Page 11 - Cape-Camera-May-June-2021

May/June 2021 Cape Camera

June 2021 Outing

Images from (top row from left) Robert Maginley, Eric Decleod, Richard Goldschmidt (bottom row) Richard Goldschmidt, Sally Spooner,
Kim Stevens
From Agulhas & Struisbaai to Arniston – a weekend filled with

endless photographic opportunities

by Richard Goldschmidt

Six days before our departure I was sent an email from one of Then it was off to the historical fisherman’s cottages at the en-
the participants that a second major storm was about to hit the trance to Struisbaai for more photography. One party decided
Agulhas plains area over the21st/23rd April. That was the week- to take a trip to Elim, while the others all braved the muddy
end when twenty of us had booked accommodation at the SAN- gravel road leading to Die Mond, another Cape Nature park.
Parks chalets. The previous weekend a major storm did much Beyond the picnic area and Milkwood trees, one crosses the
damage and flooding of the area. Then Nicol advised that the river over a bridge and then walks along the wooded board-
road from Bredasdorp through to Struisbaai was flooded knee- walk alongside the lagoon for a distance of 1.5 km to the sea.
deep for 150 metres – and that was from the first storm, not the It is beautiful countryside, but did not turn out to be very pho-
second one that was predicted on our arrival. Nearer the time, togenic for us, so a picnic lunch under the Milkwoods was
the YR weather site brought their rain prediction forward to called for whilst identifying the birds that came to share our
Thursday, with a small amount on the Friday, so off we bravely sandwiches. The road back to Struisbaai was through farm
set on Friday morning for the Southern-most tip of Africa. lands, much of which was flooded with large lakes covering
A WhatsApp group was established, and Nicol started ahead of what were grasslands two weeks before. Sheep, cattle, and Blue
the rest of us to check the flooded road. He reported back that Herons, and many others of the feathered variety, were to be
the flat Agulhas plains resembled the Okavango Swamps, with seen all along the way back. Arriving early at Struisbaai har-
thousands of birds all enjoying the water. Fortunately the depth bour gave time for an ice cream before the fishing boats started
of the water had subsided somewhat and ordinary sedan cars returning. Some members stayed to see fish being off-loaded
could just make it through by midday. But the sun was shining, while others headed home for photography close to our Cha-
and no further rain fell during our photographic weekend! Sun- lets and another brilliant sunset.
set at the Meisho Maru wreck, just down the road from our cha- Most of us staying in the individual chalets (the Goldschmidts,
lets, found some of us capturing great pictures. The cold wind the Burchells, the Stevens, and Anna Morris and Mierelle Land-
that night put paid to our plans of a communal braai and in- man) crowded into the old historical Lagoon House which is
stead we dined in comfort at a fish restaurant in Agulhas, which situated right on the beach, where the du Toits, the Willis’s, Pat
opened especially for us. Scott and Jeanette du Toit were staying, for a convivial braaiv-
The SANPark chalets were fabulous with everything you could leis that evening. It was a late night! The plan had been to do
ever want – the electric under-blankets were a complete hit and some astro photography but the half-moon put paid to that
sheer luxury for the cold nights. Next morning we were up an idea. Lesson learnt, check the moon schedule in future, not
hour before sunrise and off to the wreck for more pictures, this only the tide schedule!
time from the east side. After breakfast we headed to the light- Sunday morning saw some of the party out just before sunrise
house. The night before we all accepted the challenge as to who once again, while others were of the opinion that they had
could take the best picture of the lighthouse. Some brave souls done their share of photographs in their camera and decided
climbed the steep stairs up to the lights whilst others visited the to sleep in and have a lazy morning. Check-out was a 10am and
nearby art gallery. so we all said a goodbye at the SANParks office at the key hand-

10 Cape Town Photographic Society