Coastal idyll

One of my favourite walks is along the coastline from Buffels Bay in Cape Point Reserve to Venus Pool, a beautiful rock pool formed when the seabed tilted (and various other geological happenings!) millenia ago, trapping the spillage from the waves that relentlessly batter the shore. There are pristine white-sanded beaches, rivulets down from the mountains, thick coastal forest where birds shelter from summer gales, grassy slopes beloved of the eland that frequent this part of the Reserve and the ever-present group of ostriches to be enjoyed along the way. No baboons were sighted (again a cause for concern as to how exactly they are being 'managed'), but evidence of otter activity was spotted and a couple of tortoises scuttled away as fast as their stubby legs would carry them.
Oystercatchers, kelp gulls, white-fronted plovers and a small flock of delicate avocets were scattered along the beach, providing photo opportunities with the requisite reflections. But the highlight was the presence close inshore of a number of humpback whales which, although not treating us to spectacular breaching or sounding, kept giving us glimpses of glistening dorsal fins and the odd spout.
The towering cliffs of Judas Peak and Paulsberg are especially impressive from below, and we all congratulated ourselves on having hiked that trail not so long ago. It's just over 6km from the car park to Venus Pool and back, yet the walk is so easy and soothing to the soul that it's hard to believe we covered that distance.
Altogether an idyllic place to be on a cool early Spring morning, far, far from the madding crowd.