Day 7: The Cape of Good Hope

Day 7 was a day to revel in the natural beauty of South Africa. We saw seals, penguins, Chapmans Peak, Long Beach and Cape Point - what we know as the Cape of Good Hope.

We started off with a trip to Seal Island just outside of Haut Bay.  We went up on the deck of the tourboat for the 15 minute ride to Seal Island.  There lay hundreds of seals sunning on the rocks, swimming in the waves.  These seals are real pests to the Haut Bay fishermen but a boon for the tour boats. 

Next we climbed Chapman's Peak, in a bus this time, not the bike I rode the day before.  The view is spectacular (or as the South Africans would say Stunning! Brilliant!) down into the bay and back on Table Mountain.  As you turn to the east, beautiful beaches with lines of waves opened before us.  This is the route of the bike race, the August, which is coming in 3 weeks - 105 kilometers with 38,000 participants.  We passed lots of bikers are on the roads training.

We then made our way to Cape Point National Park where we joined tour groups and tourists from all over the world to experience the beauty of a geographical location we've learned about on a map.  The place is well choreographed with a paved path to the top of rock outcrop which looks down on the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.  For those who don't want to take the 15 minute walk up there is a funicular which will transport them.  I was as thrilled seeing it this year as last. 

On our way back to Camps Bay we stopped at Boulders Beach where we could see penguins nesting.  We got very close to them, trying not to disturb their habitat.  They are amusing!

We are down to our last day.  Friday we spend at Camps Bay High School going to classes.  We will have a final braai at Clifton Beach and then on to the plane tomorrow.  We are hoping this looming snowstorm won't affect our traveling plans, though there are many of our students who would be happy to stay for a few more days! It's always good to leave with the feeling that you wish you could stay longer. That's the sign of a successful trip.