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Cape of Good Hope - February 22, 2014
Today is one of those days when I feel that somehow we have been tapped with a rose, blessed, selected among many. Yes, many, many others go and see far more of the world than we have or will ever, but Stan and I feel so very lucky to be able to do and see as we do. Today was one of the best. Actually the day was very simple; we hopped in our rental car and headed to Cape Point. Stan had to become accustomed to driving on the left while shifting with his left hand. He did well—what a man! He did, however, turn on the windshield wipers a few times instinctively thinking the stick was a turn signal. Hee-hee! We drove south to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. The ride along the way was spectacular. There were rocky, steep hillsides to the left and ocean, beach and waves crashing on the jagged rocky shore to the right. It was purely a sight to behold. The colors of the rusty rock contrasting with the exploding white wave caps and tropical green and blue ocean were like nothing I have ever seen before. The landscapes remind of us New Zealand, and the seascapes make us think of California. I hope the photos do justice but I know they cannot.
When we arrived at the point, we took the trail up and down to Cape Point. Some of the trail was rock; some of it was a wooden walkway with steps. We stopped to take pictures of the unusual plant life. We saw a heard of eleven elands--members of the antelope family but generally larger in size. And of course, we saw the cape. To the left was Cape Point. We could see the old light house on top of the mountain and the new lighthouse down below. The old light house was replaced because it was shrouded in fog 900 hours each year. To the right we saw Cape of Good Hope—what a beautiful name and what a magical experience it was just being here!! Far down below the trail between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point is a wide and long, white curved beach. Some people, a very few, walked down the long steep hillside to reach it. It was very inviting and we knew we could make it there and greatly enjoy it, but we weren't sure how enthusiastic we would be about the ½ mile almost straight up climb to return. No beach for us today.
We drove to Dias Cross and to Da Gama Cross. These are landmarks where the explorers made their marks in 1466 and 1480-something. Mind-boggling! We drove over the mountain along the trail to the shore of Cape of Good Hope. We knew it had to be the actual cape since there about 15 busses and there were people everywhere. It was like an old Southern Baptism—people of all colors, and flags were immersing themselves in the waters that landed on the rocky shore. I have to admit, it was a very spiritual moment.
All along the way, over and over again we saw signs seriously warning us of the baboons that inhabit the area. We saw none. After we stopped to see Neptune's Dairy and were on our way out of the park, I told Stan, "OK, I know it's silly, but I'd like to see just one baboon, just to know the signs are correct." We rounded a curve and guess what!! There was a big, gorgeous male sitting on a post—just for us!!! I got a few good shots of my baboon! See what I mean, we are blessed!!!
Starved by then, we drove back toward Cape Town and had a late, late lunch or early dinner at the Chapman's Peak Hotel. We had oysters, prawns, calamari and line fish (fish of the day). Delicious!!
The sun was beginning to set as we entered town. We parked to join a zillion other people along the shore and watched the sun set—the lovely, miraculous end to February 22, 2014.
- comments
Shea Awesome!!!!!!