Simple days

It's spring tide under a new moon in Kommetjie.  Below the lighthouse, a vast expanse of slippery, seaweed covered flat rock is exposed at the lowest tide and everyone is down there to do the things they can only do at springtide. Mussel pickers are filling their bags with black mussels which cling to the rocks, usually safely protected by the shore break, but are now high and dry. The flat rocky ledge is the top of a sea cliff which drops straight off into deep water. Skilled crayfishermen stand with their bamboo poles, a bait bag attached to the end having been lowered into the depths to lure the crayfish to an easy meal. A catch net is at the ready to grab the crayfish which drop off the bait as they are lifted from the water.  A little way off shore, those who can afford a boat are also chasing after red gold.   Young girls lie on the rocks soaking up the sunshine.  Children are gazing into rock pools, paddling in the icy water.  Dogs splash past them on their way to the next seagull. A diver rises from the kelp and clambers onto the ledge, his bag full of crayfish - a successful dive for dinner.
  No sounds disturb the scene - everyone is going about their business without interfering in anyone else's.  All is calm under the lighthouse. A drift of air from the sea keeps us cool as we clamber over the rocks and make our way back home along the boardwalk.
  In an hour's time, the sea will once more cover the rocky ledge and the sunbathers, dogs, children and fishermen will have to retreat from its advance until the next spring low. It is easy to forget that the scene is so different in winter when the north-west gales rage around the Cape. That is the fascination of the sea. I never grow tired of it.