Another brisk beachfront walk this evening - everyone out watching the waves and surfers in the bright sunshine between cloudiness. The air was not too cool and in fact we were overdressed in jackets. The breakers were the colour of peppermint ice cream and looked just as cold, although this wasn't a deterrent for the many surfers enjoying the waves. Many wetsuited young men jogged past with surfboards under their arms, barefoot (on the tar, which must have been rather painful unless their feet were frozen) and we could only admire their passion for their sport. Who knows how far they had already run, only to surf in strong seas for an hour or so and then run back home again. They must be incredibly fit.
The smell of rotting kelp, which we don't get down near the lighthouse, was very much on the airwaves as we passed the boat launching beach, and we were again reminded how lucky we are not to have that feature of Kommetjie, which makes you stop every so often and look under your shoes to see if you have stepped in dog poop. The sacred ibis, egrets and gulls were having a feast in the piles of seaweed, pecking up the sea lice which feed on the kelp. It's a wonderful ecosystem and works perfectly, as nature does when not interfered with.
As you can see from the photo, the kelp is pretty deep at the moment and is best avoided if you don't want to slip and find yourself in a bed of slimy vegetation.
The light was, as always, spectacular, with the clouds providing an ever-changing dapple of sunshine and shade to inspire artists and photographers alike. These wintry evenings are without doubt the best time of year for walking.
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