Day
15, 16, 17 Coffee Bay is rumored to be named after a ship full of coffee beans
that wrecked here in the 1800’s but in fact no one really knows. It is now an
off the beaten path very small community mainly serving South Africans. I was
asked several times how I, as an American, chose this place. I had to admit a
South African sent me. The village is mainly a backpackers paradise. There are
only 2 small hotels, some self catering cottages and everything is backpackers.
It is like many of the out of the way spots in the world that I have found and
watch get overrun once discovered. This will happen soon here as they have just paved the 61 Km road into Coffee Bay from the nearest highway.
The Ocean View Hotel sits on the side of a hill on the the Indian Ocean.
Think of a 1950’s motel that has never been updated but is neat, clean and
freshly painted. The grounds are immaculate. The Crawford family, who own several
other resort properties, have just bought it and are in the process of starting
to update everything.
vicki in the indian ocean
sunrise
We requested 3 nights at the hotel and the staff said that may not be
possible as 107 cross country runners were coming the second night but they
would see what they could do. Bradley, the resort manager, told us over dinner
all was well and we could stay. The next morning a very distressed Chantal
showed up at our door at 8:30 and informed us we would have to go. Never trust
the man in charge, always talk to the workers I say. Chantal had spoken with the
organizer of the race and as people had already been assigned to our room and
they had rented the “whole” hotel she needed us out. The whole staff honestly
felt bad about the situation and did everything they could to accommodate us.
They got us a cottage on top of the mountain overlooking the town and the ocean,
asked to drive us there, bring our laundry, discount the room, AND deliver
dinner to us. They went well beyond what I would normally expect. By the time
we checked out for the day, I knew everyone on the staff from the owner, Mr.
Crawford, to Linda and her kitchen staff.
since i was in the area, i picked up dinner. figured with 107 people that linda did not need to be driving my dinner up the hill
some of the runners that displaced us. actually they did us a favor as after 3 days of running 35 Km a day, they drank and partied till the early hours
So here we sit at Corum Deo enjoying a great view. The other good news is
I do not have to drive anywhere today unless I want
to.
Oh yea and the wildlife. The “spotter” spots on the pole right off the
porch a Boomslang, theoretically the most toxic of African snakes. So we start
an investigation and I decided to inform the landlord. Only when I reached him,
the “spotter” reads the rest of the story. “It is back-fanged and, except for
snake handlers, it has never inflicted a fatal bite.” Whew.
Good thing about being out of the hotel, where all meals where included, we
got to try some of the other places in Coffee Bay. We had lunch at the Jah Drum
and a morning latte at the local bakery.
walking to new lunch
work on the new bridge
yah drum from afar. i think we would be comfortable in a tent for $5 a night.
the school
jah drums
this reminded me of a old picture of a king i saw
the bakery above pic and the below pic
horse coffee
This is main street. The building on the right is the local supply store . In the morning about 5 pickups back up to the front door and they load up and head out into the country to make deliveries.
ever wonder were all those old tv's went
the women come into to town to do shopping at the store
In and around town
a missionary from stumpy point, n.c.
the end of main street
a in your dreams sign
Remember me talking about the kids coming from everywhere to school?
those in the back in the distance are students
Back at the Ocean View all nested back in, off we go to dinner. Linda the
cook had prepared something special for Vicki, at no urging or request from me.
Since everyone else was eating the buffet, Joet, Linda’s partner, snuck it out
under cover. However, it was not a secret long as it was hard to hide to two
large lobsters. The Princess ate them both.
vicki and linda
We would like to thank everyone at Ocean View for making us feel at home
and part of the family so quickly.
