The sun sets on St Francis DP.

When we decided to share a bit of the beauty just down the Eastern Cape coast from our hometown, we were travelling there regularly and able to take new pictures. But we are unlikely to find time to go back for a while, and although we still have tons of photos, they are really variations of what we have already shown you. So for now we plan to take a hiatus from this blog. Hopefully anyone who visits here for the first time will enjoy scrolling back over old posts and enjoying the glimpse we have given you of this breathtaking part of the planet!

We do look forward to welcoming you to Port Elizabeth Daily Photo, which we will be continuing to update daily.

travelling

We recently went to Lesotho ( aptly nicknamed "the Mountain Kingdom") for 9 days, and have been posting photos of the journey on our personal blogs, as we took SOOOOOOOO many! It is such a stunning place, so if you are interested in joining the journey, check out the last few posts.......Arty Fartying Around and the maX files

A rare sight - Oyster catcher

The African black oystercatcher can often be seen in the Cape St Francis area. This is really special, because sadly these birds are in danger of extinction, as their habitat is increasingly being threatened by man.

There are apparently less than 5 000 birds left in the world and it is the only oystercatcher that breeds in Africa.

Oyster catchers mate for life and may live for 35 years. The name is a misnomer, as the birds eat limpets and mussels and not oysters. They do not breed until they are three years old.

A perfect landing

A sea gull coming in to land at the Port

Candelabra plant in full bloom

This fascinating indigenous plant looks like nothing at all for most of the year, then it blooms and puts on a spectacular show.

Winter is on the way....

But St Francis has such a temperate climate that these chimneys are not for fires to keep the homes warm, but for outdoor braais (barbeques)!!

Hanging out

A while ago I featured a cormorant, and mentioned that they like to hang their wings out to dry, but as I could not find the picture I wanted to show you, I included a painting I did of it instead. Well going through my archives this morning, I came across it, so here you have it, not the greatest shot (taken on a video camera which has poor quality stills) but at least you can get the idea!

the resort

Cape St Francis Holiday Resort started out several years ago as a Caravan park, and had a few chalets too. It has grown over the years, and now has many chalets, a conference centre, and its own restaurant, Joe Fish.

fencing

Poles in the carpark overlooking the Full stop surf spot at Seal Point.

Reflections

A new development at the port.

windswept waves

The sea at otters landing can be very beautiful when the waves smash onto the rocky shore.

lookout tower

One enterprising property owner, who wants to sell his plot, built a tower so the prospective buyers could see the lovely 360 degree views that they would have from a 2nd storey window. The plot overlooks the port.

Monthly Theme Day, Numbers

Many of the old buildings in South Africa had the date of completion displayed in some way on the building, which is helpful for historians. This is the lighthouse at Seal Point, completed in 1878. Many other City blogs are participating in this month's theme...

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by kristen havens, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Riga, Latvia by Famous, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Test City (MA), USA by , Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

lighting up the harbour wall

These lights are set into the harbour wall at intervals, but they have seen better days, with beads of condensation and rust taking their toll.

are you kidding?

Right next to the new industrial area in St Francis Bay is the suburb of Sea Vista, which is traditionally a non-white area, and home to many of the labourers who work around the Village. They keep livestock where possible, so you are often treated to unlikely sights such as this, goats wondering along the road past some of the industrial buildings in the area!

drydock

Because Port St Francis is a relatively small harbour for small vessels, a crane is not necessary to take boats out to drydock. A metal cradle is lowered into the water, and runs on rails to pull the boat out of the water.

Anchor

I have always liked the traditional shaped anchor with the centre shaft and curved base, but these days the fishing boats all have ones that look like this... they may be more efficient but they are definitely not as pretty!

Dredging

The entrance to the Port is kept clear by a somewhat primitive looking dredger. You can see the sand being pumped out of the long metal pipe at the front of the boat.

The Kromme River

Looking upriver, the Kromme forms a floodplain that has wonderful wetland flowers at certain times of the year. As available property gets scarcer in St Francis (which is built on the bank of the Kromme) more people are starting to build along the banks upriver. Given the chequered history of South African rivers when it comes to flooding, these guys are taking quite a chance!

The Airpark

One of the Prime properties in St Francis is the Airpark. There is a grass runway for light aircraft on the crest of the point leading to Shark Point. The land surrounding the runway was sold off as large plots, with the idea that each owner could fly in to St Francis, and taxi right up to their home. They also have wonderful views of both St Francis Bay, looking back across the coast to Jeffreys Bay, and also across the curve of beach and Seal Point where the lighthouse stands.

It is also on the border of a nature reserve which runs between the two settlements, so there is no fear of someone building in front and blocking their spectacular views.

Hello, who are you?

Boy meets penguin, at the Ajubatus marine rescue centre.

Look....it's me!

Don't you just love it when you can see kids making discoveries about the world? The pool at the Port Hotel was like a mirror after sunset, and little Ethan was intruiged by his reflection!

mural

this seagull has been painted onto a wall on someone's driveway, to greet visitors

Food hygiene

This sign was spotted on a calamari fishing boat. It is nice to know that someone is concerned about the health of the customers, but it does not say much about the habits of the staff.

St Francis Architecture #4

In recent years a craze for mock Tuscan has swept through South Africa. All over Johannesburg you will see townhouse complexes in this style. Sadly, (In my opinion anyway, I hate MOCK anything when we have so much potential for South African style and don't need to do tacky fake versions of other styles) it has found its way to St Francis too.

Cape St Francis Wildlife - Sea Gulls

Sea Gulls are a common site in and around the Port. This one was being very benevolent - allowing me to get quite close for this pictures.

St Francis Architecture #3

A new trend has emerged in recent years to stick with the thatch, but move away from the traditional rounded sculpted form, and towards a more modern angular look.

St Francis Architecture #2

In the early days of development in St Francis, this was a very popular style of thatch roof, and is very typical of many houses (and even shops) in the area.

St Francis Architecture 1

People who live in glass houses.............

.....better remember their dressing gowns when going to make coffee in the morning! This house is on a dune overlooking the main road through Cape St Francis, and you can see right through it from one side to the other. Wonderful for views but lousy for privacy!

viewpoint

There is a high point with a bench overlooking the beach at Cape St Francis, a stunning place to sit and take in the view.

lighthouse doing its job..........

We just love spending time on the rocks below the lighthouse, it is beautiful at all times of the day, and in all types of weather.

Santareme

There is a path that runs along the coast from the Port around St Francis Bay, past Santareme. It is a combination of rocks, sand, wild flowers and waves, with great views across the bay.

??????

The Port Hotel has been undergoing a bit of a hiatus ever since the hotel management pulled out, and a new plan is currently being made for the running of the hotel. The restaurant on the ground floor was independantly owned, but depended on the hotel for its clients. There are all sorts of moves afoot to restructure, and at the moment it remains a bit of a mystery! Watch this space, we'll let you know how it turns out.

Taking chances!

Wanting to continue fishing as long as possible, but the spring tide has other plans!

The Holiday Resort

At Cape St Francis, there is a holiday resort which started out as a caravan park, and then grew over the years, at first these delightful thatched cottages were added, then a conference centre and dining hall, and it now has a whole range of accomodation. (Personally, I find the newer units much less attractive than these original thatched units, which have a lot more character, and are well laid out.)

......and while we are taking bows.....

...the strong lines of boats contrasted with the soft reflections in the water have always attracted me as a subject.

The Blues take a bow..............

Ok, ok I know, groan..............very punny!

Boat Charters

From the Port, you can charter a boat, to go whale watching, fishing, looking for dolphins or, as in our case a short sightseeing trip to the point. St Francis Safaris has a good selection of boats, which are kept pretty busy during the holiday season.

Here is the owner Justin who took us out (he always trails a fishing line, just in case he gets lucky....).

food!

And here is the reason for all the animal activity shown in the past few posts.... a knot of fish swirling around, fighting over some bits of fish thrown off a fishing boat as it tied up at the jetty. The fish came for the scraps, the cormorant and seal came for the fish, and we came for the photographs!

Cormorant

Continuing with the assortment of creatures we saw in the clear water on the same day as the moth and the seal, here is a cormorant.


Aside from the ever present seagull, which is to coastal cities what pigeons are to inland ones, (only their droppings are bigger and stink of fish!) the other common bird is the cormorant, who is often seen bobbing on the waves and snaking its sleek neck into the water to grab a fish.

It also has the habit of standing around with its wings out, to dry the feathers. We don't have a digital shot of this, so here is a painting I did based on a photo we took in Knysna several years ago, with 4 cormorants sitting on poles that protruded from the water at different heights, all in a line.

Aerial View of the Canals

This isn't the greatest photo, it was taken through the window of a Cessna light aircraft a few years ago, when our son was busy getting his pilot's licence, and took me for a flip to St Francis. But I thought it might be interesting to show you the canals in their context. The dark strip that runs diagonally up the picture with a road on either side is the Kromme River. The white area to the top of the picture is a continuation of the dunes of the sand River system, which extends far to the left off the picture.

There has been a lot of development since this was taken, and a whole new section of canal has been made. Sadly it is unlikely I will be going back for more aerial pix anytime soon..... our son now lives on the other end of Africa and just after this photo was taken I lost my breakfast, I suffer from terrible airsickness!

on the same day......

Yesterday we mentioned that on the day that photo was taken, there were other interesting creatures keeping the moth company in the yacht basin of the Port. The water is usually a murky green but on this particular day, it was clearer, and because the sky was brilliant blue, it was reflecting a wondeful turquoise colour. The resident seal was having a ball gliding about amongst the yachts.

April Theme Day: Water

Making Waves:
This unfortunate moth landed in the crystal clear water of the Port. (Nearby there were other interesting occupants in the water, a seal was chasing after a whirling school of fish, and seagulls swooped down on them.... we will post some of those pix in due course!)

There will be lots of interesting interpretaions on this month's theme, here are links to help you pay these participants a visit.

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Gordio, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

The Ice Tower

This 4 storey tall structure on the edge of the harbour is an ice making plant, which

provides ice for the chokka fishing boats. When the chokka is caught at sea, it is processed and packaged right there, and the packages stored in refrigerated holds until they return to Port.