Unusual visitors
by gentlelifehacks | Dec 9, 2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle
The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia.
We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly.
We were the only travellers on that road at that time, where a permit had to be obtained to travel; it was for our own safety, should we get lost.
We had arrived at “Mile 108”, to the fishing spot where the warm current from the Amazon River in South America was reputed to reach the shores of the Skeleton Coast in South West Africa.
The waves crashed on to a shore littered with the bleached bones and skulls of a thousand seals. The grey ocean stretched endlessly away and there was not a ship in sight.
However, the occasional shipwreck could be seen all along the coast, forlornly thrusting itself through the pebbled beaches.
We parked our campervan side on to the ocean. The knowledge that there were no human beings within a hundred kilometres or more made us feel like castaways on a desert island.
Driftwood and twigs that lay scattered everywhere were gathered and a good stone fireplace built behind the van and sheltered from the breeze.
The Skeleton coast in August was cool, not more than 17 Degrees Celsius and the mist that would envelope us when darkness came would feed the desert behind us.
It was time for our evening meal, fresh from the sea.
Harry cast into the bountiful ocean and within seconds hooked a six pound Copper Steenbras. As he cleaned and filleted the fish, I prepared the vegetables.
Then our guests arrived, a pandemonium of Pelicans, their pouches yapping beneath their bills.
What else can you call such a gathering?
Perhaps plenitude or even a pageant?
For not only were there many pelicans, but they were our entertainment too as their unwieldy shapes bumped each other and they rose into the air like lumbering Sikorsky helicopters, snatching fish entrails from each other.
When Harry finally threw the centre bone with head and tail attached, the cawing and squabbling became frantic and the winner quickly opened its mouth to swallow its prize;
The carcass jammed in the pouch, head one side and tail the other, and the outline in the now stretched skin gave the pelican a macabre grin the width of its body.
The fire was ready and I cooked part of the fish with lemon juice and butter; the new potatoes and fresh peas, purchased that morning in Hentjiesbaai, added delight to the meal; the bottle of white wine was the perfect accompaniment.
Our guests had departed flying in their cumbersome way back to wherever Pelicans sleep.
As we sat watching the ocean, and setting sun, we were silent, enjoying each other’s company.
It was the end of a deeply satisfying day. What more could a body want?
©2021 gentlelifehacks.com| Author| Doreen – Memories of Africa
“Health-full” honey bees
by gentlelifehacks | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
7 Cancer Myths
by gentlelifehacks | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
A dog in sheep’s clothing
by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Air fryer health benefits
by gentlelifehacks | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments
Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum
by gentlelifehacks | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Are we teens addicted to gaming?
by gentlelifehacks | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments
Can you hear me?
by gentlelifehacks | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments
Understanding Dementia
by gentlelifehacks | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Bad sugar
by gentlelifehacks | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
More rainbows please
by gentlelifehacks | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids
by gentlelifehacks | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Virus or bacterial infection?
by gentlelifehacks | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love
by gentlelifehacks | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?
by gentlelifehacks | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Bounce back from illness
by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Herbs and health benefits
by gentlelifehacks | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Be positive and hold on tight!
by gentlelifehacks | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments
Eating right as a teenager
by gentlelifehacks | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments
Teenagers who are stressed and anxious
by gentlelifehacks | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments
Avoiding acne as a teen
by gentlelifehacks | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments
Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!
by gentlelifehacks | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Asbestos hazard
by gentlelifehacks | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Fighting to stay healthy
by gentlelifehacks | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing
by gentlelifehacks | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Who’s your perfect match then?
by gentlelifehacks | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments
When the real estate market changes
by gentlelifehacks | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Make your home a “healthy home”?
by gentlelifehacks | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments
House too small now?
by gentlelifehacks | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
When is the right time to sell?
by gentlelifehacks | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments
The things kids say!
by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Elephants of Etosha
by gentlelifehacks | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Unusual visitors
by gentlelifehacks | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments
When will Covid end?
by gentlelifehacks | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Turn bad news into good news
by gentlelifehacks | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments
The Bad Landlord
by gentlelifehacks | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Crazy world house prices
by gentlelifehacks | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Music soothes the soul
by gentlelifehacks | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments
Tips for a healthier home
by gentlelifehacks | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
Healing with food
by gentlelifehacks | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Mindfulness – when the going gets tough
by gentlelifehacks | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
The lonely bee hotel
by gentlelifehacks | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments
Fighting inflammation with Turmeric
by gentlelifehacks | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Why children love and need pets
by gentlelifehacks | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments
Waste not…want not!
by gentlelifehacks | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Lock down fatigue
by gentlelifehacks | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Mask up and make a difference
by gentlelifehacks | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments
The dark side of chocolate
by gentlelifehacks | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments
Is stress making you gain weight?
by gentlelifehacks | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Can you cure Hypothyroidism?
by gentlelifehacks | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
So what’s your horoscope say today?
by gentlelifehacks | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Get on your bike!
by gentlelifehacks | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Can Pets improve our mental health?
by gentlelifehacks | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
The less you own, the less owns you
by gentlelifehacks | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Try something different
by gentlelifehacks | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Is Red wine good for you?
by gentlelifehacks | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?
by gentlelifehacks | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Good, bad or ugly?
by gentlelifehacks | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Stressed & Angry?
by gentlelifehacks | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Is coffee good for us?
by gentlelifehacks | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Kill unkindness with kindness
by gentlelifehacks | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Zoomers and creative writing
by gentlelifehacks | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Feeling like a sad bear?
by gentlelifehacks | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Greens are good says Maddie
by gentlelifehacks | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment
Oranges to stay healthy
by gentlelifehacks | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Auto immune diseases
by gentlelifehacks | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments
Baby Baby good for you?
by gentlelifehacks | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments
Maddie’s raw egg shake
by gentlelifehacks | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Home and income… really ?
by gentlelifehacks | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Befriend the little birds
by gentlelifehacks | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Mokopuna
by gentlelifehacks | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Spirulina for smoothies
by gentlelifehacks | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Cancer and Bicarb of soda
by gentlelifehacks | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment
Do you miss the world?
by gentlelifehacks | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments
Lemons
by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments
Buyer’s remorse
by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Smart gadgets
by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments
Messy house or hoarder?
by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments
Houses built from hemp
by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments
10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active
by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments
10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house
by gentlelifehacks | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments
A wise old donkey
by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments
Are you a hoarder?
by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments