Oupa en Ouma sit op die strand

There is a fun little Afrikaans rhyme that starts with "Oupa en Ouma sit op die stoep..." (Grandpa and Grandma sit on the porch) and it was this rhyme that popped into my mind on Sunday when I saw this elderly couple sitting on the rocks at the beach.

Building sand castles

While we were on the beach yesterday and Miggie and her friend were swimming, my 15 year old son chose to rather dig holes and build sand castles.  Perhaps we should all take a break every now and then and build sand castles.

Beach fun at "The Rock"

When we were small one of our favorite places to go on a Sunday afternoon was "The Rock".  The Rock refers to the rock below Something Good with the gap through which the waves wash into the little natural tidal pool.  Today we spent a couple of hours on the beach and Miggie and her friend Dinky had a great time leaping off the rocks into the swimming hole.

For some reason I forgot my camera at home but luckily I had my phone.

The beach at Bluewater Bay

Bluewater Bay Beach stretching away towards the Coega Harbour hidden somewhere in the haze on the horizon.  I made a quick stop to snap a picture or two while on my way elsewhere but have to make a plan to return some time soon for a walk along the beach.  The beach is great for land based whale watching as the whales are often spotted not very far behind the surf line.

Beachfront Mussels

I took a break on the beachfront yesterday at low tide and walked out on the little wall between Deville and Humewood Beach.  Out at the end there are loads of mussels on the wall and it made a nice different foreground for a picture looking towards Kings Beach in the back.

A silver morning

This morning on the way to work I just had to stop below Brookes Hill and enjoy the sight of the silver ocean sparkling all the way to the horizon

Low tide next to Hobie Beach

At high tide the rocky stretch of beach between Hobie Beach and Pollok Beach is mostly covered by water, but at low tide it's all exposed and looks rather barren.  Bird Rock can be seen on the horizon in the middle of the picture and Chop Rock to the left.

A beach cleanup on Kings Beach

We spent the day at MacArthur Baths and I spotted this group of kids busy with a beach cleanup on King's Beach.  Well done guys on doing your part to keep our coastline clean and beautiful.

Beach access

We are truly blessed with a beautiful coastline here in Port Elizabeth both inside Algoa Bay and on the Wild Side.  The stretch of beach between Hobie Beach and Pollok Beach is ideal for a short beach walk close to parking and other amenities. 

Early morning on Pollok Beach

You know its summer in the Bay when therer are people on the beach before 8am in the morning

Low tide on the beachfront

Low tide on the beach between Hobie Beach and Pollok Beach with Bird Rock on the horison in the center of the picture and Chop Rock to the left.

Video shoot on the beach

I stopped along Beach Road on Thursday morning to enjoy the nice weather we had for a change and noticed a bit of activity going on at Denville Beach next to McArthur Pool.  It was way to early for people to just be on the beach and then I noticed the with the camera.  They seem to have been busy shooting for a video of some sort.  Wish more people would do shoots on our beautiful beaches and around the city.

UPDATE: Thanks to Grant Slater for the info.  The production was done by Sunshine Coast Studios and they were shooting the Christmas Worship special for SABC 2. Tune in to see great shots of PE, fun beach footage, and the amazing Erica girls choir singing Christmas Carols in the glorious St John's Methodist. Christmas Day, SABC 2 @ 10am.

The Port Elizabeth beachfront

We are really privileged here in Port Elizabeth that we have so little over development along the beachfront.  No heavy traffic congestion and narrow roads like in Durban or lack of parking like Cape Town.  Our beaches are generally clean and driving along Beach Road and Marine Drive you can keep one eye on the sea.  I love Port Elizabeth.

Pollok Beach rock pool

Growing up we spent many a Sunday afternoon down at the "the rock" (as we called it) below Something Good.  You know the one I'm referring to.  The one where the water washed through between the rocks and into the little natural tidal pool.  Yes, the one in the picture.  Stopping by there on Sunday I realised that we've never really brought our kids to swim here and although it was a glorious summers winter day, I think we may wait till proper summer when the water is a little warmer.

Summer in winter

Any visitor from outer space who landed up in Port Elizabeth over this weekend would have been very mistaken to think that it is the middle of summer.  With temperatures touching 30C, people seem to be have summer withdrawal symptoms and flocked to the beaches in numbers you rarely see in summer.  Check out how packed Pollok Beach was on this Sunday afternoon.   

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. 

Lifeguards not currently on duty

It's winter at the moment and the beach is pretty much empty, especially during the week.  But the lifeguard tower, although not manned at the moment, is waiting.  Summer will come again and so will the beach-goers. 

Just the way to start a morning

The weatherman promised us a beautiful weekend and that's exactly how it started yesterday.  On my way to work yesterday morning I just had to pull over and snap a pic.  How can one not?

Perfectly Pollok

I think people are so used to Kings Beach, Humewood and Hobie that they often forget how awesome a beach Pollok Beach is.  It is a dangerous beach to swim at when the lifeguards aren't on duty, but it's great for a walk, to watch the surfers  and dolphins or to splash around with the kids in the tidal pool by the gap in the rocks in front of Something Good.

Crisp winters day

One of the things are enjoy most about winter is those crisp clear days.  They just make for much better photos than hot summer days.