Gordon’s Bay – We stayed in this fishing village of about 18,000 residents on the eastern edge of Cape Town for a month in autumn. It was nice to have a home base for four weeks so we could unpack our suitcases, have somewhat of a daily routine, and get acquainted with a few people, shops, restaurants, and businesses in the area. Soon after arriving we discovered Uncle Barry’s Ice Cream Shop, located just across the street from the beach. We visited this shop multiple times!

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Beach – In the afternoons we frequently walked along the sandy beach at Gordon’s Bay and the adjacent promenade. Watching the adults, children, and their dogs enjoying the water, sand, and sunshine made our 2 mile circuit more fun. On warmer days we saw quite a few birds on the rocks, especially at low tide. During a week of our visit Gordon’s Bay beach displayed a red tide. The process starts when cold currents bring phytoplankton cysts from the ocean floor to the surface which then grow and divide quickly. If the winds and currents cause the organisms to concentrate in an area then a red tide occurs, which is usually harmless to humans along the South African coast. However, it is best to avoid eating shellfish from the area for 2 months. Following that advice was not difficult for us since we do not eat shellfish. 

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Anchor Sign – When we first saw the GB anchor on the slopes of Steenbras Mountain we incorrectly assumed it was a sign for Gordon’s Bay. The anchor was formed from rocks by senior cadets of the South Africa Nautical College GENERAL BOTHA in 1949 to identify the position of the college. The school operated at the harbor until 1966. Now the South African Naval College occupies that location and the GB anchor sign remains on the mountain. 

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Sunsets, Rainbows, & Mountain Views – Residences in Gordon’s Bay extend from the bay up the mountainside. Our apartment was on one of the upper streets so we had magnificent views of the sun setting behind Table Mountain each evening. And we even saw rainbows a time or two while eating breakfast. In addition, we often had clear views of the steep, majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains to the northwest and Table Mountain across the bay.

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Scenic Hike with Memorable Ending – The 3 kilometer Danie Miller Trail, just above the top row of houses on the slopes of Steenbras Mountain, provides great views of False Bay, the town of Gordon’s Bay, and its two harbors. Local attorney Miller and his two daughters built the trail in the late 1980’s when he was mayor of the town. Since the trailhead was only a 5 minute walk from our apartment, we decided to explore the rocky and very scenic trail one sunny afternoon. We saw a few birds and flowers along the way, plus one very hungry lizard. 

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When we were just a few minutes from returning to the trailhead, Jerry’s foot slipped on some loose gravel and as he was falling his first instinct was to protect the camera from harm. The outer lens filter shattered, but the rest of the camera was not affected. Unfortunately, though, he was not ok. Jerry landed on a couple of medium-size rocks, with the right side his face absorbing most of the impact. The next 48 hours were consumed with an ER visit, X-rays, a CAT scan, a consultation with a maxillofacial specialist, and hospitalization with a 2 hour surgery to repair his crushed facial bones. He now has 4 small titanium plates screwed to the bones below and on the outside of his right eye. The photo below was taken 4 days after his surgery. 

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He looks much better now that the scrape on his cheek has healed, the bandages are off, the swelling has gone down considerably, and the discoloration has disappeared. We are very thankful that his vision was not affected and his prognosis is good with no long-term effects. Two months after the surgery he has a couple of small scars and a little bit of residual swelling that will diminish over time.