Up very early to (finally) get some good news this morning.
But it is wet and wild out there, and it’s about to get wetterer and wilderer:
This is a proper biggie, even by Cape Town winter standards, and we’re very happy (and lucky) to be riding it out inside.
Stay safe out there.
Short stuff news: Today is the shortest day of the year here in the Southern Hemisphere. It also marks the Astronomical beginning of winter. Meteorologists have been here for three weeks already – please do try to keep up!).
Anyway, Cape Town will manage with just 9h53m31s of daylight today, but wow – all of that has been wall-to-wall sunshine. It’s been a stunner.
Let’s fill you in with some facts to impress your family and friends, and to annoy your enemies:
Sunrise was 7:51am this morning; sunset will be at 5:44pm this evening.
And tomorrow’s daylight will be whole 2 seconds longer than today’s.
That’s because of the sunset moving later, because the sunrise also moves later until the beginning of July. This is because the way we humans measure time and the way that the sun measures time are ever so slightly different. But because the sunset moves later faster than the sunrise moves later (still with me here?), the days do get longer.
You can see that pattern in the distance of the sun away from our little corner of Africa, as well. It reaches its furthest distance away on the 3rd July, at 152,088,000km away.
The sun was closest to Cape Town on 4th January at “just” 147,104,000km away. That means that the light from our big yellow ball takes 18 seconds more to reach us in winter than in summer.
And, to complete the comparisons, on the longest day of the year (that’s Dec 21st here):
Sunrise will be at 5:31am in the morning – 2 hours and 20 minutes earlier than today; sunset will be at 7:57pm in the evening – 2 hours and 13 minutes later than today.
That will mean 14h25m06s of daylight: fully 4h31m35s more than today.
We do have A LOT of winter to get through before those halcyon summer days (starting with Wednesday, which looks horrific), but the long journey back starts tomorrow!
It’s been a while, so we’re heading away for quick break before some stuff which is happening back here in Cape Town.
A foolishly early flight has been booked, because we’ve got some driving to do at the far end, and so by the time you’re reading this, we’ll hopefully be thinking about landing and heading even further away from this corner of Africa.
We’re hoping to see some wildlife, so keep an eye on the old ‘Gram and live vicariously through us for the next few days.
Let’s go!
Hugely busy day today. Literally one thing after another, and then some other things interspersed within those things.
Hectic, bru.
One of the things I really did have to get done was a visit to the Home Affairs Department, and as anyone in SA will tell you, that can take a whole day in itself.
Thankfully though, as I arrived, I was surprised to see that the place was just about empty, and I got my hopes up. This could be good!
And then I realised that I’d brought a horse with me.
Damn.
Rookie error. I’d left my cutlery. gun, cigarettes, camera, flip phone and wine at home…
…but I had brought a horse with me.
And you can hide a phone or some fags. A horse, though..? Not so much.
Even as I approached the desk, I could see the clerk looking over my shoulder at the horse. He shook his head (the clerk, not the horse), and I knew that this was going to be the end of my Home Affairs visit for the day.
Game over.
Look. it’s fair enough. I shouldn’t have brought a horse along. The signs do make it very clear that they’re not allowed.
Looks like I’ll be heading back there tomorrow.
Without a horse, obviously.
Robben Island Museum (RIM) announced this morning that the popular cultural tourist attraction set to close for 2½ months for renovations in the lead up to South Africa’s hosting of the G20 summit later this year.
This will be a huge blow for anyone visiting Cape Town in the winter months, as this is a unique place to visit. And imagine if you have timed a quick break with us at the end of July, and the Cableway is shut as well.
Eish!
The good bit about these announcements is that the facilities and safety of these iconic attractions are improved and maintained, keeping them in great condition for guests and visitors in the future.
Just a bit unfortunate if you are turning up in our little corner of Africa and braving the winter weather, and you don’t get to see the (top of the) Mountain or do the Robben Island tour.
Thank goodness there’s still the wine route(s).