Down the jetty

I just love harbours. The smell of diesel deeply ingrained in the old wooden boats, the bright colours of the hulls, the odd seal rolling and diving in the hopes of cadging a piece of fish cleanings, the extremely colourful language emanating from engine rooms through the hatches as fishermen grapple with leaking valves and seawater in the bilges.

Kalk Bay harbour is full of crayfish boats at the moment and the jetties are jam-packed three abreast, so if your boat is on the outside you have to jump across two others to get there. There was plenty of activity, although no fishing had been going on due to inclement weather, probably because hanging out on the boat is preferable to hanging out with the fishwife. Is that where the name arose? From nagging wives whose husbands didn't bring home a fish?

It was nearly lunch time and a piece of fish was calling me. Kalky's was nearby, but some years back I had the worst meal I've ever had from there and vowed never to return. But I was feeling charitable (i.e. hungry) and gave them a second chance. Happily, the experience was good - fresh enough fish (suspect frozen but well handled), light and very thin batter, although very oily and it didn't sit heavy in the stomach. I can't comment on the chips as I didn't have any. It still didn't match the fish I cook at home, which happily comes straight off the boats, but for a not too expensive meal for a family enjoying a day out, it passed muster.

The sun came out and a stroll along the jetties made for a perfect ending to a trip to Kalk Bay harbour.