Till Sunday 29th March 2009 - They say in life – ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ and finally this phrase has paid off for me!During the visit to De Hoop with Ben a couple of weekends ago, we discussed the recent Game Capture at Bontebok National Park, thinking nothing of it, I added how disappointed I was not getting the opportunity to fly in the helicopter, the pilot having an obvious aversion to my womanly charms.
Imagine my surprise, amidst the Agulhas Kids in Parks programme, to receive a text (SMS in SA) from Ben asking if I was interested in joining Cape Nature at the weekend for a Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Patrol in……..you have guess it - a helicopter!
I knew I’d put my cell number on my e-mail signature for a reason!
‘Hell yes,’ I replied without hesitation. So early Saturday 28 March I found myself travelling with Ben on a bumpy track in De Hoop towards a concrete area doubling as a make shift helipad. On arrival I was introduced to Peter Chadwick World Wildlife Fund MPA Project co-ordinator and official photographer. Not a big fan of heights, my nerves started to kick in and were not helped when Peter and Ben started to discuss taking the doors off the helicopter for the duration of the patrol. Are they for real or just winding me up!
Quickly I realised that they are not winding me up, avoiding the tail of the chopper, doors off, headphones and mouth piece on, I buckle myself in, the helicopter blades whirling, we lift into the sky and I wonder what I have let myself in for.
With views over De Hoop coastline, my fears simply dissolve and I concentrate on the water below. Starting at the Lower Breede River Estuary, we travel up the coastline to Arniston spotting tens of hammerhead sharks, game fish, seals, sting rays, two great white sharks and pods of bottled nosed dolphins, one counting up to a hundred. Even viewing at one point, a pair of dolphins frolicking in the throws of courtship.
The Patrol is completed randomly once a month and is invaluable in the data it produces, serving also as a deterrent for local poachers in the area.
Words cannot do justice to this experience. The iridescent ocean below mixing colours of pale turquoise through to deep jade alone was breathtaking, yet there was so much more, aerial views of De Hoop, sand dunes and shoreline including fish traps built by the Khoikhoi. But the most memorable of all was the unique insight into life beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean.
We then visit Angelo's for juice and Marula cake, I feel I am becoming a piece of the furniture at this establishment!
Ben and I then travel to the Southern most point of South Africa, taking a walk down the coastline after eating the butties, he'd made that morning. No carbonated drinks this time!
Sunday, I spend investigating the rock pools at the beach, and experiment with my camera, four hours slip by without me even realising.
Back at Bridgetts' accommodation, I receive an unexpected Hells Angel, namely Ben out for 'a ride' delivering a CD of photos from yesterdays trip. This unannounced visit throws me, making me wary of his intentions. I know I'm being dam right stupid, I guess I am still a little vulnerable and over cautious when it comes to trusting the male species. Hoping things will improve in this area, given time - keep you posted!
After delivering the weekly mountain of food for Kids in Parks, Bridgett and I quickly pop into Gerards with the curry Bridgett badly made earlier, I meet Gerards Dad who promptly tries to force feed us chocolate! With the offer of cake on the house we make a detour to......Angelo's on the way home, deciding to treat ourselves to a seafood basket too.
