A morning at the beach

After Tai Chi class this morning, I set off for Fish Hoek beach to meet a friend who I met via Facebook. She goes to the beach every day for a walk, armed with her camera, and takes the most incredible photos of the beach, the sea, flowers along the catwalk, surfers, whales and birds, as well as the A-team of early morning swimmers if she gets there in time. Her Facebook group page has a huge viewership from ex-Fish Hoekites who are now spread all over the world, but have never lost their love for this most marvellous of beaches where whales and their calves frolic in Spring, and dolphins streak across the bay in schools of up to 500 all year round. Her unusual perspectives and sometimes 'arty' shots let us see the beach from angles we would never have thought possible, and she has an eye for the unusual. Her zoomed photos have become legendary and suggestions of compiling a coffee table book abound.

This morning the north-west breeze had flattened False Bay, although a sizeable bottle-green wave would fold over and crash quite boldly into the shallows as we indulged in coffee and convivial conversation under the palm trees. Beyond the wave, two whales peeped out of the water and then slid silently away, not to be seen again. Seagulls pecked among the remains of the black mussels that washed up a week or two ago, providing photo opportunities for the three busloads of oriental tourists who arrived to enjoy lunch before moving on to Boulders and Cape Point. They seemed delighted by the children's playpark and were photographed by their fellow travellers seesawing, swinging and even slipping down the slide. Perhaps they don't have the freedom to indulge in such childish pleasures back home.

Some hours passed unnoticed. What a privilege to be able to while away the time in such beautiful surroundings.