A walk around the island

Took an early morning walk round the island this morning before it got too hot. Anke and I stopped frequently to admire the incredible, huge cactus flowers along the path, the terns and cormorants diving for fish in the bay, and the gentle swells that rippled into to bay as the tide ebbed, exposing vast expanses of rock and kelp seemingly by the minute.

Anke did her usual bit of community service by picking up what looked like a poacher's bag (empty!) and bits of plastic, while I opened the lid of the dirtbin in the car park for her to dispose of them - a far more hazardous activity than actually picking up the litter, considering that the bins have not been emptied for a week. Gone are the days when exciting and interesting things washed up on the shoreline, like the beautiful glass floats from the Japanese fishing boats - now it seems to be only plastic from China. It's very sad that so few people could be bothered to pick up the odd bottle top or bit of string as they walk by, but Anke never fails! Give that woman a Bells!

A man was filling a wheelbarrow with freshly washed up kelp from the beach and putting it in the back of a bakkie - probably an enterprising gent who is going to chop it up and use it in his garden or, judging by the quantity, make business from it. Excellent fertiliser and free from the sea!

We finished our walk with a reviving cappuccino under the milkwood tree at Espresso Dotkom. Not a bad way to start the day!