Trip to Paternoster, Western Cape. 17th March 2026

Misty today as we ran, walked along the beach in Paternoster.

Launching the boats

Then I decide to go bobbing, it was cold, I measured 10 degrees in the water equating to 10minutes of bobbing. By the time I got out watch had warmed to a balmy 13 degrees.

We walked through town looking at the various shops after a good breakfast. Continental breakfast for me at the lodge and a proper, large English breakfast in town while chatting to Jeandre, the owners son in law. An ex rugby player that had moved to Paternoster with his wife and two sons.

We scouted the area for a restaurant that we had seen in the distance while walking on the beach in the early morning, the only red building in the whole of Paternoster. Voorstrand, the restaurant was discovered from the side of the street and as it had oysters (other restaurants never had, go figure) we decided it was to be our dinner venue.

A lovely evening, as it was a bit further and we had been kayaking and had been told we had to be there at 6:30, Michael drove us to the restaurant. 

Oysters for me of course and mushroom soup for Michael followed by panko prawns and calamari for me and hake and calamari for Michael.

We went back to the BnB and slept exhausted after a great day.

Trip to Paternoster, Western Cape Kayaking. 17th March 2026

Kayaking in Paternoster, two separate boats, Michael handling his fishing kayak like he was born on it, we paddled around rocks. We saw various comaran species, penguins, oyster catchers, seals and two types of dolphins.

Awesome hour in the sea with Bruce and Mark. So much fun and we learned a lot about the endemic species of the area.

Trip to Paternoster, Western Cape. 16th March 2026

Breakfast with Terrance and Amy, delightful at the red sofa Cafe, if a lot pricey, afterwhich we went back to collect the trailer that now had Andrew and Amys old lounge suite. Miracles do happen as nothing had happened to it while parked outside their house in the street. 

After dropping it off to be upholstered and maneuvering a trailer through Cape Town streets, (wow, again I am in awe of Michaels prowess with the trailer) we setoff for Paternoster.

Arriving is like being in the Caribbean or Cyprus with these beautiful beaches, white sands and boulders in line with Virgin Gorda.

We ate at the Jolly Roger, pub style. Fish and salad for me and steak and chips for Michael.

The famous Cape Columbine lighthouse is located in the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, this is the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast (1936). It is a unique square, tapered tower that offers panoramic views of the Atlantic.

Trip to Paternoster, Western Cape (another side). 16th March 2026

Arriving in Paternoster we were stopped by a lady asking us to go help a Volkswagen Polo that was stuck on the beach. Michael drove the bukkie according to her directions and came up to a man that while desperate to impress his gorgeous girlfriend, got stuck on the beach. She was flying out back to Johannesburg soon and they were trying to make their lunch appointment at Tittiesbaai at the Seekombuis restaurant.

They had just come from the Panty Bar in the Paternoster Hotel so were well on their cups.

Needless to say Michael to the rescue! He got then out of the sand and they were soon on their way.

Welcome to Paternoster!!

The weirdest signs.

Trip to Cape Town for Holly's birthday. 15th March 2026

What a beautiful birthday in the park. The kids had a ball with Holly totally engrossed in the proceedings. Food, drinks galore. Friends, aunties, uncles and grandparents all had a great time. The best part which we unfortunately missed as we had gone in search of coffee wa Amy entertaining the children with her rendition of 'hop little bunny'.

Trip to Cape Town for Holly's birthday. 14th March 2026

We arrived on Saturday during a heatwave in Cape Town. Michael drove via the N2 and we stopped at Bali in Riversdale for breakfast. Never disappoints, great value for money!! Towing a trailer with a lounge suite, kindly let to us by Jan. Well kudos to Michael, I am always in awe of anyone that can drive with a trailer, never mind reverse with one.

So lovely to see everyone again and we had a tasty dinner of Pedro's peri peri chicken, chips, rice and salad takeaway that made Nandos look silly by comparison in both price and quality.

Trying to sleep in the heat was hectic. Bitten my miggies we made our way down to the couch and lay in front of the fan which at least dispersed the hot air and miggies.

Day 23 depart the ship, trip to the Canary Islands, 3nd February 2026

We vacated our room of 22 nights at 7:30 am, as requested by the ship, it needs cleaning for the next guests that will inhabit it for the next 14 days. The next Ambition cruise is a shorter version of ours, going to some of the same ports. Perhaps they will make Morocco.

We waited at the purple wine bar where Michael would go and read on most of the sea days. Everything worked according to plan and we were off the ship by 8:00 wanting to take as long as possible, it was the most efficient disembarkation.

We got to the Dock Cafe around 8:30 after a brisk walk from the Tilbury port on the Thames, not very good for rolling suitcases and one of Michaels suitcase wheels broke so he suddenly had a dead weight to drag which he has successfully done all the way. So glad it was not mine.

After a fantastic breakfast of scrambled eggs, black pudding, bacon, sausage, baked beans and toast plus orange juice and a flat white, we were ready for the day.

We made our way to the Tilbury station and it was not accepting people, long queue outside the station. Michael got chatting and we were told that no trains had as yet come through that morning as there were issues with signals, so far all trains had been canceled.

Not long after, they started accepting people and while we thought we were catching an off peak train, most people had been waiting since early morning and the train was packed, increasingly as we passed each station. Not quite as bad as Brazil but still very squashed with nowhere to move.

We got off at Fenchurch and walked across to Liverpool street station.

Michael attended a lecture while on the ship and this building is commonly known as the cheese grater.

The gerkin

Between these skyscrapers are some beautiful churches.

Liverpool street station, old style with all sorts of little shops.

After our knowledge of train delays, we caught the next train to Stanstead, though we still had lots of time.

While at Liverpool street, we bought Jacquelines bum bum cream (it is body lotion), the only one in Boots, very unhelpful staff though the area manager was amazing. We randomly met her walking to the station and she directed us to the store.

We are now at Stanstead, have been here since 12:30 and our flight is at 20:00. We can check our bags in at 16:00.

Awesome holiday!!