Knysna

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After Addo we set out for a 3 hour drive to the city of Knysna, touted as one of the most spectacular cities on the garden route. It feels like cottage country here, similar to White Rock, BC but set on a lagoon with two islands, Thesen Island and Leisure Island. We opted for a self catering apartment at the Knysna Stays, giving us a chance to have a break from eating out and to catch up on some laundry.

The next morning we headed down to the waterfront to check out the shopping and to find a wifi spot and grab some groceries. Lloyd provided us with picnic hamper and advised us to head to Noetzie beach as it was beautiful day at 27 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We headed to Noetzie with is more of a secluded beach as you have to hike in and hike out. We shared it only with one other couple The wind started picking up so after we were full of sand we headed back to the guesthouse to laze by the pool before we headed out for the evening to peruse the waterfront and going to Thesen Island where we found a great tapas and oyster bar with a live band. Knysna is renowned for its oysters with both wild available and cultivated oyster farms nearby. We took part in the large coastal oysters which were excellent (although I think Ryan ate more Tabasco than oyster).

The next day we packed up for the wine lands but before we left Knysna we had booked a ferry through the lagoon and a hike on the private Featherbed Reserve that provided numerous photo opps. The conditions were right and we were able to cruise to the mouth of the lagoon. Knysna is renowned for dangerous entry among the mouth of the lagoon with the eastern and western heads providing a narrow and tumultuous passage way. In fact, when steam ships were introduced and proved to be much cheaper to run, many companies sent their sailors to the most dangerous ports, Knysna being one of them, and were instructed to sink the ship for insurance purposes so they could use the payout for a steam vessel. 49 ships were sunk here and the last one being a German ship in 1903. Note: insurance companies no longer cover boats travelling through the mouth of the heads

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Comments

[Edward]

Yikes
Sounds awesome!

[Ted and Connie]

We envy you guys!
Defiinatly not your regular all inclusive! Very interesting, nice seeing your pics! Good job! Looks like you have seen and are doing more than what you have anticipated. Can't wait to see you guys sometime after you're back. Celebrated Shauna's birthday (35th) on Friday with a surprise and then again with Joann on Saturday for her (65th) surprise birthday in the same day resturant. Mom's birthday was in Aruba and we'll be celebrating again here with Ray and Ruth and Chicken fingers.........I mean Dave and Marie this Saturday. We'll pick maybe Red Lobster and blow their minds!! ENJOY and have a great time you guys!! Love Ted and Connie

[Menzel]

Have a great time with chicken fingers ;-) Miss you guys and can't wait to catch up.