Stu's visit to Egypt (year 2)
01/03/2003
We're back in Capetown from our journey up the coast. We got as far as Plettenburg Bay. The weather has been great. We hiked, canoed, kayaked, and swam. The surf was incredible! The biggest waves I've ever been in. WAY over my head. Lots of surfers out. And shark whistles. That was a first. They have helicopters that pass over the beach regularly and when they spot a Great White near the surf zone they signal the lifeguards on the beach who sound a piercing whistle. I think it's supposed to be a signal to bathers. But so few people responded that I think they thought the whistle was meant to scare the shark. Holiday crowds were at an all time high according to the newspapers.
Michelle and I took a tour out to Cape Point today. It is the most Southwest point of the continent as opposed to the south most point we were at last week (Cape Agulhas, about 200km east of Capetown) We mountain biked out to the lighthouse, had lunch at a beach, and then stopped at two wineries for tasting on the way back to Capetown. Saw tons of wildlife. Two different kinds of ungulates that I'll simply call "Elk-like" animals. They had African names that I can't begin to remember. Also Baboons. Apparently Cape Point is well known for them. Very approachable, which is bad of course. One climbed all over our pick up truck while we sat a few yards away eating lunch. Also saw tortoises, cormorants, ostriches, geckos, and penguins. I almost forgot I was in the southern hemisphere until I saw those.
We have dinner reservations tonight at a traditional African Restaurant. I hope that means we don't have to sit in the dirt, swat at a flies, and eat rice meal with our hands. I hear they offer all kinds of meat products. Meat is big here. I already ate ostrich (actually a red meat. pretty good), Kudu (a bit gamey), and Springbok (very good. tender almost venison like) I have so far avoided the crocodile and kingklip (a fish).
More vineyards tomorrow. Climb Table mountain Sunday (repel down it. Fun), then one more beach day Monday before catching an early flight Tuesday.
Happy New Year Everyone!