Dodger aka the Gazebo

Some people have been making disparaging remarks about our gazebo, oops I mean our dodger. I think these remarks are simply expressions of envy.

The other day we decided to head out to the workshop and see how things were progressing. We always enjoy the drives we head out on around the Cape area. From Simons Town we have limited choices as to roads. There is the coast road which passes through communities with names such as Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg and follows along the railway that makes its way into Cape Town

A view overlooking the coastal road starting in the marina on the right and stretching to Muizenberg in the distance

         Part of the cape peninsula from Simon’s Town to Muizenberg

or it’s up and over the Kaapeseweg, 315m, a mountainous route that provides stunning views over both the South Atlantic and False Bay. There is a third route but only if you are heading to Hout Bay and into Cape Town but this route takes you over the Chapman Highway once of the most scenic drives in the world.

The coastal route is fraught with problems. It’s a two lane road that hugs the coast and which is presently being torn apart due to much-needed maintenance and replacement of the ancient water supply pipes. It’s stop and go and in several sections down to one lane of traffic. Long waits are the norm.

The railway line from Simon’s Town which runs along the ocean side of False Bay and then into Cape Town

The day this picture was taken it was a blustery day with the sand driven completely across the railway lines stranding two trains in the Simon’s Town railway station

The Kapeseweg, although beautifully scenic, as is the coast road, is a long roundabout routing that at times can be clogged with traffic. Despite the negatives it is usually better to go over the Kapeseweg. So, waiting for the rush hour traffic to abate we headed over the Kapeseweg and onwards to Ottery a suburb of Cape Town.

A view of the Kapeseweg heading towards Simon’s Town from the north i.e. Cape Town. One must climb up into the clouds, down to the south-west side of the peninsula then back over to False Bay through a valley and into Simon’s Town

Just a little detour here to describe the third route through Hout Bay.  This route starts in Noordhoek on the south-west side of the peninsula a little ways from Simon’s Town.  The road clings to the cliff along what is known as Chapman’s drive and the views are stunning.  With a 20o metre drops off on one side in to the Atlantic and on the other the mountains rising straight above you.  The winds are vicious and at times the road is closed but on those days you can drive along here one can never be disappointed.  Definitely one of the most beautiful drives one can make.

                    Look carefully and one can see the road along the cliff-side

                                              Looking across the Hout Bay

Okay back on track to the workshop.  We were excited about seeing the dodger and after travelling through a few suburbs, across major freeways, through fields of cabbage and tomatoes and weaving through a few industrial areas we finally came to the workshop.

Francois, a hands on manager and magician extraordinaire was keen to show us the recent work done. Not finished but getting very close. The insides and outsides had been glassed, the hi-build primer applied and much of the sanding of the hi-build completed in preparation for the application of the paint. Also the windows had been installed except for the centre one which will be an opening window to allow good flow through ventilation in the tropics

And here below, the day after our viewing is a picture of the first layer of applied final paint.

But what really intrigued me with the other projects Francois has on the go. Take a look at these photos and tell me you can’t be enthralled with some of the ideas Francois is moving to reality.

For legal issues these photos have been deleted

Back to reality.  OK, so we are going away for a while and when we come back we expect to have to deal with the bottom of Sage which we expect will look like this.

                      Oh my god.  How will we ever get the bottom of Sage clean!