Birthday celebrations

After a leisurely birthday breakfast on the terrace watching whales in the bay, we made it back to the Wine Glass in time for the England / All Blacks game with a few South Africans who were supporting the Kiwis. I think the most excited spectator was the lady who had brought our coffee who was shouting with joy every time England scored - someone suggested that she had a bet on the outcome!

After the game, we managed a walk along the cliff path watching a Southern Right whale with her calf. We could also see across Walker Bay to De Kelders - our next destination - on the horizon

There is a whale and calf - honest!

After lunch at a tapas bar, we were back in the car on our way to Benguela lodge in De Kelders where we had enjoyed such a great dinner on our last trip. This time we are staying there as well.

Jonathan greeted us like long lost family and we were hardly in the door before he handed us a champagne cocktail - to help us recover from the journey. They've been busy over the past few months - extending the building and adding rooms but it still  retains its eclectic feel with an amazing collection of art and furniture. 

 

There were 17 of us for dinner - German, Austrian, Swiss, English and us - with excellent food and good wines in copious supply. With all the chat and Jonathan catering for some of the pickier eaters, we didn't get up from the table until after midnight - thankfully we only had to stagger a few yards across the sitting room to our room.

We woke to a beautiful sunny morning - with a very strong wind whipping up the waves in the bay. Although we were offered breakfast in bed, we had already managed to drag ourselves up to the dining table where we had another great meal - enough to keep us going for the drive home.

I'm sure we'll be back again - although we may have to decline Jonathan's invitation to his birthday  party - 'where we can all get properly pissed'!