Today Sharon, Katie, Kathy Sturm and I are driving to the Cape of Good Hope area. They are all staying in the waterfront district in city centre. This is my first time driving into the city. Graham and Margot had provided me with a good street map book and I took city streets this time. Only one stop was needed before arriving at the destination of 1 Loader Street, the office for their accommodation.

While I was waiting for people, Graham's phone rang and I was directed to Jennie and Adele's place. Walking down the street, I encountered a street person who just happened to know the last turns to make to find Sharon, Jennie, Adele and Kathy. Kathy Sturm was Jennie's roommate for a couple years at Swathmore College. She is now a virologist living in Memphis.

Sharon had made this trip last year and thus was our guide. First stop after lunch was a place where thousands of penguins hang out, making for both interesting sights and unusual signage.

Since grade school we had heard of the Cape of Good Hope as the southern tip of Africa. Western European expeditions began in earnest in the late 15th century, when the powerful Turkish Empire blocked the overland trade route to India. In 1487, a few years before Christopher Columbus sailed to North America, Bartholomeu Dias left Lisbon, Portugal to follow the western coast of Africa. He is credited with the "discovery" of the route around Africa. Just over a decade later, Vasco da Gama was the first to confirm the all-sea route to India.

This old lighthouse dates back to 1860.

Before leaving the park area, we stopped at a beach access. We saw various ocean wildlife, evidence of zebras, and a surfer. The kelp was sizable and our shadows were getting long by the time we were back on the road.

The drive up Chapman's Peak Drive on the western coast was dramatic. The day had been beautiful, but clouds were moving in.

Darkness was falling, but when we came upon a large group of baboons on and beside the road, there was just enough light to get some photos.

The rest of the way home was uneventful, including the motorway back into the city and my return to Maureen's house. Yet another great day.

Continue on to Cape Town - Day 5

Return to South Africa