Twent five of us headed from Tableview and Constantia on Thursday 25th August along the road past Gordon’s Bay towards Pringle Bay.
First stop was Pringle Bay where most headed to Ticklemouse factory shop to stock up on their favourite biscuits and rusks. Pity they do not have card facilities as most said their purchases would have been far higher had this facility been available. Almost short sighted in a way as in today’s times when it is almost unsafe to carry cash, most use this payment method!
On arrival at the Harold Porter Gardens we went straight to the Red Disa Restaurant. A warm welcome by Suenette and Vic and shortly everyone was seated waiting for their lunch. When it came we could not believe our eyes as to the size of the portion of Hake, Chips, delicious vegetables and salad we received! My goodness many Cape Town restaurants can learn a lesson from the Red Disa on size of portions! The fruit salad and cream was equally good and you could tell from comments that everyone had, in fact, enjoyed their lunch.
Johannesburg architect Harold Porter realised a childhood dream when he established a botanical garden at Betty’s Bay in 1939. It became a National Botanical Garden upon his death in 1958 when he bequeathed the garden to the nation. Harold Porter is a spectacular location, situated just above the ocean and nestled below a steep rocky ravine, a backdrop that rivals Table Mountain behind Kirstenbosch.
The Garden showcases coastal, fynbos and wetland indigenous plants from the Southern Cape of South Africa. Fynbos, meaning fine bush in Afrikaans, is a unique flora to the Cape area consisting of thousands of species of Ericas, Proteas and Restios, many of which are endemic to the region.
Ten of our group elected to do a guided walk through the gardens with Jane Forrester who ably conducted our tour. Jane who is the Head Horticulturalist for the gardens took us on a gentle amble up to the waterfall. Sadly, time is always of the essence, and we could only spend just on an hour on our walk!
It is only when one spends peaceful time in a garden that the traffic back to the city becomes a problem.
We had to bear the dreadful traffic through Somerset West and this had many ladies wondering why our coach driver opted to take the N1 through the town. Our other option would have been to do the coast route (a bit shorter) BUT with the traffic through Strand it would probably have been no better than the Somerset West traffic!
The Northen Suburbs group only got back to Tableview at 18h30 – a long day especially for one lady who lives in Brackenfell which meant she left home before 07h00 and only returned home after 19h30!
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” Gustave Flaubert