December 1st

Yesterday was all about relaxing, and getting ready to move on.

Today we left the Cape Town, South Africa area – our Strand apartment!  🙁  We did enjoy ourselves immensely there, and will miss it! But as we move on, I find an excitement, new area and new adventure awaits. It’s hard to describe,…  I so embrace the wonder of surprise, what is in store. I sometimes feel giddy with this, and rarely am I let down. God’s beauty and miracles abound!!

Anyway, we were up and about by 0600 (I know this because the power came on!). We readied and sorted and packed our stuff. Actually, we were locking the door @ 0959 (vacating was at 1000) when a cleaning staff lady came up, introduced herself, and said we can leave it unlocked. Great! I showed the stuff we leaving behind (we tend to leave something at about every place we have stayed – long term places mostly). I accidently left our biltong and cheese in the frig though! She was double blessed!! 

We made it to the airport – to return the car and pick up a different rental. Our new car is a Kwid Renault. Jeff said he got a great deal on this! We will have this car for eight days. We will be exploring the Southern part of South Africa, including what is known as the Garden Route. Everyone at the two churches here said it was a beautiful area and Jeff chose well!!! Nice to have the reassurance, but I know Jeff (and yes, he did choose well!)!!  🙂  😉

So we left Cape Town (hence the title change) and drove east and a wee bit south. We went down to Hermanus, where we saw our first Whales, Baboons, and Penguins – it seems so long ago, but was only on November 4th. We went on, eating a light lunch – nuts, dried apricots, and blueberries in the car. We entered new territory now, trying to stay near the coast! We went to Gansbaai and down a tip to Danger Point Lighthouse, established 1895. Here in 1852 the HMS Birkenhead wrecked on rocks. It was one of South Africa’s worst maritime disasters – of the 638 people onboard, only 193 survived, including all the women and children. Most of those who died were troops/reinforcements, because of their acts of self-sacrifice, courage, dignity, and heroism to save the women and children first. They stood fast on the ship so the boats carrying the women and children would not swamp! The lighthouse was not open – as has been the case so far  🙁  so no tour.

From here we went on to, and bypassed Pearly Beach area. Just beyond the town, we opted to take the road less traveled – a gravel road. We did not know it was gravel, but when we saw it decided to chance it. We saw Baboons, Ostriches, so many other pheasant type birds, and a turtle. We skirted along Agulhas National Park. We did not see any Leopards, or Leopard Frogs (except on signs). This area has fields of farmland, and cattle, as well as sheep. But it is so weird, for me to see sand dunes or ocean so near. (Not in Kansas anymore, yada-yada). 

From here we drove down to Struis Bay and on through to L’Agulhas. Here Jeff booked a B&B, Agulhas Ocean House for us tonight. But first we went to our second lighthouse, Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, also closed. It is from 1849, and has the classic red and white striping. Since it was closed we went on to the Southernmost tip of the continent of Africa (it shocked me it wasn’t the Cape of Good Hope). It is here that the two oceans – Atlantic & Indian technically meet. There is a plaque – and of course – a line to get your photo taken. Someone offered to get the photo for Jeff and I together… we took it! It’s so nice to be a recipient of a random act of kindness!!

Now we went to our B&B and checked in. Our hosts offered us tea and a quick overview of the area. We also were given some recommendations for supper. Upon deciding our choice, they offered to book us a reservation! So nice to have someone help you like this. We did a fast shower and went to supper. I had wood oven grilled west coast Sole with garlic lemon butter; rice; and grilled veggies (butternut squash, zucchini, and grated carrots). Yum!! Jeff had Eisbein [a one kilo (#2.2) of pork shank with the bone] cured, slow cooked then wood oven fire roasted; pasta side in olive oil and garlic with parmesan cheese; and a salad. WOW! So good and crispy. Excellent supper! We paired our meal with a very local wine, Strandveld Sauvignon Blanc.

After supper we went back to watch sunset at the Southernmost point and at a shipwreck, Meisho Maru. It was a gorgeous sunset with the wreck in the foreground and the sky a blaze in color. Then we turned to go back to the car and witnessed a beautiful rainbow in the east. We felt most blessed. 

Back to our room and enjoyed a night cap of Royal Rhino, an African Cream Liqueur on our little veranda. As the night evolved we saw an owl swoop for some prey in the distance. Also saw a fat, fuzzy caterpillar. We went back inside, and I did this entry as Jeff went to bed and slept (he was tired from all the driving and the stress that entails!) 

What a GLORIOUS DAY to have been blessed with!! But God is good – all the time; and all the time God is so, so good!!! Hope you found some blessing today!