A lovely lunchtime wander along a bracing, breezy, somewhat moody Long Beach in Noordhoek, followed by a visit to the Aegir Project brewhouse for burgers, beer and cider.
Good things.
Today wasn’t about taking photographs, but the camera always comes along for the ride, and clearly, sometimes a point and shoot emulating some 20th Century American abstract impressionism just happens.
Right. Back from Agulhas a bit early so that I can fit in a friendly game of football this evening. And it was a good journey back, with only several near death experiences. Honestly, driving in South Africa really is something very special. And making it safely to your destination is even more remarkable.
We’ve left behind the peace and quiet of the Southern Tip for the ongoing building work next door, with the constant drone of the jackhammer welcoming us back. Again. It is already very wearing.
But before we left, we did see this girl out of the front window. Watching us, watching her:
This is a Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) resplendent in full winter coat. I’m guessing female, because there are no visible horns, but there is quite a lot of eye-shadow.
It’s been a great few days away, with some good exercise and some amazing wildlife, from whales through to geckoes, this bokkie, more than one mongoose, and loads of birds including fish eagle, spoonbills, ostrich, a defaecating cormorant, and that petrel.
I can already hardly wait until next time.
Quick walk on the beach this afternoon, which yielded some shots of humpback whales playing off the back of the point here in Cape Agulhas. Wow.
Maybe more of that tomorrow: I’ll certainly be out there looking again. But in the meantime, here’s a pic from the way back to the cottage:
And I’m fine with sharing this instead of a whale shot.
I egret nothing.
I mentioned our day out at the horse show on Monday. I was there as the photographer for the riders from “our” stables. But I was also there as a husband to, and a father of, a couple of the riders there.
I’m getting better with being around horses, although you won’t find me on the back of one.
My daughter, however…
Here she is taking it easy on this round – at least height-wise – having just last week conquered the frankly terrifying (to me, at least) 90cm mark of “things that horses jump over”. She’s surely old enough now to know better, for those devil-may-care days and juvenile lack of any fear to have passed.
Right?
But… eish…
I’m so impressed. And quite regularly quite scared.
Photo by 6000.co.za.
Thanks for taking the time to take it, edit and share it – all free of charge, too.
Much appreciated.
I must point out that all the riders and families (including my own) from the stables are always very thankful and grateful for the images.
Other people? Mmm. Not so much.
This image of a Cape Robin-Chat (Dessonornis caffer) has been sitting in my “photos I might do something with” folder for a little while now. And so I’m going to do something with it.
I’m going to put it on here.
Almost too common visitors to the back gardens over here but rarely photographed (perhaps because they are bread and butter), they can be a bit skittish around humans and a bit aggressive with other birds. Territorial can like to be their middle name.
Great at welcoming in those autumnal mornings with a bit of cheer.