November 14th

Today we awoke and did not hear the wind!! It finally let up a bunch through the night. So we looked out – had blue sky, and weather app showed no rain in sight. So this means today we drive down the western peninsula of False Bay, toward the very southern point, the Cape of Good Hope… I am so excited!! I remember reading about this point of Africa in school and thinking this would be something to see, and I'm going to stand on it!

Anyway, after a quick breakfast of baguette French toast and blueberries, we head out. We got started around 0740. We drove along the coast of False Bay toward Simons Town. Traffic did start congesting up here. We did pass by the second largest shanty town area in South Africa. They have built right up to the road and walk on it, causing some of the congestion. There is bus service here. Also went to a beach at Muizenberg with some brightly painted changing rooms – it's famous.  Entering next into town after town to Simons Town. We discovered a light rail system here along this part of the eastern side of the western coast. Interesting (may try to do a small part of this??). Also part of the South African Navy is stationed here, so there is a base and can see a few naval ships harbored here.  Upon leaving Simons Town we enter into the Cape Peninsula National Park.

At the entrance we pay a per person fee, and are given a brochure with a map. We pretty much drove straight to the Cape Point and Lighthouse Area, but we did stop at an information place. It was here we saw our first Ostriches! We arrived at the end of the road, literally, at a parking area. After parking you can hike up to the lighthouse and out to the point or take a funicular up. We opted to hike up – it is a very easy walkway and stairs up. But it is up, up, up! At the start is the sign, naming the point and giving the latitude and longitude. We arrived – this lighthouse is not in use anymore and not open to go in (there is working smaller lighthouse, but also not open to public). We then hiked out to the Cape Point lookout – this was a bit more of a trek. It is an awesome view and we are overlooking the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meeting. Hiked back down. We saw couple of lizards, and many beautiful flowers. Back to our car and off to the actual Cape of Good Hope.

We made it and parked – I am so excited! We noticed some seals off in the distance sunning on rocks, as we were getting out of the car. But we wanted to get out to the point. At the start again was the sign. It read: 'CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, the  most south-western point of the African continent' (also gave the lat. and long.) We hiked up to this lookout area. Crazy, I am here, the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama, and Bartolomeu Dias, famous explorers, came here in late 1400's. Of course they went around this cape in ships. But it is neat to remember them. We took our time and soaked it in, then went back down. We stopped off the road at a beach overlook, ate some picnic stuff in our car as we watched an ostrich eat its way closer to the beach. There are not any benches or tables anywhere in this park because of the Baboons.

Finished we backtrack now to the way out of the park, but we turn out to all the side routes. We kept seeing Ostriches, one beach area we saw a mom with seven baby Ostriches! We kept our distance, so as not to set off mom's protective nature! We were just getting out when Jeff saw a Baboon. A couple with a kid, coming back from the beach were quickly coming to us. Then noticed the Baboon had their bag and was emptying it. The lady said the Baboon jumped on her back and stripped it from her!! OH MY! The man said the bag has the car keys, oh no! Then we saw the Baboon tired of the bag – coming over to all us! Jeff said, “Do you what to get in our car?” The lady, who was holding their 1-2 year old, jumped at the offer. I tried to get it's picture, but it was coming to us all quickly, SO IT DID NOT happen. We were just in the car, when it arrived!! Well, my, my! He is a very aggressive creature! There have been signs saying this but we had not seen this, until now. The man did not get in the car but rather slipped back to their now abandoned scattered bag. The Baboon lost interest in us all, went to the beach, and harassed a couple down there. (I saw her throw off her backpack! She knew what it wanted.) The family, with their belongings and KEYS loaded up in their car and we all left! WOWZA!! Rest of my time I was leary! 

Next, places of interest were the monuments to da Gama and Dias. We saw more beaches and more Ostriches. Then we went on the Circle Drive. Lastly, we went to Olifantsbos Point, ending at our last beach area in the national park. We discovered Blesbok (we think)!!! They are medium antelope-type, and were all lying on the beach (not at all where I was looking for them). So we did not see Eland, which are supposed to be here, but seeing these Blesbok was a bonus!!  Yeah!

Wow! We now head out of the park. Over the last hour or two, more cars and busses have been all about. We actually left the park five hours to the minute of our arrival time. After we left the park we went to the only other penguin colony in South Africa. Parking was a zoo, and they charge a $10 entry fee. We decided we have already seen them and turned to leave. But we took the long way back and saw some penguins anyway. We left pleased.

Next we went to “The original and best Fish and Chips,” called Kalky's. I had Hake and chips, Jeff had Yellowtail and chips. Both were excellent, but the Yellowtail was special. Finished, we head back to our place in bumper-to-bumper traffic until just past the shanty area, but it became more congested as we turned to go to the Stand. We stopped at the Pick and Pay. bought some stuff and poked back with the traffic to our place. We walked in our apartment at six pm.

It has been a busy, but very, very rewarding day in the Cape area, Africa!