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Cape
Agulhas
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We're here! Just
a short drive of 2072km to get from home to our starting point -
Cape Agulhas, the southern-most point of Africa.
To follow on from our
previous update, we left Hartenbos shortly after sunrise; it is no
heroic feat to be up at sunrise, as this only happens at 7.32am!
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The road meandered along with some long steep hills, but many flat
spots that had the Mog purring along. Ostriches seem to have
taken over as the livestock of choice in the area, as instead of
the usual cows and sheep, droves of ostriches can be seen.
The further south we drive the more desolate and unforgiving the
environment became; our bleekness was contrasted by the sight of
Blue Cranes - South Africa's rare national bird.
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And finally, we arrived at our destination - Cape Agulhas.
The name "Agulhas" means "needles" and comes
from Portuguese navigators who found that here, their compass
needles showed no deviation between Magnetic North and True
North. The lighthouse, which has stood and served mariners
for over a hundred years, is built to a similar plan as the
lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt - perhaps we'll get to see that
one too!.
The cairn that Alan and I are
standing on each side of above, marks the official location of the
southernmost tip of the continent of Africa and is longitudinal
point at which the Atlantic and Indian Oceans officially meet.
The skies are still clear with the
occasional cirrus cloud adding a streak of white to the blue sky,
but today it is particularly blustery with a strong north westerly
wind.
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It seems that we,
ourselves, have become a major tourist attraction in Cape Agulhas.
We are the only people staying in the caravan park, which is set
one block back from the sea with road ways all around; people have
been driving past, slowing down and having a good look. One
couple stopped, the lady rolled down her window, took out her
camera, took a photograph of us sitting in front of the Mog
drinking coffee, waved and drove away. Now I know how the
lions feel when we stop to take their photos!
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course, one of the most important things we have to do is to
collect some Cape Agulhas seawater which we will carry all the way
to north Africa and pour out into the Mediterranean. Alan
braved the wind and the incoming tide, with high swells breaking
over rocks just behind him, as he collected the necessary goods.
And so, tomorrow, 24th May 2004 is
Alan's 58th birthday and the official start of our Cape to Cairo
adventure!!
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