Humewood Skyline

The Humewood skyline with Shark Rock Pier in the foreground as seen from Pollok Beach

Shark Rock Pier waves

Although Shark Rock Pier is probably photographed more often from the Hobie Beach side, I still think this angle with the rocks in the foreground and waves crashing over them is better.

Winters walk on the pier

Taking a Sunday afternoon winters walk along Shark Rock Pier

Shark Rock Pier on a Sunday afternoon

Yesterday afternoon I found myself on the beach without my camera.  Perfect weather, emerald green great visibility ocean, clear air... What more could a guy ask for other than to have your camera.  Luckily I had my phone and I perched myself on a rock next to the pier for a picture.  Seconds later that little wave came and submerged my rock, soaking my shoes and tracksuit pants.  Didn't mind though. 

Enjoying the view from the pier

We headed down to the beachfront this afternoon to pop in at the Homemakers Expo at the Boardwalk and afterwards went for a walk along the pier to enjoy the glorious winters weather.  Standing out on the pier I realised how long its been since we've done this as a family.  Have you been to the beachfront for a walk lately?

Drone footage around Shark Rock Pier

I was very excited when I saw that Renaldo Gouws had uploaded some drone footage on YouTube again.  Renaldo may be best known for his political and social comment videos, but his drone videos truly are exceptional.  He has upload three which I will be sharing with you on Video Friday over the next three weeks.  The first one features Shark Rock Pier and surroundings.  Makes me wish I had the budget to get myself a toy like this as well. Enjoy.   

Silver seas at Hobie Beach

I needed to clear my head a bit this morning and took a walk across the road from the office and down onto Hobie Beach.  Not a lot of people around to enjoy the view of the sun glistening silver on the slightly choppy sea.  At least I could snap a pic to share with you. 

Sunrise at Shark Rock Pier

I was early getting to work this morning so I kept going past my normal turnoff and pulled into the parking at Hobie Beach to see if I can snap a nice sunrise picture at the pier...

Shark Rock Pier compass

If you've ever been on the Port Elizabeth beachfront you would know Shark Rock Pier, one of Port Elizabeth's most prominent and well known landmarks.  Most of us (and I say most of us because not everybody gets the opportunity to visit the beachfront on a leisure basis) have walked on the Pier, but have you ever noticed that there is a compass rose embedded in the paving just in front of the Pier?

Why we love The Pier - Herald LIVE

I don't make videos for my blogs.  I wish I had time to do so, but it's a luxury I don't have much of.  Instead I have to normally surf the net and in particular YouTube to find videos to post for Video Friday.  I have seen a lot of good drone footage on Facebook lately, but its not on YouTube which seems to be the hitch as Blogger pulls videos from YouTube.  But I will have a look see to try and find out how to embed them.  This week I'm posting a short video by Herald LIVE posted in March on Why we love The Pier.

A view of the Pier from the Boardwalk

The view of Hobie Beach and Shark Rock Pier from the Boardwalk Hotel's pool deck

Beachfront icon

Since its revamp the pier is looking great at night, especially with the new brighter lighting.  It's actually so bright that it is possible to swim at night, like the little boy is doing.

Shark warning flag out at Hobie Beach

I could not believe my eyes at about lunch time today when I spotted a post of Facebook about a shark warning flag flying at Hobie Beach.  I just had to go and look for myself.  Jip, there it was.  Fluttering on the breeze on this warm and muggy Tuesday afternoon.  I snapped a pic (obviously the one in this post) with my phone and headed for the pier to see if I could spot the shark in question.  I joined a growing group of people as well as two lifeguards scanning the waters around the pier. 

The sea was flat and calm and the visibility good so if there was anything we would see it.  Suddenly a British tourist shouted and pointed down to the water.  There it was (confirmed by the lifeguard that it was the same they spotted earlier).  As it swum under the pier and out to sea I cocked my head, squinted my eyes, pouted my mouth and scrunched my nose.  Mmmm, they're probably rather being safe than sorry because what I saw swimming down below couldn't be anywhere longer than a meter if that.  Definitely not a Great White or even a Raggy.  Gully or Sand Shark perhaps?  Heard the lifeguard mention a bull shark.  Really? I didn't want to ask him why he thought that.  Shortly after somebody else spotted a hammerhead just off the end of the pier.  Hammerheads are quite common in the area, people just didn't see them that often because conditions are rarely as good as today.  Seen a few photos on Facebook taken this morning from the pier with hammerheads but the lifeguard was adamant that it wasn't a hammerhead they saw earlier which prompted the closure of the beach.

 

Anyhow, I had to get back to the office.  My thought was that it was probably much ado about nothing but hey, like I said, better safe than sorry. 

Fairytale Boardwalk Hotel

The Boardwalk Hotel, all lit up and looking like a fairytale castle, with Shark Rock Pier, all lit up, Hobie Beach, all lit up, and the beachfront, all lit up.  Isn't the beachfront just beautiful at night?

Shark Rock Pier from the north - plus a question for followers

Yesterday I posted a photo of Shark Rock Pier all lit up since it's revamp as seen from Hobie Beach.  I thought I'll follow it up with a photo from the other side.  I think I prefer this one of the two.  Perhaps it's just the angle that is tighter or the fact that there are rocks on this side.  Which ever, I like it.

I have a question for you today and you can either give me your opinion as a comment here or on my Facebook page - FireflyAfrica.  I've been going through  bit of a slump lately.  I'm just not taking as many photos around Port Elizabeth as I used to.  Partly it is because life, work, life, family, life, KidZ' exams, etc (have I mentioned life?) is keeping me busy and I'm not getting out there nearly as often as I used to.  Heck, I barely have time to go Geocaching and if that is the case you know I have a problem.  My question I.  What do you want to see on PE Daily Photo?  PE in general?  Then and Now?  Historical sites like monuments?  Natural stuff like trails, nature reserves and parks?  People?  Or just continue doing what I do (which is probably what you'll get till I get more time to get out there again) and bring you the images of the places I go to and get to see.  Even if it means an overload of for example pier pictures if I've been to it.  Anyhow, I thank you for your continued support for PE Daily Photo and a special thanks to those who does give feedback, comments and shares on the various platforms.

Hobie Pier at night

The lights under the newly revamped Shark Rock Pier really lights up the water making for great photography.  That along with the spotlight on the beach could even lead to extended bathing on those hot barmy summer evenings.

Another view of the pier

Looking at Shark Rock Pier from the Boardwalk Hotel gives you a slightly different angle from the norm.  If you look at photos of the pier it's normally from either side, from on the pier itself or occasionally from the sea side.  Not often that you get a bit of a elevated view like this one I got from the hotel.

Sunrise at Shark Rock Pier

I just love it when I find stunning videos portraying this beautiful city of our's.  I discovered an exceptional one this morning showing a time lapse sunrise at Hobie Beach with Shark Rock Pier (still being revamped at the time as you can see) in it.  Well done on a stunner Duncan Noakes.  I'm definitely going to be sharing more of your videos in the weeks to come.   

Pier waves

The revamped Shark Rock Pier seen from underneath.  Just thought I'll do something different.

Summer is coming...

Everybody probably knows the well known line from Game of Thrones.  "Winter is coming..."  Well, going by the weather out there today it is clear that SUMMER IS COMING!