21 June 2010

Marine Drive to Blouberg

Date: 20 June 2010

Location: Table View

Walkers: Michele and Helen

*** Route plotted here ***

Other walks along this stretch of coastline here, here and here.


I haven't been doing much walking these last few weeks... partly because of the weather and the World Cup and partly because I'm still feeling jittery about venturing out onto the mountain (and reports of more muggings worry me greatly). This weekend I was really needing some fresh air and exercise so I met Michele in Table View for a walk along the coast instead.



We parked at the Dolphin Beach parking area but instead of walking out onto the beach we followed the paved path on the near side of the dunes.



We stopped to watch a powered para-glider fly overhead. Fun!




Further along we got a view of the sea and the Seli 1 wreck.



We then joined Marine Drive and continued north on the road.



The views back to Cape Town weren't too bad!



There was a lot of traffic on the road and a lot of people out and about enjoying the sunny and warm weather.



Refreshments, colourful curios, artwork, beach gear and soccer paraphernalia was for sale along the roadside.




All the way along the sand dunes have been under rehabilitation - one is only meant to access the beach via the walkways. I reckon it's working - the dune vegetation looked in good shape.



Then we noticed that there was a bank of cloud coming closer...



... and closer..



... and closer still...



... until it enveloped us! So quickly too!





We continued walking in the mist, through to Bloubergstrand. We saw many beach goers packing up their stuff and leaving the beach. Day over.




The mist was really cold and damp. Brr! We stopped into Ons Huisie Restaurant for a bite of (disappointingly mediocre) lunch.



Then we walked swiftly back along the same route, in the chilly and gloomy mist. Cape Town weather... always unpredictable ;-)


(Photos by Helen)
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3 comments:

Leslie said...

Beautiful change in weather! Love that!... I seem to recall getting caught in hectic mist between Kommetjie and Noordehoek beach once! :-)

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

I've only been to Blouberg on one visit to Cape Town 10 years ago. I really need to organise a holiday to the Cape so that I can see some more of this part of it. As for the weather, it really looks like it came in fast and furious.

Helen said...

Oh I remember that walk Les! Very thick mist indeed. It was fun.

The weather really did change quickly Firefly. Funny thing was a couple of hours it had cleared up again (was a lovely evening). And then during the night it started raining! Four seasons in one day.
When you do visit Cape Town again you will be amazed at how much development there has been along that West Coast road.