A new look planned for the southern tip of Africa

There is talk of renovating the southern tip opposite the Agulhas Lighthouse. Click here for more info.

Sleepy Greenshank

Feeling lomerig,

just going to have a quick nap ...

so tired ...

getting comfy.

zzzzzz

oops - rude awakening from spray.

Inundated by rising tide.

Taking refuge on higher ground.

New coat of paint for Daisy

 Daisy is getting a new coat of paint and the veranda is being renovated  - thanks to Jandre White

and Ronnie Siegelaar. We drove up there on the weekend of 19-20 July to check it all out and it was looking great. Almost done.

Went on some fantastic walks - lots to see. Click here for Coco's take on things.

Before the Lighthouse

Charles Michell visited Agulhas in 1837 in order to survey for the most suitable site on which to build a lighthouse. 

This engraving by Charles Michell dated 1847 illustrates the site of the Agulhas lighthouse as well as its Egyptian Revival design. This style was all the rage in Europe, following Napoleon's Egyptian campaign (1798-1801). It was completed in December 1848, and the light was first lit on 1 March 1849. 

Both illustrations are taken from the book The Life and Work of Charles Michell by Gordon Richings, published by Fernwood Press, Simons Town, 2006.

Heritage Day working weekend - and a walk

Breakfast on the way to Daisy at Dave's Country Kitchen at the Red Windmill, just outside Napier. A very pleasant spot - dog and child friendly.
Quirky decor.
a nursery,
and lots of play opportunities for kids. Arti and Gabe we thought of you and wished you were with us.

February visit

Friday evening's chokka (squid) boats out on the Agulhas Bank.

Meeting another Scottie on the beach at Suiderstrand.

A pretty unusual experience: breakfast on the veranda of Daisy with Julie and John Hughes.

The new tasting rooms at The Berrio, a wine estate just outside Elim. Franchen Pratt was there to guide us through some tasty whites - and we ended up with a box of figgy-tasting Weathergirl 2009 white. Perfect for a hot day on the Agulhas Plain.

Dikkops and Full Moon in January

Sue joined us for a Daisy weekend - 21-23 January - as a sort of pre-birthday get-together. We arrived on Friday night in lovely gentle rain. Next day was a bit overcast and cool, but needed a lazy Daisy day, and then took a stroll along the front at Agulhas in beautiful late afternoon sunlight, something we haven't ever done. A potato creeper which was all over the dunes - probably Dronkbessie (Solanum africanum).

Sue at Papkuil. There was no-one at the SANParks restcamp and luckily, no keep-out notices either. It was just after full moon and we have never seen the tide so low! We walked right out into the middle of the bay.
Spotted Dikkop - oops sorry - Thick-knee at Papkuil.

On Sunday it had cleared and we went for an early morning walk on the limestone ridge - part of the Rapserpunt Trail. This is looking down on Rasperpunt. The wind started to get up and by 10 am it was howling!

This beautiful bright orange form of Erica coccinea subsp. uniflora grows up here on the limestone in profusion.

For Coco's take on the weekend, go to shookies.blogspot.com.