Through the Bottom of My Empty Beer Glass

Lines ashore and we were soon downing a cool glass of non-alcohol beer, quickly followed by a lengthy walk around the V & A Marina to the office, past the canal weirs, ‘lawns’ being laid on the brand new Leopard Cats. Apologies for any confusion but while trying to keep a story line going through this blog the photos were taken on a couple of trips to the office and facilities.

Janneke and Weitze on Anna Caroline, our neighbours, brought us the immensely good news that president Cyril Ramaphosa, in his recent speech, had, while we were at sea, rescinded the ban on alcohol sales and allowed all the bars and restaurants to re-open!

In our absence the weather window at sea, of which we had used the first three days, continued for another three days after we were safely tucked up, proof that waiting until after New Year to round the coast westwards as the season settled in, was not a bad idea.

The harbour area, named Victoria and Alfred after Queen Victoria and her son, Alfred, is partly what puts Cape Town on the world map as one of the most beautiful cities. We are no experts and I have heard mention of Rio as another fine city but the views of the clean, vibrant harbour area with the unique Table Mountain overlooking everything is very special. The mountain is one of the oldest in the world consisting of layers of sandstone and granite, it was formed by igneous and glacial activity 520 million years ago making it six times older than the Himalayas. Yet to be climbed and descended by us!

On our first sortie we soon found the Scottish Pub, Ferrymans for a real craft beer. It is in the same old stone/brick building as Mitchells, The Irish Pub and looked as if they might be under the same ownership. The Six Nations was about to start and we arranged with the Irish Pub next door, on a courtesy visit to them (!) to return one evening to watch the England V Ireland Match.

However later that evening there was a power cut in the marina so we couldn’t exit through the electric gates. Instead we listened to the match on the BBC Sounds Sports Channel App. When we visited the next day to apologise for not turning up the lady said they also had the same power cut and the battery to their generator had caught fire so they had to close anyway!

A stroll down to the waterfront after our Scottish aperitif took us into Quay Four for our first meal not out of Zoonie’s fridge since Richards Bay. We luxuriated in the great views over the water watching the tripper boats in and out filled with punters out for a good time, including aboard the ‘Olde Pirate Galleon’ with the figurehead curious as to whether she needed some extra support.

As you can see Zoonie is moored at the furthest in pontoon nearest the harbour side activities. Between the apartments and the six star ‘One and Only’ Hotel, yep that’s its name’, is Signal Hill, again as yet to be assaulted by us, and the listing ship on the right looks to be an old cable layer, but research into her details is ongoing. The red brick building on the extreme right is the aquarium.