Many people collect, but what do I collect? - Day 358
We have met many people who collect things on our travels, African artefacts, antiques, cacti...but what do I collect? You may be surprised...or not!
What a view! We opened the curtains to a stunning sight of the calm Knysna lagoon, protecting the town from the power of the Indian Ocean. We are lucky to be staying on Kynsna Heads, high above the shore, giving us such a spectacular view. The tide was out, and a golden beach stretched before us. Tim will have a field-day creating some sand-sculptures on this sometime soon.
We walked down the steep slope to have some brunch and found East Head café right on the edge of the Head Peninsular. Too late for breakfast, we had a delicious salad instead. I think we will be back here during the week!
Afterwards, we had a pleasant walk around the Head and met another English couple, Mary and Graham, from Loughborough. They were holidaying here celebrating their special birthdays. Like another couple we met, they had come from Cape Town, so gave us a few tips. Sadly we couldn’t reciprocate as they were heading back that way, the end to their tour.
Tim spotted a walkway under a precipice and climbed up while I relaxed, enjoying taking in the atmosphere of the waves crashing on the rocks and birds catching fish. He met a young lady from Holland who had just finished studying as a Clinical Psychologist. He shared a bit about the Three Principles to her. I hope she reads up about it and discovers people like George Pransky, a Clinical Psychologist who treats patients differently to the norm, seeing and directing them to their well-being and enabling them to become well. Perhaps we will meet her again.
In the afternoon we drove to Harkerville for a walk in the indigenous forest. We chose the Perdekop Nature Walk as this was a challenging yet achievable 9.5km. Or it would have been if we hadn’t missed a turning and had to retrace some footstep! It was an easy walk, no steep inclines, and along a footpath that was clear most of the way, apart from a few times when we had to clamber over or under fallen trees. This was all part of the fun. The forest was a mix of trees, and we recognised the yellowwood, beech and ash. There was also some beautiful pink leaf Blechnum ferns which stood out from the green and brown undergrowth and well as rich orange fungi growing on rotting bark.
During the walk, each kilometre was signposted which was handy, especially as after 4km we realised we had been walking for 100 minutes. I quickly calculated that at that rate we’d be walking for nearly another 140 minutes, and it would be dark by then. The thought of this caused a rocket up where I needed it, and each step was a much longer stride. Phew, did I ache when we got back? Some excellent exercise for the glutes though.
We didn’t see much birdlife, they were camouflaged too much, and we didn’t have our twitcher friend Sue with us. We read that there are about 35 species of birds found in this forest and definitely heard the weird deep kow-kow-kow bark of the Knysna Lourie. Tim did see a “Little Brown Job” as we call most small birds, and through the camera lens could see that it was, in fact, beautiful green with a black head a bit like a canary (any ideas Sue?). However, as we trekked along the track, we did see quite a few African Giant Black Millipedes, their name says it all!
At about the 8km point, we just walked around a corner when I suddenly saw an animal dart into the forest. It looked quite dark with a sleek body about the size of a leopard and a large bushy long tail. Perhaps it was a caracal, this animal does live in this forest. Such a shame I didn’t have my camera ready. I did spot the eyes shining out from the darkness of the woods for a short time.
And you may be wondering what I collect. Unfortunately, it is mosquito bites, yet again. My legs look like much-used pincushions, and they itch like crazy. Did you know that the itchiness is from the protein that these little blighters inject under our skin? By putting a hot spoon on each bite or having a scorching shower can stop the discomfort. And I am glad to have that big tub of Aloe as well now. Ouch!
