Kalk Bay | Diary of an Adventurous Retiree

Showing visitors our beautiful land is always a pleasure and it gives us a fresh appreciation of how lucky we are to live in such glorious surroundings. Wendy and Erich from Newcastle, Australia along with their friend and hostess, Nora, arrived at our home at 11 a.m. and we made our way to the shabby chic village of Kalk Bay. We took a leisurely walk down the road and explored some of the shops before going to Live Bait for lunch. The menu offers delicious sea food and throws in a view at no extra cost. Wendy enjoyed her yellowtail (fish of the day) Earl had a seafood pasta, Nora hake and Erich and I settled for Paprika Calamari. All highly recommended. We shared a bottle (or two) of an excellent Robertson’s Sauvignon Blanc and finished with Creme Brulee and coffee. Totally indulgent and delicious.

The Railway Station

A part of the old station converted into a shop

The Subway

This was the tuck shop where we used to buy our ice creams after swimming lessons

The old post office is now a bric-a-brac shop

An old SAR Dining Car – now a popular restaurant next to the railway line

I had to pay R20 for him to pose for this photograph!

Nora, Erich, Wendy and Me at Live Bait

Erich, Wendy, Earl and Me

After enjoying our wonderful meal with excellent company we explored the harbour. We noticed a few people walking around with Nuffield Australia on their caps and stopped to introduce our friends to their compatriots. They were farmers on a Nuffield scholarship touring the country to learn about different types of farming in South Africa . They had found an apple and pear farm in Elgin interesting. There was an Irish farmer and a Canadian on the programme with them. They were also going to Kenya and Russia!

Nora and I with one of the Australian farmers.

A friendly seal looking for a handout from the fishermen

Kalk Bay Harbour

On the Jetty

After enjoying Kalk Bay we took a scenic drive via Kommetjie and through Scarborough to The Cape Boat and Skiboat Club. We did not go through Simonstown as it was Navy Day and congested with tourists.

Looking across from Slangkop to Chapman’s Peak and Hout Bay

Looking toward Hout Bay

Looking toward Cape Point from Smitswinkel’s Bay

One of the hidden houses of Smitswinkels Bay

Looking across to Castle Rock – Cape Boat is just around the corner

At Cape Boat and Ski-boat Club where the wind was howling

Shark Boat

We spotted porpoises – cropped and zoomed – but we saw them!

Our day ended with a glass of sherry at the club before dropping our friends back in Kommetjie. Thanks guys for a fabulous day.

The Friendly People Of Kalk Bay

Playful and friendly are the people of Kalk Bay, from the seller of the rosy apples calling “special for you medem – very cheap – sweet medem- sweeter then mother’s milk” – to the cheerful fisher folk, their cigarettes dangling from the corners of their mouths, smoke gently spiralling into the salty air as they throw their slippery fish onto the harbour wall. Street urchins playfully dog your steps, singing and dancing until you cannot resist their pleas for a small coin. Even the restaurateurs smile the friendly Kalk Bay smile as they usher you in with a tempting introduction of the day’s specials.

As you stroll down the street your step becomes springier as your attention is constantly drawn to the next comic character.

Look out at the ocean and watch the dolphins frolicking in the waves; and are those whales blowing deeper out to sea?

The urchins suffer homelessness and shiver in the cold night. The fisher folk must struggle for over-priced permits to make their meagre living. Yet the magic of the picturesque village, the friendly jollity of the people infect us with happiness, tempting us out of our small change and making us willingly overpay for the humour of the smous’s sales talk rather than for the sweetness of his apples.