Dungeons and Dragons

I always had this image in my head about what it must be like out there in the ocean when you are a big wave surfer.  The images you see in the media makes the hair on your back of your neck stand up. Like anything else that includes some dedicated athleticism I guess one will only really know when you are paddling out there yourself after years of training.  I had however the opportunity to go take pictures on a day when the waves were breaking at Dungeons, South Africa's biggest wave spot and counted under the best in the world for wave riding.

There seems to be two ways to get to Dungeons which is situated behind the Sentinel at Houtbay. Either walk across the saddle of Sentinel and paddle out, or take a boat out.  I was lucky to be on a boat. Just as well because I was there to take pictures, not surf.  We left from the NSRI slipway in the Hout Bay harbour and a 10 minute boat ride took us to where we could safely sit and watch the waves of Dungeons doing their thing. We weren't the only spectators, there were tourist boats, support on paddle skis, photographers on paddleskis and everybody else it seems that could get something that floats.  I was going to find out soon that taking a shot without a paddle ski or boat in the frame was going to be difficult.  Luckily sometimes an object in front gives you a nice perspective of the size of the waves.  I tried to incorporate the objects in such a way that it did not distract one's eye from the actual surfer, but that was not always possible. A lot of my images ended up in the bin.

So after the opportunity to shoot from a boat I can point out a few disadvantages of doing it from there.  The advantages are clear, you can get some of the best shots of surf spots where you would never be able to get that same angle from the beach.  What was a bit annoying on this day was the amount of traffic in the water.  Always a boat of someone in front of you.  Secondly getting the best angle is difficult, because you cannot drive around and look for the perfect spot to park your boat. The current moves the boat and the skipper had to make a turn every time to get back to position. There is not room for capturing unique images.  Everyone on the boat takes the same pictures from the same angles.  The end result is 20 people sitting with the same images.  If you cannot add any of your own creativity to your shots you are not standing out. Something which I never thought would be a problem was the size of my lens.  My 600mm at some points were too long and when the guys were surfing closer towards the boat you could not get them into the frame.  But then again, most of the action happened a bit further out where the 600mm was just perfect. Lastly is the bopping on the water.  If you cannot stand steady or rock with the boat you lose track of where the surfer is and sometimes you get sky or just water. But this only happened for the closer up shots.

Despite everything mentioned above, the pro's outweigh the cons.  It is amazing out there on the water. The images are breathtaking and the whole experience was just something you want to do again. Below are a couple of the shots from the trip.  For more images of Dungeons and other surf spots please visit my facebook page.

I've lived in Mossel Bay for a couple of years but still frequently visit it mainly for three reasons, family, surfing and photography.  On all three reasons I can probably spend a day talking, but let me just quickly mention one...photography.

Mossel Bay, sometimes called "the drinking town with a fishing problem" is known for much more than just that.  A popular tourist town that provides so much scope for the photograph enthusiast. There are the most awesome settings to take pictures and if the town does not deliver one can always drive up the Garden Route.  I am sure however that if you really go out and capture the beauty of this town, you will not get further than Dias beach....

Below some images from Mossel Bay. Do yourself a favour a book a trip with me to go and explore the beauty of this paradise.

Show me the light

I have had a fascination with lighthouses since I was a kid.  I think my fascination lies in the fact that it is usually situated at rocky outcrops and the idea of being out on the ocean at night and seeing light must be a comforting sight to any sailor.  Despite my fascination with them, I have never really photographed them.  If I did it was during the day and what is a lighthouse during the day apart from maybe just interesting architecture. 

On my recent trip to Mossel Bay I made the effort to get up early to take a shot at it.  I looked for the best angles because the light house is a bit obstructed by trees when faced from the front.  Secondly it is quite high, so getting a shot from a horizontal angle is a bit tricky.  Then there are some other challenges like a bright light that does not stand still and of course as in the case of the one in Mossel Bay, the lights lightening the lighthouse at night goes on and off the whole time.  Not sure if it is to save energy or if the bulb is getting overheated, but it takes a bit of planning to get the shot at the right time.  Add to this a 2 second remote trigger time to avoid camera shake then it is not just for walking up to the lighthouse and taking a shot. It takes some careful planning.

After been questioned by the police for walking around the streets in the early hours of the morning looking a bit suspicious I guess, I managed to get a few shots at last... 

For more pictures on Mossel Bay please visit my Facebook Page.

Evolving backwards to better your life

I know we all like to evolve in some way or the other.  Usually making our lives better with new gadgets, new ideas, new challenges.  But what is really making our life better, the better technology or the mere changes in technology?

I have always been an iPhone fan.  My wife is a Samsung believer and although I have commented in the past on the nice quality of her pictures, I never really thought of changing over to a Samsung. That would not be going forward right? I used to take a lot of photos with my iPhone although usually only when I did not have my SLR close by.  A while ago my iPhone 4 was stolen from my vehicle so when I go down to the beach for a walk or a surf I leave my other iPhone at home. I wouldn't want to lead anyone into temptation again.  The iPhone 4 that was stolen was also my music box where I stored all my mp3's.  My iPhone 5S is for use and for images ready to upload on Instagram when needed. The downside of leaving your phone and camera at home is that when the opportunity arises to take nice shots then you don't have it with you.  

I was at the beach for a surf this morning but noticed that the sunrise was awesome.  I wanted to take pictures first thinking that the waves will stay around a little longer but the clouds and colours won't. Of course I did not have my camera equipment with me and there was no time to head home.  All I had was this Samsung Galaxy 3 which I have never used for photography before...or anything else I might add.  My wife handed it down to me so I demoted it to a mp3 player and nothing more.  I actually forgot that I had the option to take pictures with it, but it dawned on me that I actually do have a camera close by....albeit my opinion that is won't stand up to the challenge.  How wrong could anyone be....?

Once I got started taking pictures I was quite amazed at the images on my screen.  What interested me more however was that it felt to me like I have bought myself a new camera.  The thought that it is a "downgrade" from my iPhone 5S never even occurred to me.  I got so involved that I completely forgot about the surfing and wanted to take it to other places to see what I could get. I started wondering why my wife decided to get a new Samsung and realized that she had also stepped into this trap where we believe new technology is "moving forward". Maybe sometimes we just need a change, not a better this or a better that. Just a change from what we are used to. 

Below are two of the images from my Samsung expedition this morning.  If you like to see some more images please check out my Facebook Page and be so kind to like my page while you are there.

Tankwa Karoo Trip - Pictures

I did a quick 2-day trip with Jacobsroodt through the Tankwa Karoo to Sutherland and back via the Moordenaars Karoo and Matjiesfontein. Here are some of the pictures I took....

I filled in "Adventure"

" A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."

  - Lao Tzu

I left Cape Town with not much of a plan. All I know was that after an unpleasant week at work I wanted to get away, get my mind off things and just ride. As I left my house heading northbound I thought that a cruiser would have been a better mode of transport for this excursion than a GS. I've always wanted to explore some gravel roads on the western coast yes, but contradicting reports on road conditions, inaccurate maps and possible "sand traps" always had me a bit reluctant to explore that side of the Western Cape on my own. This time I would settle for the straight an narrow...the N7. With the state of mind I was in, I believed that was the better option...

I always divide my rides into three categories..."earplug", "earphone" or "eardrum" rides. "Earplug rides" are those long boring rides where I try to cover the greatest distance in the shortest time possible...usually resulting in the need for earplugs to dampen the wind noise. "Earphone rides" are between 80-120 km/h, relaxed and usually in no rush to reach my destination...if there is one in fact. For gravel roads I need to concentrate and to enjoy the scenery with the sound of 800cc's in my ears, so no plugs or earphones allowed. I decided that this was going to be an "earphone ride" to Vredendal with a sleepover at the Bo-Tuin Cottages in Vanrhynsdorp and then back on the same route the next day...

Cool MX Boots

When I left my house the weather was fine, slightly overcast towards Malmesbury and around 18 degrees with no wind.  With the encouragement of Meat Loaf and Eminem in my ears I managed to get to Piekenierskloof Pass where the temperature had dropped to around 14 degrees and the mist was gradually turning into a drizzle. My new O'Neil MX boots which I bought two days before was arguably a bit of an overkill for this ride, but I was determined to wear them so that I could get used to them and besides...they looked rather cool. Changing gears with space boots however was still a bit of a nuisance and when I walked on them it felt like I just got a new pair of prosthesis. What was more worrisome though was by the time that I reached the Piekenierskloof Pass my arse was sore and boredom had already crept in. I stopped at Citrusdal were the sun showed his head for the first time and tried GoogleMaps on my mobile for an alternative route to take. Not that I wanted to add more kilometers to a sore bum, but I needed a road which had more curves than the N7 at least. The white line on the opposite side of the Olifants River looked like a good option. Chances were good that it was going to be gravel, but what the heck I was dressed for the occasion and I had to restore the feeling in my backside. 

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

 - Andre Gide

I drove through town, turned off on what I believed was the white line I had seen on the map and hoped for the best. After passing an informal settlement where some drunk local threw a rock at me, the gravel suddenly appeared. All of a sudden I was on a new adventure. A fairly good gravel road where I have never been on before with the N7 and its roadworks (apparently with 8 traffic stop points) visible across the river on the left hand side. I did not even think of deflating my tyres or switching off my ABS, but true to my beliefs I removed the earphones when I stopped to take what would be the first of many pictures along the "scenic route".  Pretty soon all the issues at work disappeared and I started writing the first chapter of my post in my head.... 

"It is amazing how your whole experience can change from moving from one side of the river to the other", I thought to myself. The gravel road was running much closer to the river than the N7, obviously without traffic and each corner presented a new surprise on the other side. All of a sudden I remembered why I had changed from my first bike which was a cruiser to the GS. This is what I wanted to do, explore and discover. To many this road might be old news, but to me it was a new discovery and not the only one I would experience on this weekend trip.

The road which I later identified as "Die Ou Kaapse Pad" goes all the way up following the curves of the Olifants River until it reaches Clanwilliam. There I filled up and saw another road (R363) heading further north but indicated on the map with a similar yellow line as the N7. Even though I was a bit disappointed thinking it might be tarred it was also heading in my direction of choice and anything other than the N7 at this stage looked appealing. 

"Namakwalanders"

Another surprise... the R363 turned out to be gravel too and just as exciting as the previous one. My dad always says that he is pretty sure the guys who drew the maps had never been there themselves. I was thinking the same when the yellow road turned out to be the same as the white one. This road also touches the banks of the Olifants River at times and became rather tricky at some points with loose gravel and sandy patches. I would definitely not say "novice-riders-please-avoid", but there was still some puddles left from rain and some sandy bits and loose stones to negotiate. The main thing is that I was having so much fun and realized that by the time it meets up with the N7 I would be close to Vredendal where the Namaqua Festival was happening. 

"More Namakwalanders"

Not a festival lover myself I thought the festival might be the biggest attraction in that part of the world right now seeing that the flower season was long gone. Only the fynbos and other shrubs had flowers which somehow still made the ride worthwhile where flowers were concerned, but the festival would be a good place to grab something to eat and to see what the people of the Namaqualand had to offer. Ever had a pizza cone before...? Delicious. I walked along the stalls and could see that Greenmarket Square got the news of the Namaqua Festival early enough and basically had moved up north with the same crap imported from Africa and China. Making sure that I leave before Huisgenoot's Music Show with the likes of Kurt Darren started I left for Vanrhynsdorp to get a shower and a bed for the night. 

At Bo-Tuin Cottages I was treated like a guest of honour. Make sure to book your bed for next year's "flower run". My hostess Salome convinced me to take the coastal route back home the next day. I was a bit skeptic as my map shows no roads running down the coast. Clearly I was ill-informed. "You can take the toll road from Doornbaai all the way past Lambersbaai onto Elandsbaai" she said. What? A toll road along the coast? You must be kidding me....

Lookout Point Doornbaai - Just fog

Bobaas Bo-Tuin Breakfast

The next morning after a fantastic breakfast I took the 82 km tarred road to Doornbaai. At Doringbaai I could not see a thing, the fog was as thick as candy floss. Finding a "toll road" even harder to spot. Slightly embarrassed I phoned Salome asking for more information on finding this mysterious toll road. "Just drive through town and when the road veers off to your left then you are on it". OK, found it. The road changed quickly into a sandy road, no signs, no nothing. I was heading into the fog again on a road I did not know where it would take me and the sand worried me. Suddenly a fork in the road appeared. You know the saying: "When you get to a fork in the road...take it!"? Well, I could see a devils fork ahead and I took it, the middle prong across the bridge to be exact. After a few kilometres something told me that I might have taken the wrong one, so I phoned again. "Is there a railway line on your left hand side?" NO. "Then you are on the wrong road...".

I remember crossing the railway line when I took the middle prong earlier, so I turned around. I took the right one this time but still no-one asking for toll or no signs indicating that I am on the correct road.  Soon I was heading south with a railway line on the left of me and mist occasionally rolling in from the sea on the right hand side. At least the sun was now in full shine most of the time. It turned out that I was on Transnet's service road along the Sishen line. Moments later the oncoming Sishen train confirmed that, about four kilometres longs with eight electric units pulling this long snake. Quite something to witness, but still no toll gate in sight. Along the way one or two cars passed from the front so I was thinking that should I end up with my face on the ground, at least there is movement on this road. I never knew that service roads were open to public, but I was certain that had I been trespassing at least I was not doing it alone. 

Devil's Fork - Keep to your right

Wrong Road, turn around

Right Road, continue...

Sishen Train homeward bound

The service road was really in a good condition. Every now and then I got to a bridge crossing similar in design to the first one and I did my "devils-fork-routine" avoiding the bridge and going back onto the service road again. When I checked out of curiosity GoogleMaps placed me somewhere in a field next to a railway line with no roads close-by. I didn't mind because I was happy to be where I was and was obviously way ahead of Google on this one. I was doing about 80-100 km/h doing my "Interflora-man stance" I learned from Jacobsroodt on my previous trip. It saves the arms against the wind pressure from the front. You know the one-foot-on-the-back-footrest-stance......?

Just before Lamberts Bay I saw a string of cars ahead of me. No I'm lying, just two. "That must be the toll gate", I thought to myself. Everyone signed a book and was left through. I asked the gentleman in the uniform what the damage was for using this "private road". "Nothing Meester, the company that used to maintain the road is no longer here. It will be free until Transnet finds a new one". Ok, that worked for me. I completed the "visitor's book" and I noticed that most people filled in "Kamp" (Camping) under "Purpose of journey". I filled in "Adventure".....

"T" for Toll. It does exist...just not on my maps

Toll Plaza at Lamberts Bay

From Lamberts Bay I continued on with the road until I got to Elands Bay. At Elands Bay I just stopped to put my MX boots on the same beach that was made famous by Bruce Brown's movie, The Endless Summer. The road continues down to Velddrift where I left it early with the plan of filling up again in Velddrift. I am not sure if you can get onto it again to make it all the way down to Saldanha. From Velddrift I took the straight and narrow way back home to continue my 400 km ride of the day, this time on the West Coast Road and very pleased with myself.

A gravel toll road along the West Coast? Who would have thought? A boring ride turning into an adventure? For sure!

"I have discovered that even the mediocre can have adventures and even the fearful can achieve."

 - Edmund Hillary

As for the cruiser idea.....nah, never again!