Train trip down to Kalk Bay

A few shots taken during a recent trip down to Kalk Bay, one of our favorite little towns on the peninsula. (And location of Olympia Cafe, where we met Randy and Heather for breakfast.) We took the train this time instead of driving - now that it's getting to be nice weather, the roads down to these oceanside towns are very busy on the weekends.
Here we are sitting at Rosebank station, waiting for the train. This station is just two blocks from our flat, so it's easy to hop on. It cost R11 each (or currently about $1) for return tickets to Kalk Bay, a 40 minute train ride. Hey, that's cheaper than paying for petrol and parking!

Side view of a mosque, taken out the window as we passed through the southern suburbs. (Definitely not a sight you'd see riding the Metro through the Chicagoland suburbs.) Not sure but I'm told the billboard says something like, "tasty, yummy, will make your stomach happy" ... we've recently tried Pilchards and realize we quite like them. Very healthy.

Now the train has made it through the suburbs and is hugging the coastline. We leaned out the windows and watched surfers, people walking on the paths, kids swimming, young men fishing and even a few whales puffing and rising above the water a little ways out from the surfers.

Okay now we've made it to Kalk Bay. Time to go meet the Gauthiers for our breakfast. Bring on the Americanos and the baked ham-cheese croissants.

View along Jim's Jog

A year ago we posted very similar pictures of Rondebosch Common and the UCT campus on the back slopes of Table Mountain and Devil's Peak. Now here we are again in spring in the 'southern suburbs' of Cape Town - beautiful! Jim usually jogs around the Common, as our flat is 1/2 block away - here's the view from the far side on an early morning last week.

Flowers of late winter and spring

Strawberries and Spring

On a Wednesday afternoon: bright spring sun and a glorious strawberry harvest! Since Randy and Heather's place in Stellenbosch is literally next door to a strawberry farm - Polkadraai Farm Stall, we spent a leisurely 30 minutes picking and easily filled our buckets. And hey, yeah, that's Jul actually bending over to pick - evident improvement for my back!


For some reason in this field there are numerous scarecrows, which you just see a few of in the background. Not sure if this is to keep away certain birds or just to give a smile (or grimace) to the pickers.

Heather made her delicious Italian Creme Cake for the occasion and we proceeded to consume large amounts of cake and strawberries. (yeah for the cravings of a pregnant woman...)

Sunday with Tobi: an afternoon in the gardens

Last weekend Sunday we spent the afternoon (with a picnic) at Kirstenbosch Gardens. It turned out to be quite warm and the flowers were amazing!! That's Jim and Tobi lying on the blanket.






Above, a pincushion protea. These only bloom in winter - and they only grow in the Western Cape!! No where else in the world!! (oh wait that applies to 1,400 flowers. Incredible, isn't it?)