Wednesday 23/8/23
Dear Elsie
Today was the day we went to Cape Agulhas. What’s really exciting is tomorrow we get to see YOU!
Last night it poured with rain and we got caught in it while we were in the hot springs. It was cold and windy but the water was hot and I enjoyed swimming a few laps in the hot water. We did the same this evening but the cold front has passed and it’s not so windy now. Last night I had an idea of driving to Cape Agulhas today. After all, there are these signs posted along the N2 and we never have the time to make the trip. Today we did.
The road to Cape Agulhas from Caledon goes through Napier and Bredasdorp. As far as Bredasdorp it is fantastic – really good condition, well kept and no potholes. Farmlands as far as the eye can see.
Entering Napier…
Between Bredasdorp and Agulhas the landscape becomes more scrubby. The road is a little less kept although there are not potholes. There’s mainly no road refuge for cyclists or pedestrians. The tar has worn away at the edge. Arriving in Agulhas, there has been a lot of development.
We walked the picturesque boardwalk to the most southern tip of Africa.
Fortunately, there were lots of people around to take photos.
From there it was off to the lighthouse, built in 1848 – not the oldest lighthouse in South Africa. That honour belongs to the Green Point lighthouse!
We had to climb to the observation deck. Three ladders took us up there, making up 71 steps. Mike starting up.
View from the deck.
And then down we went…
The viewing deck from below…
We learned Agulhas means ‘needles’ in Portuguese. The reason the Portuguese explorers gave it this name is because when they laid a compass down on their map, the needle corresponded with true north and not magnetic north (thanks Mike!) Altogether a memorable day and well worth the drive.
I managed to get a couple of hours work done this afternoon and then we had our hot spring swim. Next it’s a very late dinner.
Psalm 145:10
All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂