the wind.

After this 'blown away' view, we take the cable car back down and drive to the parking lot at the Cape of Good Hope.

Down here by the sea, there is also a strong wind, and the waves crash against the rocks.

An impressive display of waves!

After enjoying the fascinating waves, we continue to Platboom Beach.

On the way there, we see a baboon sitting on top of a car. He shows no sign of wanting to leave anytime soon.

Let's get out of here quickly!

Platboom Beach - snow-white sandy beach

On the roadside, there are more baboons, here a mother with her young

We continue to Olifantsbos Beach, where we want to walk the 'Shipwreck Trail' along the beach.

In Olifantsbos Bay, hundreds of seagulls and ostriches gather in and around the water, searching for food in the masses of washed-up (terribly smelly) kelp.

We follow the path on the other side of the bay, away from the smelly kelp, and set out to find the shipwreck.

We walk the trail for about 2 km until it eventually ends at the beach.

There is no path visible on the beach, nor in the dunes.

We trudge through the piles of kelp back to Olifamtsbos Cottage and take the road back to the parking lot.

Perfect timing, because now it starts to rain....

We spend the evening in our beautiful apartment and end it with a glass of wine by the 'fireplace'.

'Summer' in Cape Town ;-)