Bastille Day Salute on the Cape Point Route

The French as a nation have some magnificent traditions and in many ways have perfected the art of good living incorporating excellent food, fine wine, art, literature and sport into their daily living. In honour of their national holiday, Bastille Day, which takes place today the 14th July, we share how you can access the finest French- style cultures on the Cape Point Route.

Wine – an age old French classic. Wine is alive and well on the Cape Point Route with specialist wine stores in HoutBay, Noordhoek, Glencairn and KalkBay. Manuka wine boutique at Noordhoek Farm Village is open 7 days a week. The wine shop at Mariners Wharf is also open on a Sunday and they have a vast collection that is stored alphabetically!

La Vallée Deli and wine shop in Glencairn has a comprehensive wine cellar and a deli to make the French proud. Croissants and breads, cheeses and homemade produce are begging to be bought and savoured in true French tradition. The well known Olympic Bakery is another great spot to pick up French type breads or try the Food Barn at Noordhoek Farm Village and the Meeting Place in Simon’s Town for great deli options. For cheese – head for the Cheesery at Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie!

For sit-down dining, The Foodbarn at Noordhoek Farm Village specializes in French cuisine. The Two Oceans Restaurant in the Cape Point Nature reserve offers superb fare and an almost unbeatable view. Fish Hoek Galley offers some of the best Seafood platters on the south side of the equator – the French can do escargot but the Galley can do it all.

So celebrate Bastille Day on the Cape Point Route – you don’t have to be French to enjoy the crème de le crème of the region, and you can have loads of fun trying! For more information on Joie de vive on the Cape Peninsula – call 021 782 9356 or visit the website: www.capepointroute.co.za

Canter the Cape

Noordhoek beach is best explored on the back of a big horse.

If you’ve ever dreamed of riding a pony along a pristine white beach, there is an easy way to make your fantasy a reality. And you get to ride a real horse, so you can leave the ponies for the school fete. One of the most popular activities on the Cape Point Route is horse riding on Noordhoek beach. One of the best beach horse rides in South Africa, the route takes you on a 2-hour trot along the wide white swathe of Kommetjie and Noordhoek beach. It’s easily accessible for complete novices and enjoyable for accomplished riders too.

There are three commercial horse-riding establishments in the area and it’s advisable to book at least 24 hours in advance as they’re all popular. Imhoff Equestrian Centre is located at Imhoff Farm just outside Kommetjie and offers three rides each day – at 9am, 12 noon and a 4pm sunset ride. Times vary according to the season, so check in advance. Bring long pants and closed shoes and don’t forget the sunscreen.

On arrival you’ll be kitted out with a compulsory helmet and introduced to your trusty steed, chosen according to your level of experience. The horses at Imhoff are fit, friendly and well-cared for. The guides are professional and as safety is a priority, the ride begins with a brief riding orientation as the stirrups are adjusted.

The journey starts with a gentle stroll through Imhoff Farm and the Noordhoek wetlands. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear the cry of the fish eagles and witness the powerful circling motion of these beautiful birds. There is an abundance of bird life in the bush section of the ride, particularly water birds, ibis and cranes. You’ll encounter flocks of seabirds when you get to the beach – seagulls and many black oystercatchers scurrying around the shoreline, foraging for food with their distinctive red beaks.

Arriving on the beach is a jaw-dropping experience – the contrast of white sand, blue water and open space will take your breath away. The rhythmic motion of the horse and the gentle lapping sound of the waves is therapeutic and will help you unwind from the hassles of everyday life. A unique feature of this ride is that it takes you past the wreck of the Kakapo – a ship that was stranded on the beach in 1900.
The scene is framed by the distinctive Sentinel guarding Hout Bay and the dramatic cliffs of Chapman’s Peak Drive.

This relaxing ride combines the beauty of bush and beach in a naturalist’s paradise and is a great way to hit the beach, while gaining respect for the graceful creatures who carry you. Contact 082 774 1191

For more information on activities, places to eat or stay on the Cape Point Route visit: www.capepointroute.co.za

HORSE-RIDING CENTRES
Imhoff Equestrian Centre
Sleepy Hollow
Dunes

RESTAURANTS AFTER YOUR RIDE:
Blue Water Cafe at Imhoff Farm
Rioja on Kommetjie Road
Café Roux at Noordhoek Farm Village
The Food Barn at Noordhoek Farm Village
The Toad at Noordhoek Farm Village

Heading up the Lomsa, Craft from Waste Project is a powerhouse of a woman called Yandiswa Mazwane. Yandiswa started out as a beach cleaner and now manages a project that produces desirable sculptures and homeware products from litter that is washed up on our beaches. Most of the products are made from non-recyclable plastics. Who would have thought that plastic bottle tops could be fashionable items?

Yandiswa has just received an order for 450 cow heads from a company in Paris and Lomsa is therefore URGENTLY LOOKING for detergent bottles in bright colours. i.e. VANISH, MR, MUSCLE, CAR WASH, HARPIC, STA SOFT ETC.
If you can help - please drop off your detergent bottles at the Lomsa shop at KEAG, Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie. (They also recycle glass, plastic and cans. Newspapers and cardboard can be taken to Kommetjie primary School.)

This project supports up to 16 previously disadvantaged people at a time, many of whom are illiterate or disabled. Thank you so much.

Please call YANDISWA MAZWANE/SHERRI BELL for more information
TEL: 0823003337

Have a good weekend,
Sally

Presidential Fleet Review for SA Navy - 5 September

The SA Navy has honored the Commander in Chief of the South African National Defence Force President Thabo Mbeki with a Fleet Review on Friday 5 September 2008 in Simon’s Bay (False Bay).

The Fleet Review consisted of a number of phases being the arrival of the State President, the 21 gun salute for the President and the boarding of the SAS Protea (the White Lady) which was the ship chosen to take the President past the fleet to take the salute.

The ships that sailed past the President on SAS Protea (Hydrographic survey vessel), all in formation and keeping station as if connected by underwater cable, were the 4 X Frigates, SAS Drakensberg, , 2 X off-shore patrol vessels (ex strike-craft), 2 X mine-hunters, two submarines and 2 X inshore patrol vessels. SAS Protea was accompanied by 3 HPB’s as mini escort.

While sailing past the crews were lined up on deck, all tuned out in their whites and looking ever so smart, to salute their commander in Chief. When returning to port the Umalusi tug gave a magnificent display of her ability to spray huge amounts of water, as they do when new ships arrive in a port, which is part of her firefighting equipment.

Thanks to Eddie Wesselo for the information and images

Spring Splash Post-mortem!

DIARISE NOW THE 6TH SEPTEMBER AT 15H30 AND COME JOIN US ON FISH HOEK BEACH FOR THE 2009 SPRING SPLASH!!

Well we did it!
Despite (or in-spite) of the raging storms and wild conditions - Sunday afternoon 31 August turned out to be a chilly 11C with the ambient air temperature exactly the same as the water! (I didn't measure wind- chill factor!). There was an amazing turnout at Fish Hoek beach and although there were more spectators than swimmers - about 70 people got into the water! The waves and tide were so high that as the beanies and fleeces were being peeled off the bodies, a wave came up and almost whisked everyone into the water whether we liked it or not! So the countdown wasn't exact but there was a lot of yelping and squeeling and some remarkable enthusiasm from both splashers and supporters.

A massive congratulations to the people of the south who joined the Cape Point Route Spring Splash and especially to those who braved the conditions to come from further afield!

Hats off and a big cheer to Fish Hoek Galley - the staff were dressed up to the Spring Theme in brightly coloured t-shirts. The restaurant was covered in flowers and balloons were set off amidst a resounding song of encouragement! Well done.

Thanks also to Mark Sampson for his commentary and to Fish Hoek Galley for the meal voucher prizes!

Spring Splash 2008 - Update!

Despite some less than impressive looking weather forecasting - the Spring Splash is still on! It's not going to be hot and sunny from the looks of things but we still have spring to celebrate and with any luck the rain will only be around for the morning so we should be fine by the afternoon. Bring something warm to put on afterwards! And just to be safe- False Bay Volunteer EMS will be there on standby in case of hypothermia! Get out of your comfort zone and come down to the beach on Sunday for the Spring Splash 2008. And the whales are in the bay - 6 of them on show today!!!

Check out the cartoon that Gavin Thomson did for the Peoples Post False Bay Edition on Tuesday 26 August!

Date: Sunday 31 August 2008
Time: 3h30 pm
Venue: Fish Hoek Beach in front of Fish Hoek Galley
Bring: cozzie, towel, friends, attitude and something warm!

Weather Forecast Sunday, 31 August 2008

Min Temp 7 ºC
Max Temp 14 ºC

Description Cloudy, rain mainly morning (60%)
Wind Description fresh north-westerly
Wind AM 30 km/h north-westerly

Sun Rise 07:05
Sun Set 18:26
Moon Rise 07:14
Moon Set 19:18
Moon Phase New Moon

Spring Splash 2008

CAPE POINT ROUTE is celebrating spring and the start of season

with a SPRING SPLASH on 31 AUGUST at FISH HOEK BEACH ….

...Just because we can and so can you!

DATE: Sunday 31 August 2008

TIME: 15h30.

VENUE: Fish Hoek Beach, in front of Fish Hoek Galley

BRING: Cozzie, towel , friends & ATTITUDE

Join the celebration of the People of the South to shrug off winter and welcome the start of season. Tourism is everyone’s business so let’s do it together. It’s free, it’s fun and we want as many people as possible to join together for a spring splash. No registration, no entry fee, no charity, no fundraising.

Bring your friends, relatives, kids, grandparents, staff …and yourself.

See you there (rain or shine!!)

THE CPR GIRLS

Sally, Barbara and Kelly

Images courtesy of Polar Bear Club (Clifton)

Cape Point Route
Voted 2007 South African Tourism
Best Destination Marketing Campaign
tel 021 782 9356 fax 021 782 9346
email info@capepointroute.co.za
website www.capepointroute.co.za