A busy smelly Clifton 4th

A busy smelly Clifton 4th
I felt a little bad for first-time visitors to Clifton 4th. It's normally such a pristine beach, but ocean tides were unkind to us and an unusually-large mass of smelly kelp had washed up onto shore.

Even though many were, there was no freegin' way I was getting into that water. I only managed to stay around for half an hour before I decided that it really wasn't fun on that overly-hot, massively-crowded, somewhat-smelly beach. :(

I shall return another day. When the kelp has left our shores. :)

Clifton at peak tourist season

Clifton at peak tourist season
Phew - lots of people hey?! We really love tourists visiting Cape Town. It's fantastic for our economy and, well, the divergent cultures and beautiful people that descend on our little city over this time is spectacularly interesting. It's a pleasure having you!

It is however sad that most tourists never get to see the calm, relaxed, and quiet beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. I often wonder to myself if crowded and busy beaches are as all they know. It's a shame, because these beaches are spectacular from late February through to April and even May. Next time you visit Cape Town - consider coming a little later in the new year - I pretty much guarantee you'll enjoy it more than the Christmas/New Year period. :)

Clifton sunset surfer

Clifton sunset surfer
I'm quite out of my depth, but I can only guess that that's a longboard. Would I be right?

Anyway, the haze that you see there is from the cold ocean air moving in over the land. The water temperature at the time was only 12°C - which I'm guessing is why that wetsuitless mad surfer person decided to come in to shore.

In case you're wondering, I know it was 12°C because my friend and I (he with his thermometer-watch) hit the waves for all of 4 minutes. It was very unpleasant. Cold-sandy water, with plenty of seaweed constantly wrapping around our legs.

Everybody says Clifton's a great place to enjoy the view, play in the sand, and relax on the beach - but for swimming, she was certainly not made. Now, this is mostly the case, but I have to say that if you catch the tides just right, Clifton's water can actually be reasonably warm... even approaching a swimmable 19°C! ;)

2014’s Moonstruck at Clifton 4th Beach

Moonstruck at Clifton 4th Beach
Each year around Valentine's Day one of our local radio stations, CapeTalk, hosts a huge beach party on Clifton 4th Beach, in aid of our much-loved National Sea Rescue Institute.

A stage gets erected, a band is appointed, and people flock to the beach with picnic baskets, bikinis, boardshorts and boomerangs (only kidding, Cape Town isn't in Australia). This year CapeTalk, and Discovery (this year's sponsor), invited The Solid Gold Session band to let their mix of 60s, 70s, and 80s hits spill out over the families and friends gathered on the beach.

I couldn't make it before 9pm, and really only arrived once the official party had stopped - but, just in time to see the full moon start to peak over Lion's Head. See the photos below. Isn't it pretty? Don't you wish you'd been there? :)

Clifton by candlelight

Clifton by candlelight
During our warm summer months people come out to Clifton 4th beach to enjoy the golden sunsets, fine white sand, and windless conditions. Soon after dark the beach comes alight with the orange-yellow glow of candles, creating this, the perfect close to a hot summer day.

The temperature tends to fall reasonably quickly as the sun sets and the cool ocean air moves in over the beach, and it's the strangest feeling to leave the beach and the refreshing 19°C air and walk up the many steps to the parking areas to be met with the preceding day's oven-hot air.

If you are visiting Cape Town at this time of the year - pack a picnic dinner, add a few candles, grab a sweater, and head on down to Clifton 4th beach at about 18h30. Feel free to thank me later. ;)

Warm water at Clifton

Warm water at Clifton
Most people don't venture into the waters at Clifton - it's normally far too cold for comfortable bathing. However, for the past week or so, the water has been surprisingly warm... so much so that I actually ventured in without feeling an immediate desire to return to the warm dry beach.

Rich, perhaps famous, on Clifton beach

Rich, perhaps famous, on Clifton beach
I don't know if the people who own these homes on Clifton beach are famous, but they certainly have to be rich (or at least know someone who is!). I took yesterday's photo in exactly the opposite direction to this one, so imagine the view that people living in these homes have each day. Isn't it just insane? Wouldn't you love a house right on Clifton beach?

If you live here, or even if you just stayed here for a few days, we'd love to know who you are. I've always been curious, so leave a comment and tell us a little about what's awesome (and what's not so awesome) about living above Clifton's beaches. Also, settle my mind, don't you worry about tsunamis?! :)

A ship stranded on Clifton beach

A ship stranded on Clifton beach
Yesterday morning Cape Town woke up to dense fog, and a Japanese fishing trawler perched on Clifton beach. The NSRI report tells the story in some detail, so forgive if I don't repeat what they've already said. :)

I visited Clifton 2nd beach at about 4pm yesterday afternoon to see a large tug stationed a couple of hundred meters from the ship with one (or two, I think) cables connecting it to the Japanese trawler. A smaller tug was making regular trips to the large tug, and a small rubber boat was used between the tiny tug and trawler. I'm guessing they were dropping off supplies and equipment.

High tide was due at 21h00 yesterday evening, at which time the large tug was due to give an almighty tug (pun and all, yes) and hopefully free the vessel from the beach before its structure gave way to the relentless battle between ocean currents and fixed land. I'm not yet sure if the rescue team managed to free the ship - I'm sure we'll hear how the operation fared once the sun comes up in the morning. I am holding both thumbs fairly tightly though.

Click here to see our full gallery of photos from Clifton 2nd beach.

Moonstruck 2012 at Clifton 4th beach

Moonstruck 2012 at Clifton 4th beach
Each year 567 Cape Talk radio hosts Moonstruck on Clifton 4th beach. A medium-sized stage is erected on the beach and about 7000 people turn up between 5 and 6pm to have fun with friends, picnic under the setting sun, and listen to live music until long after the sun has set.

In case you're wondering, Moonstruck isn't only about the awesomeness of a huge beach party. The event is run to raise money for the National Sea Rescue Institute, better known as the NSRI. I've written about the work that the NSRI do a couple of times - read more about the organisation, and how you can help, here and here.

I'll post a few more photos tomorrow, but right now it feels like my eyelids are flapping around my knees and it's become apparent to me that it's probably time call it a night. 'Night folks! :)

Clifton 4th Beach

Clifton 4th Beach
Thanks for your comments on my previous photo Deems, Nicola and Dawn. You're all correct - the beach is one of Clifton's 4 beaches and Dawn was 100% right in naming it as Clifton 4th - my favourite.

There was no wind to speak of; the air was cool, but the sun was warm. Bobbing around on a boat just of the beach was an amazing feeling. Even though we weren't on a luxury yacht, I guess that's the best way to describe the feeling. Imagine yourself in this very spot on the deck of a luxury yacht, enjoying the sun, drinking cocktails and snacking on delightful treats. Grand hey?

This was such great fun - and if you're okay with being out on a boat, I'd suggest this to be of the things you have to do when visiting Cape Town. It was simply beautiful.

Remember to take motion sickness tablets before jumping on board. As a particular colleague of mine discovered , feeling ill on the water really does ruin the experience.

There’s no need for gym in Clifton

There's no need for gym in Clifton
Those of you who've visited Clifton's part of the coastline will know that it's located along the slopes of Table Mountain. These steep slopes and the allure of the white beaches offer beach-goers an excellent opportunity to work off unwanted weight.

These steps are the lazy man's descent to Clifton's beaches. The other paths down are much longer and steeper than this one. I'm (I mean, we're) always out of breath after climbing back to the road above.

Birds on the horizon

Birds on the horizon
This is one of the things that I love about the end of day on Clifton beach - the birds that flock over the horizon, resting on the large boulders about 150 meters off in the ocean. It creates such a peaceful atmosphere. :)

Vacationing in Cape Town

Vacationing in Cape Town
If found this couple (who by their accents sounded foreign) were sitting watching the sun set over Clifton 4th beach. I handed them a card and said I'd email them the photos - but I haven't heard from them, so I guess the language barrier was just a little too much to cross. :-(

SUP hire in Camps Bay

Hire SUPs in Camps Bay
Year on year over the past few I've noticed a massive increase in the number of people getting into Stand Up Paddling. It's not really surprising - it's immense fun and possibly one of the easiest and driest water sports to get in to. Well. Easiest and driest for some, I guess. (More about that tomorrow ;) )

I considering buying a board, but figured it would be wise to first rent one to make sure that it's something I'd actually do. A while back I rented a board from Cape Town SUP, who do rentals in the V&A Waterfront canals. It was loads of fun, so I started looking around for a company who'd hire a board in the Camps Bay and Clifton areas. I wanted to hire a board in the evening so that I could sup as the sky turned orange and the harsh sun was on the descend. Research lead me to Camps Bay SUPS, a new SUP hire company that operates from Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay.

Camps Bay SUPS hires stand up paddle boards at a cost of R150 per hour directly from Cafe Caprice. They also offer day rentals, and are open to discussing weekend or even week-long rentals for those on vacation. I'll tell you a little more about my expedition, but for now, if you're interested, you'll find Kaela's mobile number on their Facebook page. Get in touch via Whatsapp, SMS, or just give her a call to reserve a board.

My first stand up paddling excursion

My first stand up paddling excursion
I've been meaning to look into SUP (Stand Up Paddling) for a while now. I figured that I'd first hire a board to check if it's something I'd actually do over the long-term - before buying a board, paddle, roof racks, waterproof camera housing, and all the other bits and pieces one ends up needing to get properly into a sport.

I arrived at SUP Cape Town at 9am and handed over my R200 for the hour of fun that lay ahead.

One of the staff gave Riaan (a friend and long-time colleague) and I a quick overview of how to stand on a board, paddling technique, and safety on the canal. We hopped down from the side of the canal onto the huge boards and within about 15 seconds felt fairly comfortable and confident enough to paddle along towards the One and Only hotel.

Paddling against the light headwind was a little strenuous, but not too significantly so. It did however cause me to congratulate myself on postponing the trip I'd planned to take on Sunday afternoon when the wind was somewhat more angry.

We paddled along the canals watching schools of fish as they swam beneath us. We kept to the right of the canal, dodging the occasional City Sightseeing boats that puttered past (their wake providing a few moments of excitement as our boards bobbed and weaved beneath our feet).

The paddle up to the One and Only, and back to the launch site took about half an hour, and the paddle to the CTICC and Westin Hotel and back took about another 30 minutes.

I'd recommend you don't take your phone (or camera) on the board. While it's fairly easy to stay above water, I horsed around a little too much and managed to lose balance momentarily, causing me to topple into the canal (much to the amusement of a small group of tourists). :)

Visit SUP Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront canals, over the road from the Caltex petrol station at the V&A's primary entrance. They also have a gazebo on Clifton 4th where they hire boards out at the slightly-reduced rate of R150 per hour.

Our pretty white beach sand

Our pretty white beach sand
The beaches along our Atlantic seaboard, stretching from Clifton, through Camps Bay and along to Llandudno, have some of the most pristine-white beach sand I've seen; except for those rare day when unusual currents drive a layer of green sea-slime (possibly a form of green algae) onto the beachfront. This was one of those days, but I kindly refrained from posting a photo of the waterline. It's a pleasure. :)

Beach kids and bodyboards

Beach kids and bodyboards
There were far too many kids on this beach. Well, actually, I'm kidding. ;) What I mean is, I've taken to frequenting the more refined and sedate Clifton 3rd and 2nd beaches. Clifton 4th (the one in this photo) is probably the best of the four beaches along the stretch of coast, but in summer tends to get quite crowded and noisy (with babies, toddlers, and ice-cream salesmen).

A golden-sunset beach

A golden-sunset beach
Imagine returning from work each summer's day, to be greeted by this view?

Clifton (and our Atlantic Seaboard in general) is one of the most beautiful sea-side areas in the country - which is why the properties in this area are of the most expensive in the land. What's interesting (though not unexpected) is that most of the prime real-estate is owned by foreigners; many of whom spend only a little time in the country each year.

I wouldn't mind house sitting... just putting it out there. ;)

Stop the sky lanterns

Stop the sky lanterns
In 2012 the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) appealed to the public not to release lanterns over the ocean. In China or Thailand thousands of lanterns are released at once, but here in Cape Town the single lanterns released over the ocean look like distress flares and result in hours of time wasted by volunteers, looking for missing vessels.

In this particular case, I watched as the onshore breeze blew the lantern from Clifton 4th beach, up to Victoria Road, and onto the slopes of Table Mountain. It's irresponsible of people to threaten peoples lives and properties for the pleasure of marveling at the pretty light in the sky.