Coastal Kayak - Article: Trip Reviews

Coming alive on kayak trip off Sea Point

GABI DE BIE

Saturday, 16 December 2006

WAKING to the booming resonance of the harbour fog horn did not bode well for visibility and the chance of sightings on our eagerly awaited kayak adventure along the Sea Point coast. However, with undampened spirit, our small group of four set out on an early October morning from Three Anchor Bay.

Kaskazi Kayaks supplied the stable and comfortable double-seater kayaks and specialised kit in the form of life vests and splash covers. Our obliging guide, Arthur, supervised our collective safety with efficient responsibility, and also shared in our enthusiasm and fun.

We headed out on flat, becalmed waters into the low fog that was rolling in from the south. As we hugged the coastline, palm trees and buildings along the Sea Point promenade mysteriously appeared and disappeared in the fog.

A sea-level view of the massive sandstone retaining wall had me appreciatively pondering the labour efforts which contributed to its construction.

On the day, the ocean was a brilliant turquoise and so translucent as to enable a view of the sea bed some five or six metres below. Seals playfully rolled on their backs or jumped from the water, unperturbed by our presence and our own curiosity. Surf skiers were out training in numbers and the whole scene conveyed a very pleasant sense.

Onward to Saunders' Rocks where the geological contact between dark brown rocks of the Malmesbury group and white speckled Cape granite is clearly evident.

Tiny box jellyfish, drawn to the surface on account of cloudy weather, were drifting along in thousands and every so often there was an impressively large individual.

Owing to the lack of visibility we decided to turn around and head back towards Granger Bay where it was clearer.

With the mist having lifted by this time, quite the most magnificent vista of Devil's Peak, Signal Hill, Table Mountain and Lion's Head presented itself.

I considered myself a privileged witness and imagined how the first seafaring visitors to the Cape must have been awestruck by this same sight.

The water remained captivatingly calm, allowing us a close inspection of the weathered engine block of RMS Athens, wrecked in 1885.

Then, what a treat when a group of about 12 African Penguins surfaced alongside our kayaks. Kelp gulls and terns were ever present; cormorants and gannets were often seen flying in formation very low over the water.

An exhilarating two-and-ahalf hours later, entertained by the antics of a bull Cape Fur Seal, we beached the kayaks.

With the changing moods of the ocean, each excursion is likely to offer a different experience and so it was that, over snacks and a steaming cup of coffee, we swapped tales of our observations and considered our next kayak trip.

A paddle at sunset perhaps?