We checked into Pine Lodge Resort for 2 nights and ended up staying for 5. The resort is situated about 7Km from the PE city centre, past Summerstrand, and is adjacent to the Cape Recife Nature Reserve. The weather was great; sunny days and cool nights. Autumn is definitely in the air and we are beginning to wonder about the wisdom of being in the Cape during winter. Perhaps we will go inland for a while to avoid the wet at least…
During the mandatory walk on the beach after our arrival we noticed a widespread occurrence of washed up seaweed. We suspect this was due to the rough seas just prior to our arrival. We are not sure what causes it, and according to an article on the internet it happens at certain times every year. What we are sure of is the smell; it stinks!
We were again privileged to have a pair of Spotted Eagle Owls calling outside our campsite, in plain view on top of two electricity poles, for three nights during our stay. There was not enough light for photographs though. We did manage to get a photograph of a Rock Kestrel the next day, sitting on a lamp pole.
After doing some necessary ‘city’ things, we fetched Kevin from the airport on Tuesday afternoon. We went to the Island Restaurant, which is situated on the resort premises, for dinner. It was great to be together again. We had fun chatting and catching up as we had not seen each other since September last year!
While Kevin was here we spent some time at the small PE SAAF Museum. Visitors are allowed to climb into the Impala Mk II and of course Roger and Kevin lost no time on that one! The interesting thing is that this specific aircraft is the one in which Neil Thomas, a colleague of Roger’s at 44 Squadron, was shot down in over Angola during the bush war. During an attack on a vehicle convoy the engine was damaged by ground fire and was not developing sufficient power to get home. Neil ejected just before the plane crashed onto a flat plain and injured two vertebrae in the process. The plane however did such a perfect forced landing that Neil had to walk to it and shut the engine down! Luckily a helicopter rescued him about 15 minutes after the incident. A team of technicians dismantled the Impala and took it back to S.A. where it was rebuilt.
We decided to hike the Roseate Tern Trail in the Cape Recife Nature Reserve. After a false start due to an outdated map we eventually got going and had a very enjoyable 10Km walk (instead of 9 indicated on the map).
The trail first took us along the beach and then inland to a bird hide. This was most disappointing as one could see no water, and also no birds, due to an infestation of Water Lettuce. The question is: what are they doing about it? This is a nature reserve, after all!
A second dam, which also forms part of PE’s water reclamation scheme, was more rewarding.
The trail next meandered towards the Cape Recife lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in South Africa. It was built in 1851 with the objective of warning sea traffic off Thunderbolt Reef, which has claimed many victims over generations of southern African seafaring. The area is particularly prone to fog and the lighthouse is an essential guide to passing traffic. We had a snack break in the shade while watching the birds scurrying around in the inter-tidal zone. We were pleasantly surprised to see a group of 13 African Black Oystercatchers, being used to usually finding them in pairs.
After another stretch of beach the trail turned inland, over dunes vegetated with fynbos and dune scrub, towards the remains of a World War II barracks and then on to an observation post, erected in 1940 as part of the harbour defences.
Just as we got to the observation post, the light house fog horn started sounding regular booming warnings. It was interesting to watch how the fog rolled in over the sea from the East. By early evening the city was shrouded in mist.
After our walk Roger took Kevin to the beach for a long overdue surf. He has been inland for a few months now and was sorely missing life at the sea. They went out again on Friday morning before he had to get ready for his flight back to Jo’burg. We were sad to see him go but also happy that we were able to have a few days together.
Our last evening was spent with new friends Kevin and Susan van Staden that we met in Addo Main Camp. We had a lot of fun and laughter and parted with promises of seeing each other again when we come back to PE to manoeuvre Buzz.
We leave PE today (12th) heading towards the Baviaanskloof.