Take the easy walk to the point along the beach and marvel at all the patterns that the wind has carved over years in to the sand dunes.  If you have an artistic eye there are really a couple of spots along the walk where you can spend a while taking really great pictures!  Every time I go there  I see some new patterns in mother nature that I have not noticed before – even a dragon if you use your imagination …….…

Also keep an eye open for the endangered Black Oyster Catchers at the waters edge with their startling red beaks.  Years ago when our children were small this was a favourite spot to have a picnic after the short beach drive, but after beach driving has been banned altogether in South Africa (due to irresponsible people not adhering to the basic rules) the numbers of Black Oyster Catchers has also increased dramatically.  Another species saved from vanishing off the face of the earth.

And if there are no birds be on the look out for colourful starfish and shells that litter the beach at certain times of the year.  You will certainly make some interesting finds, but please do not take them home.  Starfish are strictly saltwater creatures and will not survive in fresh water.

I am happy to share and show MY world, post by post with you!

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INTERESTING FACTS ON STARFISH:

Sea stars (starfish) can change sex back and forth from male to female as needed. There are several species of animal that can change sex if needed, such as when there is an abundance of females but no males during breeding season. Sea stars are one such creature, but what makes them even more amazing is they can switch sex back and forth if necessary. If a sea star starts life as a female but needs to switch to being male, it can still switch back to female again if the need arises.

Sea stars do not have blood in their bodies. Instead, they have a water vascular system where they pump sea water through its sift plate or majoporite into their tube feet. Their tube feet are full of sea water and give strength to them. They then use their tube feet to move and to hold their prey.

They have an eye (anae spot) and the end of each of their arms which is a very simple eye that looks like a red spot. The eye can sense dark and light but not a lot of detail.

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The post FOSSIL DUNES ON THE BEACH appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

 Our first stop was at the historic Port Elizabeth Cricket Club (PECC) which was established in 1859 where a club match was underway.

The grounds boast a couple of unique achievements such as:

• being the second oldest cricket club in South Africa;
• being the venue for the first cricket test
• the first women’s international Test
• the last Test before South Africa was expelled from world cricket
• the first ever test series win against Australia
• the first Rebel test was played here
• and last but not least it is the sixth oldest cricket ground in the world

 In 2003 it was only the second season that PECC and Crusaders Rugby Club did not share their turf during summer and winter respectively.  The Eastern Province Cricket Board could not afford to have the field badly churned up by rugby boots just before the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Famous cricketers from PECC are Peter and Graeme Pollock, Dave Callaghan and Gavin Cowley.

Out of the stadium and on towards our next point of interest which is the St George’s Preparatory School just opposite the tennis club.    Knockfierna (Hill of Fairies or Truth) was originally built in 1899 as a beautiful grand Victorian Mansion by John Daverin, from Ireland, who was a successful Wool Merchant. John and his wife, Clothilda, brought up their 7 children in the grand style befitting this era.

Sadly there is only a dilapidated building left  of the tennis club as it had to make way for the refurbishing during the 2003 World Cricket tournament.  The Port Elizabeth Lawn Tennis Club (PELTC) in St George’s Park was founded in 1879 making it the oldest active tennis club in South Africa.

 But on with our stroll.  We made a quick detour to see what  the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Gallery offers which, to our surprise, was open on a Saturday afternoon.    As we were exiting the gallery I saw the War Memorial and gave it the due respects.   This was the halfway mark of our stroll.

 The geocaching walk took us to the public swimming pool which is sparkling clean and attendants on duty at the entrance (and they were not sleeping!).   Entry to the pool is a mere R9 however I spotted only two elderly bathers.  The gardens in front of the pool is bright and colourful and creates a real summer atmosphere.

Next was Prince Alfred’s Guard memorial. It was erected in 1907 in remembrance to men from the guard that died in four different wars. On the top of the central pedestal is a life-size figure of a sergeant-major of Prince Alfred’s Guard in full dress.   The Memorial is also situated on top of Port Elizabeth’s second oldest water reservoir.

Our next stops took as to the old Sea Scouts house amongst the trees and then on to the St George’s Park Conservatory where we saw some magnificent tree ferns.

Close by at the Port Elizabeth Bowls Club (founded in 1882) lively music was playing and on closer inspection we found some bowlers enjoying their Saturday afternoon game on the rhythm of the music.  Not bad for a bunch of old people!  And on this happy note our stroll came to an end.

What a pleasure to visit the park with all its history dating back more than a century!

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