Fly me to the moon is ever so appropriate when sitting on a plane waiting for take-off with the setting moon greeting the dawn of a new day.
The destination this time, Cape Town, for the next round of the Extreme Festival at Killarney Racetrack. Stapled onto this was my plan to stay three extra days, to make sure I returned to Johannesburg with more than simply racing images.
This is what I got up to on my first day…
On arrival Cape Town was a rather rainy 16 degrees – from my point of origin in Johannesburg which at that stage was a rather glorious 30 degrees. What a grand welcome (yeah, right).
First stop after that rather early flight was to grab a delicious Chai Latte while I waited for my adventure mates to arrive.
We set off with no real route planned but rather to simply explore a misty coastline. While driving through Constantiaberg a U-turn had to get made, why you ask… Well, there was an F1-looking race car on the roof of a car dealership – Constantiaberg Autos, a rather odd place for it.
We travelled the windy roads, with views of the rocky hills, stopping at the iconic Muizenberg shark lookout point, where surfers could be seen braving the chilly water and creatures below. Then it was on to Kalk Bay and then Simon’s Town, on the coastal road from Muizenberg.
A technique I am using more and more often is drive-by shooting. It is a chance to capture moments before they flash by, but this was made a little bit trickier by the rain. Timing it just right is important to miss the wiper blades.
A visit to see antique buildings was followed by coffee and then a trip to clothing and antique shops strewn along the route, some dating back to the 1800s. Simonstown greeted us with the Naval base looking dramatic through the fine rain. The clock tower of the Dockyard Anglican Church still standing tall and ensuring the townsfolk have been kept prompt since 1815.
We then stopped at a statue which I enjoyed tremendously. This statue is not of a famous person, but rather of a historic Great Dane named “Just Nuisance”. He was the only dog to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy.
Having grown up with Great Danes and being told many stories about this incredible dog and his life, it was wonderful to finally be able to see his home. The statue was erected in 1985, and Just Nuisance will forever keep watch on the harbour.
Just to the right of the statue is a large drinking fountain which was imported from England to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee. It was originally placed in St Georges Street but in 1930 moved to where it stands proudly next to Just Nuisance in Jubilee Square.
Continuing our adventure led us to Boulder Beach. Quite typically this signalled the rain to fall far more heavily, leaving only a few seconds to photograph the adorable African penguins. Humans are the only ones who seem to hide from the rain, ok maybe cats as well, while the rest of nature simply carries on or even enjoys it.
From there we ventured to a small brewery called Redemption located in a shopping venue called the Biscuit Mill. A building with a mysterious appearance in Woodstock area, the building has no definite or detailed recorded history, leaving one to simply guess and wonder about its past.
Next, the idea was to head into Cape Town proper for a street market, but as it was still raining this morphed into a drive admiring some of the old architecture wonderfully restored and maintained. We had dinner at the Fireman’s Arms, one of the oldest pubs around established in 1864.
Then it was hometime, off to Bloubergstrand for the night after a long day, full of exploring historic sites, delicious food and exceptional company. Watch this space for the rest of my Cape Town adventure.
All images taken with an Olympus OMD EM-1 Mark II.
meghan mccabe photography 