Cape Town here we come.

Ok, I forgot to mention an Ellie classic in the last blog. As it was such a dull and overcast afternoon on the day of the shark dive Ellie switched the lights on the Blue Slug. This was fine until she forget to switch them off and we only notice several hours later when there was a dull glow coming from the Slugs head lights. The guys from the Backpackers helped us push the slug down the road and with me trying to bump the car (It was my 1st time in the slugs driving seat and let me tell you its not a car for tall people, I couldn’t even get my legs under the steering wheel). After several attempts we gave up and jumped it using their car. That seemed to work until……. the morning when we tried to start it again. This time no one was around to help us so I had to teach Ellie a crash course in how to bump the car, she picked it up quickly…… once she had switched the bloody ignition on. After a couple of goes of me pushing the Slug up and down the road we eventually got it going so we could be on our way to the Cape.

We took the longer way to Cape Town following the coast road all the way. This took us around False Bay passed the infamous Cape Flats which is the biggest Township in the Cape area and where most people in the Cape area live, its a complete contrast to the rich east side of Cape Town. I wonder if the authorities will try and push them to one side or something when the World Cup circus comes to town. Saying that, township are big business now in South Africa, What once the unthinkable you can now go on day tours and backpackers are springing up all over the townships. You can even do a home stay with a local family.

Past the Cape Flats is Simons Town where we stopped to check out the ickle African Penguins (They are so amusing to watch but stink so bad).

We carried on driving along the coast and yet more spectacular mountains and cliffs passed by us by, from there we drove over to the East Side of the Cape where we stopped on the surfers beach of Kommetjie so Ellie could do a bit of tanning, which was lucky as it was the last time we saw the blue sky for the next few days. From there we drove around to Chapmans Peak which is rated as on of the most thrilling coast roads of the world, I can bloody see why! The road clings to the side of the cliff and twists and turns its way to Hout Bay.

I know Ellie enjoyed the drive as she was throwing the Slug in to the corners like a Formula 1 racing car!
Once we passed Hout Bay I saw one of the landscapes I have always wanted to see. The 12 Apostles!

And they really didn’t disappoint, what a fabulous mountain range that stretches all the way to Cape Town and then becomes part of Table Mountain. Cape Town surely has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It makes me wish that Ken Livingstone would scrap the 2012 Olympic games and instead use the money to build a mountain in its place, we could even keep the furnisher theme going, how about calling it chair mountain or even Ikea Bed Mountain. Its not like anyone would miss Stratford anyway.
The main thing we wanted to do in Cape Town was to climb Table Mountain but the weather was not kind to us for the four days we were there. All around Cape Town the weather was fine, but as soon as you get close to Table Mountain a blanket of clouds (known as the Table Cloth) came in making it impossible to climb. So we opted for the hike Lions Head which is opposite Table Mountain and over looks Cape Town, The hike is only 676 meters high and its a pretty easy hike until the last section which was a bit of a killer on the old legs. This didn’t stop Cape Towns elite fitness fanaticises running up and down it ever day.

The next day we went to explore the shopping area of Long Street and the Water Front which is great for eating as well as shopping. (curry watch@the jewel of India) I had a rather juicy curry but we ordered far to much. I can report the Nan bread was shit hot.

The day after we went to the Cape of Good Hope National Park which is the most south easterly place in Africa. We found ourselves in what can be only described as a strange dream world where naughty baboons are trying to steal food and pissing on the top of cars. Herds of Japanese tourists armed with the latest camera gear taking it in turn to photograph each other next to every bloody sign saying ‘The most south easterly….. Point….. Lighthouse…… shop……etc, etc’ you get the idea! Still the scenery was very nice and it was good to take a few photos….. not of ‘The most south easterly….. Point….. Lighthouse…… shop…..etc etc’….. well ok, just one photo!

The next day we took a tour around Robben Island. If you didn’t know this is where Mandela was imprisons as a political prisoner. The only way to Robben Island is to catch the ferry so Ellie and I (plus 100 Japanese tourists) were waiting for the ferry to leave Cape town harbour. When out of flipping nowhere a huge Hump Back Whale popped its tail out of the water and swam around the ferry before finding its way out of the harbour, who needs to spend £100 on a whale tour when they come to you? Its not even the start of the whale season till next month.

Ellie has also invented a new game called the Jennifer ‘Sock Nose’ Elworthy game. The aim of the game is to spot people who look like our friend Jen. So far we have spotted 3 look a likes.
1. The Girl sitting behind us in the curry house (I must say she really looked like you Jen)
2. The Girl on the front cover of this months Africa surf Magazine (Another good spot, we saved you the magazine Jen)
3. Ellie thinks Jen also looks like a white Tyra Banks (I can’t see this one at all)

Whilst in Cape Town I made good use of the pro photo lab and had all my films developed. I must say I have some crackers but you will have to wait till next year to see them.

After trying to get up Table Mountain for the last 4 days we gave up and started our long way back up the coast taking Route 62 that happens to be the longest wine route in the world. On the way we stopped off at the infamous Ronnies Sex Shop (thanks for the tip Lee) which isn’t a sex shop at all, its a bar in the middle of nowhere and I really do mean in the middle of nowhere.

It used to be called Ronnies Bar but after his mate painted on the word ‘sex’ on the sign people started to visit his shop. This shows that sex really does sell! After a rather amusing chat with Ronny about Russia we were on our way again to the ostrich capital of the world Oudtshoorn. It was just as a quick stop before we headed further up to coast so we didn’t see much of the town or the Ostriches for that matter.

The next day was the long drive (10 hours) to the beach village Cintsa. On the way we were hoping to drive over the Swartberg Pass which is rated as the best mountain pass in SA, climbing to just over l600 meters and 24km long we just had to take a look. But it wouldn’t be a random trip without something random happening, SNOW, bloody SNOW had shut off the road. I mean really, have you ever heard such a silly thing as snow in Africa? Its the most snow SA has seen since the 1990s. Global warming my arse! Still it was nice to see the snow capped mountains.

The backpackers in Cintsa was yet another fab one. Our cottage, yes cottage (£23) overlooked the lagoon and the white powdered beach. We only stopped here for one night which was a great shame because it was such an amazing beach and village. It was just enough time to recharge the batteries (ours, not the Slugs) as we had to carry on in to the heart of Zulu Land so we could tame the Dragons! see you next time. Sam & Ellie.

One Response to “Cape Town here we come.”

1. Becca says:

   June 3, 2007 at 10:15 pm

   Hey Sammy,

   Just read ‘ALL’ your blogs and everything sounds fantastic. Glad you’re having such a great time.

   Mrs M was asking about you today….I’ll report back and tell her how you’re doing.

   Take care

   B x