Gone fishin'

We are enjoying unseasonally calm weather here in Cape Town. November is our month for the start of the howling southeaster, a wind that blows us off our feet, rids us of smog (the Cape Doctor), spreads pollen and hayfever far and wide, dessicates the garden and generally brings out the worst in people (far exceeding the capabilities of taxi drivers to do same). But we have been treated to light southerly to south westerly breezes, with occasional rain, and temperatures that hover around the 20 degree mark; extremely pleasant and conducive to all sorts of activities.

The last four days have seen a mini sardine run in the Kom and Sunday saw families with kayaks and little dinghies launching from the beach to scoop the little fish into nets and buckets. Some waited till low tide when they could just wade out to the trapped shoal, but there was plenty of competition in the reduced surface area from the large flock of gulls that has been vociferously squabbling over this rare treat.
Judging from photographs (in which you cannot see the people!), the larger fish were harvested on the first day, and even the terns are now diving elegantly into the bay to catch a meal. The size of the sardines didn't lure me to go wading in, as I didn't feel the effort involved in turning them into a meal would compensate for the spectacle of me slipping on a rock and disappearing under the water before such a large audience. Chasing fish with my bare hands is not on my skills list. Perhaps if anyone else had indicated that they would come with me and participate, I might have made the effort, but for now any sardines on our menu will come from a tin!