A stroll along the promenade

A sea mist blanketed the coastline of the Atlantic seaboard today, and the Mouille Point lighthouse was in fine foghorn mode, warning ships to stay well away in the roadstead. A very easy (in fact, completely flat) walk was planned for today along the Sea Point promenade, from Three Anchor Bay to Bantry Bay and back, a distance of approximately 7 kilometres. If it weren't for the fog, we would have had a magnificent view of the ships, both big and small, the waves breaking over rocks on the reefs a little way out to sea and a school of dolphins frolicking nearby. However, all this had to take place in our imaginations, as the fog declined to burn away in the sunshine, as a layer of high cloud took away its potency.
It was a convivial walk and a good pace was set as the only obstacles were runners with prams and many cyclists who chose to ignore the signs painted on the bricks - no cyclists! The main point of interest along this stretch of coastline is the rock formation, detailed in the photograph below, which is of such significance geologically that Charles Darwin visited the site in the 1800s. Typically, the plaque which marked this event has long since been stolen and sold as scrap metal, as is anything that can be removed from anywhere.
Identifying the different types of rock was fun and fascinating (I love rocks!) and it is a great pity that a large area of this interesting phenomenon is covered by the concrete and tar of the dual carriageway that was built along the beachfront years ago. On the other side of the road are the blocks of highrise luxury flats that have long been the hallmark of Sea Point, and I must confess to always having a bit of a yearning to own one of them for a change from the peacefulness of the Kommetjie coastline. A little bit of bustle can be good for the senses.
As we reached Bantry Bay, the fog came to an end and warm sunshine bathed the slopes of Lions Head and the concrete and glass mansions of Clifton. It seemed that those paying the highest rates and taxes had a direct connection to a classier kind of weather! Our coffee break was on the last beach in Bantry Bay, sitting on the granite slabs that are present on the left hand side of geological divide. These tumbled boulders and secluded beaches are unfortunately home to the homeless, of which there must have been at least a dozen along the route, and on our way back we passed a group of women at the public toilets having a bit of an altercation, with one telling another that she didn't usually associate with her type and she had other friends!
We caught a glimpse of a lovely old Victorian double storey through a gap between two blocks of flats, perched on what must originally have been a small hill on the beach before development obliterated the view and the hill - what a sad day it must have been for those original residents. There are still a few old buildings - Winchester Mansions is an example - that developers must be itching to get their hands on, and one can only hope that day is very far away.

Molten rocks intermingled

Sunshine in Bantry Bay

Interesting quartz striations

We could look at the sun through the mist

A great big blob of quartz

Coffee on the rocks!