Hunting For Shells, Waiting For Coffee.

4 April 2012

Kelsey decided she did not have enough shells (she had tons already as far as I could see!) and so the family made an expedition down to a beach absolutely covered in kelp to rectify the situation by taking a long stroll whilst she darted here and there collecting only those things she deemed interesting. I have to admit that apart from the company there wasn't much to recommend this beach.

An hour long break for lunch back at camp and then we were off again on another walk along a different beach front minus James who had elected to remain back at camp. This trail wound its way through a designated fynbos conservation area and exposed us to the prettiest aspects of Gansbaai: Great sweeping mountain ranges blanketed in fynbos vegetation ending abruptly at the clear dark blue ocean edge. The sun made an effort to overcome its daily war with the clouds, and soon we were treated to a vision of blue skies and sunshine dancing upon the waves.

Back at camp we got a chance to take a quick dip in the heated pool before showering and heading out to dinner at a restaurant we had picked out earlier on our afternoon drive through town. At Oppidek Pub & Bistro Luke and I shared a seafood platter of calamari, hake, mussels, prawns and chips – all of which were superbly fresh and cooked to perfection. Dessert stuffed an already full tummy with malva pudding and custard on my part, and vanilla cheesecake for Luke. Although the food is to be recommended the service was ridiculously slow, and we were left to freeze out on the windy balcony for far too long before Andrew received his after dinner coffee. 

By the time it arrived I think Luke’s brain cells had gone into hibernation in response to the frigid conditions, and this explains why he decided to take his dad’s nearly empty milk jug and pour into it the remains of his dad’s filter coffee and sip away at it daintily, as if it were normal for a larger than normal man to drink out of a tiny milk jug. Needless to say we all erupted into hysterics, which were worsened by Petro staring at Luke in disbelief and Luke eagerly looking around for the person that so fascinated Petro when in fact that person was him! So if you go to Oppidek you can expect: Great food and terribly slow service.