The parting of the ways. I was heading into the country and Charlie was staying in Hout Bay with Lisa. So after a most leisurely start I dropped her off and headed out of town, stopping at the old harbour in Gordon’s Bay for lunch and a media catch-up. Excellent kingfish, which I have not eaten for years.

The coastal road was beautiful, the sea calm and I took the ride slowly, enjoying every bit of it. On reaching Betty’s Bay I stopped off for the first time at Rob Twemlow & Lynda de Wet’s “farm” on the coast. Completely private and separate from the village, the house was right on the rocky sea edge with a stunning view across the river mouth to Kleinmond. 

 After being enticed into tasting their wine production, I was more convinced than ever that this is something Astrid & I should be attempting. Great too to catch up after not seeing them for some 25 years – this to be continued next time we visit.

Another 1 ½ hour drive via Hermanus brought me via the new road to Baardskeerdersbos and to Tierfontein Conservancy. No trip to RSA ever happens without visiting our special friends Douggie & Des.   Sundowners on the stoep with the Honeybirds playing in the bushes around us. Can’t get better than that. Always so much news to catch up on, even though we were here only 9 months ago.   Dezzie had prepared enough food for my whole family, even though it was just me. I tried hard to make up for their absence! 

 Got the distressing news that my 9 year old grandson Joey had crushed three fingers at school.  

 Slept in the huge guest-house which has now been fully furnished   Was a tad eerie in the dead of night when the roof creaked as if someone was lurking around!

Easy start to the day, partly because I had picked up the stomach bug (Astri?). Moving on…. Charlie was waiting for confirmation of the day’s arrangements from Candice, but that seemed to fizzle out so after a minimalist breakfast we went to Clifton beach. It was perfect weather, sea like glass, not too busy and we were the palest on the beach! It seems that Clifton has become another local secret, because Camps Bay (next door) is always heaving at night and overcrowded during the day. 

   
After 2 hours we had to leave since it was blazing hot. Although the sea looked tempting it was freezing cold so we gave that a miss.

Off to the city, Long Street to be exact, because Charlie had booked a tattoo session – her first (and only?). This area comes alive at night but daytime is just noisy and busy. Had lunch with some trepidation in a very African looking bar/restaurant. Turned out to be a really great pizza and dirt cheap. 

 Not long after, the deed was done and Charlie rejoined me sporting an Africa outline on her back. I like it. Probably will end up looking like Australia in time! 

 Desperate to escape the heat of the city, we drove out to Claremont and found my mate Errol in his usual coffee shop office. Caught up with the past years news to discover that nothing much had changed – he still plans to break away and come hiking in Europe, so I bent his ear as always and told him to hurry up before time runs out!!

Headed home before my battery went completely flat; after an hours sleep I was nearly back on form and ready for a night out with the family. 

   
Luckily for me at least, we met up just down the road at the “Duchess of Wisbeach” in Sea Point. Anton & Mareth, Lisa, Astri & JC, Charlie & I. Could see where this party was going right from the start; Lisa’s exuberance was infectious. She assured me that whiskey was the cure for stomach bugs – everything in fact. Lo and behold she was right and I improved as the night wore on. Charlie corrupted her sisters by plying them with Tequila so by the time we left there were a few hangovers in the making. Great night with my girls and boy!

When we travelled on the coastal road from Hout Bay last night, the wind was manic, whipping the tops off the waves near Oudekraal and it was difficult to stand still and take a photo. This morning it had settled to the normal Cape Doctor. Afterwards took Chapmans Peak drive to Noordhoek – it was back to green again after last years massive fire and the view awesome as always. We were looking for arts and crafts but this time Farm Village in Noordhoek was a disappointment. Nice place but more of a food emporium than a craft centre now. Pity. So over the mountain to Glencairn, where Charlie dragged me off to the gemstone factory. I had never been there and it was actually interesting to see the huge variety of stones, the tumbling and polishing process and the beautiful gemstones that emerged. It seems that this place is a right of passage for any Cape Town kid! 

 Next stop Adrienne’s mountainside apartment with its stunning view over Simonstown Naval harbour and bay. Good to catch up with my friend. Being lunch time we all headed down to the town & found a delightful family-run restaurant. It was yellow-tail for me because I can’t get that in England …….besides I was already getting somewhat “meated out”. 

 Later we continued our coastal journey to Kalk Bay – always a favourite with Charlie! Such an eclectic mix of small shops, so inevitably we ended up finding something for Astrid and topped that off with an ice cream just for good measure.

We had arranged to fetch Guy in Rondebosch. Such a sense of dejavu as we looked for his digs near Fountain shopping centre – this was the suburb of my birth and my student stomping ground. It was no surprise therefore that we landed up drinking beer at “Forries” while Charlie waited for her cousin Casey to collect her. Also no surprise that when she came back after a couple of hours Guy & I were still there! I really enjoyed the time spent catching up with my grandson. 

 By the time we finally got back to base at Fresnaye we were totally exhausted (but super happy)

The last thing we needed was a 6:30am start but we did it anyway. Ross arranged for all to meet at the lower cable way station by 8.00 so we got there to find the Somerset West Haupts plus Astri & Liam accompanied by a howling south Easter blowing and the table cloth cascading down the face of the mountain. India Venster climb was therefore judged to be too dangerous and cold so we moved instead to our regular start point on Theresa Ave above Camps Bay.  Followed the pipe track which was not in the least stressful, enhanced with jelly babies and jammie dodgers along the way.   

 Afterwards we all moved on to Riverside cafe in Hout Bay to join Lisa for an excellent lunch accompanied by unique milkshakes  

Later when the family from over the mountain had left, we joined Lisa at the Hout Bay market.  A first for me, the place was teeming with people, food and drink.  Made an early start on the cocktails, browsed all the stalls and when the band started up we found some seats and soaked up the vibe. Great music  from Nomadic  Orchestra  https://itun.es/gb/NJb1M  

Market closed around 16:00 so we did coffee at Lisa’s place before invading Anton, Mareth and the kids who had just returned from a weekend at Matjiesfontein.  Jana was a bundle of energy as always and Jared informed me of his latest inventions.  Magnetic levitation came into it somewhere. Charlie finally got her wish and drive Antons bakkie to fetch Indian takeaways from the village!

The smell of Rooikrans smoke really got to me in Kommetjie, so we piled in to The Fisherman pub and I got my steak and first Windhoek draught. 

Later after dropping off Astri and the boys we headed via Hout Bay and the coast road to Camps Bay, which was heaving.  Night caps at the Bungalow in Clifton, lying on the mattresses and thinking that this busy place must be a well kept Capetonian secret. 

Everything went so smoothly this morning, from airport baggage to hire car. Helps to arrive at 07:30  AM.  Big welcome and long chat to Elke after which we collected Astri and the boys and headed for Kommetjie beach.  

We were convinced that Boo was playing in the surf with his mates so I prepared to lob a sandball at him.  At the very last moment we realised it was a mistaken identity.  How embarrassing to have Grandpa beaten up by an irate surfer !

  We really should read our boarding passes.  After getting to Terminal 5 in good time we discovered that we should have been at T3.  So had to catch the train which was fine except that the train doors closed with Charlie inside and me outside.  Not ideal. Next train in 15 minutes and all back on track, but no time for that coffee and cake that I had been dreaming about!