On the way to Knysna

Time to continue the Eastern to Western Cape journey in South Africa - after Kenton-on-Sea we went on safari - read "all" about it here, here, here and here.

After that we drove on N2 towards our next quarters in Knysna. Made some stops along the way, like in Cape St Francis - which we found to be a rather strange place much like a sleeping summer village, hardly no human to be seen and as "always" fenced in houses and signs signaling armed response... The historical pristine white Seal Point Lighthouse made a lovely view with that bright blue sky as background though!

For lunch we headed to the neighbouring town of St Francis Bay - quite a quaint little place with all its uniform and whiter than white houses and cottages. And it all began in the 1950ies.

We thought it would be a good idea to ask at the local tourist office where to find a good place to eat - that turned out to be a lousy idea... We were directed to the newly built, and utterly boring, modern marina-area of Port St Francis. It wasn't easy to find anything descent to eat there, it was also rather deserted. Finally we just chose the closest place, where it took ages to get the food, when it arrived it was tasteless and overcooked seafood pasta, which was totally overpriced...

I have absolutely no clue as to why that tourist-office-woman directed us to that particular area, since we spotted so many nice looking small coffeeshops and restaurants IN St Francis Bay itself on our way back...

But the beaches was like something out of a movie - so lovely and with ample opportunity to pick seashells... - I barely escaped from becoming a Sanibel-hunchback on the beaches of Florida some years ago, I'm not sure I made that same lucky escape from the beaches of South Africa though... And I bet it was the seashells that was partly, big partly, to blame for the overload on the flight back home... And I still haven't figured out how to incorporate them in jewellery in the PERFECT way. But, really, it will be some lovely pieces when I finally do, and with lots of memories added to them also...

Back at the N2 we drove through the Tsitsikamma National Park and the grand Storms River Mouth with the Paul Sauer bridge 405 ft high. I did go out on the bridge by foot, and yes it was with a bit of a tingle and no it wasn't exactly built in a way that made pedestrians feel safe... - having done that I still didn't get any good pics of the scenic view. I blame it on the weather and the light, and not on the photographer... Pretty flower though!

Now, time has come to make a confession - back on the N2, making our way to Knysna, we didn't stopp at Plettenberg Bay... Yes I know, I know, many rave about the place, shouldn't be missed, the most wonderful place on earth, etc etc, but well, we did miss it...

Closer to Knysna the rain began pouring down. It was heartbreaking to see the hords of people making their way home walking along the highway in that weather. No public transportation to be seen... Too much of complete misery homewise to be seen though. Townships which stretched over a vast area and up on the hillsides, the walls and roofs barely holding together and the rain kept pouring down... Sort of both inside and outside our car...

We made it to Knysna and our lodgings at Inyathi Guest Lodge - a completely picturesque place in the middle of the town - at dusk. Conveniently enough we found a lovely little personal restaurant just across the little village square from the guesthouse. Attentive staff, fresh, inventive menu and really good value for the money. It sure lived up to its name of Zest!

Having had a lovely meal there, we sort of roll-waddled our way back to the lodge and crashed in bed. And that's just what I am going to do now! Good night.