Ballito Beach Trip

The Beach! A novelty for a New Mexican girl like me who is so used to the dusty desert ways. 5+ hours and there we were on a whirlwind journey with my Maine addicted ocean lovers and me- face to face with the vast South African Sea!

Our journey began on Friday night after I had 5 minutes to stuff a backpack and throw myself into the Opel Corsa rental vehicle only to realize after the border that one thing I forgot was the only thing you need---a swimsuit.

We journeyed to a lodge near the dramatic and majestic Drakenburgs that housed two dogs the size of ponies and otherwise known as St. Bernard. Their slobbery kisses and horsepaws came pounding over for a good rub on the belly. They stole each of our hearts and left us wondering how to add one into the compact vehicle if we were to steal one. The lodge felt like an old plantation house with crickety beautiful wooden floors- tall ceilings and more pillows than you could ever need on one bed. In the morning, we awoke to beautiful sunlight and a view that could easily have been mistaken for Scotland meets Ireland! Unbelievable! We were above the clouds!

We left driving past the rather ugly baboons that sprayed the hillsides and the sides of the roads to our final destination- the Beach! Our plan was to stay at the Secret Spot Surfers Camp located not so much on the beach as the advertisement led you to believe. In fact it had nothing to do with the beach. And after wondering which rodent left a nice display of feces on one of the beds, we quickly meandered on finding the most lovely french B&B up the road. It looked like a picture and had everything french about it including lavender in the garden, a fountain, and a view to leave you only wanting more of it! We must have looked desperate requesting any room available, and the french lady soothed our minds with a lovely family room for 4.

The four of us- Jaime, Alex, and his mom on a whirlwind tour to find the one thing they cannot live without- Water in beach form!

And with surfboard in hand the four of us found our feet melting into the South African sand! I am here! The beaches are, as always, pristine. Surfers wading out looking for the perfect wave, dolphins in schools dancing past the surfers, men with their long fishing lines enjoying the moment, children either kicking a rugby ball or making posts for the soccer pick up...and the rest of us who either take a moment to breath in all of the sites or attempt a run on the sinking sands.

What a weekend!