Day 7 - Reflections of God in Our Created World

Our first sunrise at the 12 Apostles comes in slowly, much like the sunrises along Pacific Coastal California, with soft greys painted on the low cloud cover, and then a gradual lightening of the sky behind the mountains which rise up like an row of silent immovable palace sentinels behind us. The ever-present Twelve Apostles mountain formation is a unique geographic phenomenon comprised of a series of loose reddish and grey sedimentary rock cliffs sitting on a grey granite foundation and extending southward along the coast, rising 3000 feet above sea level. They get their name from each of the “twelve ” (actually 16…. but that’s another story) protrusions extending southward along the rocky coast as the coastline as the city spills over the saddle between Table Mountain and another single protruding sentinel “Lion’s Head”. Every picture of Cape Town is framed by these singularly spectacular mountains, named by an early Dutch explorer, who apparently was nor so good at math…… and they offer an imposing display each morning as they appear in the early morning sky.

Our group gathers for a delicious breakfast one by one, as they rise . The communal spirit adjusts as gone is the long breakfast table laden with quiche, exotic breads, and yogurts. Instead, smaller 2 and 4 tops are scattered across the main level of the hotel offering more of a drawing room/club experience. The setting is richly appointed in dark colorful colors, with beautiful flower arrangements and tempting offerings of fruit and pastries loosely arranged across a central Island, adorned with local flowers and succulents. The smell of coffee invites us in….. to come and sit down, enjoy a conversation or two, and to discuss the previous day’s events as well as the plans for today.

Following a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon and assorted fruit from the central table we are met by our smiling and freshly dressed tour guide, Ferne, who runs through the exciting events planned for this day. Onto our trusty new stand - up travel van, a recent model Mercedes in bright white(what other color is there….?), and we head south along the coast. 

First stop is at a little community called Nordhoek, where we take a 30 minute break, as Ferne and Darin pick up our locally sourced and prepared lunches. Shopping, “Loo” visits, and a surprise visit with Darin’s parents( a one time minister who live in Fishhoek - near our earlier YL Camp site in Simon Town) we scramble back onto the van for an hour’s drive down the coast southward to the furthest southerly point on the African Continent, the “Cape of Good Hope”.

It’s one thing to observe a far away location on a map hanging in your elementary school classroom, but quite another when you see it in reality. The forests of yellow tree ( the official tree of South Africa), pine, eucalyptus, poplar and oak soon give way to lower growing plant material reflecting the harshness of the winters which pass over the southern cape. We observe wildlife as we pass through villages and ultimately enter into the national park area. As the land area grows more narrow between the two immense bodies of water, the only trees we observe are several ancient cedars at a former hunting lodge of the Park’s former private owner, which buildings have now been converted to a museum outlining the ancient history of man along this coastal area. A fascinating exhibit with film explanations of each piece of research, they present a strong evidential case for the evolution of man advanced by the secular academy , which does not square with the Biblical record. But, I digress.

Finally, our van makes a quick turn to the right along the west side of the cape and we find ourselves at the southerly end of the “mother” continent! Pausing for a moment, our group scrambles out of the van to take pictures of a herd of wild ostrich, who pass with in a few yards of the road, grazing ….. unperturbed by the iPhones clicking pictures of them and they saunter along. Interestingly, Africa is the only continent which I have adventured to its highest point on Kilimanjaro , as well as its most southerly…… and that is true for many on our trip. Pictures are taken of our group at the park sign showing the latitude and longitudinal coordinates before a large bus coach arrives with a gaggle of Indian tourists intent on also experiencing this unique piece of real estate, which we believe to be the residue of God’s unique handiwork and His love for us.

As our van turns back north, we stop for lunch on a grassy open expansion the easterly side of the cape on a body of water known as the “False Bay” . It is named as such by the Dutch and Portuguese sailors who discovered as they traveled from the far East that they still had “miles to go “to reach Capetown another 50 miles or so continuing around the coast to the west. Our group enjoys a special lunch comprised of special local delicacies, served in reusable fabric- lined boxes. Ferne stays alert , watching for opportunistic baboons and other wildlife whose dried residue we see scattered among the soft spongy turf. The tide is low, and Darin goes out searching for interesting examples of shell life in the now - exposed tidal pools, bringing back sea urchins, abalone, and pictures of starfish.

We gather ourselves up, recycling our boxes and containers and board the van for the last stop of the day…… to see the African penguin colony in Simon Town. The trip takes back over several narrow two lane roads, which wind along the western coastline of False Bay, until we reach Simon town. There literally below the location of our first YL camp in Cape Town , exists a colony of African penguins today numbering about 1200, which began with 2 mating pairs over 40 years ago. They are fascinating little creatures, a tip of the hat from God to us, ubiquitous fish eaters who can swim at nearly 20 mph, but waddle about on the dry sand. Endangered by over fishing, and the many predators - on land and in the sea - they are an immediate favorite engendering crowds larger than their native population as they waddle, visit, and take care of their young fledglings seemingly oblivious to crowds on the boardwalk above surrounding their sandy beach hostel.

We head home after a great day to our fabulous hotel. Dinner this evening is a special one with all 11 of our group in attendance. Special round the table discussions occur and we turn in …. this time close to 11 PM. But another day awaits!

Respectfully,

Babu