I must go down to the sea again!

Scarborough, near Cape Town.

I'm not and never have been a 'beach-goer' in the traditional sense .  I've never liked getting sand in my eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth.  I dislike its grittiness.  Perhaps it's because my childhood years were spent in landlocked Zimbabwe (then known as Southern Rhodesia).  We used to go to Beira in Mozambique, for long weekend breaks occasionally.  It was little more than a fairly primitive coastal resort in those days...hot, white, sandy beaches and sheet-metal rondavels that served as the 'luxury' accommodation...otherwise, I think you just pitched a tent right on the sand itself!  In any case, I have vivid memories of lots of sand.  It seemed to get into everything!  [Beira has subsequently grown into an imposing city, which I've never seen.]

I remember getting very badly sunburnt and eating an entire bag of mint humbugs, which all came out in an unstoppable projectile of sticky black goo at bedtime, much to the consternation of my parents.  It was undeniable as to who had pigged down the missing bag of humbugs!  I guess, with early beach memories like these, it's no wonder I'm not that wild about spending too much time, 'on the beach,' California Beach Babe style!

Sunbathing on the sand is, however, quite different from taking a long stroll along the water's edge in the early morning or evening; or intently examining all the fascinating life-forms hidden or lurking in rockpools.  Quite different, too, from hunting for shells and bits of washed up flotsam; or from sitting on a rock, in silent contemplation right beside crashing, churning, foamy waves...delighting in the thrilling intensity of it all!   Oh, yes...I do love the sea...the changing moods and colours, the  sights and smells, the thunderous roar of the eternal ocean!

So, let us pretend...

The day has opened up bright and sunny, but with Autumn approaching the Southern Hemisphere, this can cause the weather to become unpredictable.  By the time we reach this very attractive, rocky, coastal stretch near Cape Town, at around midday/early afternoon, the wind has picked up and there are quite a few clouds looming.  Nothing too dramatic.  Just enough to chill the air and add a touch of moodiness to the panoramic seascape  we've come to admire.

 

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Boulders at Simons Town is home to a colony of African Penguins.

The penguins don't seem to mind the windy conditions out in the bay, as they sun themselves on the rocky cliffs.

Others prefer the sheltered basin of a rocky hollow, protecting them from the full force of the wind.

John Masefield's words ring so true...I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.

When was the last time you spent a quiet moment, doing nothing, just sitting, looking at the sea, at the waves crashing onto the shore? "The sea heaves up, hangs loaded o'er the land, breaks there, and buries its tumultuous strength." ~ Robert Browning Hamilton

When last did you feel sea-spray on your cheeks and taste the saltiness on your tongue?

When last did you gaze, far off into the distance and allow your concerns to float away on the receding tide?

Poets and philosophers throughout the ages have been inspired by the differing moods of the sea in different seasons...are you willing to rest quietly and let it inspire you, here, right now?

"Break, break, break,

On thy cold gray stones, O sea!

And I would that my tongue could utter

The thoughts that arise in me."

~ Lord Alfred Tennyson ~

"I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky." ~ John Masefield ~

"Voyage upon life's sea,

To yourself be true,

And, whatever your lot may be,

Paddle your own canoe."

~ Sarah Bolton ~

I hope this selection of photos, taken along the Scarborough coastline and at Boulders (both an easy drive from the centre of Cape Town), afforded you a wistful, virtual-visit to the seashore...most especially  those of you who do not live close enough to the coast, to be able to visit in person  :)