Summer in Cape Town really is as good as they say…. since landing on 14th January the sun has not stopped shining and the temperature hasn't dipped below 26 degrees.
I am out here with my wife, Kiri, and we are living with Tim from the TTRide foundation in the midst of Kalk Bay, wide windows spilling out onto the Harbour which acts as a perfect wind and wave monitor.
I'm here overseeing the two groups on the TTRide SA 2011 course as they touch down in Cape Town, and subsequently leave to head off on the road trip up the coast, whilst Kiri is ensuring as much research is done as possible into the lives of the Capetonians and how they spend their summer.
Weekends are the pinnacle of the Cape summer, the vibe is unbeatable. There's such a huge selection of waves on offer as the Cape caters for all conditions, and directions of both winds and swell, and you can always avoid the crowds aswell with a visit and exploration into the Cape reserve.
'An endless weekend' would be a exhilarating journey to embark on out here, which is why Cape Town is such a popular holiday destination. The winds and waves on offer are world class and there for all, but don't think of it as a 1 dimensional waterports location. Saturdays watching live music at the Cape Farmhouse, Sundays chilling on Clifton 4 beach dabbling in bursts of energetic games of volleyball. Saturday is also the day to visit the Old Biscuit Mill market – think Borough Market but even more adventurous, and ten times more sociable – sitting on hay bales in the sun with your recently purchased wares of a coriander hot dog swizzle, peanut and pumpkin cake and a glass of South African sparkling wine. A recent Sunday took us to the open air concerts at Kirstenbosch, sat amongst hundreds of chilled picnic goers, under the shadowy gaze of Table Mountain, listening to the melancholy sounds of Farryl Purkiss, Dan Patlansky and Inge Beckmann with Tim and Daniella from the foundation and trip leader Bevan.
The most exciting event we have stumbled upon was the Rolling Retro surf contest at Llandudno on Sunday, a contest open to anyone and everyone who, on heading to the surf, had to select their choice of retro boards from John Whitmore's earliest 50's designs to some classic 80's twin fin/tri fin/quad fin shorties. Jordy Smith, Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker and Royden Bryson were all there trimming, slicing and dicing all old-school on heavy, glassy, turquoise waves. It was quite a show…
Today is the arrival of trip 2, and with 4 more days out here I hope we will have some more Cape news to shout about soon…..