Windy, wet and whales

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Ever onwards to Hermanus

We awoke to a still cold cabin, despite the heating being on all night and it was the speediest we’d ever managed to get the kids dressed! After breakfast back at the main building we set of towards Hermanus. The weather on the journey started off cold (only 7 degrees C) and foggy and then brightened up to bright blue skies and around 15 degrees, before then alternating these lovely skies with downpours of rain throughout the following 5-hour journey.

The scenery was absolutely spectacular, we’ve never seen such a big stretch of land in one go before. Green hill after green hill lay before us with only the occasional farmhouse showing signs of life and only the one road (that’ll be the one we were on). Driving down this road changed from a winding journey up and down more mountainous hills to long stretches of straight road which rose and fell over smaller hills into the distance.
Most of the sweeping greenery was bounded by steep, craggy mountains at either side, and we drove through several mountain passes with breathtaking views across the countryside or down to the coastline (as in the case of Mossels Bay and Hermanus). Some parts reminded us of the English countryside, some of Switzerland and some of Australia (although punctuated by the periscopes of ostrich heads sticking out at random places in the bush).
Lunch was taken in a lowly greasy spoon before continuing through more gobsmacking scenery, the crowning glory of which was the sweeping descent down to Hermanus and the bay. It must be noted that this part of the journey was broken up by a police spot check. The coppers concerned were very apologetic to learn that they’d stopped someone from England (they’d stopped a Brit the night before for having his fog lights on - such uncommon diligence obviously merited investigation), and were amazed at the format of the UK driving licence. So small! How strange! They then warned us about an upcoming bend and sent us away with more (almost sycophantic) apologies. It appears that the SA Police have much reduced powers in comparison to their UK counterparts, and it is reflected in their much less assertive style. After the dodgy bend came about a 10km stretch of road that seemed to have been missed when they tarmaced the rest of the road and helped to make our lovely white car less white and more terracotta.

Anyhow, we found our hotel easily, occupying one side of the road opposite a dramatic bay full of rocky outcrops and crashing waves. It wasn’t long after checking into our room (hotel is nothing special, I’m afraid) that we found ourselves standing at the beach viewpoint watching a set of whales in the distance. Feeling chuffed with ourselves, we wandered around Hermanus a little to orientate our consumer urges and survey any prospective eateries. Most of these intentions went to the back of our minds as we rounded the corner and saw the sea view into the neighbouring bay, which was alive with Southern Right Whale activity - at different points one was rolling on its back near the beach, some were breaching further off shore, and some in the middle distance were floating lazily on their sides waving fins in the air. We eventually settled in one spot to observe the spectacle and stayed there for some time before wandering off to resume the quest. The quest ended with a monster size pizza at Panarotti’s (really) before going back to the hotel. Annabel decided to get a better view of the sea by opening the window, before realising she couldn’t shut it. Mark went out to park the car in the hotel car park and got caught in a torrential downpour. We then realised that the room had no heating facilities and tried to warm up by attempting to make international phone calls. One calamity remained - we had left two of Jack’s most treasured teddies behind us at De Zeekoe, so Annabel selflessly gave him her Gorilla teddy from San Diego. All these problems averted (or at least diverted), we proceeded to bed.

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Photos

Ostrich
yummy steaks?

Fab view
of hill after hill

View of Hermanus
Bit flatter here

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
A whale clapping, whilst lying on its back

Comments

[Greg]

Cops might not be so friendly next time!
Deputy minister of safety and security Susan Shabangu said "The police cannot calmly talk to criminals who shoot at them or wait until a police officer dies before reacting," she said. "I want to assure the police station commissioners and policemen and women from these areas that they have permission to kill these criminals. I won't tolerate any pathetic excuses for you not being able to deal with crime. You have been given guns, now use them. I want no warning shots. You have one shot and it must be a kill shot. If you miss, the criminals will go for the kill. They don't miss. We can't take this chance. "Criminals are hell-bent on undermining the law and they must now be dealt with. If criminals dare to threaten the police or the livelihood or lives of innocent men, women and children, they must be killed. End of story. There are to be no negotiations with criminals. Not that you're criminals of course but it is unwise to push their goodwill too far! Ciao