Tuesday 5th March
Hi, it's Tuesday morning and our first day in Coffee Bay. The group had their first surf this morning and all loved the surf conditions and warm water. The conditions were challenging but everyone adapted well. We then had lunch and had another surf. It was a beautiful first day and great start to our stay in Coffee Bay. We stay at the Coffee Shack, which is a well-known backpackers in South Africa. It is visited by both foreigners and South Africans on a daily basis and offers great facilities.
Wednesday morning we woke up to clean glassy 2 ft waves. Ben and Charlie had a dolphin come up a meter in front of them, and were both very stoked. We did a lesson in the afternoon, where everyone had to work on a goal that they had set out for this stop. Every one did really well. We then ended the evening with supper, which consisted of a starter of soup with Xhosa bread and a main of beef stew with rice and salad. Xhosa bread is made in a local style that Xhosa people baked their bread; it is really good and is always a favourite in Coffee Shack.
Thursday we were very blessed with another beautiful day in Coffee Bay and of course really fun waves. The group put a couple of solid hours in the water. Danielle and Lauren returned from their over night stay at a Xhosa house that morning. They were both very pleased they had gone to see how the local people stay and their way of life. The waves were pumping in the afternoon and so the crew took advantage and surfed until the sunset.
The weather and waves have been all time the last few days in Coffee Bay. Friday we woke up to yet again great waves and sunshine. We had a fun contest to start the day. The prizes were for: biggest wave, best wave, longest ride, best wipeout, best surfer, best dismount and most committed. Everyone was trying their best and it was really close. In the end it was: Will best wave, George best turn, Lucy best wipe out, George best over all male, Will longest ride, Sarah best foamy, Alex most improved and Tom best dismount. We ended the day with drumming lessons from the local boys that live in Coffee Bay.
So on Saturday we woke up to our first day of wind, but once again the waves were fun. Coffee Bay itself is protected from the wind, so it handles most wind quite well unless it is howling. Matt and George had a few good waves and adapted well to the change in conditions. It was Lucy's birthday so we had a couple drinks and played a few card games that evening. It was another epic day in Coffee Bay.
Sunday was a chilled day, after a good night of partying it was needed. We went for a surf after breakfast. Alex was really on it out there and was taking off on some solid waves. Alex's surfing has improved a lot since Chintsa, he’s been working hard on his goals and putting lots of time in the water. We then went to the shebeen (local bottle store) to try out the local Xhosa beer ‘Ijuba’. It's not the easiest to drink at first and is almost milky, but it is cheap and is a cultural activity worth doing in Coffee Bay.
A major activity that we do in Coffee Bay is the walk to Hole in the Wall. The coastline here is so beautiful, so getting to do this walk really lets you enjoy it. On the walk you see traditional Xhosa houses that are round and made from mud bricks. The bricks are made up of cow dung and mud, that once moulded are left to harden for two weeks. You also see baby hole in the wall, which is minor compared to The Hole in the wall. Once at the Hole the group had a swim and a couple jumped from the sides into the waves crashing through the hole. We then walked back to our car that was parked half way back to Coffee Bay (10km in total). Ronan and Ryan decided they would run back to Coffee Bay along the road and we were all super proud when we saw them on the last hill down to the Coffee Shack. We then settled in for a good nights rest.
It's our last day in Coffee bay today. We woke up to quite a hard east wind that made the surf really choppy and difficult. A few of the group tried it out, but only Matt and Ryan were able to get out back. This showed how well they are reading the sea and that their paddling is really strong. We ended our last day with a sunset over Coffee Bay. It was beautiful and gave us a taste of South Africa in its prime. This is where the nation’s father Nelson Mandela grew up and you get a real sense of Africa out here. It has been a great stay in Coffee Bay and won't be forgotten.
Till next time
Klee Strachan