Export cars on the PE Harbour

Looking down onto the harbour from the Campanile observation deck, one just can't help but wonder where in the world these cars are being exported to.

The Port Elizabeth harbour wall

The Port Elizabeth harbour achieved "port" status for the first time in 1825, long before a proper harbour even existed.  Back then a harbour master was appointed to regulate and oversee the offloading of ships anchored offshore with goods and people being brought to shore in rowboats.  An official surfboat service was established in 1836 and this was followed by the construction of the first jetty in 1837. It wasn't until 1933 and the construction of the Charl Malan Quay (No.1 Quay, now used as the Container and Car Terminals) that Port Elizabeth had a proper port.  

Due to security one can't explore the harbour properly, but you can get to the harbour wall at the bottom end of Kings Beach.  Just remember that you're not allowed to walk onto the harbour wall because if you do you're going to have a security guard on your case very quickly.  The view back along Kings Beach with the beachfront in the background is magnificent though.

Campanile view - Looking south towards the beachfront

This is the last of the Campanile View trio of posts (There should have been four but it seems I never took a pic out the new big viewing window of the whole harbour).  Unfortunately the south viewing window doesn't open like the north and west windows, probably because the new lift's doors is right by the window.  Looking out the harbour dominates the foreground while the beachfront with all it's recognisable landmarks are visible in the background. 

The Campanile's new viewing window

One of the new features of the recently refurbished Campanile is a full-length viewing window on the harbour side of the tower.  The window has caused some ruptions with historic purists but personally I think its a great addition.  The window really gives the best view of the adjacent Port Elizabeth Harbour and all its activities.

Fresh fish on the PE Harbour

We've never been to the fish shops on the harbour to buy fresh fish but a Saturday or two ago, in search of finding something else to make for dinner than just the usual stuff, we decided to go and have a look.  We landed up in Fisherman Fresh (throw a left as you enter the harbour at the Baakens entrance and follow the signs).  An amazing selection of fresh and frozen fish and other seafoods and so much cheaper than our local supermarkets and the Fruit and Veg down the road from home. We ended up having a snoek braai that evening and tried gurnard rather than hake for a change. Definitely a winner in my book and I will be back for sure on a more regular basis for more.  The service and advise we received was also top notch so if you haven't been and like to make your own fish, this is the place to go and buy it.

Harbour view from Humerail

I had to stop at the Spar in Humerail this morning and stopped to admire the view of the harbour from the parking area.  Some people wouldn't term this as a beautiful view but I like to call it an interesting view.  Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so a cell phone photo will have to do.

Then and Now - Baakens River Bridge

We all know the Baakens River flows through Port Elizabeth and that most of the Baakens Valley is protected green open spaces all the way from Sunridge Park, past the 3rd Avenue Dip, through Walmer and Mill Park to Settlres Park.  It really is a pity that the municipality doesn't look after the well being of the river better and that the open spaces aren't utilised as much as the potential it has, but it's still a very special area.  I often wonder though how many people have never thought where the Baakens River Mouth is and didn't realise that it actually flows into the Port Elizabeth Harbour.  After a lunch at This is Eat at the harbour the other day I remembered the two historic pictures below and that I still had to take a Now photo to post with them.  So here it is, Then and Now - Baakens River Bridge.    

In 1851 the bridge across the Baakens River near the mouth was washed away and a new wooden one was built for pedestrians.  The road below for wagons simply took a dip through the river and up the other side.  The new bridge washed away in 1857 and the then replacement was damaged in 1867.  The roadway though was practically untouched.  This bridge was replaced after 1867, the road straightened and dip removed.  

 In 1892 the foundation stone was laid for the new Baakens Bridge.   The town council in partnership with the Harbour Board built a strong new bridge over the river.  In the following years several acres of the southern bank were reclaimed by the Harbour Board, narrowing the river even further while a concrete wall was built along the river banks.  In 1913 the ratepayers accepted a scheme to widen and improve the channel at the mouth of the river and to a new bridge to provide a proper outlet in case of future floods.  The original plan was to build a steel bridge to replace the cast iron one but the war interfered with their plans to buy suitable steel and in 1916 it was decided to rather use reinforced concrete.  The plans had to be set aside though and only once the war was over did things move on the project again.  The bridge was finally completed in June of 1922.

This is what the mouth of the Baakens River looks like today at low tide.  Two bridges below, one going towards town where the original bridge use to be and one going towards Humewood plus the Settlers Freeway overhead.  The Tramways Building is visible in the background of both the second as well as the last photo.  For most this will probably be just a bunch of useless history about a bridge, but the one thing that is clear is that this river mouth has seen a lot of bridges (and flooding) over the years.

The historic information in this post was sourced from Margaret Harradine's excellent book, Port Elizabeth, A social chronicle to the end of 1945.

Lunch time at This is Eat

Have you ever had lunch at This is Eat at the harbour?  Not? You're only missing the best takeaway fish and calamari at the best prices in town.  Last week we had a quick lunch time Geocaching event at the restaurant and as I'm on diet I had to sit and watch my friends eat. I was very tempted though...

End of the line

It is sad to see all the unused railway infrastructure around Port Elizabeth either on the harbour, around Humewood or next to the Settlers Freeway.  After a lunchtime event at This is Eat on the harbour I grabbed the camera for a couple of photos before heading back to the office.

Coega from the sky

Fly to Durban the other day I leaned over the Damselfly who was sitting by the window to snap a pic of the Coega Harbour down below.  Not the best picture but a different angle from what you see passing on the N2  

Then and Now - Lower Baakens Valley

Way back in the early days when the first ships started coming past our coastline they used to sail into the bay to get fresh water in the lagoon near the mouth of the Baakens River.  The Baakens River got it's name from the Dutch East Indian Company beacon that was placed at the fountain below Fort Frederick from where sailors could collect fresh water from for the ships.  The fountain later supplied water to the early settlement that later became Port Elizabeth.  In April 1851 a wooden tank was built over the springs on the south side of the lagoon and pipes carried the water beyond the surf to a water boar from where ships were supplied with fresh water.  In December 1857 the old wooden tank was replaced with a stone tank.

In July 1864 the municipality narrowed the channel of the Baakens River and reclaimed the land where the lagoon was located.  The reclaimed land was divided into plots and sold off with the money being used to buy the land on which Victoria Park is located today.

The Now photo was taken from the top of Fort Frederick and you can barely see the very narrow channel that the Baakens River is contained in now.  The Tramways Building, currently being renovated by the MBDA, can be seen right in the middle of the picture where the road bends with the Baakens River Mouth just to the left of it.  The river, of cause, flows into the Port Elizabeth Harbour

The historic information in this post was taken from Margaret Harradine's excellent book Port Elizabeth.

Kings Beach and the giraffes

Beach-goers and bathers on Kings Beach under the watchful eye of the harbour giraffes

The Queen Elizabeth visits Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth is slowly becoming a more and more popular stopover spot for cruise ships.  Today the city was extremely fortunate to have the Queen Elizabeth visit for the day.  The Queen Elizabeth is a Vista-class cruise ship operated by the Cunard Line.  She is the second largest ship constructed for Conurd, exceeded only by its sister ship Queen Mary 2.  The ship was launched in January 2010 and had her maiden voyage in October of that year. 

Although you could get onto the harbour and fairly close, you could not get through the last security gate allowing you to get right by her.  We decided to rather admire her from afar and headed up to Fort Frederick for a look before driving to South End for a slightly different angle from the old St Peter's Church ruins.

The family having a look at the Queen Elizabeth from Fort Frederick

Guarding the harbour

When last have you been to Fort Frederick?  Most of us get to visit the fort as kids while on a school tour of the city, but I bet a big number of Port Elizabethans have never been back there as adults. 

PE time lapse

The Video Friday post for today is another time lapse.  It was shot from somewhere in South End looking towards the harbor.  It's only 15 seconds long so no excuses not to watch it.

Donkin Reserve Timelapse

Today's Video Friday post is another of Duncan Noakes' excellent time lapse videos.  This one is of the iconic Donkin Reserve and the Port Elizabeth harbour beyond as the sun goes down. Stunning!

Harbour aerial

The Port Elizabeth harbour was built in 1933 after the completion of the Charl Malan Quay (No.1 Quay, now used as the Container and Car Terminals).  It is one of two harbours in Algoa Bay with the Coega Industrial Harbour being the other.

 

The harbour wall can be seen on the right.  Going along the wall to the left is the tanker berth where the ships carrying fuel to the harbour docks and to the left of that (where the two ships are) is the manganese ore terminal.  Just above that on the left hand side is the yacht basin and the fishing boat section of the harbour with the middle section is taken up partly by the fresh produce terminal and gets used for the export of deciduous and citrus fruit.  The far side of the harbour is the car and container terminal.

City coastline aerial

Last week the Damselfly and I got to fly to Johannesburg for the annual Lilizela Awards of which I was one of the judges. Even though I get to road trip quite often working for ECTOUR, I don't fly nearly as much as I did in my previous job.  When I do and I fly alone, I like an aisle seat but the Damselfly wanted to sit by the window and it gave me the opportunity to snap a few pics during take off while leaning over her.  This is looking north while heading out towards Algoa Bay.  South End is in the forefront with the city centre and North End beyond on the left and the Port Elizabeth Harbour on the right.

Coega in the distance

Coega Harbour seen from Bluewater Bay Beach. Notice the two oil rigs currently being worked on in the harbour.

Stadium view from the beach

You know how it can happen that you see something every day without registering that you've actually seen it.  A good example is a fading sign outside a building.  You don't always realise its faded until somebody points it out to you and you have a proper look.  Well, I think the view of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium from the beachfront is one of those.  How many people actually notice the stadium beyond the harbour when they are walking along the beachfront walkway? Next time you do, stop for a second and have a look.  I bet you didn't quite remember that its visible from there.