A very different experience. This is not a cheap meal out. And it is certainly not a quick bite to eat. It is not a posh restaurant with comfortable chairs and linen table cloths. It is an experience. And in peak season it is an experience one has to book for, sometimes months in advance, because it is so popular.
You will be on the beach near Langebaan, protected from the elements by a rough, shadecloth boma.
You will sit on rough wooden benches and sawn off logs. You will take a picnic basket with your own wine and beers. You will arrive at midday, and expect to be there for the entire afternoon.
You will find yourself eating hot, fresh, home made breads baked in clay ovens over a fire, with home made butter and home made konfyts.
You will fill up on a variety of fish dishes, and lamb bredie, and crayfish, eating with your fingers, and eating from paper plates.
You will be serenaded by a local musician who would never make a living on a more formal stage, but you will love every minute of his strumming and singing.
Finally you will drink Moer Koffie from chipped enamel mugs, and actually enjoy it.
The SAS Nature Reserve in the Military grounds at Saldanha offers an MTB trail suitable for walkers and runners as well as cyclists. Although it is part of the Military area, entry is open to the public providing there is no red flag flying to indicate shooting practice. Entrance is free. The road through the veld follows the coastline so there are awesome views across the Bay, and there are some paths down to the rocky coast. It is a nature reserve, and there will be snakes so I wouldn't go bundu bashing or walking along paths where I can't see the ground in front of my feet. When I was there in summer time I did find some ticks afterwards, so it would be a good idea to check your bodies carefully after walking through these trails. As a person who enjoys nature, and views, and surf pounding on the rocks, I found the SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve to be well worth a visit.
Following a request from a guest arriving in December about ideas for what there is to see and do, I thought perhaps it would be a good for me to start preparing a few posts about what there is to see nearby. So let's go to Saldanha first.
Saldanha is less than 40km away along a good tar road via Vredenburg, so it is less than an hour in travel time to get there. For those fit enough to walk up stairs there is a very easy climb up to the lookout point from which one has 360 degree views of Saldannah Bay, the ore terminal, and the military base. Some of the old fisherman homes still stand there at the base of the hill, as well as a small museum and a statue in honour of those lost at sea. There is also an interesting old graveyard just below the fisherman cottages.
Just loved these gorgeous clouds while I was out walking the dogs this afternoon ...
... and then came across these footprints in the wet sand along the edge of the river. There's nothing special about a stranger's footprints, plus those of my own little Yorkies, but I just kind of liked them
It's hard to believe October is almost over and nearly a month has gone by since my last post. Somehow I have to get into the habit of writing more often and keeping up with my local "journal".
So spring time has been and now we are into summer. The days are getting longer and longer rapidly now. And as the days lengthen, so too does the heat, although night times are pretty cool still and I usually have a jersey on by the time sun goes down.
We are entering our windy season, and it sure looks like we're in for a windy, windy season. So not often I find reflections out there at the moment, but hey, there is beauty everywhere if you're only prepared to look for it.
Down at the local fishing harbuor just after sunset last night. Note how choppy the water is - that chilly wind was sure blowing
You will find yourself eating hot, fresh, home made breads baked in clay ovens over a fire, with home made butter and home made konfyts. 
