News – Page 3 – Notes from the Cape

Published December 21, 2011

On fire

We have mountain fires in Cape Town every summer. Usually they happen when it is hot and windy, and mostly they are started by cigarette butts being thrown out of car windows.

This year is no exception. On Saturday the mountain just above Boyes Drive was on fire, and the fire-crews were using two helicopters to dump water onto the fire. Because it was so close to my house and I live right next to the vlei, I watched the choppers collecting the water out of the lake before dumping it onto the fire.

It was pretty amazing watching the choppers, incredible skill in dropping down to grab the water, and then dumping it right on the hot-spots. This is in the cross-winds and flying through all the smoke. These are amazing pilots.

Thankfully, they managed to put this one out quite quickly, and there didn’t seem to be any major damage. We have had some pretty major fires in the past.

Here are the rest of the pics.

Cape Town News South Africa

cape town fire helicopters lakeside muizenberg water

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Published September 10, 2011

Remembering the day the world changed

Remembering innocent people who died 10 years ago today and the day the world became a less safe place.

I was on an aeroplane at the time (the last flight into Cape Town before South African airports were closed), and I landed having had no idea what had just happened. When I turned my phone on, I had about 10 voicemails from family checking that I was ok. Thankfully nothing happened on our shores, but not so in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

It still shocks me that there are people that will willingly cause so many innocent people to die, for no other reason than to spread fear and terror.

Please spare a thought for our friends in USA commerating the day the world changed.

News Travel

911 new york september 11

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Published March 14, 2011

Argus Cycle Tour photos

This year I was not riding the Argus Cycle Tour, but that did not stop me from being on the side of the road taking photos, and offering some support to the 35000 cyclists that races that 109km route around Cape Town.

Both last year and the year before had absolutely shocking weather, with the wind hitting over 120km/h at some places. Well, bad luck did not come in threes. The weather was warm with a gentle cooling breeze just managing to take the edge off the heat. Absolutely perfect weather for cycling.

To the person that stopped and chatted to me on the side of the road. No, Boyes Drive is not the second worst hill on the race, in fact it hardly counts as a hill. Smits, Chapman’s Peak and Suikerbossie are far, far worse. But I couldn’t tell you only 25km out that the worst hills were still to come.

Speeding Union Jack

Pausing on the hill

A cyclist speeding along Boyes Drive

Cyclists at the top of one of the many hills on Boyes Drive

Cape Town News

argus cycle tour cape town racing scenery sport

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Published February 4, 2011

2011 South African municipal elections

The 2011 South African municipal elections, which are held every 5 years, will be held between March and June 2011. At this election, we will be voting in our local ward councilors for seats at the municipal level.

Remember that every vote is important, even if you feel that your vote is not.

Every single vote has a small impact on the future of your municipality, and of South Africa. Please be sure to register, and please vote. For more information, please visit the IEC website.

Cape Town News

cape town

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Published December 20, 2010

Panamanian shipwreck in Blouberg

I can’t give too much information about this ship, but from what I can gather, it is a Panamanian coal ship, originally with 30000 tons of coal onboard which ran around in October 2009, and is still there.

It is literally a stones throw from the beach, and you can see the many kite-surfers in front of and around it.

Does anybody have any more information?

Cape Town News

beaches cape town kite surfing scenery ships water

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Published December 14, 2010

The Cape of fire

You need three things to create a huge veld fire:

lots of wind
plenty of dry bush
a hot summers day.

This explains why Cape Town has a huge fire problem in the summer months. Many of them are caused by the whims of nature, but believe it or not, many are deliberately started. Often by arsonists, and sometimes even by children wanting the entertainment of the helicopters and firetrucks.

This is not the first time that I have photographed a fire in Cape Town, but the first one this year. This shot was taken at the intersection of the R300 and N2; both major roads in Cape Town. The wall in front of the flames is about 7 feed tall, so I guess the flames are over 15 feet.

(yes this was taken through my car window with my happy-snappy, so sorry about the resolution)

Cape Town News

cape town fire road scenery

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Published June 17, 2010

Vuvuzelas

Cds 158 vuvuzelas

Love them or hate them, they have become the unofficial musical instrument of South Africa, and integral to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Personally, I find them noisy and anti-social, but despite myself I love them!

Viva South Africa.

Cape Town News

cape town football sport Vuvuzela

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Published June 12, 2010

Go Bafana Bafana!

Cds 155 BafanaBafana

A Bafana Bafana fan supporting the team at the fanpark in Belville. Bafana Bafana drew with Mexico 1-1. I went to the fan Park yesterday to watch the festivities before the match, and the match itself. It was crowded and noisy, yet one of the most friendly and exciting environments that I have ever been in. It was like a massive group of friends getting together to party!

Here are a few more pictures.

Cape Town News

bafana bafana cape town fifa football sport world cup

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Published February 6, 2010

Cape Town on fire

Cds 051 Capetownfire

I was driving home, when I saw a huge fire in some open land. The fire
trucks were there, and although devastating to the grass, an interesting photo opportunity.

Cape Town News

cape town fire

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Published September 23, 2009

Braai Day tomorrow!

Don’t forget that tomorrow is National Braai Day, the most important public holiday on our calendar. It doesn’t matter what you braa, but you have to braai something!

You can do some seared tuna